Jay Kleburg

Jay Kleberg is the Executive Director of the Gulf Trust, working to provide Texas-based, science-backed solutions to the Gulf’s most pressing challenges. In October 2023, he and his wife became the first to complete a 370-mile hike of Texas’ seven barrier islands as part of a conservation documentary series, Chasing the Tide. The six-part series premiered across Texas and national PBS stations in October 2024. He also co-produced the feature-length film Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story and was an Associate Producer of The River and the Wall documentary. He also co-founded and managed the private lands travel company, Explore Ranches.

Before serving as the founding Executive Director of the Gulf Trust, Mr. Kleberg served eight years as Associate Director and Director of Land Conservation for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. He has also provided strategy consulting services to the National Park Service, The Peregrine Fund, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Mr. Kleberg also spent seven years in the commercial real estate business on the U.S.-Mexico border.

 Previously, Jay lived in the Brazilian Amazon for three years and helped start and manage a non-profit organization to promote and establish sustainable land use practices and an ecotourism company. He has been the founding chair and board member for several non-profit organizations.

Currently, he serves on the advisory board for the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Flatsworthy, UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business, South Texas Charity Weekend, and Burn Pits 360, a veterans support and advocacy organization. 

Jay earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Williams College and his MBA from UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas, with their three daughters.