Lesford Duncan, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the outdoor industry dedicated to increasing equitable access to nature and the outdoors through community investment and groundbreaking research. Lesford is a collaborative leader in outdoor equity and youth development who has leveraged philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and programmatic best practices to promote the resilience and well-being of children, families, and communities.

Lesford previously served as the Chief Executive Officer for Greening Youth Foundation, an international nonprofit working to cultivate the next generation of diverse environmental leaders through workforce development. Prior to that he served as the Senior Director of Programs and Associate Executive Director of Outdoor Outreach, a San Diego-based nonprofit introducing youth to the transformative power of the outdoors.

With over a decade of experience in public management in both the government and nonprofit sectors, Lesford has worked collaboratively to lead and support coalitions and develop innovative programs addressing issues at the intersection of outdoor recreation, environmental justice, and health. He has led and collaborated on local, state, and federal public policy efforts to reduce barriers to outdoor access, advocated for equitable conservation and environmental justice, and promoted the health and well-being of communities.

Lesford earned his Bachelor of Science (BA) in Biology from the University of Florida and his Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy and Leadership from Loma Linda University. He currently serves as a board member of the Next 100 Coalition and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and is a Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity. Lesford is also an avid kayaker, ultramarathon runner, and mountaineer. Born to Jamaican parents who instilled in him the values of adventure, persistence, and curiosity, Lesford is proud to have placed a small Jamaican flag at Mt. Everest Base Camp. He has also summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, traversed the Grand Canyon, and kayaked through the swamps of the Everglades, all while encouraging youth of color to explore their world in new ways.