New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy to deliver keynote address at Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s 14th annual Women & Wildlife Awards
Five exceptional women to be honored for protecting New Jersey's rare wildlife on November 13, 2019 at Duke Farms
New Jersey’s First Lady Tammy Murphy will deliver the keynote address at Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s (CWF) 14th annual Women & Wildlife Awards. The ceremony will honor five outstanding women in the categories of Leadership, Inspiration, Education, Legacy and Service at Duke Farms in Hillsborough on November 13, 2019. The First Lady is a dedicated environmentalist and is passionate about supporting emerging women leaders.
“New Jersey has an incredibly diverse geography with robust forests, waterways, mountains and aquifers bordered by our magnificent coastline,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “The spectacular women being honored at the Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s Women & Wildlife Awards are an integral part of the effort to protect the wildlife and natural environment that make New Jersey so special, and I am honored to be among such inspiring, accomplished conservationists.”
The event continues CWF’s tradition of honoring women for their success in protecting, managing, restoring, and raising awareness for the State’s endangered and threatened wildlife species over the past 14 years. Proceeds will benefit CWF’s efforts to protect rare and imperiled wildlife.
“We are excited to welcome Tammy Murphy as the keynote speaker at the Women & Wildlife Awards” said David Wheeler, Executive Director of CWF. “Her deep commitment to environmental protection and dedication to supporting young female leaders embody the spirit of the event.”
The Leadership Award will be presented to Nellie Tsipoura, PhD, Senior Research Scientist and Director of Citizen Science at the New Jersey Audubon Society. Dr. Tsipoura has over 25 years of experience in bird ecology, behavior, and population biology. Highlights of her research include the role of people, contaminants and environmental forces – such as storms and erosion – on urban birds, shorebirds and colonial nesting birds.
Gretchen Fowles, GIS Specialist and Biologist at the NJDEP Endangered and Nongame Species Program, will receive the Inspiration Award in recognition of her wide ranging accomplishments, including overseeing the recovery of New Jersey's bobcats and spearheading the state’s Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) program.
The Education Award will celebrate Giselle Chazotte Smisko, Director of the Avian Wildlife Center, who leads over 100 wildlife education programs every year, sharing her passion for and knowledge of wildlife rehabilitation with thousands of people.
Wilma Frey, Senior Policy Manager at the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, will receive the Legacy Award in recognition of her five decades of leading environmental programs and planning advocacy projects. Wilma battled the PennEast Pipeline in New Jersey, was instrumental to the successful passage of the state’s Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act in 2004, and fought to stop oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The Service Award will be presented to Dorothy ‘Dede’ Manera, Senior Special Agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dede has used her investigative talents in service to New Jersey native species as well as exotic wildlife that were trafficked in our state. She has been part of an elite, undercover team of officers, conducted many successful enforcement efforts with New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife conservation officers, and selflessly dedicates her time to mentoring young conservation officers.
When asked what advice the honorees would give to those future leaders, the most common response was to be patient and persevere. Ms. Tsipoura said “Be persistent - there will be many hurdles along the way and progress is slow, but changes for the better do take place!”
Event reservations can be made online at conservewildlifenj.org/getinvolved/event/women/ or by calling Conserve Wildlife Foundation at 609-292-3707.
The 2019 Women & Wildlife Awards event sponsors include PSEG, Amy S. Greene Environmental Associates, Inc., Orsted, Civic Duty Partners, Inc., Merrill G. & Emita E. Hastings Foundation, Weeks Marine, Inc., Zoological Society of New Jersey, Inc., Sambol Family Foundation, Insurance Services International/ Kravitz Insurance Agency.
