Shelley Austin
Executive Director, Kootenai Environmental Alliance/Lake Coeur d’Alene Waterkeeper
Shelley has a degree in Economics from the University of Colorado and claims that helps her to think broadly and critically. She is an experienced non-profit manager: Executive Director for 4 organizations, development/marketing staff for others and a non-profit consultant to many clients for various projects. She served on Boards and fund raising committees for a number of organizations.
Her passion for working with environmental movement is driven by the notion that there is nothing more important than addressing stress on the environment, educating people on the issues and the impact of their behaviors, finding solutions, helping others understand the effects of indifference to environmental pressures, and creating a sense of empowerment with an informed and engaged constituency. As a donor and volunteer for environmental programs, she now contributes to her passion by raising money and bringing attention to the goals of the organization she’s associated with: Lake Coeur d’Alene Waterkeeper.
Shelley and her family ski, hike, backpack, fish, bike, kayak and travel. She co-managed the Crater Lake Ski Patrol and helped establish protocols for backcountry rescues and holds 3 avalanche certificates. Shelley says her love of nature started early. “I asked my dad why we didn’t go to the same church the neighbors went to, and he replied ‘We go to the mountains on Sundays.’ I took my first survival course at age 10…”