New Executive Director for AKPIRG
Photo Credit: Alaska Public Interest Research Group
The board of the Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG) selected Julia Hnilicka as the next Executive Director of the consumer protection nonprofit. Effective June 5, Hnilicka succeeds Veri di Suvero, who has led the group for seven years.
Raised in Nenana as the daughter of a tugboat captain and an educator, Hnilicka’s career spans the federal government, tribal partnerships, and statewide coalitions. Most recently, she worked for the Biden administration as the Alaska State Director for the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office.
“I have complete confidence that Julia—a dedicated, aligned, and tenacious leader—is ready to lead AKPIRG into an exciting new phase of our work, and I’m especially grateful to have her joining our team at a time when there is such a huge need for our advocacy,” says AKPIRG Board Chair Sydney Scout.
Hnilicka says, “I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to step into leadership at AKPIRG. It is a passionate, community-led organization, working for the betterment of all Alaskans. The values at AKPIRG align with my own, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their trust in this awesome responsibility.”
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May 2026
The AKPIRG board used the services of Nokomis Strategies to search for a successor to di Suvero, who is working with Hnilicka during the transition.
“I’m thrilled to pass the torch to Julia,” di Suvero says. “She’s a powerful, grounded leader with a deep commitment to Alaska and a clear vision for its future.”
Scout adds, “I can’t overstate my thanks for Veri’s hard work to build AKPIRG into the effective, innovative, values-centered organization that it is, today. With this, I am also grateful for the intentionality and wisdom they have shown in stepping away at a time when AKPIRG is in such a strong position.”
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