Crystal Diaz de Villegas
Crystal Diaz de Villegas is the Director of Engagement and Efficiency for the Chief Conservation Office at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) where she provides strategic direction, program delivery, operations and communications support for TNC’s global conservation work. This includes managing the Conservation Committee of the Global Board, the Conservation Leadership Team, and strategic communications for the Chief Conservation Office. She works to ensure effective and efficient progress towards TNC’s 2030 Goals, in partnership with a multitude of partners across TNC. She also serves on the Steering Committee for the Women in Nature (WIN) employee resource group after serving as lead for three years.
Some recent accomplishments include: establishing a prioritization process for funding highest-impact conservation work; launching a new messaging campaign to support the 2030 Goals; decentralizing project approvals that empowers local teams; helping to secure a US$350 million Green Bond; and successfully lobbying for expansion of parental leave.
Previously, she was the Coral Project Team Manager and Board Liaison for the Caribbean Division of TNC where she led a strategy and partnership development, as well as various fundraising efforts, for a new coral initiative that focuses on innovative conservation strategies.
Before joining TNC, Crystal was involved in fundraising, management, and executive search consulting for nonprofit clients. As an undergraduate, Crystal received her BS in biology with a minor in neuroscience from Duke University and she received her MBA from the George Washington University.