New Fish And Game Commission Executive Director

Photo courtesy of State of California Ocean Protection Council
Photo courtesy of State of California Ocean Protection Council

The California Fish and Game  Commission, which has been under fire from the state’s hunting community over a perceived lack of support for hunters’ rights, named Valerie Termini as its new executive director late Monday.

 

Here’s the news release:

The California Fish and Game Commission announces the hiring of Valerie Termini to serve as its executive director. Ms. Termini comes from California Ocean Protection Council staff where she has served as the fisheries policy advisor and as interim executive director.

“We look forward to Ms. Termini’s guidance at the dais,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. “We’ve heard from a number of stakeholders that the executive director should be up to speed with the Commission’s vast authorities and have specific knowledge of marine policy issues. Ms. Termini’s background brings precisely this expertise.”

“We’re very pleased that Ms. Termini has stepped up to serve this historic Commission,” said Commission President Eric Sklar. “She has shown real vision in addressing challenges and has demonstrated expertise in facilitating resolution to complex issues working with diverse groups of stakeholders. We are thrilled that she will be bringing this skill from her previous experience to the Commission’s work to the great benefit of the state.”

Ms. Termini will be the first female executive director in the Commission’s history. She begins on May 16.
A little more bio information on Termini from the State of California Ocean Protection Council:

Valerie Termini joined the Ocean Protection Council staff in October 2007 and serves as the fisheries policy advisor. Ms. Termini is responsible for developing, managing and implementing OPCs fisheries programs throughout the state of California.

In 2015, Termini served on detail to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Washington D.C. serving as a fisheries climate advisor and helped develop numerous papers and policies seeking to provide climate science to NOAA Fisheries.

Ms. Termini holds a Master of International Environmental Policy degree from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS). While a graduate student, she interned at the NOAA National Marine Protected Area Institute in Monterey and as a community fishery policy advisor for the Conservation Society of Pohnpei, in Micronesia. Upon receiving her master’s degree, Ms. Termini accepted a California Sea Grant fellowship at the ocean resources management program in Sacramento.

Before the OPC, Termini served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa working on environmental protection and education. Ms. Termini brings a diverse background and love of the ocean and outdoors to her work.

 Last week, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Russell Burns and Peter Silva to open Fish and Game Commission seats.