Irby Named New Director of Operations for DU’s National Conservation Efforts

Ducks Unlimited has named Lisa Irby the new director of operations for conservation at its Memphis-based national headquarters. Irby will focus on DU’s land programs and support national budgeting, strategy and business-planning efforts. She will also be DU’s staff representative for the North American Wetlands Conservation Council.

“I am excited to serve the conservation team in this new capacity,” Irby said. “Coming up from a regional office, I hope to offer different insight into DU’s on-the-ground habitat delivery. I am looking forward to working with headquarters staff and DU volunteers across the country.”

Irby’s tenure with DU began in 2008 as director of conservation services for the Great Plains Region, home to North America’s most critical breeding and nesting grounds for waterfowl. She will make the transition to DU’s headquarters in March.

“Lisa has had a significant and positive impact on DU’s conservation work in the Great Plains Region and nationally,” said DU Chief Conservation Officer Paul Schmidt. “Her business acumen and can-do attitude will be a great addition to our national staff in Memphis.”

Irby earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Portland State University and a Master of Business Administration from Washington State University. She is a Michigan native.

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent’s waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservation. Thanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.