Damon Nagami, Chair
Damon Nagami was appointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board by former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon in August 2021 and reappointed by Speaker Robert Rivas in February 2025.
He is a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and senior director of equity and justice initiatives within NRDC’s Environment, Equity & Justice Center, which focuses on advancing community-driven solutions in partnership with frontline and environmental justice groups. Before this, Nagami worked at NRDC to increase equitable access to nature for low-income communities of color and protect open space and wildlife habitat across Southern California.
Nagami is also a former board chair of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, an equity-focused organization that has helped create 29 parks and gardens since 2002, serving more than 400,000 Angelenos annually. He also serves on the Los Angeles County Beach Commission, which advises county officials on policies, capital projects, and contracts relating to County-operated beaches.
Nagami holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. He lives in Los Angeles and enjoys fishing in the Eastern Sierra, singing, and playing music with his family band.
Tina Thomas, Vice Chair
Tina Thomas was appointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board by the Governor in February 2025. Thomas has been Of Counsel at Downey Brand LLP since 2023. She was Founding Partner at Thomas Law Group Sacramento from 2012 to 2023. Thomas has held multiple positions at Remy, Thomas, Moose, and Manley, LLP from 1982 to 2011, including Counsel and Managing Partner. She was an Associate Attorney at Remy and Associates from 1979 to 1982. Thomas is a Board Member at the Steinberg Institute, Sacramento Federal Judiciary Library, and Meristem, and Member Emeritus at the Sacramento Food Bank. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science from Stephens College.
Eric Sklar
Eric Sklar, of St. Helena, California, was appointed to the California Fish and Game Commission in June 2015 and reappointed in January 2017 and in March 2023. A Napa Valley vineyard owner, entrepreneur and former elected official, Eric Sklar and his family have been growing grapes in Napa Valley for nearly 50 years.
He is currently CEO of Fumé, a vertically integrated cannabis company he founded in 2017 located in Clearlake, California. He is also a director of Cambridge Acquisition Corp (CAQ, CAQUU, CAQUW - NASDAQ Global).
Eric was co-founder and Managing Partner (2005-2013) of Alpha Omega Winery in Rutherford, California. He founded and was Managing Partner (2013-2018) of Yount Ridge Winery in Oakville, California. He was Chairman and CEO of Burrito Brothers, Inc, a restaurant chain he founded in 1989 based in Washington, DC and sold in 1999.
From 2003-2010 he served on the St. Helena City Council – the last two years as Vice-Mayor. He is also a retired volunteer for the St. Helena Fire Department. In 2010, he was elected to the Board of the Napa Valley Vintners where he served as Treasurer and Vice-Chair, and from 2009-2011 he served as chair of the Napa Valley Vintners’ Community and Industry Issues Committee.
Eric received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of California at Berkeley in 1984, a Diploma in Business Studies at the London School of Economics in 1986, and a Master of Business Administration at Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 1997. Eric is a sailor, scuba diver, hunter and loves backpacking the trails of California.
His term on the Commission expires January 15, 2029.
Fran Pavley
Fran Pavley was appointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board by the Governor in February 2018. Prior to that she was elected to serve 14 years in the State Legislature. She served in the Assembly (2000-2006) as Chair of the Budget Subcommittee, 3 on Natural Resources and Transportation. In the State Senate, she was appointed to serve as the Chair of the Natural Resources and Water Committee from 2008-2016. She successfully led the legislature on water, air quality, natural resource protection, and climate change policies during her terms in office. Four of the 160 laws she authored include the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and AB 1493 (vehicle emission standards), as well as AB 32 and SB 32 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets laws that have created markets for new clean energy technologies.
Prior to serving in the State legislature, Fran served as the first Mayor of her hometown in Agoura Hills, an appointed member to the California Coastal Commission, and a member of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee. Currently, former Senator Pavley serves as an Environmental Consultant, and the Environmental Policy Director for the USC Schwarzenegger Institute where she continues to work on climate and water related policies. She also is a member of the board of the UCLA Law School Emmet Climate Center and CAL Clean Energy Fund.
Fran graduated from CSU Fresno and has a master’s degree in environmental planning from CSU Northridge. She and her husband, Andy, were both middle school teachers and still live in Agoura Hills, where they raised two children and four guide dogs.
Pavley currently works as an environmental consultant and serves as environmental policy director for the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, where she continues to focus on climate- and water-related policy. She is also a board member of the UCLA Law School Emmett Climate Center and the CAL Clean Energy Fund.
Pavley earned her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fresno, and a master’s degree in environmental planning from California State University, Northridge. She lives in Agoura Hills with her husband, Andy. They are former middle school teachers and raised two children and four guide dogs.
Joe Stephenshaw
Joe Stephenshaw was appointed as Director of the California Department of Finance by Governor Newsom in July of 2022. In this role, he serves as the Governor’s Chief Fiscal Policy Advisor. Prior to his appointment, Stephenshaw served in Governor Newsom’s Office as a Senior Counselor on Infrastructure and Fiscal Affairs.
Stephenshaw was Staff Director for the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee from 2017 to 2022. He held multiple positions in the California Legislature from 2008 to 2017, including serving as a Policy Consultant in the Office of the Senate President pro Tempore, a Special Advisor to the Speaker of the Assembly, and as a Budget Consultant for both the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Stephenshaw was a Budget Analyst for the California Department of Finance from 2005 to 2008.
Stephenshaw is a graduate of Menlo College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento.
Karyn Gear
Karyn Gear was appointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board by Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire in January 2025. Karyn spent nearly four decades with the California State Coastal Conservancy, including 26 years as the Conservancy’s North Coast Regional Manager.
While there, she worked closely with local, state, and federal agencies, tribes, and nongovernmental organizations to develop and manage resource enhancement, public access, and agricultural preservation projects, oversaw the acquisition of 150,000 acres of conservation lands, and served as the agency’s first tribal liaison.
In addition, Karyn served as an international board member of the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture for nearly two decades, including several years as the US Steering Committee’s vice chair. She also managed the formation and growth of the Great Redwood Trail Agency as its Interim Executive Director. Karyn retired from the Conservancy in July 2024.
Karyn holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of California Berkeley, and a master’s degree in geography with a concentration in resource management and environmental planning from San Francisco State University. She enjoys travelling to places near and far with her family, and hiking with her trusty dog Abby.
Meghan Hertel
Meghan Hertel is a dynamic conservation leader with a deep commitment to science-based wildlife stewardship and the conservation of California’s nature. She brings a forward-looking vision and a track record of delivering impactful, large-scale conservation initiatives that advance the state’s biodiversity goals. As Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, she leads a team of more than 3,300 dedicated to stewarding California’s fish, wildlife and habitats—driving conservation forward while supporting communities and balancing ecological health with the needs of a dynamic state.
Meghan joined the Wildlife Conservation Board in February 2026 upon becoming director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. She previously served for two years as deputy secretary for biodiversity and habitat at the California Natural Resources Agency. In that role, she led statewide efforts to conserve biodiversity and improve habitat through implementation of California’s 30x30 strategy. Her work also supported key initiatives such as Cutting Green Tape and the advancement of large-scale habitat restoration projects across diverse landscapes.
Prior to her service at CNRA, Meghan was the North American Director for Land Life, a technology-driven nature restoration company. She also spent more than a decade with Audubon California, where she held multiple leadership roles, including Director of Land and Water Conservation. There, she led statewide programs focused on inland water systems and working lands, building partnerships and strategies that balanced ecological health with community and economic needs.
Meghan holds a Master of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy from Clark University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida. Meghan’s leadership reflects a strong ability to translate science and policy into meaningful action. Her experience, energy and collaborative approach position her to guide the Department in safeguarding California’s extraordinary biodiversity while supporting sustainable use and public stewardship of its natural resources. Grounded in a lifelong connection to the outdoors, she brings a personal commitment to ensuring that nature is accessible, resilient and valued by all Californians. Her appointment marks an important milestone for the Department and reinforces its commitment to innovative, science-driven conservation at scale.