The Alaska Women’s Environmental Network was formed in 1994 after several women attended a national ‘Women in Conservation Leadership’ conference. These women became determined to develop similar conferences and also supply ongoing support to foster women’s leadership development in Alaska.

Founding Mothers

• Peg Tileston
• Martha Levensaler

AWEN’s Accomplishments and Past Programs

• Statewide conferences to promote leadership
• Training workshops for public process, providing testimony, writing letters and more
• Many networking opportunities including sustainable dinners, brown bag lunches, and lecture series
• "What’s Up" listserv that keeps everyone updated on Alaskan environmental issues, jobs, grants, and events.
• Network catalog of environmental contacts throughout Alaska
• Trainings in local communities, including work with Gwich’in Steering Committee to co-host advocacy trainings in villages to help protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• Aid in travel funding for Alaskans to meet with decision makers in Washington, DC with groups like the Gwich’in Steering Committee and Alaska Wilderness League
• Ambassador Program which funded leaders visiting rural Alaska for special events and lectures

Management and Funding
Formerly a program of the National Wildlife Federation, AWEN has always been managed by and affiliated with women who work for, are on the board of, or who volunteer for environmental organizations and agencies. Though under the NWF, AWEN was a self-funded and self-sufficient organization. At one point, AWEN had two paid staff: a manager that dealt with day-to-day efforts of outreach, finance, board organization and more, as well as a Rural Liaison to promote outreach to rural communities.

AWEN has had budgets well over $100k annually. Funding sources included grants and donations.

The Alaska Women’s Environmental Network was formed in 1994 after several women attended a national ‘Women in Conservation Leadership’ conference. These women became determined to develop similar conferences and also supply ongoing support to foster women’s leadership development in Alaska.

Founding Mothers

• Peg Tileston
• Martha Levensaler

AWEN’s Accomplishments and Past Programs

• Statewide conferences to promote leadership
• Training workshops for public process, providing testimony, writing letters and more
• Many networking opportunities including sustainable dinners, brown bag lunches, and lecture series
• "What’s Up" listserv that keeps everyone updated on Alaskan environmental issues, jobs, grants, and events.
• Network catalog of environmental contacts throughout Alaska
• Trainings in local communities, including work with Gwich’in Steering Committee to co-host advocacy trainings in villages to help protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• Aid in travel funding for Alaskans to meet with decision makers in Washington, DC with groups like the Gwich’in Steering Committee and Alaska Wilderness League
• Ambassador Program which funded leaders visiting rural Alaska for special events and lectures

Management and Funding
Formerly a program of the National Wildlife Federation, AWEN has always been managed by and affiliated with women who work for, are on the board of, or who volunteer for environmental organizations and agencies. Though under the NWF, AWEN was a self-funded and self-sufficient organization. At one point, AWEN had two paid staff: a manager that dealt with day-to-day efforts of outreach, finance, board organization and more, as well as a Rural Liaison to promote outreach to rural communities.

AWEN has had budgets well over $100k annually. Funding sources included grants and donations.