Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq., CEO
With 25 years of professional experience across a variety of environmental conservation and social justice initiatives, Elizabeth Silleck La Rue launched Silleck Consulting Services (SCS) to deliver strategic policy guidance, collaborative program design, research, writing, and thought leadership on intersecting issues with passion, commitment and a drive for equity.
Listen to Elizabeth discuss environmental justice on the A Moment with Erik Fleming podcast.
“Equity is core to my work, and fundamental to my philosophy of change. I believe that environmental conservation cannot, and should not, happen independently of social justice. Particularly as the climate crisis becomes more tangible to more people every day, and historic inequities are continuously amplified, I believe solutions can—and must—be made which address these interwoven issues holistically.”
Background
Policy, Program, and Project Design
As CEO of Silleck Consulting Services, Elizabeth helps clients to craft policies, programs, and projects aimed at equitable access to nature, the responsible development of renewable energy, energy justice, climate justice, ocean justice, nature conservation, and fostering cultures of inclusivity and equitable access to green economic opportunities for those who have traditionally been locked out of conservation and sustainability spaces. She serves clients across the national and international nonprofit, government, and private sectors.
Prior to launching her own business, Elizabeth’s success in policy advocacy includes leading stakeholder engagement around ocean conservation policy with Environmental Defense Fund, where she launched Everyone’s Gulf, a unique ocean equity-focused project; liaising with elected officials and state agency leads to develop coastal conservation strategy with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program; and leading an alliance of conservation groups on fisheries policy with the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Coalition & Community-Building
Elizabeth’s career has involved developing strong relationships with people at all levels and across multiple demographics, from business executives as a representative for NYSERDA, to single teen mothers experiencing homelessness and domestic violence as a social worker.
On issues as diverse as civil rights, gender justice, climate resilience, and coral conservation, she is deeply committed to and adept at ensuring that the considerations of all voices – not just the dominant members – of a collaborative effort are heard and taken into account, that all participants understand shared agreements, and that outcomes reflect a high degree of equity.
Elizabeth is a member of Katalyst Consulting’s Mastermind Community, consistently building partnerships across siloes and identifying opportunities for synergy and collaboration.
In 2024, Elizabeth was appointed to serve as an Advisory Board Member for 10% For the Ocean, a UK-based charity driving philanthropic funding for localized ocean conservation action.
Diverse Skills & Lived Experience
As a Women’s Studies and Anthropology undergraduate, Elizabeth studied systemic oppression across race, class, gender and sexuality, while also working part-time as a counselor for survivors of domestic violence.
As a single, LMI teen parent in an interracial family, Elizabeth navigated numerous challenges and obstacles, which further informed her perspective on race, class, and gender within the US context.
After several years in the social work, medical and legal fields, Elizabeth matriculated at Elizabeth Haub Law School at Pace University, earning her JD and Certificate in Environmental Law while working full-time with a boutique law firm.
She graduated magna cum laude and 4th in her class in 2009 after several years on the Dean’s List, and received the President’s Award.
She also holds PADI Specialty Diving Certifications in Reef Conservation and Research Diving, and volunteers weekly with the Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program, where she and her husband maintain coral restoration habitats and produce ocean conservation media through their project, Caring for Corals.