Maine Audubon Advocacy Director, Francesca “Ches” Gundrum, is a powerhouse at the State House—and her leadership is earning well-deserved recognition. On September 17, 2026, the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) honored Ches with its inaugural Pete Didisheim Conservation Leadership Award for Advocacy at its 2026 Conservation Leadership Awards ceremony.
We’re incredibly proud of Ches and could say plenty about her effectiveness as an environmental advocate. But we’re biased. So let’s hear from someone else. Below are remarks from NRCM President Justin Strasburger, who presented Ches with the award:
The Natural Resources Council of Maine recognizes, with deep appreciation, Ches Gundrum with the Pete Didisheim Conservation Leadership Award for Advocacy, for her skilled advocacy, her collaboration with partners, and her unwavering dedication to advancing meaningful solutions that will protect wildlife and safeguard Maine’s environment for generations to come.
As Advocacy Director for Maine Audubon, Ches is one of NRCM’s closest and most valued partners. She successfully advances Maine Audubon’s mission by developing, influencing, and advocating for strong policies that protect wildlife and wildlife habitat. She helps shape Maine Audubon’s policy agenda and brings that agenda to life through her advocacy at both the state and federal levels, working with legislators, policymakers, and the executive branch to turn good ideas into meaningful action.
Her constant presence at the State House—testifying on numerous bills, meeting with decision-makers, building support for conservation, and simply being there as a steady and knowledgeable voice for wildlife—is a powerful force. Ches understands that effective advocacy is about more than knowing the issues. It is about building relationships, finding common ground, bringing people together, and staying engaged even when the path forward is challenging.
She is also an exceptional coalition partner. Ches is always willing to share information, listen to different perspectives, and collaborate with our team and others across Maine’s environmental community. She brings passion, knowledge, and tremendous skill to her work as an advocate. But just as importantly, she brings kindness, generosity, and humor. Those qualities are not just a pleasure to work with—they are a superpower in advocacy and coalition-building.
Ches embodies the kind of conservation leadership we want to celebrate: thoughtful, persistent, collaborative, and deeply committed to making Maine a better place for wildlife and for all of us.
It is my great pleasure, on behalf of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, to present our inaugural 2026 Pete Didisheim Conservation Leadership Award for Advocacy to Ches Gundrum.
Congratulations, Ches! The new award is given in honor of NRCM’s longtime Senior Director of Advocacy Pete Didisheim, who is retiring this year.
