Welcoming our New Chair Sara Burke

We are happy to announce the election of Sara Burke as our new board chair during the September board meeting. Burke succeeds Jeff Caster, who served as chair since 2021.

“Sara’s intelligence, enthusiasm and optimistic outlook is just what our Foundation needs to begin our second 25 years,” said outgoing chair Caster.

FWF Executive Director Stacey Matrazzo said of Sara, “Her background in communications will help us engage with business to protect Florida’s biodiversity and change attitudes about native plants in managed landscapes.”

Burke is a communications advisor who has worked with community leaders and good causes since exiting her startups a decade ago. Originally from Australia, she is a computer scientist, consultant, communications strategist and designer. Her areas of expertise include early stage and fast growth leadership, human-computer interaction, and behavioral change strategies.

Burke has served on FWF’s board since 2020 and as Director of Communications since 2021, before being asked to serve as vice chair and now chair. “I’m honored to give something back by helping to build appreciation of Florida’s extraordinary biodiversity.”

For Burke, who has also been active in affordable housing activism, helping the environment doesn’t mean stopping development. “People need homes, but so do pollinators, birds and other wildlife. Gardens are the solution.”

“There is a clear need for a ‘natural yards’ movement, like the natural foods movement of the last 30 or so years. Businesses that supply native plants, garden design or maintenance services will need to be part of that movement, as well as nonprofits like the Florida Wildflower Foundation that work to educate the public about the need for more natives at home.”

“In my time as chair, I hope to work with developers to create a ‘bounceback model’ for swift reintroduction of native plants to newly (re-)developed places. This can improve human health, as well as provide habitat for butterflies, bees, birds and more.”

Other board changes include naming CJ McCartney as vice chair. Longtime board members Anne MacKay and Carolyn Schaag were named FWF’s first honorary directors, in recognition of exceptional service. FWF also welcomed new board member Mona Johnston.