Doug Niemela

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Starting in 2008 with his work to pass the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment in Minnesota, Doug has over a decade of leadership with environmental nonprofits. For the last 6 years, Doug has served as an executive director taking on issues from climate change to renewable energy to playing a lead role in the fight to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from sulfide ore copper mining. Through this work he gained valuable insight in communications, marketing, and narrative-based motivation from partnerships with for-profit enterprises like Patagonia, Columbia, and many others in the Outdoor Industry. He is excited to bring cutting edge exploratory leadership and design thinking skills to H2O for Life.

Fun Fact: After having to scrap his initial honeymoon plans due to COVID-19, Doug and his partner Melissa went on a four-day, five-night dog sledding expedition in the Boundary Waters to celebrate their union!

Austin Alexander

VP, SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT, XYLEM INC.

Austin participated in H2O for Life as a high school student which led her on her current career path. She is currently responsible for Xylem's global sustainability programs, diversity and inclusion, and Xylem's corporate social value program, Watermark. Xylem is a water technology innovator focused on solving the world's toughest water challenges.