FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Charley Webb, Open Land Trust Board of Directors
Phone: 843.812.5182

Open Land Trust Names Liz O’Brien Executive Director

Beaufort, S.C. August 27, 2026— The Board of Directors of the Open Land Trust has named Liz O’Brien its new Executive Director effective immediately. O’Brien has served as the Land Trust’s Director of Development since 2024, and her appointment comes after a comprehensive search led by the Board.

“Over the last two years, we’ve experienced Liz’s natural talents to connect and lead,” said Charley Webb, Open Land Trust Board President. “She listens, builds relationships, and brings people together around something they care about. Just as important, she knows and loves the Lowcountry. The Open Land Trust has never been stronger, and we’re so excited to have Liz at the helm to take us forward.”

“For me, conservation is about people as much as it is about land,” O’Brien said. “It’s about ensuring we have clean water, providing places where people can get outside to experience the Lowcountry, and protecting landscapes that help us understand and retain our varied history. I want more people to see how conservation touches their lives and to feel that they have a place in this work and in shaping the future of the Lowcountry. I am excited to work with our talented team to make that happen.”

Founded in 1971, the Open Land Trust is South Carolina’s first land trust and has protected more than 40,000 acres across seven counties in the Southern Lowcountry. Through conservation easements, land acquisition, stewardship, and community partnerships, the Open Land Trust protects the landscapes, waterways, working lands, wildlife habitat, and cultural heritage that define the Lowcountry. The organization is nationally accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and remains committed to its mission of protecting and conserving Lowcountry land, forever.

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