Leda Huta

Leda Huta is a seasoned director with more than 25 years in the environmental movement. Leda came to Waterkeepers Chesapeake in 2023 from the Endangered Species Coalition (ESC) where she has led the national 400-group coalition since 2006. While at ESC, Leda transformed the organization from a watchdog group to a proactive and inclusive movement addressing the root causes of the biodiversity crisis. Leda is a champion for women’s leadership and advancing equity and inclusion in the environmental movement. She co-founded EcoWomen in 2004 and has participated in several women’s leadership programs. She centered justice, equity, diversity and inclusion at ESC and co-wrote two reports on this issue, including a report that demonstrates how biodiversity’s benefits are an inequitably distributed human right. Leda has a background in environmental science and a Master’s in environmental law and policy from the Vermont Law School. She is a lifelong Marylander who has spent countless hours kayaking and paddleboarding on local waterways. She now lives along Sligo Creek. In addition to her passion for protecting critical environmental resources, Leda has taught yoga since 2011 and is fluent in Spanish and Ukrainian.