Safari Club International (SCI) proudly announces the appointment of Keely M. Hopkins, a seasoned government relations professional and licensed attorney with over a decade of experience in wildlife management, conservation, and firearm policy, as its new State and Local Liaison.

Hopkins brings a wealth of expertise gained from leadership roles at the National Rifle Association–Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, where she directed legislative, regulatory, and political strategies across multiple states. Her work has spanned wildlife conservation policy, international law, firearm legislation, and grassroots advocacy, making her a powerful advocate for hunters’ rights and sustainable wildlife management.

During her career, Hopkins:

• Directed legislative activities in up to five states for NRA-ILA, managing Political Action Committee strategies, candidate endorsements, and grassroots engagement campaigns.
• Led the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s Western States Program Team and served as the organization’s lead on firearm policy.
• Chaired the NationalHorseandBurroRangelandManagementCoalition, representing more than eight million members on federal land use issues.
• Partnered with conservation organizations, state agencies, and legislators to advance science-based wildlife management and hunting policy initiatives.

A graduate of WillametteUniversityCollegeofLaw with a Juris Doctorate in Government and International Law, Hopkins has studied abroad in Spain, Tanzania, and China, gaining unique insights into global conservation and legal frameworks. She has testified before legislatures, built bipartisan coalitions, and collaborated with federal agencies on landmark initiatives.

An avid hunter herself, Hopkins has pursued game species across North America and recently completed her first South African hunt this year.

SCI looks forward to Hopkins’ leadership in shaping critical conservation and advocacy efforts on behalf of hunters worldwide.