Mark Fox
Director of External Affairs
The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i

Originally from the Island of Hawai‘i, Mark received his undergraduate and law degrees from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California.  Mark practiced law from 1989 to 1993 with the Carlsmith law firm in Honolulu working in a number of practice areas including finance, banking, bankruptcy, land use, civil litigation, and lobbying. Mark joined the Washington staff of U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye in 1994 handling issues related to the environment, agriculture, rural community development, energy and water development, the Pacific island territories, and justice and the federal judiciary.  A major focus of this work was assisting the Senator to develop and seek funding for projects and programs in Hawai‘i and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific to protect the region’s unique natural resources as well as create economic opportunities in rural communities.

In 2000, after six years with Senator Inouye’s staff, Mark joined The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i.  Mark’s work with The Conservancy includes government and agency relations, developing new program areas such as coastal marine conservation, and seeking out new resources to support the efforts of the Conservancy and its partners.  In that capacity, Mark has served as the Chair of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species and the Hawai‘i Association of Watershed Partnerships. Working with our state partners, Mark significantly increased funding for natural area protection in Hawai‘i; a major strategic effort of the Hawai‘i Program. He undertook main authorship of the Strategies section of our ecoregional plan. 

Mark is a member of the Bishop Museum Association Council, the Rotary Club of Honolulu.