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Jennifer Morris

Chief Executive Officer, The Nature Conservancy

Arlington, VA

Jennifer Morris headshot.

Areas of Expertise

Global conservation leadership, Conservation finance, Econ. development, Enterprise entrepreneurship

Board Term

Effective May 18, 2020

Contact

Email:

Biography

Jennifer Morris is the Chief Executive Officer of The Nature Conservancy, leading a team of nearly 6,000 staff working in more than 80 countries and territories tackling the dual crises of the climate emergency and biodiversity loss. With more than 25 years of experience in conservation, her leadership is characterized by a track record of proven management, innovative approaches to unlocking finance for nature and an emphasis on science-based conservation centered on people and communities.

Prior to The Nature Conservancy, Jennifer held a series of leadership roles with Conservation International, where she notably led their work on impact finance, ultimately serving as both the COO and President in a time of exponential growth. She began her career teaching English in rural Namibia, then working in micro-finance at Women’s World Banking. 

Jennifer has been named to TIME’s inaugural Climate 100 list of leaders, Forbes’ 50 over 50 for Impact and Virginia Business' Virginia 500 Power List. She serves on a range of global councils including the Climate Advisory Board for Norges Bank Investment Management, Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value Advisory Council and The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. She also chairs the board of Enduring Earth, an ambitious collaboration that works with stewards of the environment to accelerate conservation worldwide. 

Jennifer earned her M.I.A. from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and her B.A. from Emory University. Based in Washington, D.C., with her family, Jennifer has a passion for storytelling, mentoring future leaders and spending time outdoors. 

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Recent Articles

[{"title":"High Time for a High Seas Treaty","description":"A truly comprehensive, agreed-upon framework for the high seas is needed to govern conservation and economic activities beyond national jurisdictions.","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/high-time-for-high-seas-treaty/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"center-middle","mobileImageCrop":"center-middle","pageImageAlt":"An ocean skyline with clouds.","articleDate":"Feb 28, 2023","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":["Global"],"topicTag":["ocean conservation","conservation work","International policy & agreements","policy"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Global Insights"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/global-insights"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/atlantic-skyline-ocean-clouds.jpg","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/atlantic-skyline-ocean-clouds.jpg","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/atlantic-skyline-ocean-clouds.jpg","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/atlantic-skyline-ocean-clouds.jpg","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/atlantic-skyline-ocean-clouds.jpg","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/atlantic-skyline-ocean-clouds.jpg","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/atlantic-skyline-ocean-clouds.jpg"}},{"title":"Marine Conservation and the Life that Depends on It ","description":"To address ocean threats, we must increase ambition for marine conservation by raising national and global standards. Meetings on ocean health, climate and biodiversity offer opportunities for action.","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/marine-conservation-lisbon-jen-morris/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"center-middle","mobileImageCrop":"center-middle","pageImageAlt":"Black and white underwater photo of an adult female whale swimming with calf.","readTimeMinutes":"5","articleDate":"Jun 27, 2022","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":["Global"],"topicTag":["ocean conservation","conservation work","biodiversity","climate change"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Global Insights"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/global-insights"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2021_whale-calf-Akira-Nanjo.jpg","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2021_whale-calf-Akira-Nanjo.jpg","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2021_whale-calf-Akira-Nanjo.jpg","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2021_whale-calf-Akira-Nanjo.jpg","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2021_whale-calf-Akira-Nanjo.jpg","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2021_whale-calf-Akira-Nanjo.jpg","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/TNC_PC2021_whale-calf-Akira-Nanjo.jpg"}},{"title":"Our Blue Marble: Why This June Matters for Earth—and All Life on It","description":"50 years since NASA astronauts took an iconic photograph of the Earth, the planet's vulnerability now faces a daunting reckoning for the climate, biodiversity and sustainable development.","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/jen-morris-blue-marble-climate-biodiversity/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"center-middle","mobileImageCrop":"center-middle","pageImageAlt":"Photo of the Earth taken from space.","articleDate":"May 31, 2022","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":["Global"],"topicTag":["climate change","conservation work","biodiversity","sustainable development","habitat restoration"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Global Insights"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/global-insights"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/e/a/earth.jpg","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/e/a/earth.jpg","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/e/a/earth.jpg","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/e/a/earth.jpg","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/e/a/earth.jpg","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/e/a/earth.jpg","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/e/a/earth.jpg"}},{"title":"Protecting Nature Through Authentic Partnerships","description":"Conservation for the coming decades must be based in authentic partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/protecting-nature-authentic-partnership-jennifer-morris/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"left-top","mobileImageCrop":"left-top","pageImageAlt":"a woman crouches on the ground and looks at a bunch of bananas near a banana tree","articleDate":"Sep 08, 2021","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":["Global"],"topicTag":["indigenous peoples","community conservation","conservation work","biodiversity","local communities"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Global Insights"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/global-insights"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/brazil/agroflorestabanana.JPG","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/brazil/agroflorestabanana.JPG","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/brazil/agroflorestabanana.JPG","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/brazil/agroflorestabanana.JPG","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/brazil/agroflorestabanana.JPG","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/brazil/agroflorestabanana.JPG","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/brazil/agroflorestabanana.JPG"}},{"title":"Investing in Nature for a Resilient Future","description":"We are witnessing one of the fastest economic transitions ever known—but there is still time to incorporate nature-positive recovery plans that support a more resilient future.","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/jennifer-morris-investing-in-nature-resilient-future/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"center-middle","mobileImageCrop":"center-middle","pageImageAlt":"Close up detail of a fern leaf","articleDate":"Apr 23, 2021","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":["Global"],"topicTag":["climate resilience","climate change","conservation work","conservation finance","natural climate solutions"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Global Insights"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/global-insights"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/WOPA150114_D205.jpg","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/WOPA150114_D205.jpg","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/WOPA150114_D205.jpg","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/WOPA150114_D205.jpg","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/WOPA150114_D205.jpg","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/WOPA150114_D205.jpg","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/WOPA150114_D205.jpg"}},{"title":"Public Finance for a Nature-Positive Recovery","description":"TNC has joined efforts with other leading conservation organizations to identify three key opportunities for Public Development Banks to drive systemic change that addresses the biodiversity challenge","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/public-finance-nature-positive-recovery/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"center-middle","mobileImageCrop":"center-middle","pageImageAlt":"a long exposure shot of four monarch butterflies blurred against a black background","articleDate":"Nov 16, 2020","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":["Global"],"topicTag":["conservation finance","conservation work"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Global Insights"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/global-insights"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/a/ian-parker-UnoXP7nxwiI-unsplash.jpg","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/a/ian-parker-UnoXP7nxwiI-unsplash.jpg","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/a/ian-parker-UnoXP7nxwiI-unsplash.jpg","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/a/ian-parker-UnoXP7nxwiI-unsplash.jpg","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/a/ian-parker-UnoXP7nxwiI-unsplash.jpg","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/a/ian-parker-UnoXP7nxwiI-unsplash.jpg","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/a/ian-parker-UnoXP7nxwiI-unsplash.jpg"}},{"title":"The Global Food System is Ripe for Change","description":"How today’s biggest threat to nature could become its best ally.","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/grow-positive-regenerative-global-food-system/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"center-middle","mobileImageCrop":"center-middle","pageImageAlt":"A colorful composition of sliced-open colorful citrus, pomegranates, mangoes and pineapples.","articleDate":"Oct 27, 2020","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":["Global"],"topicTag":["soil health","agriculture","conservation work","aquaculture","sustainable fisheries","fisheries","sustainable agriculture"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Global Insights"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/global-insights"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/luke-michael-1cWZgnBhZRs-unsplash.jpg","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/luke-michael-1cWZgnBhZRs-unsplash.jpg","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/luke-michael-1cWZgnBhZRs-unsplash.jpg","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/luke-michael-1cWZgnBhZRs-unsplash.jpg","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/luke-michael-1cWZgnBhZRs-unsplash.jpg","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/luke-michael-1cWZgnBhZRs-unsplash.jpg","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/luke-michael-1cWZgnBhZRs-unsplash.jpg"}},{"title":"Environmentalists Cannot Remain Silent on Racism","description":"CEO Jennifer Morris makes a public statement on the recent acts of racism in the United States and ongoing protests spreading around the world.","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/our-people/jennifer-morris/cannot-remain-silent-racism/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"left-top","mobileImageCrop":"left-top","pageImageAlt":"Impala in a clearing at sunset","articleDate":"Jun 01, 2020","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":[],"topicTag":["activism","individual actions","activities"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Office of the CEO"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/office-of-the-president"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/3/a/3a2c4595e3d9d44d922c6a2c8d180619_original_Full.jpg","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/3/a/3a2c4595e3d9d44d922c6a2c8d180619_original_Full.jpg","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/3/a/3a2c4595e3d9d44d922c6a2c8d180619_original_Full.jpg","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/3/a/3a2c4595e3d9d44d922c6a2c8d180619_original_Full.jpg","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/3/a/3a2c4595e3d9d44d922c6a2c8d180619_original_Full.jpg","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/3/a/3a2c4595e3d9d44d922c6a2c8d180619_original_Full.jpg","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/3/a/3a2c4595e3d9d44d922c6a2c8d180619_original_Full.jpg"}},{"title":"Nature's Future Is Our Future","description":"The Nature Conservancy’s CEO Jennifer Morris shares her vision for why conservation matters, now more than ever.","link":"https://stage.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/our-people/jennifer-morris/time-to-act-climate-change/","target":"_self","desktopImageCrop":"left-top","mobileImageCrop":"left-top","pageImageAlt":"Sunrise over daisies in Indiana.","articleDate":"May 17, 2020","articleAuthor":["Jennifer Morris"],"contentTypeTag":"Blog","geoLocationTag":[],"topicTag":["ocean conservation","conservation work","community conservation","forest conservation","water conservation","conservation finance","conservation education","coastal resilience","wildlife conservation","land conservation","indigenous stewardship"],"placesWeProtectTag":[],"businesstags":["Global Insights"],"businesstags_ids":["tnc:business-group/global-insights"],"pageImage":{"small":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_52987642_Full.jpg","default":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_52987642_Full.jpg","medium2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_52987642_Full.jpg","large":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_52987642_Full.jpg","small2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_52987642_Full.jpg","medium":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_52987642_Full.jpg","large2x":"https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_52987642_Full.jpg"}}]
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