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Suzanne Pelletier
Executive Director at Rainforest Foundation US
Suzanne Pelletier is the Executive Director of Rainforest Foundation US, a position she has held since April 2009.1 With over a decade of leadership at the organization, Pelletier brings extensive experience in environmental conservation and nonprofit management to her role.
Professional Background
Before joining Rainforest Foundation US, Pelletier served as the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the National Audubon Society.15 This experience likely provided her with valuable skills in fundraising and partnership development for environmental causes.
Education
Pelletier holds impressive academic credentials that align well with her current position:
- Master's in Business Administration from Columbia Business School
- Master's of Environmental Studies from the Yale School of Forestry1
This combination of business acumen and environmental expertise equips her to lead a complex nonprofit organization focused on rainforest conservation.
Leadership at Rainforest Foundation US
Under Pelletier's leadership, Rainforest Foundation US has achieved significant milestones in protecting rainforests and supporting Indigenous communities:
- The organization has supported Indigenous communities' land titling efforts across 10.9 million acres of rainforest in the Amazon and Central America.2
- In 2023, they helped secure 17 land titles in Peru through a strategic partnership, streamlining a process that typically takes years.2
- The foundation has also advanced conservation management plans for critical ecosystems in Guyana, covering nearly 6.6 million acres of untitled traditional lands.2
Pelletier has been actively involved in raising awareness about the importance of protecting Indigenous peoples in the fight against climate change. In September 2022, she penned an op-ed for the New York Daily News on this topic.4
As Executive Director, Pelletier oversees various aspects of the organization, including partnerships, institutional strengthening, land management planning and titling, policy, and campaigning.1 Her LinkedIn profile indicates she has over 500 connections in her professional network.3