Join us for a cross-sector convening on waterfront access and equity, grounded in shared insight and designed to spark collective action.
Kathy Abbott
Boston Harbor Now
Kathy Abbott is the inaugural President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. She has led mergers, startups, and turnarounds across public and nonprofit organizations, with a career focused on expanding access to parks, open space, and environmental stewardship. Her leadership includes helping create Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park; launching the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the state’s first integrated park system; leading an independent campaign that increased funding for public parks; overseeing the transition of Massachusetts’ largest private park system; and significantly expanding the impact of New England’s only year-round public botanic garden. Kathy’s work spans local, national, and global partnerships across public, private and non-profit sectors, with a consistent focus on environmental, economic, and public health outcomes. She credits her success to strong teams and deep collaboration. Her experience as an executive and entrepreneur positions her to advance the positive impacts of Boston Harbor on the region. She attended Stockbridge, UMASS and Harvard.
Commissioner Nicole LaChappele
Nicole LaChapelle is the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Previously she served as Mayor of Easthampton since 2018. During her time as Mayor, Easthampton leveraged record-level grant funding to promote new affordable housing, protected green spaces, and strengthened infrastructure. She partnered with the Kestrel Land Trust to launch a unique initiative to build 90 units of affordable housing and conserve the vulnerable meadows, hayfields, and forests along the Manhan River. LaChapelle also partnered with the Land Trust again to secure 23 acres for the Mt. Tom North Trailhead Park. Prior to her time in office, LaChapelle spent over two decades working to support the interests of disabled and marginalized students. As a certified Massachusetts School Superintendent and Special Education Administrator, she went on to serve as the Chief of Pupil Services for Holyoke Public Schools in 2015, overseeing district special education services and related compliance functions. LaChapelle also served as a local attorney focused on civil rights advocacy, especially as it pertains to education and disabilities.
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Commissioner Diana Fernandez Bibeau
City of Boston
Diana Fernandez Bibeau, is the City of Boston Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and Deputy Chief of Open Space. Prior to that role, she served as Boston’s Deputy Chief of Urban Design for the Planning Department since 2022, bringing over 15 years of experience in the private and public sectors to the position, including a substantial design portfolio to advance equity, sustainability, and resilience through Boston’s built environment. Prior to joining the Wu administration, she practiced landscape architecture and design at Sasaki for over seven years, working on several significant projects, including the Frederick Douglas Memorial in Roxbury and coastal resiliency efforts in Charlestown and East Boston, and led large parks projects across the country, such as the Port of Los Angeles Wilmington Waterfront. She will also be making history as the first Latina to serve as Commissioner of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, responsible for leading over 300 full-time staff and the stewardship and programming of 2,200 acres of permanently protected open space.