I Ling Thompson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the congressionally chartered charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management. As the Foundation’s first CEO, I Ling leads the organization’s inaugural work to improve awareness, access and stewardship of our public lands and waters for present and future generations.
As a mission-driven leader with more than two decades of expertise in global land and water conservation, I Ling has dedicated her career to fostering people’s love, connection and stewardship of the outdoors. I Ling led the game-changing 2012 Outdoor Recreation Economy Campaign, which significantly elevated and reframed the industry’s impact on the U.S. economy. She has earned recognition for her work, including receiving the 40 Under 40 Outdoor Industry Award. Before joining the Foundation, I Ling held leadership roles with The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land and the Outdoor Industry Association. She serves on the Board of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the Keystone Policy Center.
I Ling has long believed in the power of public lands and waters to unite, benefit and transform people. When not in Washington, DC, she can be found mountain biking, hiking with her dogs, fly fishing, exploring public lands and waters across the West – once she was even part of a group that held a Guinness World Record for the longest static cycling class. I Ling calls Grand Junction, Colo. home with her two dogs and husband Tim of 19 years, a retired law enforcement officer and avid hunter of big game.
