Mary Fales

Mary Fales serves as Winrock’s first director of U.S. Agriculture, leading efforts to advance resilient food systems, strengthen agricultural partnerships and expand economic opportunity for farmers and rural communities across the U.S. In this role, she also oversees the Wallace Center at Winrock International, which works with partners nationwide to build resilient and community-centered food systems. Fales brings more than 20 years of experience in regenerative agriculture, conservation, watershed management and sustainability strategy. Before joining Winrock, she held leadership roles at The Nature Conservancy, where she directed large-scale regenerative agriculture and conservation initiatives across the Midwest, managed multi-state portfolios and developed partnerships with producers, businesses, universities and government agencies. Throughout her career, Fales has worked at the intersection of agriculture, environmental stewardship and community resilience, helping organizations design and scale solutions that benefit farmers, communities and natural resources. She holds a master’s degree in aquatic biology from Grand Valley State University and bachelor’s degrees in environmental studies & applications and fisheries & wildlife from Michigan State University.