Drew Slattery has joined the Thornburg Foundation as Land Policy Officer, bringing fifteen years of experience in regenerative agriculture, conservation, and rural development.
SANTA FE – The Thornburg Foundation announced that Drew Slattery joined the Foundation as its Land Policy Officer on November 2, 2026. Slattery brings fifteen years of experience in regenerative agriculture, conservation, and rural development, including service as a U.S. Peace Corps agriculture extension agent in Zambia.
Slattery will lead the Foundation’s Land Initiative, bringing experience working with farmers, ranchers, conservation partners, and funders to strengthen the resilience of working lands and agricultural communities.
“Drew understands both the practical realities producers face, and the partnerships needed to advance conservation at scale,” said Allan Oliver, President of the Thornburg Foundation. “His experience translating conservation goals into programs that work for farmers and ranchers will be invaluable as we advance our Land Initiative.”
Most recently, Slattery served as Director of Business Partnerships at AgSpire, where he designed regenerative grazing and rangeland resilience programs. His work connected farmers and ranchers with technical and financial assistance to strengthen cropping, grazing, and herd management systems. He also led producer recruitment and enrollment and managed multi-year program budgets.
Previously, at Planet Labs PBC, Slattery managed agricultural accounts and client relationships covering millions of acres of satellite-monitored working lands and rangelands.
At Trust in Food/Farm Journal, Slattery helped establish two national working-lands and conservation-agriculture coalitions, securing multi-year founding partner commitments. He led campaigns that engaged hundreds of producers and landowners and enrolled millions of acres in conservation programs. Through national symposiums and producer peer-learning events, he brought together farmers, ranchers, agencies, corporate funders, and researchers to share knowledge and advance conservation practices.
“Growing up on a cattle operation taught me that conservation has to work for the people who manage the land every day,” said Slattery. “I’m excited to work alongside New Mexico’s farmers, ranchers, and conservation partners to support practical solutions that strengthen working lands and rural communities.”
Raised on a cow-calf operation in Texas, Slattery has spent much of his life working in the beef industry. He holds a Master of Agriculture in International Agriculture from Oklahoma State University, with a focus on farmer behavior change, technology adoption, and rural sociology, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Tarleton State University.
Founded in 1999, Thornburg Foundation is a family foundation based in Santa Fe that seeks to advance systems change that serves the public good. The Foundation uses an evidence-based strategic approach to make grants to nonprofits focused on K-12 Education, Water, Land and Agriculture, Pursuing Public Funds, Housing, and Homelessness. For more information, visit thornburgfoundation.org.