Welcome to Our Incoming Executive Director!
We are pleased to announce Jessica Sims as the incoming Executive Director of Virginia Conservation Network!
Jessica was selected for this role by our Board of Directors’ Executive Committee after a months-long national search. Born and raised in Central Virginia, she brings a life-long passion for protecting Virginia’s waterways, which has grown over a decade of experience leading campaigns to protect local communities’ breathing air and drinking water from the environmental harms of polluting fossil fuel infrastructure. The Virginia Conservation Network’s board of directors, executive team, and staff couldn’t be more proud and honored to bring one of our core Partners into this role.
“We are thrilled to bring on an Executive Director who truly embodies Virginia Conservation Network’s mission. Jessica has been dedicated to our work for over a decade, even earning VCN’s “Conservation Champion of the Year” in 2023 in recognition of her deep dedication to the fight against new fracked-gas pipelines and fossil fuel plants. We’re excited to bring Jessica’s dedication, creativity, and perseverance into this leadership role to propel Virginia’s environmental movement forward.” – Kendyl Crawley Crawford, VCN Board Chair
Continuing Our Mission and Vision
Jessica’s experience, track record, and deep commitment to supporting our local communities from environmental harms make her exceptionally prepared to lead the Virginia Conservation Network’s team, values, and mission. We are confident and excited about Jessica’s leadership in accelerating our progress toward building a more powerful, diverse, and coordinated conservation movement at a pivotal moment in Virginia’s history.Â
Since our founding as the Conservation Council of Virginia in 1969, Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) has grown to include more than 160 Network Partners across the Commonwealth. VCN is a facilitator of strategic action, a resource for Network Partners statewide, and a constant conservation presence in Virginia’s Capitol. Playing a unique role in Virginia’s conservation community, VCN helps the community speak with one coordinated voice. The organization and its staff focus on strengthening the conservation community as a whole and winning environmental victories that benefit all Virginians. Jessica’s leadership will undoubtedly amplify and expand on our mission, and her appointment underscores our long-standing commitment to centering communities in our fight to protect Virginia’s environment.Â
Meet Our New Executive Director
“I am honored and elated to join Virginia Conservation Network as the new Executive Director. The conservation community in Virginia is thriving, coordinated, and impactful, and I am thrilled to support organizations across the commonwealth to protect our communities, air, water, land, and species. Virginians work hard to protect the places and people they love, and I am so excited to work in service to empower communities across the state to make effective and lasting change.” – Jessica Sims
Jessica Sims will step into her role as Executive Director on February 2nd, 2026. We appreciate your ongoing support and partnership during this transition. Our board and staff leadership team are already working closely with Jessica, and she will join us in time to host our flagship Conservation Lobby Day on February 4th in Richmond, where she will greet advocates gathering from around the state to support strong environmental policy.
Jessica Sims interviews for VCN’s Conservation Lobby Day in 2024.
Jessica Sims joins Partners and VCN staff, Nicole Vaughan, for a legislator-constituent meeting at VCN’s Conservation Lobby Day in 2023.
Jessica Sims receives VCN’s “Conservationist of the Year” Award from Peter Anderson, Appalachian Voices, in 2023.