Lesford Duncan, MPH, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Greening Youth Foundation, a national nonprofit that works to cultivate the next generation of diverse environmental leaders through connection to the outdoors and careers in conservation. Before his appointment at the Greening Youth Foundation, he served as the Associate Executive Director of the San Diego-based Outdoor Outreach. In addition, Lesford has a career background promoting the resilience of youth and communities by developing trauma-informed programs, ensuring access to behavioral health services, and advancing youth employment opportunities.

He has led and collaborated on local, state, and federal public policy efforts to reduce barriers to outdoor access, advocate for equitable conservation and environmental justice, and promote 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 is a board member of the Outdoor Foundation, Next 100 Coalition, and NOLS. He 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 Jamaican flag at Mt. Everest Base Camp. He has also summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, traversed the Grand Canyon, and kayaked through the Everglades swamps, hoping to encourage more youth of color to explore their world in new ways.