Welcome to the Board: Meet ATCF's Newest Leaders
As ATCF approaches our 10-year milestone this September, we’re stepping into a defining moment, and bringing in new leadership to help shape what comes next.
Our Board of Directors isn’t just governance. It’s the engine behind our impact. This group of industry leaders plays a hands-on role in where funding goes, which projects rise to the top, and how we grow from a strong collective into a force that can meaningfully scale conservation across the travel industry. They vote on grant finalists, help unlock new funding and partnerships, and actively champion conservation within their own companies and networks.
That’s why we’re especially excited about the four new members joining the board this year. Each brings a distinct lens on how travel can drive conservation, and the credibility to move the industry forward. Together, they represent exactly where ATCF is headed, deeper industry alignment, stronger conservation outcomes, and a bigger, more coordinated push to protect the places that make travel possible.
We’re grateful to have them on board as we build toward the next decade of impact.
Read more about the ATCF Board of Directors and staff here.
Monika Sundem - Chief Executive Officer, Adventure Life
Monika Sundem is the CEO of Adventure Life, an experiential travel company crafting custom journeys and small-ship expedition cruises focused on human connection, cultural immersion, and responsible exploration. A Pacific Northwest native and "Adventure Lifer" for nearly two decades, Monika brings a rare 360-degree perspective on travel -- from the realities facing local operators to leading a global team with over a century of combined expertise and 3,000+ expeditions crafted for curious travelers.
Court Whelan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Natural Habitat Adventures
Nature has been a constant in Court Whelan's life. After earning his PhD in Ecotourism and Entomology at the University of Florida, Court led more than 60 expeditions across all seven continents. Today he guides nature expeditions with Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund, serving as Nat Hab's Chief Sustainability Officer and helping lead one of the world's most sustainable conservation travel enterprises.
Jim Kane, Director of Sustainability & Outreach, Exito Travel
Jim Kane is a change agent working at the intersection of food, travel, and impact. As Director of Sustainability for Exito Travel and founder of an award-winning tour operator, Jim has been an outspoken advocate for transformational travel -- from co-creating the Weavers Awards, which granted $60,000 to indigenous textile artists in Peru, to making Exito the first air-only specialist to offset 100% of their travelers' CO2 emissions.
Charlie Clark, Director of Philanthropy, Cotopaxi
Charlie Clark is a Portland-based leader with a passion for bridging the gap between funders and nonprofits. With experience building philanthropic programs at two B Corp and 1% for the Planet certified businesses, plus time spent on the nonprofit side, Charlie brings a rare dual perspective to his work. He holds a Master's in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University and spends his free time outdoors and making up games with his two kids.
