Rob Hunt
Director of Resilient Waters
Springfield, MO
Rob Hunt Director of Resilient Waters for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri. © Courtesy of Rob Hunt
Areas of Expertise
Water quality, watershed health, flood protection, public policy, nature-based solutions
Biography
Rob Hunt believes The Nature Conservancy is perfectly positioned between public, state and federal agencies; local governments; and local economic interests to serve as the binding force that brings partners to the table to discover innovative solutions to new and existing problems.
As the director of resilient waters, Rob leads a team focused on water conservation projects throughout Missouri. The team implements projects to improve water quality in urban environments, restore stream banks and riparian corridors, restore and preserve wetlands, protect important floodways for ecological and public safety benefits, and prevent soil erosion and nutrient runoff associated with agricultural activities.
Prior to joining The Nature Conservancy, Rob worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR). He helped MoDNR and other state agencies plan and prioritize America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants and projects, worked on the state’s inter-agency continuous improvement team and helped coordinate and administer the Missouri Water Resources Plan and the 2019 Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group. Rob has established relationships across state government, among federal agencies and with Missouri’s stakeholders.
Rob started his professional career in higher education, teaching courses at Missouri State University and Ozarks Technical Community College before transitioning into environmental education at the Discovery Center of Springfield and the Watershed Center of the Ozarks. In 2016, Rob was hired as the natural resources education coordinator for MoDNR. His role changed, and he eventually coordinated policy reviews and departmental initiatives as a senior advisor to the director. In this role, he managed the daily movement of state and federal policy changes, internal organizational changes, external requests for environmental consultation, community financial assistance programs and other topics at the request of senior leadership.
Rob grew up in the Missouri Ozarks on the upper Meramec River, where he canoed, fished, hunted and hiked with his family. He completed a bachelor's and a master of science at Missouri State University, studying wildlife biology and researching Missouri salamander feeding and behavior.
Rob has always been passionate about animals and the outdoors, leading to his diverse experience in fish and macroinvertebrate sampling in Missouri and Arkansas, raptor rehabilitation, outdoor education and outreach, environmental policy and government funding.