Tallahassee - Friday May 13, 2022: The Everglades Trust (Trust) Friday announced that its new CEO, effective Monday, May 16, will be Anna Upton.
Upton most recently served as the general counsel and vice president of government affairs for the Everglades Foundation. She will now lead the Everglades Trust as it moves its headquarters to Tallahassee and restructures its organization.
The restructuring of the Trust will include not only new leadership, with Upton at the helm, and relocating its physical headquarters to Tallahassee, but now the Foundation’s government affairs team will shift under the umbrella of the Trust as well.
“It’s a new day at the Everglades Trust,” said Upton. “I look forward to carrying out a multi-faceted advocacy effort promoting Everglades restoration and clean water for Florida at all levels of government. I am honored to be asked to shape the future of the Trust, guiding the organization in its advocacy efforts and working hand-in-hand with the Everglades Foundation.”
“Anna already has a stellar reputation in Tallahassee as a savvy advocate for the Everglades,” said Kirk Fordham, chairman of the Trust’s board of directors. “Anna will deftly work to keep the special interests in check, protecting our water and the livelihood of millions of Floridians who depend on it.”
Prior to leading the Trust, Upton served as the general counsel the Foundation since 2011 and vice president of government affairs since 2021. In addition to serving as the outside general counsel for the Foundation, Upton has represented non-profit clients in Everglades-related water quality litigation and administrative proceedings in state and federal court at trial and appellate levels.
Upton has also represented clients in civil matters, including commercial litigation, casualty defense, employment, product liability, environmental issues, and constitutional challenges while at the law firm of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. Upton has been noted in Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star in 2010 (Business Litigation), 2011 (Civil Litigation Defense, Environmental Litigation, Employment & Labor Law), 2020 (Environmental Litigation), 2021 (Environmental Litigation). Upton is admitted to The Florida Bar, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the United States District Court: Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida. Upton received a juris doctorate, cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wake Forest University.