OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson has appointed environmental leader Mindy Roberts as executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, positioning the region for a fresh approach to ecosystem recovery grounded in tribal sovereignty and justice.
Roberts, who spent a decade leading the Puget Sound program at Washington Conservation Action, brings a rare combination of scientific rigor and collaborative leadership to the role. Her appointment, announced in early 2026, reflects the region's commitment to centering Indigenous knowledge in environmental restoration.
"Strong working relationships with tribes are essential to protecting the resources that depend on a healthy Puget Sound," Ferguson said in announcing the selection. Roberts' background—which includes teaching stream ecology at University of Washington Tacoma and partnering directly with tribal nations on conservation policy—makes her uniquely suited to navigate the region's most pressing environmental challenges.
The Puget Sound Partnership coordinates among hundreds of government agencies, tribal nations, scientists, businesses, and nonprofits on a shared agenda for Sound recovery. Under Roberts' leadership, the organization is expected to deepen its commitment to ecosystem restoration that centers environmental justice and Indigenous treaty rights.
"Science and policy must work together—and they must listen to the communities who have stewarded these lands for thousands of years," Roberts has said in describing her vision for the role.
The appointment arrives as the Puget Sound faces compounding pressures: warming waters, declining salmon populations, and competing development interests. Roberts' emphasis on collaborative science and tribal partnership offers a tested model for addressing these challenges while respecting the region's original stewards.
Her leadership is expected to accelerate implementation of the Partnership's recovery agenda while building stronger bridges between scientific institutions, government, and tribal nations.