We’re proud to share that our executive director, Julie Morris, was recently recognized with a 2025 “Above & Beyond” award from the News Service of Florida, an independent news bureau providing breaking daily coverage of Florida’s government, economy and politics. The award honors the state’s 50 most influential women for their professional achievements and meaningful contributions to our state.
The honorees will be recognized at the News Service of Florida awards ceremony on October 8 at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Tallahassee, alongside leaders from across Florida’s public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Morris’ recognition is a testament to her decades of dedication to Florida’s natural landscapes.
With more than 25 years in Florida conservation, Morris brings extensive expertise in land, wildlife and working landscapes. She founded the Florida Conservation Group (FCG) in 2015 with fellow ranchers and scientists and has since represented private landowners in conserving more than 100,000 acres, along with thousands more for government entities. A rancher herself, Morris owns Lost Girl Prairie Ranch in Myakka Valley, where she manages her cow-calf operation.
Morris holds a master’s degree in wildlife ecology and conservation from the University of Florida and has worked in rural development and agriculture in the Dominican Republic and Kyrgyzstan.
She was integral in the establishment of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area, the newest addition in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Most recently, Morris negotiated a 16,000-acre conservation easement in Hardee and DeSoto counties in the underserved Peace River Valley. This conservation easement protects more than 11 miles of frontage along Horse Creek and is critical to both the drinking water for over one million people in Southwest Florida and the overall health of Charlotte Harbor.
We’re grateful for Morris’ leadership and commitment, which are driving the permanent protection of Florida’s water, wildlife and way of life. Her work ensures a healthier future for both the land and the communities that depend on it.