ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WENDY WILSON

Boise, ID – December 2, 2013: Advocates for the West, a Boise-based nonprofit public interest environmental law firm, announces the appointment of Wendy Wilson as the organization’s incoming Executive Director. Laird Lucas, founder of AW, will continue with the organization and assumes a new role as Litigation Supervisor for the growing legal staff on January 1.

Wilson comes to AW at a time when the organization’s legal successes are setting the pace for environmental protection across the West, including a recent court injunction against the transit of “mega-loads” along the Clearwater River corridor for tar-sands development in Canada. The group has a reputation for effective legal representation of environmental concerns in cases widely impacting public lands and endangered species. Originally started in Idaho in 2003, AW now has offices in Portland, Ore., and Washington, D.C. and takes cases across the West.

Wilson has an extensive background as a conservation leader in Idaho and the West. She was the founding director of Idaho Rivers United, a statewide advocacy organization, leaving that position in 1999. Since then she has led national training and development programs for River Network, a Portland-based nonprofit, supporting water protection organizations and focusing on climate and energy.

Lucas says of the selection of Wilson as his successor: “We are looking to grow the scope of our work and broaden the impact of Advocates for the West, and I truly can’t imagine a better person to take our organization to the next level. Wendy is a passionate outdoors person and environmental leader. She comes to us with extensive knowledge of environmental strategy and great enthusiasm for our work. I am thrilled she will be joining our team.”

Wilson is excited about her new position: “There is nothing more important than protecting our public lands and wildlife. I am a long-time supporter of Advocates for the West and their free litigation services for conservation groups addressing so many issues. They need this voice at the table to have a fair shot against polluters and agency foot dragging.”

Wilson lives in Boise and is a skier, hiker, biker, boater and birder. She is a volunteer with the Sierra Club’s Idaho chapter and has held leadership positions with the Save our Wild Salmon Coalition, Idaho Conservation League and Idaho Trial Lawyers Association.