The Ebb & Flow BLOG

Honoring a Legacy: Homegrown Ashley Demosthenes Heads to the National Stage

Lowcountry Land Trust is proud to announce that its longtime, fearless leader, Ashley Demosthenes, has been selected as the next President & CEO of the Land Trust Alliance. Among more than 200 candidates, Ashley was chosen to lead this national conservation organization that empowers and mobilizes nearly 1,000 land trusts to protect the places we need and love across America.

The Land Trust Alliance, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., represents a network of land trusts supported by over 250,000 volunteers and 6.3 million members nationwide. With staff based across the country, the Alliance has a far-reaching impact, ensuring the conservation of our nation’s most cherished lands for the benefit of all.

This monumental role marks a new chapter in Ashley’s remarkable career, rooted in the woods and waters of the Lowcountry. Shaped by her family’s decision to place a conservation easement on their ACE Basin land, she brings a deep, personal connection to conservation. After earning her BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont, Ashley began her career with The Nature Conservancy in 1998, where she spent 15 years conserving both private and public lands from the ACE Basin to the Santee River and the Lowcountry to the Upstate.

In 2013, Ashley joined Lowcountry Land Trust as Director of Conservation, bringing her vision and expertise to diversify conservation tools and expand the organization’s reach. In 2015, she was named President & CEO and became the longest-serving executive leader in the Land Trust’s history. Over the past decade, Ashley has transformed the organization, positioning it as a leader in both landscape-scale and community-centered conservation.

Under Ashley’s leadership, Lowcountry Land Trust achieved transformative milestones, including:

  • Expanding the Reach of Conservation:  From steering the conservation program to achieve a new milestone of protecting 100,000 acres in 2013 to surpassing 163,000 acres in 2024, the Land Trust increased its conserved land portfolio by 63% during Ashley’s decade of leadership—ensuring the preservation of these critical Lowcountry landscapes and waterways for generations to come.
  • Building Bridges with Corporate Leaders: Ashley’s creation of the Business Leadership Council in 2015 united conservation champions and corporate partners, fostering regional collaboration that has strengthened land protection efforts and supported the local economy for over a decade.
  • Inspiring a New Era of Community Engagement: In 2015, Ashley and her team launched a bold rebranding effort that invited the community to take a more active role in conservation. In 2024, the Land Trust hosted 37 community engagement events, bringing together people from across the region to celebrate and safeguard the soul of the Lowcountry.
  • Forging a Stronger Organization: The 2021 merger with East Cooper Land Trust was a strategic leap forward, broadening Lowcountry Land Trust’s impact and solidifying its commitment to community-centered conservation with dedicated staff.
  • Breaking Ground on the Lowcountry Center for Conservation: Thanks to the vision and donation of land by Mrs. Emily Ravenel Farrow and Ashley’s effectuation, this hub for conservation innovation will open in 2025, catalyzing collaboration and environmental stewardship.
  • Advancing the Angel Oak Preserve: Because of Ashley’s leadership and camaraderie, Lowcountry Land Trust and the City of Charleston laid the groundwork for the future Angel Oak Preserve. In 2020, the organization hired capacity, engaged the local community, and began the design and planning process.

 

As Ashley steps onto the national stage, Lowcountry Land Trust enters this leadership transition from a position of strength and stability. The Board of Trustees will lead a thoughtful search for the next President & CEO, supported by an experienced and dedicated senior leadership team. Sydney Cook, the Land Trust’s current Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel, will serve as the interim President & CEO. 

On behalf of the board of Lowcountry Land Trust, we enthusiastically recognize our President & CEO, Ashley, for her devotion to the Lowcountry, the state of South Carolina, and now nearly 1,000 land trusts across the nation,” said Bob Baldwin, Chair of the Lowcountry Land Trust Board of Trustees. “The leadership she showcased here, and the stable and growing position in which she leaves the organization will serve to strengthen the conservation of our country’s landscapes and waterways. Again we congratulate her on selection as President & CEO of the Land Trust Alliance.

Ashley’s legacy leaves Lowcountry Land Trust stronger than ever, poised for continued growth and success. Her leadership has been a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and community. While we will miss her visionary guidance, we are excited to see the impact she will have on land conservation nationwide through her work at the Land Trust Alliance.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ashley for her decade of intentional leadership and unwavering commitment to protecting the Lowcountry’s natural and cultural heritage.

Stay tuned for updates on the transition process and the continued work of Lowcountry Land Trust. Together, we will honor Ashley’s legacy by building on the strong foundation she has created.

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