The heart of conservation operations in Micronesia

Shelly Lebehn Amor, from Pohnpei State, in the Federated States of Micronesia, has been part of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for over 28 years. She is TNC Micronesia and Polynesia’s longest-serving staff member, and as Operations Specialist, she keeps projects running smoothly by managing contracts, grants, and administrative processes.

Shelly works closely with project managers to draft agreements, collect required information, and track deliverables while ensuring that all agreements follow TNC policies and local regulations. Her work may happen mostly behind the scenes, but it is essential to making conservation efforts possible across the region.

After college, Shelly worked briefly as a file clerk until her sister encouraged her to apply for an administrative assistant position with TNC’s Watershed Project, one of TNC’s first initiatives in Pohnpei. The work quickly sparked her interest in conservation, especially Bill Raynor’s (then Pacific Division Director) strong commitment to conservation and community engagement. When offered a permanent position after the project ended, she accepted without hesitation.

Looking back, the Watershed Project still holds a special place in her heart. While her main responsibilities were administrative, her supervisor encouraged her to join community meetings. “I got to meet local leaders and hear directly from community members,” she recalls. “There was a strong sense of respect and shared purpose, and I learned a lot from those interactions.”

Shelly holds an associate’s degree in business administration and has completed training in ecotourism as well as an open water dive certification during her early years with TNC. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her son and grandchildren, going out on the boat, swimming, snorkeling, and doing house chores together.

Shelly’s dedication and deep understanding of TNC’s processes have made her an essential part of the team and helped lay the foundation for decades of successful conservation work.