Elsa Schwartz is a Governor’s appointee to the Commission, and a former Island MRC representative to the Commission and served as chair of the Commission from 2021-2023. Currently residing on Camano Island, Elsa is the Deputy Director of the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. Prior to joining PSRF she served as the Senior Director of Restoration, for Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of bays and estuaries. Prior to working at RAE, Elsa worked in the San Juan Islands for the Samish Indian Nation, on a variety of projects from salmon restoration to shoreline stabilization.
Elsa received a Masters of Marine Affairs degree from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Pacific Lutheran University. Elsa loves living the island life along with her husband and dog and especially enjoys crabbing and boating and wants to do her part to protect and restore the marine life and habitats of Island County.