Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust welcomes new executive director as longtime leader retires
The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) is entering a new chapter as Executive Director Stacie Lloyd retires after more than three years at the helm and another longtime community leader steps into the organization’s top role.
Founded to conserve ecologically significant lands within the Mississippi River and Lower Madawaska River watersheds, MMLT currently protects nearly 1,740 hectares of forests, wetlands and other critical habitats throughout eastern Ontario.
The conservation organization announced on Thursday, June 18, 2026, that Ramsay Hart has been hired as its new executive director following a search process conducted by the board of directors. They noted that the transition comes at a time of significant growth for the land trust, which now protects more than 4,300 acres of ecologically important land across eastern Ontario.
According to MMLT, Stacie Lloyd has left the organization in a strong position after overseeing a period of expansion that included the acquisition of four new properties in 2025 alone. The organization now stewards 17 protected properties spanning more than 4,200 acres and MMLT President Stephen Kotze credited Lloyd with helping fuel the organization’s trajectory.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to Stacie for her excellent leadership,” Kotze said. “We have grown significantly in our impact in recent years, and that is due in large part to her hard work, vision, and collaborative approach.”
Lloyd’s final day with the organization was on June 18 and after retirement, she plans to spend more time with family, care for her small farm and pursue new adventures. To ensure a smooth transition, Hart and Lloyd have been working together during a handover period.
Kotze added that the board is enthusiastic about Hart’s arrival as the organization looks to continue expanding its conservation efforts. “We are excited for him to bring his extensive knowledge and experience to the Land Trust as we pursue our ambitious goal of doubling our impact in the coming years,” he stated.
According to MMLT, Hart is well known across the region through his previous role as executive director of The Table Community Food Centre in Perth. In addition to his work in the non-profit sector, he brings extensive experience in environmental and conservation initiatives and is described by many as an avid naturalist.
“Joining the MMLT feels like a homecoming for me, as I’ve spent most of my career in the environmental and conservation sector,” Hart shared. “I am thrilled to be joining a thriving organization with ambitious goals, as well as the capacity and momentum to achieve them.”
With Hart now taking the reins, the organization is hopeful to see continued growth in the coming years as it continues its mission of land conservation and environmental stewardship.