The second annual Conservation Awards recognizes influential environmental advocacy professionals working in Virginia’s partnership of 170+ organizations

Richmond, VA, Sept 30 – As Virginia’s conservation movement grows after decades of coalition-building, our environmental nonprofits are simultaneously seeing the departure of leadership and the rise of energetic and motivated young professionals dedicated to environmental protection. As a facilitator of strategic action for over 170 environmental nonprofit organizations, Virginia Conservation Network’s Conservation Awards recognized four environmental professionals at their Annual Meeting & Partner Retreat at Pocahontas State Park on Tuesday, September 17th. Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling kicked off the Conservation Awards ceremony with an inspiring message, and Delegate Paul Krizek wrapped up with hopeful, forward-looking remarks. 

The Conservation Awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of individuals who have provided leadership and advanced the Virginia Conservation Network’s collective voice for water quality, land & wildlife conservation, land use & transportation, clean energy, climate change, and environmental justice issues. Awards were presented to professionals working within the Virginia Conservation Network across three categories:

• The Rising Star Award recognizes individuals in their early careers who are making significant progress in Virginia’s conservation community.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who have dedicated their career to Virginia’s conservation and environmental protection.
• The flagship Conservation Champion of the Year Award recognizes one key individual who made a significant accomplishment to protect Virgnia’s environment and communities in the last year. 

See what colleagues said in their nominations of the following awardees:

Richard Hankins received the Rising Star Award from Trip Pollard, a VCN Partner working at SELC and a board member at Partnership for Smarter Growth.

Richard Hankins received VCN’s Rising Star Award for taking on the Partnership for Smarter Growth’s first Executive Director role in more than a decade. Through Richard’s leadership in his first year, he took PSG’s mission and structured a well-functioning group that runs multiple campaigns across the Richmond region focused on pedestrian safety, affordable housing, and preventing sprawl. Richard also previously worked at RVA Rapid Transit for years and similarly helped grow that group into a public transit advocacy powerhouse that impacts state policy for the better.

Richard is now one of the only full-time land use advocates we have in Virginia. VCN deeply appreciates Richard’s coordinating Partners through complex issues to forge a consensus for the “Sustainable Housing Growth” paper in Our Common Agenda Briefing Book.

Katie Register received the Lifetime Achievement Award after her retirement from Clean Virginia Waterways from her successor, Zach Huntington.

Katie Register is an environmental advocate and researcher who is the leading voice in Virginia on plastic pollution and marine debris. Katie founded Clean Virginia Waterways in 1995, which has become an award-winning organization known for its extensive research, education, and advocacy efforts under her leadership. Katie enabled and co-authored the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan, the first such plan for any state on the east coast.

Katie’s research and advocacy have been pivotal in advancing policies and public awareness about plastic pollution. She authored a pioneering study highlighting the toxic properties of cigarette butts. She collaborated with the Virginia Aquarium to research the impact of balloon-related litter (the second most common type of debris on Virginia’s remote beaches). This research was pivotal to getting intentional balloon releases banned in Virginia. She served on the Virginia Litter Control and Recycling Fund Advisory Board and was a powerful voice in a room full of well-funded industry lobbyists.

Katie has played an important role in developing the next generation of environmental advocates. She mentored over 100 interns whose careers have ranged from journalism to environmental research and advocacy and other important social causes. Katie was focused on the growing harm of plastic pollution long before other groups and individuals acknowledged it was a serious problem. Katie’s dedication has made meaningful contributions to the fight against plastic pollution. Her leadership on this issue is seen in every VCN Our Common Agenda briefing book paper about plastic pollution and the plastic reduction policies that have been passed at the General Assembly. Forever an advocate, Katie even left every attendee of VCN’s Annual Meeting with a reusable straw.

Glen Besa receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Jessica Sims, last year’s Conservation Champion awardee

Glen Besa is an inspiration, a leader, a supporter, a creative thinker, and a go-getter of the highest degree! His dedication to protecting the environment, advocating for environmental justice, and bringing strategic creativity to so many fights has made an enormous impact on Virginia’s future. Since moving to Virginia, he has spent decades leading with passion, expertise, and enthusiasm for holding decision-makers accountable. His work has reverberated throughout energy, water, and environmental justice movements and the region’s environmental advocacy movement.

He is bold and funny, simultaneously understanding the value of legislative policy, street theater, and deep community organizing. In his role as Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, he helped with every aspect of the organization’s work and grew the staff from two employees to double digits. Switching to retirement didn’t lessen the incredible amount of work Glen does, as he took leadership roles with the local Sierra Club Falls of the James group.

It is his energy and humor that are so distinctive, and he is not influenced by the false gentility of the “Virginia Way.” He is fearless in holding polluters and bad actors accountable, including legislators, regulators, and governors. He deeply understands the importance of public narrative, making sure that detailed reporter engagement is a part of every campaign. He also understands that fights may take years – and he NEVER gives up. His indefatigable spirit is rare and inspiring. Many within the environmental community have had the gift of working with him, learning from him, and collaborating at his side. He is open, helpful, and always willing to share his perspective without defensiveness or cynicism. His work is always rooted in community.

Glen’s leadership with many issues has resulted in projects being reduced, ended, or canceled: limiting out-of-state trash coming to VA, coal ash cleanup, a successful campaign to Save the Mattaponi, ongoing Dominion accountability work, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline cancellation, and currently the Chesterfield gas plant.

Blair St. Ledger-Olson received the Conservation Champion of the Year Award from Jay Ford, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Mary Rafferty, Virginia Conservation Network.

Blair stood out as a leading candidate for the Conservation Champ of the Year award due to her substantial contributions within the legislature and across the broader conservation community and was notably nominated by four individuals. During the last legislative session, Blair collaborated closely with VCN partners and allies to successfully shepherd energy efficiency legislation to completion. Beyond championing her own bills, she played a pivotal role in virtually every other piece of clean energy legislation that VCN supported. Recognized for her expertise and strategic guidance, other partners in the building frequently turned to Blair for updated information and advice on navigating the dynamics of lawmakers.

Transitioning to her current role with the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Blair continues to deepen her knowledge across a wide spectrum of conservation issues. Her proactive approach to learning and engagement underscores her comprehensive understanding of the environmental movement, emphasizing empowering our community in her advocacy efforts. Blair’s leadership is marked by her unwavering dedication to environmental protection and combating climate change. Known for her relentless energy and commitment, she tirelessly pursues progress.

Beyond her legislative achievements, Blair’s influence is evident in her holistic approach to environmental issues and her ability to see our movement as a whole. Her passion, expertise, and unwavering advocacy have earned her respect within our coalition and beyond, setting a high standard for environmental leadership.

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Virginia Conservation Network is a partnership of over 170 environmental organizations working together to create a powerful, diverse, highly-coordinated conservation movement in Virginia.