EUROPARC says goodbye to its Executive Director Carol Ritchie

After almost 17 years of dedicated service, Carol Ritchie will be leaving her role as Executive Director of the EUROPARC Federation.

Throughout her tenure, Carol has been a strong advocate for Protected Areas and has played an important role in supporting the work of the President, the Council, and our members. Her commitment to international cooperation and nature conservation has been evident in many of EUROPARC’s key initiatives and partnerships.

As she moves forward to new opportunities, we extend our sincere gratitude for her contributions and wish her every success in her future professional and personal endeavours.

On behalf of the EUROPARC Federation Council,

Michael Hošek
President

Please find below a message from Carol to the EUROPARC membership.

“After almost 17 wonderful years the time has come for me to say my goodbyes to the EUROPARC Federation. It has been my privilege to support, represent, advocate and lobby for your interests as well as share in your joys and challenges. Protected Areas are much more in the forefront of policy in Europe, and with high visibility within European institutions, thanks to our collective endeavours, than when I arrived in 2008.

To members across the network, I cannot thank you enough for your generous hospitality over the years, in the many parks and places I have had the great joy to visit. These treasured memories will stay with me. A special thanks goes to my leadership team colleagues in the Directorate who will ensure a steady hand as EUROPARC transitions to a new phase in its development.

We have all come a long way together, through financial crisis, covid pandemic and war on our doorstep, the creation of the European Nature Academy, the success of the Sustainable Tourism Charter and Transboundary programmes, the development of Healthy Parks Healthy People and the ever inspirational Junior Rangers and Youth+ are all things we can be proud of as a network. The unfailing camaraderie of Parks people across political and national boundaries and the fantastic conferences (and parties) are a testament to how we have shared, learned ad worked together for a better future for our nature and our people and I have been blessed to have been a part of that.

I wish everyone well in all your future endeavours.”

You can discover all members of the EUROPARC Directorate here.