Flow Water Advocates announces its next executive director; Liz Kirkwood to assume new leadership role.
October 23, 2026
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Flow Water Advocates has named Katrina Shankland as its new executive director, following a robust nationwide search. Shankland, who begins on Oct. 26, is Flow’s second executive director. Liz Kirkwood, who passes the torch after 15 years as Flow’s founding executive director, steps into a newly created leadership role as strategic partnership officer.
The leadership transition and creation of the dedicated strategic partnership role will expand Flow’s capacity and build on the important legal, policy, and advocacy gains it has made since 2011. The changes respond to a critical inflection point in the protection of the Great Lakes Basin and the need for non-governmental and nonprofit organizations to adapt and collaborate in new ways to meet the challenges of increasing environmental threats and weakening regulatory protections.
In her new role, Kirkwood will direct her experience and expertise to deepen Flow’s collaborative relationships, build new coalitions, and advance policy goals to protect the Great Lakes. Her portfolio expands Flow’s influence in the spaces where it matters most — the courts, government agencies, communities, the media, and public opinion.
“As the founding executive director, I have worn every organizational hat and have truly loved this role, protecting water, building power, and growing our movement. I’m thrilled to welcome Katrina to lead this wonderful organization. In my new role, I am excited to expand Flow’s influence and reach by deepening our partnerships, coalition work, and strategic alliances.” remarked Kirkwood.
Shankland brings deep public policy and environmental experience to Flow, including service in the Wisconsin state Assembly from 2013 to 2025, representing a competitive district in central Wisconsin. During her legislative tenure, Shankland’s key issues included water quality, regenerative agriculture, and clean energy, and she helped pass 225 bipartisan bills under both Democratic and Republican governors. Most recently, Shankland served as the executive director of Rust Belt Rising, a nonprofit organization working to support civic leaders and candidates for public office across six Great Lakes states through training, research, and strategy.
“It’s an honor to join Flow Water Advocates at such a decisive moment for the public trust. Flow’s strong record of legal, advocacy, and policy leadership in the face of growing challenges is inspiring,” said Shankland. “As a former lawmaker, I focused on advancing meaningful water policy, from addressing private well contamination to creating new conservation programs for farmers. I’m excited to work with our team and partners to expand our reach and protect the Great Lakes Basin.”
Shankland joins Flow at a significant moment for the organization, which recently earned a major victory in the Michigan Supreme Court in FLOW v. MPSC. The decision in that case (and the related Tribal coalition case) voided a required permit for the proposed Enbridge Line 5 pipeline tunnel through the Straits of Mackinac, and affirmed public trust common law and Michigan Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) standards for agency permitting decisions implicating Great Lakes water and bottomlands.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Katrina Shankland to the Flow team. Katrina’s hands-on legislative and executive experience, her innovative ideas and energy, and her passion for advocacy will be tremendous assets as we continue and expand our efforts to address the critical water issues shared by communities across the Great Lakes basin,” said Flow Board Chair Mike Vickery.
“Katrina’s knowledge of policymaking, public trust law, and public advocacy will ensure continued and expanded impact of Flow’s experience, expertise, and influence developed under Liz Kirkwood’s founding executive leadership. We’re deeply grateful to Liz for leading Flow from a small start-up to become a leading and trusted voice for public trust law and policy, and for her visionary decision to step into a new role to amplify and extend Flow’s mission and impact.”
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Flow Water Advocates is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Traverse City, Michigan. Our mission is to ensure the waters of the Great Lakes Basin are healthy, public, and protected for all. With a staff of legal and policy experts, strategic communicators, and community builders, Flow is a trusted resource for Great Lakes advocates. We help communities, businesses, agencies, and governments make informed policy decisions and protect public trust rights to water. Learn more at FlowWaterAdvocates.org.
