Laird Lucas Returns as Executive Director of Advocates for the West!

Our Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Laird Lucas is returning as Executive Director, as Wendy Wilson departs to re-engage in her lifelong passion for policy and advocacy work on water, climate and energy issues.

“We are all thankful for Wendy’s leadership in taking Advocates for the West to a new level as an organization,” said Laird Lucas. “As lawyers we focus on enforcing laws, and I understand Wendy’s desire to get back to policy and grassroots advocacy. I am honored by our Board of Directors’ request that I return as Executive Director, and I know that we will continue to benefit from Wendy’s contributions to our organizational capacity.”

A departing note from Wendy Wilson 

Dear Advocates for the West Supporters –

You are part of the many successes at Advocates for the West. In the last few months, our work together has delayed plans to ship commercial nuclear waste to Idaho, challenged the killing of native wildlife by the federal government, and significantly delayed approval of open-pit mines in the Salmon and Boise River watersheds with the potential to leak toxic chemicals into our waterways. And there is so much more!

Like you, I believe strongly in the future of this organization. Since I joined the team in 2013, I have seen it become more resilient and able to fulfill its mission as the winning force for environmental protection across the West. I am honored to have helped take Advocates for the West to the next level and served as a public ambassador for our brilliant attorneys.

But the future of this unique organization will best be realized led by its capable founder, Laird Lucas. I have decided to step down as Executive Director and re-engage professionally in climate issues, water and energy policy. I will be helping Laird and our strong board of directors through this transition period and know they will do well.

Thank you again for your support of Advocates for the West, and for the many great friendships I have made in this position! I’m not going far.

– Wendy Wilson