Tricia Reilly Koch

From classrooms in Washington, D.C. to wildlife habitats around the world, my work is driven by a simple belief: To restore the health of our planet and combat the paralyzing effect of eco-anxiety, everyone must feel they belong in the work so there is knowledge, confidence, agency, hope and optimism. As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Conservation Nation, I’m pushing the boundaries of what “exploration” means by bringing it directly to the students who are most often left out of the conservation narrative and by supporting conservationists who are most often left out of the room.

My fieldwork happens not in remote locations, but in classrooms where students are deciding who they are and who they might become. Through our Academy, I help young people, many from under-resourced schools, meet role model scientists, analyze evidence, and discover that they, too, can shape the future of our planet. When a student says, “I didn’t know someone like me could do this,” that is the moment that fuels me. 

On the conservationist support front, I’m a huge believer in the unique model we created where the role model conservationists we’re using to inspire students are the very ones we’re supporting. So, we’re furthering their species-saving work, we’re amplifying their voices, and they, in turn, are reaching down and inspiring the next diverse group of future conservationists through our education programs. Our global conservation challenges require every perspective at the table. Diversity isn’t a value-add; it’s the only way we will innovate fast enough and boldly enough to protect the world we share. My work is about building an inclusive future, one student and one young conservationist at a time.

I came to this work through a lifelong belief that personal well-being is inseparable from the well-being of our planet. My career has always centered on helping people live healthier, more connected lives—whether through wellness initiatives, community programs, or mission-driven ventures. But over time, I realized that true well-being doesn’t begin with the individual. It begins with the world that sustains us. Clean air, water, food, and a sense of belonging all come from healthy ecosystems. When species disappear and habitats degrade, our own wellness erodes alongside them. 

I co-founded Conservation Nation because I wanted to address the root of the problem—not just treat the symptoms. I wanted to be part of something groundbreaking that could create community change and individual transformation at the same time. We developed our mission to do just that: to diversify and strengthen the conservation workforce and to make sure students, especially those from under-resourced communities, feel they have a place in protecting the planet. When a young person discovers that conservation isn’t reserved for someone who looks different or has more, but is something they can be part of right now, it’s so powerful. That sense of agency can change the trajectory of a life (and, taken together, of our planet).

I do this work because I believe deeply in the next generation. I believe in their capacity to lead, to innovate, and to care. And I want them to inherit a world where they can thrive. By protecting biodiversity, we’re not just saving species; we’re safeguarding our collective future. That is what keeps me moving forward every single day.