CRWA Announces New Board Leadership, Honors Local Leaders at 57th Annual Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 31, 2023

BOSTON, MA––New board leadership will be taking the helm at Charles River Watershed Association! At the organization’s 57th Annual Meeting, members elected Toni Hicks and Peter Fernandez as CRWA’s new president and vice president. Hicks and Fernandez were nominated for leadership after current board leaders Linda McLane and Lance Campbell announced they would be stepping down at the end of their terms. 

Toni Hicks, a Newton resident, is a public interest attorney with significant nonprofit management experience. Her previous roles include Director for Public Service and Pro Bono at Boston University School of Law and founding Director of the Senior Fellows Program at Conservation Law Foundation. Hicks is a volunteer nonprofit consultant with Empower Success Corps, where she also serves on the board and co-chairs the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging committee.

“I have lived in the Charles River watershed for over 20 years and associate so many happy moments with being on or near the river,” says Toni Hicks. “Highlights include running along Memorial Drive, skating at Auburndale Cove, learning to row during the pandemic, watching the Head of the Charles, hiking through Medfield’s Charles River Reservation, celebrating the Fourth of July, as well as taking strolls and lunch breaks on the Esplanade. CRWA plays such an important role in protecting not just the river itself, but the entire watershed, from environmental harm and climate impacts. It’s truly an honor to be stepping into the role of board president.”

Peter Fernandez, a Lexington resident, is an experienced software product manager who brings strong analytical and creative thinking skills to CRWA. His passion for environmental causes spans his entire life since his early years experiencing the Redwood Forest of Northern California. A yoga instructor, performing musician, and playwright, Fernandez also volunteers for the Appalachian Mountain Club family committee and has run the Boston Marathon for the American Liver Foundation. 

Outgoing board president Linda McLane has served on CRWA’s board since 2011, leading the organization for the past six years. Lance Campbell joined the board in 2018 and has served as vice president for the past two years. Under their leadership, the organization has grown significantly in both size and impact. McLane and Campbell will remain active members of the board. Board clerk Larry Yu was also reelected to serve another term at the Annual Meeting.

“I am so grateful for the incredible leadership of Linda McLane and Lance Campbell over these last few years, especially as we weathered the pandemic to come out an even stronger organization,” says Emily Norton, Executive Director of CRWA. “They have set up a strong scaffold for Toni and Peter to build upon as we work together to tackle our remaining obstacles to a cleaner, healthier Charles River.”  

Several individuals and organizations were also honored at the meeting for their extraordinary commitments to bettering the Charles River watershed. 

Conservation Law Foundation’s Senior Counsel Peter Shelley was presented with CRWA’s premier award, the Anne M. Blackburn Award, for his career-long dedication to environmental protection and restoration. The Town of Milford, Massachusetts received the Clean Charles Award for their efforts to reduce stormwater pollution by constructing green stormwater infrastructure at Milford Town Park. Two awards were given to individuals who played key roles in passage of the Public Lands Preservation Act: the Citizen Activist Award went to Elizabeth Saunders on behalf of her father, long-time activist Phil Saunders, and the Rita Barron Public Official Award went to state representative Ruth Balser of Newton. Students from the Brandeis University Creativity, the Arts, and Social Transformation Program’s Design Lab received CRWA’s Young Leaders Award for their Charles River oral history project. Finally, outgoing board president Linda McLane was honored with CRWA’s Special Recognition Award.