Kellie Ralston has been appointed Vice President for Conservation and Public Policy at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), an international conservation organization based in Miami, Florida.
“We are excited to welcome Kellie to our team,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. “Her knowledge, experience and leadership will have an immediate impact on BTT’s efforts to conserve coastal habitats, improve water quality, and strengthen fisheries management.”
Ralston has served since 2015 as the Southeast Fisheries Policy Director for the American Sportfishing Association. Prior to her tenure at ASA, Ralston worked at Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida House of Representatives, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In these roles, she was involved in a range of environmental, water quality, and fisheries-related issues. Ralston also serves on the Governing Board of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, an appointment made by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2020, and NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee that advises the Secretary of Commerce. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in biology from Florida State University.
“I am thrilled to join BTT’s respected team, where strong science helps inform policy,” said Ralston. “I look forward to using my experience at the state and federal levels to achieve conservation goals that benefit our fisheries and the environment.”
BTT is an international organization founded in 1997 with the mission to conserve bonefish, tarpon and permit—the species, their habitats and the fisheries they comprise. This mission is pursued through science-based conservation, education and advocacy.
