Meet Deirdre Green, ASF’s Executive Director of Regional Programs

Q: When did you start at ASF and what was your previous role?

A: I joined ASF in May 2022 as Nova Scotia Program Director, after first contributing part-time as the editor of Rivernotes. That experience really deepened my connection to ASF’s science, storytelling, and people—and gave me a huge appreciation for how much local conservation success depends on strong partnerships and clear communication.

Q: What does the Executive Director of Regional Programs do?

A: The Executive Director of Regional Programs oversees ASF’s conservation work across Eastern Canada—from Newfoundland and Labrador to Prince Edward Island. I work closely with our five Regional Program Directors, as well as the Director and Science Coordinator of Wild Salmon Watersheds, to design and deliver programs that protect and restore wild Atlantic salmon and their freshwater habitats.

It’s a role that’s all about connecting people, places, and priorities—making sure our regional work is aligned, well-supported, and contributing to ASF’s overall strategy. That includes guiding our teams, working with Indigenous partners, governments, and NGOs, supporting councils and the Board, and helping secure the resources that keep our work moving.

Q: What motivated you to apply for this role?

A: After three years as Nova Scotia Program Director, I saw firsthand how powerful ASF’s regional work can be when it’s connected to national goals. I wanted to help strengthen that network—to bring more collaboration, alignment, and communication across provinces and programs.

I’m deeply committed to ASF’s mission and to the people who deliver it every day—our staff, councils, affiliates, Indigenous partners, and volunteers. This new role is a continuation of work I love, just with a broader scope and a bit more responsibility. It gives me the chance to support the team, amplify their successes, and make sure regional voices continue to shape ASF’s direction.

Q: What are your goals in this new role?

A: My focus is on connection, clarity, and collaboration—both within ASF and across the broader conservation network. Some early priorities include:

• Supporting a smooth leadership transition and continuing to strengthen our regional team—we’re currently hiring Program Directors in both Quebec and Nova Scotia.
• Enhancing internal communication and coordination across Regional Programs, Wild Salmon Watersheds, and other departments to reduce silos and increase efficiency.
• Encouraging distributed leadership by having each Program Director lead a strategic file tied to our core pillars of science, engagement, and advocacy.
• Strengthening relationships with regional councils, affiliates, and the ASF Board so regional perspectives stay central to our work.
• Fostering collaboration with Indigenous and community partners, rooted in mutual respect and Two-Eyed Seeing.
• Expanding public engagement and highlighting key conservation efforts across Eastern Canada.

Ultimately, I want our regional programs to be as connected and cohesive as the salmon rivers we’re working to protect—each distinct, yet all flowing toward the same goal.

Q: What do you think is the most important thing for salmon conservation?

A: At the heart of salmon conservation is the health of whole watersheds. If rivers aren’t cold, clean, and connected, salmon don’t have a future. It’s about looking beyond single projects to the systems that sustain wild fish—and the people who care for them.

Relationships matter just as much. Whether it’s between organizations, governments, Indigenous communities, or citizens, lasting conservation happens when we share knowledge, respect different ways of knowing, and work together toward common outcomes.

Wild Atlantic salmon connect land, water, and sea. Protecting them requires the same kind of connection among us.