Board Members
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Peet Foster – Beekeeper
Board Emeriti
Linda Ferguson
Chris Filmer
Den Frelinghuysen
Charles Goodyear
Shirley Nichols
Terrie Wood
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Peet Foster – Beekeeper
Board Emeriti
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Elizabeth moved to Darien in 2015 with her husband David and two sons. She is a native of Ithaca, NY and a 1992 graduate of Cornell University with a BS in Design and Environmental Analysis. Elizabeth practiced commercial interior design with the architectural firm Swanke Hayden Connell up to 2002, and has been very active in several school Parent Associations, including serving as Treasurer. She and her family spend part of the summer on Twin Lakes in Salisbury, CT and their 1766 home in Westbrook, CT that they have been restoring since 2002. In addition to interior design, Elizabeth enjoys graphic design, painting, gardening, walking their tireless 3-year-old lab and playing tennis. She and David have been members of the Darien Land Trust since 2015 and have enjoyed the annual Farm to Table Dinner.
Amy has lived in Darien for 21 years with her husband and two sons. Now President of the Board, Amy previously chaired the Outreach Committee, where she coordinated events to educate and inspire the community. Amy launched the Walk Your Land Trust series in collaboration with neighboring land trusts in New Canaan, Norwalk Stamford, and Wilton to broaden members’ understanding of our shared efforts to preserve land and improve its environmental value. Amy produced several video series with experts on conservation issues for the Land Trust website as well as a video series to celebrate the Land Trust’s 65th anniversary. A veteran magazine journalist, Amy now enjoys writing for regional magazines as a contributor to Moffly Media, writing for Stamford Magazine and Darien, New Canaan & Rowayton Magazine. She is a graduate of Connecticut College and the Radcliffe Publishing Course.
After many years in Manhattan, Julie and her husband were drawn to Darien’s natural beauty and its coastal waters and became Darien residents in 2011. Julie has spent over twenty years practicing private equity and hedge fund law. In 2020, she decided to pursue a lifelong desire to focus her time and attention on conservation. Julie serves on Darien’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Waters and heads the Commission’s contributions to Save the Sound’s Unified Water Study of Long Island Sound. In the fall of 2022, she completed a Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Ecosystems from Harvard University. She also has degrees from Middlebury College, William and Mary School of Law, and Durham University in England. Julie can often be found hiking one of the many trails around the tri-state area, photographing nature, sailing on the Sound, traveling to far-flung locations around the globe, or enjoying the company of her husband and their two cats.
John joined the board of the Darien Land Trust in 2015. He served as Co-President for two years and as President from 2021-2022. John and his wife Dale have been residents of Darien for 20+ years where they have raised their three daughters, all Darien High School graduates. John has actively supported local organizations including Joshua House Fund, ABC in Darien, Darien EMS – Post 53 and the Fresh Air Fund. Appreciation for open space and the integration of natural habitats is driven by living earlier years in densely populated metropolitan areas.
Serena has lived in Darien since 1996 with her husband and four children, with a seven year interval in Boulder, CO, where she developed her passion for the outdoors and its preservation. In 2020, Serena was hired as the Development Advisor to the newly formed Lake Agawam Conservancy in Southampton, NY, a non-profit organization dedicated to reviving the lake, its watershed, and its surrounding ecosystems to protect human health and ecological vitality. Serena has considerable experience implementing the planting of bioswale gardens and looks forward to working with the Land Trust on new endeavors. Serena is currently earning a Certificate in Sustainability from UCLA which she hopes to complete in 2025.
Kevin and his wife Jyotsna have lived in Darien since 2018. They love sharing the outdoors with their two children, often observing bird and aquatic life on their pond. Kevin is active in Darien youth sports, coaching lacrosse and soccer. He currently runs an energy investment fund and previously held portfolio manager roles at Graham Capital and Taconic Capital Advisors. Kevin earned an MBA from Columbia Business School in 2010 and a BA in History from Connecticut College in 2001.
Emma has lived in Darien since 1996 with her husband and three children. Her childhood was spent in the beautiful landscapes of Cape Town. In South Africa, Emma saw how poor environmental policies can destroy pristine landscapes. This experience shaped her commitment to sustainability. Emma studied marketing at the Central College of Commerce in Glasgow, Scotland. She applied her organizational skills as a project manager in the banking sector, then transitioned to a role at Crate and Barrel, focusing on innovative design, merchandising and sustainability. Emma is passionate about preserving the environment for the next generation through active stewardship and community engagement.
Amy has lived in Darien since 1992 with her husband and three children. She has been active with the Parks & Recreation Commission and has served in various capacities for Person-to-Person, the Darien Nature Center, Tokeneke Club and local schools. Amy has 42 years of experience as a legal executive. As a Senior Managing Director at Hire Counsel, Amy works with the nation’s important legal departments and law firms on eDiscovery for large scale legal matters including insurance claims, construction litigations, antitrust, internal investigations, SEC investigations and EEO litigations. A passionate conservationist, Amy hopes to bring her skills to the Land Trust to advance their mission.
Peter has lived in Darien since 1998 with his wife, Amy, and their three children. He recently retired from Morgan Stanley, where he was a senior leader in the Investment Management business. He spent the majority of his 36-year career in real estate fund management, focused on portfolio management, capital markets, finance and operations. As CFO for its Global Real Assets business, Peter was also responsible for Sustainability initiatives in assets across 20 countries. He is an avid outdoorsman and believes preserving the green space around us is vitally important to the value of our own land and our daily experience. He grew up in Katonah, NY and graduated from Dartmouth College.
Ron and his wife, Suzanne, have been residents of Darien since 2004 where they have raised their three children, all Darien High School graduates. Ron is a passionate conservationist, outdoorsman, sports enthusiast and community volunteer. Over 15 years, he coached multiple youth sports including football, baseball, softball and YMCA basketball. He and his family have been regular participants in the Feed My Starving Children program. He is a lifelong supporter of conservation activities to protect and preserve wildlife habitats. Ron is currently a software sales executive with a global technology company and has held prior leadership positions with American Express, Time Warner and WPP.
Emily has long known about the Darien Land Trust through her community involvement. She is passionate about protecting Darien’s limited open space in the face of rapid development and eager to learn more about local ecology and help promote the sustenance of native species in our area.
Emily grew up in the Silvermine neighborhood of New Canaan and, along with her husband of 22 years, has raised their three teenage children in Darien. She holds a BA in International Business from Lehigh University and an MIA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. For several years, she served on the Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust Operating Board, which oversees all scouting activities and properties in Darien. Since 2022, Emily has served on the RTM (District 2) and the Planning, Zoning, and Housing Committee. She works as a Certified Sales Designer with Closets By Design and enjoys tennis, design, running and hiking. She recently climbed Mt. Washington with her daughter and enjoys the tranquility of Vermont where her family spends time each summer. Emily welcomes the opportunity to contribute her energy and experience to the Land Trust’s mission.
Sunil has lived in Darien since 2014 with his wife and two children. Since 2016, he has worked as founder and CEO of Proyash Capital Management. As an independent wealth manager using the Charles Schwab platform and a Certified Financial Planner, he develops and oversees relationships with high net worth individuals and small businesses. Sunil attended Cologne Business College in Germany and is fluent in German and Hindi. He earned his MBA from Thunderbird Business School in Arizona and is a chartered financial analyst. Sunil has been a frequent volunteer in stewardship and trail fixing at Selleck’s Woods and the DCA Bird Sanctuary. Sunil would like to make a difference in the community through his passion for nature preservation.
Reid grew up in Darien and now lives here with his wife, young son, and newborn daughter. His family loves spending time outdoors—gardening, exploring local trails, and enjoying the beach. Their focus on native landscaping and sustainability has deepened his appreciation for practical conservation and fostering community awareness around environmentally responsible choices. Professionally, Reid leads the North America Private Equity team at Mercer, advising institutional investors on private equity strategies, including impact- and climate-focused investments such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and conservation-aligned timberlands. Though his formal training is in finance, Reid is passionate about environmental stewardship and has developed a strong understanding of conservation principles through research and personal practice.
Nick is a Director of M&A and Corporate Development at Centene where he is focused on helping oversee investment, business strategy, and portfolio management. Previously, Nick spent 10+ years working in healthcare investing across various private equity and corporate industry roles.
Nick is a dedicated Darien citizen and community participant. He attended the University of Pennsylvania where he received a B.A. in Economics and Urban Development, as well as a member of Penn Sailing and the West Philadelphia Tutoring Program. Post college, Nick moved to New York and then received an M.B.A. from Johnson School of Management at Cornell. Nick currently serves on the Board of the Libraries at the University of Pennsylvania.
Caitlin has lived in Darien since 2008 with her husband and two daughters. She has served in volunteer capacities for OPUS, Person-to-Person, Tiny Miracles Foundation, the OxRidge PTO and on the Strategic Planning Committee for the YWCA. A business management major from Pine Manor College, Caitlin’s career included marketing and management positions. She served as Director of Marketing and Communications for the Washington DC Chamber of Commerce and later as Executive Director for Fundraising and Public Relations for Community Counseling Services in Washington, DC and NYC. Her most recent position was Deputy Executive Director at the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Caitlin would like to fortify the mission of the DLT with her skills in development and marketing. She is passionate about the urgent need to conserve our most precious resource, nature, at a time of rapid change and development, and to protect land from development.
In 2024, the Darien Land Trust was excited to welcome Juliet Cain as an Adviser. In her role, Juliet will guide the Land Trust on expansion and enhancement of meadows and woodlands on its properties using native plants, shrubs and trees, assist with formulation and management of long-term goals and objectives, and advise generally on stewardship best practices.
Juliet has been a resident of Darien for almost 20 years. Since retiring from the practice of law in New York City in 2012, she has focused on environmental issues. She is a cofounder of the Darien Pollinator Pathway which seeks, through events and publications as well as through advocacy at the state and local level, to eliminate the use of pesticides in our yards and public spaces, and to restore pollinator populations with native plantings. The DPP has helped create native gardens for residents and, with grant funding, has undertaken several native tree plantings in town.
Juliet served on the Policy on Resilient Forests for CT’s Future (the PRFCT Future) working group 2021 – 2022 and on the CT GC3 Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry working group in 2022. She was Chair of the Conservation Committee of the Garden Club of Darien and Zone Representative for the Conservation Committee of the Garden Club of America 2020 – 2022. As former Chair of the Darien Beautification Commission, Juliet spearheaded the native plantings on the slopes at the Darien Town Hall. Juliet is an accredited organic land care professional certified by CT Northeast Organic Farming Association.
Laney has lived in New Canaan for 25 years where she and her husband raised their triplets. She recently retired from a career in investment banking and asset management, having worked at JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. With more time for her passion for photography, Laney has recently donated her talents to the Darien Land Trust and the New Canaan Land Trust, where she was the official photographer for the 2020 New Canaan Sculpture Trail. She is also the volunteer coordinator for Food Rescue US/Fairfield County.
Nicole has lived in Darien for six years and has also worked in town for eight. She is editor-in-chief; media/government relations director for Friends of Animals, an international animal advocacy group. She brings 18 years of journalism experience to FoA’s Action Line magazine and to the front lines—protesting and documenting atrocities against animals. Nicole also helps direct FoA’s legislative outreach. She enjoys horseback riding at New Canaan Mounted Troop, photography, wildlife watching and wild places, especially the properties protected by the Darien Land Trust. She has recently become a volunteer photographer for the DLT.
