Our Team
Our success depends on the dedicated work of our staff and board.
Staff

- Vanessa Kritzer, Executive Director
- vanessa@walandtrusts.org
Vanessa is a lifelong conservation advocate who has dedicated her career to working at the federal, state, and local levels for social and environmental progress. She spent years working for nonprofits in Washington, DC, including on international land and human rights issues at the Latin America Working Group and on mobilizing people for environmental action at the League of Conservation Voters.
Vanessa holds MBA and MPA degrees from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. During graduate school, she was appointed by Governor Inslee to serve as the sole student member of the University of Washington Board of Regents. She also brings experience from the private sector, having worked at Microsoft on smart city and healthcare technology that helps make communities healthier, safer, and more sustainable. Vanessa is an elected member of the Redmond City Council, where she currently serves as Council Vice President. During her time on council, she has worked on local and regional conservation policy, including leading as Vice Chair of the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council and as a member of the King Conservation District Advisory Committee and the Lake Sammamish Kokanee ILA Management Committee.
She also serves on other regional boards engaged in public-private partnerships, sustainable economic development, and effective transportation policies, such as the Eastside Transportation Partnership and OneRedmond. Vanessa is a devoted mom and loves spending her free time taking her family out to play in parks and hike the trails near her home in Redmond and beyond. She also enjoys volunteering, supporting local art, and playing strategic board games.

- Kate Dolan, Program Coordinator
- kate@walandtrusts.org
Kate grew up in Kirkland, Washington and graduated from Whitman College with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Humanities. During her time in college, Kate interned with the Blue Mountain Land Trust, and developed a deep interest in the vital role landowners play in conservation initiatives.
After graduation, Kate moved to New Zealand and worked for two environmental organizations: the National Wetland Trust and Trees for Survival. While at the National Wetland Trust, she helped develop educational programming that highlighted the cultural and ecological significance of wetlands to New Zealand's landscapes. At Trees for Survival, Kate facilitated events between schools and landowners, which involved planting native trees along riparian areas. The collaborative experiences between community groups and landowners continued to fuel her interest in conservation across working landscapes.
After moving back to Washington, Kate spent a year working for a Seattle based software company where she honed her skills in engaging audiences and facilitating conversations. In her free time, Kate enjoys spending time hiking, writing, and traveling.

- Amy Lin Whitham, Conservation Policy Intern
- amy@walandtrusts.org
Amy grew up in Seattle, WA and recently graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington where she obtained a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies with departmental honors and a minor in Anthropology. During her time in university, she studied at Friday Harbor Labs where she learned about Indigenous Resource Management in the Salish Sea and building coastal resilience. Last summer she interned at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources creating educational materials for youth and engaging youth in outdoor activities.
Amy is passionate about reframing the public perception of the environmental movement, motivating people to work toward conserving the natural resources in urban areas including adaptive sea walls, green spaces, and rain gardens. She plans to attend graduate school where she will continue her studies in environmental policy, and work toward developing programs that benefit underserved communities. In her free time, Amy likes to read, kayak, play the guitar and play video games.

- Hennessy Rodriguez, Conservation Policy Intern
- hennessy@walandtrusts.org
Hennessy (she/her) graduated from the University of Washington in spring 2024 with a B.A in Community, Environmental, & Planning. She is originally from Sunnyside, WA, located in the Yakima Valley. She plans to continue to live in Seattle to pursue her career goals of becoming an environmental planner. She is passionate about changing the future of urban planning and learning more about helping the environment. Hennessy has recently finished a six month internship with the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association in forest restoration and is excited to build on her skills and learn more about conservation and policy. Hennessy loves fishing for some walleye on the Columbia River with her family and her dog Apollo.
Board of Directors
- Cullen Brady, President
- Bainbridge Island Land Trust
- Jeanette Dorner, Vice President
- Nisqually Land Trust
- Skip Swenson, Treasurer
- Kate Godman, Secretary
- Jefferson Land Trust
- Steve Cook, Immediate Past President
- Columbia Land Trust
- Hilary Aten
- Nathan Daniel
- Great Peninsula Conservancy
- Ryan Elting
- Whidbey Camano Land Trust
- Celisa Hopkins
- Cowiche Canyon Conservancy
- Mitch Long
- Kittitas Conservation Trust