Executive Director
International Dark-sky Association (IDA)
darksky.org
Ruskin Hartley joined the International Dark-Sky Association as its executive director in 2019. Originally from the United Kingdom, Ruskinholds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree from the University of East Anglia. He brings more than 20 years of conservation experience to IDAs work to protect the night sky.
Ruskin has spent his career directing conservation programs that protect land, water and ocean resources. He served as executive director of Save the Redwoods League, a non-profit dedicated to protecting and restoring the redwood forest. He also served as the president and CEO of Heal the Bay in Los Angeles, and as vice president of resource development at Fair Trade USA, an award-winning social enterprise seeking to alleviate poverty around the world. Ruskin has experience leading public-private partnerships and scientific collaborations, including his work to launch the Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative. He has seen firsthand that people are moved to protect places that inspire them and looks forward to bringing that energy to the beauty of the night sky–the ultimate shared global resource.