Each year, Palm Springs Life and SBEMP Attorneys honor women shaping the future of the Coachella Valley through leadership and accomplishments. This year's honorees include Gana Wingard, The Living Desert's Curator of Conservation for Mongolia, recognized as the 2025 Nonprofit Leader for her role in conservation.
Wingard grew up in Mongolia, where a deep connection with the land is a way of life. This early exposure influenced her commitment to conservation, leading her to build bridges between continents and cultures. In 2023, she initiated a partnership between the Mongolian Conservation Initiative—a nonprofit she established—and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, focusing on global conservation efforts that protect ecosystems and support local communities. The Living Desert has extended its expertise to the Gobi Desert, where Wingard has been working for over two decades with nomadic herders and biodiversity conservation at Ikh Nart Nature Reserve.
A significant aspect of Wingard's leadership is fostering international knowledge exchange. For the past 20 years, she has been involved in professional exchanges between Mongolia and the United States, concentrating on conservation biology and the management of protected areas. Her mentorship has influenced over 100 researchers and students.
Wingard's efforts at Ikh Nart have helped transform the area into a reserve management model recognized by the United Nations, impacting various species. In her role at The Living Desert, she continues to connect researchers globally, sharing data and strategies to enhance conservation.
Reflecting on her journey, Wingard states, “From managing small projects to overseeing teams, I have learned the importance of being adaptable. Conservation takes time, and it requires patience, dedication, and goodwill.” She attributes her inspiration to her mother, who taught her the value of education, saying, “Knowledge is the greatest power; no one can take it from you.”
Balancing her work between Ikh Nart and Palm Desert, Wingard's work connects two deserts, continents, and cultures, embodying her mother’s belief that "the sky’s the limit" for the future of conservation.
For more information on the nominees, visit The Palm Springs Life website.