Leading with Heart and Vision: Melissa Pitkin Named CEO
June 24, 2025
The Point Blue Conservation Science Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the appointment of Melissa Pitkin as our next CEO, effective June 23, 2025. Melissa succeeds CEO Mani Oliva, who left the organization for a different position in November, after five years of collaborative leadership.
Melissa was selected from a large pool of exceptionally qualified candidates following a nationwide search conducted by Potrero Group. In the end, Melissa was the clear choice for our next CEO because of her exceptional leadership and communication skills, proven track record of fundraising and programmatic growth, and her 27 years of dedication to our organization’s mission and people. Known for her humility, competence, resilience, and emotional intelligence that complement her strong science background, Melissa is well prepared to officially take the permanent CEO position after successfully serving as Acting CEO since Mani’s departure.
While at Point Blue, Melissa has led transformative projects that connect people to place, nature, and community, including establishing and growing our education, outreach, and training programs, such as the STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed) program, our apprenticeships across the organization, and our education programs that engage the public with our science. She has also led media engagement and science communication projects that have elevated the profile of our work among policy makers, funders, and other key collaborators. Melissa has been a critical leader implementing Point Blue’s overall strategy for over two decades. Her deep roots in California, her passion for conservation science, and her drive for community-building make Melissa an ideal leader for Point Blue’s next chapter.
When she accepted the position as CEO, Melissa said, “I am honored to serve as Point Blue’s next CEO. This organization has been my professional home for more than 20 years, and I am deeply committed to our mission and most of all to the people of Point Blue. I’m excited to lead Point Blue into its next chapter—building on our strong scientific foundation, expanding our partnerships, and advancing our efforts to create a connected and equitable future for nature and people.”
As CEO, Melissa will lead Point Blue’s mission to conserve birds, other wildlife, and ecosystems through science, partnership, and outreach. She will also continue to lead our new strategic focus of transforming conservation by addressing the convergence of environmental and social dimensions across communities and ecosystems. We call this Connected Conservation.
The Board of Directors gives a heartfelt thanks to Cleveland Justis and Andrew Leider at Potrero Group for their expert guidance throughout the search process. Thanks also to Anne Chadwick, our most recent Board Chair, who led Point Blue’s CEO selection team.
Congratulations, Melissa, we are thrilled to have you as Point Blue’s next leader.