OAK HAMMOCK MARSH, MANITOBA — (Marketwire) — 05/25/12 — Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) Board Chairman Jack H. Hole and President Tom Worden announced today that, after an extensive continental search, veteran conservation leader Greg Siekaniec, will be joining DUC as Chief Executive Officer effective July 2, 2012.
“We are thrilled that Greg Siekaniec brings passion and visionary leadership to take Ducks Unlimited Canada to new heights, as well as champion our conservation mission for abundant wetlands and waterfowl for the benefit of all Canadians,” said Worden.
Currently, Siekaniec is Deputy Director for Policy for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). As part of its mandate, USFWS works with DUC through its partner organization Ducks Unlimited Inc. in the U.S. to deliver a comprehensive North American conservation strategy. Siekaniec–s career has included, among others, positions as the Assistant Director for the National Wildlife Refuge System and the Refuge Manager of Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
Also, Siekaniec worked on the prairies of North Dakota on a North American Waterfowl Management Plan project. As project manager of the Chase Lake Prairie Project and part of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture in North Dakota, he spent several years working with private landowners restoring wetland basins and improving their lands for waterfowl conservation purposes.
“In today–s landscape no one organization, landowner or agency can succeed on their own in conserving waterfowl populations for future generations,” said Siekaniec. “I look forward to promoting the valuable contributions and essential role that wetlands play in maintaining a healthy environment for the well-being of our community.”
Siekaniec said he is committed to working with the DUC–s Board, staff, partners and 144,000 supporters including 6,600 volunteers to help stop the alarming loss of wetland habitat in Canada and beyond.
To date, DUC has completed 9,112 habitat projects and conserved 6.3 million acres of wetlands and associated habitat.
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the leader in wetland conservation. A registered charity, DUC partners with government, industry, non-profit organizations and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl, wildlife and the environment. Learn more at ducks.ca.
See attached bio
Gregory Siekaniec became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service–s Deputy Director for Policy in July 2011. Mr. Siekaniec, a career service employee, previously served as the Assistant Director for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
As Deputy Director for Policy, Mr. Siekaniec provided strategic program direction and develops policy and guidance to support and promote program development and fulfil the Service mission.
As Assistant Director for the National Wildlife Refuge System, Mr. Siekaniec led efforts to prepare the Refuge System to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He oversaw a process to create a reinvigorated vision to guide the National Wildlife Refuge System for the next decade.
Before that, Mr. Siekaniec spent eight years as the Refuge Manager of Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses more than 2,500 islands and nearly five million acres.
Among his many achievements at Alaska Maritime Refuge, Mr. Siekaniec is credited with developing many restoration partnerships with national conservation organizations to restore island biodiversity and ridding islands of destructive invasive species – foxes and rats – that had nearly eradicated native seabirds and other wildlife. Alaska Maritime Refuge provides nesting habitat for approximately 40 million seabirds, which total about 80 per cent of Alaska–s nesting seabird population.
Mr. Siekaniec began his career at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge as a Refuge Clerk. He moved to management positions in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming in addition to Alaska. He was Deputy Chief of the Refuge System before taking over leadership at Alaska Maritime Refuge in 2001.
Mr. Siekaniec also worked in the prairies of North Dakota on a North American Waterfowl Management Plan project. He was the first Project Manager of the Chase Lake Prairie Project as part of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture in North Dakota. He worked with private landowners restoring wetland basins and improving their lands for waterfowl conservation purposes.
Mr. Siekaniec earned a Bachelor–s Degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. He completed the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program in 2008, the same year that he completed the Senior Executive Fellows Program at Harvard University–s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Mr. Siekaniec, his wife, Janelle and their two children enjoy spending time outdoors, and are looking forward to taking in the recreational opportunities across Canada.
Contacts:
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Gillian Potvin
National Manager, Media Strategy
Office: 204-467-3202 or Cell: 204-792-3678