AMY HUDSON WEAVER, NIPARAJÁ
Amy Hudson specializes in the management of marine fisheries and securing stakeholder participation. Currently, she works as the Marine Conservation Program Coordinator for the Niparajá Natural History Society in La Paz,Mexico. Some of the topics that interest her include: community development, access rights to natural resources, generating participatory stakeholder information and the creation of capacities for the management of coastal fisheries. A number of her current projects focus on the management of the Espíritu Santo Archipelago National Park and management of the fisheries of the San Cosme – Punta Coyote biological corridor. Other projects she coordinates include: Fisher to Fisher, Fisher Pride and Fisher Trainers in the southern Gulf. She received her master’s in Marine Affairs at the University of Washington and studied her bachelors at Prescott College. Before joining Niparajá in 2004, she worked for COBI for six years in Kino Bay, Sonora. She has lived in Mexico for more than 15 years and has ample field experience in the Gulf of California.

AMY ROSENTHAL, NATURAL CAPITAL PROJECT, STANFORD

Amy is science-policy interface specialist with the Natural Capital Project (NatCap), a joint collaboration among Stanford University, the University of Minnesota, The Nature Conservancy, and the World Wildlife Fund to develop tools and approaches that incorporate ecosystem services into decisions. Prior to her work with NatCap, Amy was deputy director for projects at the Amazon Conservation Association, where she developed strategies for forest carbon and ecosystem service programs in the western Amazon. She contributed to the book The Last Forest: the Amazon in the Age of Globalization among other publications, ran a natural resource management training program with the Federal University of Acre in Brazil, and represented authors as a literary agent. Amy holds a Master’s from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College. She is also a researcher in the conservation science program at the World Wildlife Fund and a board member of the Amazon Conservation Association.

ANDRÉS JORGE, EDITOR AND WRITER
Andrés is a writer, editor, and content curator. He has been editor in chief of National Geographic and Reader’s Digest -Books & Magazine for Latin America. He has participated as a consultant in launching a dozen of printed and digital editorial projects. He became known as writer with the Novel “Pan de mi Cuerpo”, for which he was awarded with the Joaquin Mortiz Award for a first work in 1997. He was born and raised in Cuba and lived 18 years in Mexico City before he returned to the Caribbean, the place he considers his spiritual home. He has been in Cancun for the last 6 years. In 2002, with Voyeurs, he was a finalist for the Alfaguara Prize. He has published three more novels; the last two, consecutive deliveries of the trilogy of “Isla Grande”, which have been published with his own imprint, Barracuda 7 and are distributed via Amazon.com/Andres Jorge. Since 2008, his primary activity has been teaching about creative writing, narrative journalism, and others. He is a fervent admirer of nature and a passionate advocate for the environment, but also of culture and Caribbean literature. He has published four novels where the Caribbean Sea is a recurring presence. Among other workshops, he is currently teaching the “Storytelling: emotion to action” course for people and businesses.

ANNE MCENANY, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Anne McEnany (project director, lead staff) is the Senior Advisor to the Conservation & Environment Program at the International Community Foundation. Anne has worked as an ICF consultant and staff member for nine years, on a grant portfolio that sends over $2.5 million annually to local conservation organizations in Mexico and Latin America for environmental and community development projects.
Anne has over 19 years of international conservation experience, working with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Tropical Andes. For the International Community Foundation, Anne led a cross-border initiative to control erosion and manage stormwater in Los Laureles Canyon in Tijuana and the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve in Imperial Beach; facilitated two “Alternative Futures” publications for La Paz and Loreto, including followup studies on desalination. She currently manages the Laguna San Ignacio Whale Conservation Campaign, provides advice and research to over 30 donor-advised funds, and is leading the “Emerging Sustainable Cities” initiative in La Paz, Mexico (a project of Fundacion FEMSA, the InterAmerican Development Bank, and ICF).

ANNETTE CANDANEDO, INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION CONSULTANT
She earned a BA in English Language graduate of Tec de Monterrey, Monterrey Campus. She studied a Master in International Management for Latin American Executives (MIMLA) given jointly by the Tec and Thunderbird – The American Graduate School of Management in Arizona.
In 2000 she was responsible for the Directorate of Development for Nonprofit Organizations Virtual University of Tec de Monterrey and the development and implementation of the diploma “Social Leaders: Program Management for Nonprofit Institutions ” previous to the portal “Más Sociedad “. She served as General Manager of Financial Campaign Economic Development Board and the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City until December 2002, during the course of their capital campaign for 20 million dollars. From 2003 to 2006 she served as Director of Institutional Development of El Colegio de Mexico, where she created the department and held three annual campaigns. As an independent consultant, she has worked with various social welfare institutions and education in strategic planning, annual and capital campaigns, as well as the organization and consolidation of development offices. She has participated as a speaker at conventions, courses, conferences, seminars and events, both national and international, related to fundraising for non-profit institutions. She currently lives in Austin, Texas where she works on her PhD in Social Sciences and Education being her research topic “The impact of financial campaigns in institutions of higher education in Mexico”.

BRIGITTE SEUMENICHT NOTHOLT, MERKATUA
Brigitte is founder and director of Merkatua. She has a Master’s degree on Marketing and International Business by the Universidad de las Américas in Puebla, Mexico, and the Ecole Supérieure des Affaires in France. She was for several years Cheif and Retail Manager in the automotive sector which makes her an expert on Industrial Marketing and a passionate in the Consumer Analysis and Creative Marketing business. She is well versed in lateral thinking methods, and is a Certified LEGO SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator. Brigitte is an innovation and creativity consultant and trainer with 10 years of experience helping clients around the globe. She is well versed in lateral thinking methods, and is a Certified LEGO SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator. She has worked with business, government and educational clients around the world including Siemens in Mexico and ITC in the Middle East. As a Senior Consultant and Trainer for Innovation 360, Brigitte inspires clients to new levels of creativity and insight, helping them generate innovative ideas, solve problems and improve teamwork. Brigitte is a Multilingual Purchasing Manager with 10 year experience on automotive and electrical industry in America and Europe, exposed to diverse environments from world class manufacturing to Low Cost Countries, working and dealing with people from diverse cultures and nationalities. Professional highly motivated with strong background in Purchasing related to Productivity and Cost Reduction Projects, Supplier Development and Industrial Marketing. Director of MERKATUA specialized in marketing research, marketing plans, advertising campaigns, marketing consulting and training. Business consultant and International Instructor and Speaker. Trained Lego Serious Play Methodology Facilitator.

BRYAN FOSTER, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, FOREST CARBON

Bryan Foster earned a Ph.D. in forest ecology and management from the University of Vermont and simultaneously a graduate certificate in ecological economics. He also earned a Master of Forest Science from Yale University. He was Director of CarbonPlus for EcoLogic Development Fund and was previously Technical Specialist for Rainforest Alliance’s forest carbon auditing program, and Forest Carbon Consultant for ONF International. Earlier in his career, he developed ISO 14001 environmental management system for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Currently he is Lecturer/Adjunct Professor at the University of Vermont conducting research on forest carbon auditing impacts and utility of terrestrial LiDAR in measurement of forest carbon stocks, and co-teaching Tropical Forest Ecology and Forest Carbon Project Development.

CALINA ZEPEDA, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY – HONDURAS (TNC)
Calina studied biology at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. She has 12 years of experience working in marine and coastal matters. She is the Marine Specialist of The Nature Conservancy’s Mesoamerican Reef Program. She has held this position for four years, offering technical assistance in management of marine protected areas, fisheries, conservation planning, strengthening capacities of local partners, sustainable economic alternatives for coastal communities, public policy, and climate change. Before working at TNC, Calina was the Director of the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA), Utila Chapter, a non-governmental organization that co-manages the protected areas of Honduras’s Bay Islands. In her position at BICA she coordinated marine and coastal ecosystem monitoring, protection and surveillance activities, management of marine protected areas, management of funds, sustainable tourism, and environmental education activities. She lives with her family on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras, and she is the lucky mother of Andrea Isabella, 8 years old.

CARLOS MORALES, SIMM & QA CONSULTANTS
Carlos Morales obtained his B.S. in Biology with a concentration in biochemistry from the National University of San Carlos. During the eighties, he participated in development and research projects in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. This area has volcanic origins, boasts incomparable scenery and was especially affected by the civil war. During his time in the region, Carlos came to know and value the idiosyncrasies of indigenous villages, along with their virtues and vices.
Carlos entered graduate school where he completed specialized studies in Businesses Administration and Finances at the Francisco Marroquín University of Guatemala. Later, he continued his academic formation at the University of Costa Rica and the Tropical Agronomic Center of Research and Education (CATIE), where he completed his Masters in Vegetable Physiology and Holistic Farming Management. Upon returning to Guatemala he joined a private business and spent a large part of his professional experience in the food business. Before his position as Program Manager at WWF, he acted as an officer of the organization’s Fresh Water Program. He resides with his wife and three children in Antigua, Guatemala – one of the colonial jewels and most romantic cities of America.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS INTERNATIONAL

Carlos is a psychologist and has completed studies in Ontological Coaching and Systematic Psychology. He undertook the Directive Development Program at the IAE Business School. In the last couple of years, he has concentrated on giving organizational and behavioral consultancies. He is certified in diagnostic tools for behavioral profiles such as Activity Vector Analysis and Personal Development Analysis (PDA). Currently, Carlos works as an Associate Consultant for PDA International and previously worked as Executive Director of Managerial Formation at the IAE Business School, the most reputable business school in Argentina. He carries out consultancy work in management and personal development in various businesses in Argentina and Latin America. He has performed distinct training activities and employee formation in businesse such as: Santader Río, First Data, Sodexho Chile, Khuenne Naguel, Refinor, Skanska, Pepsico, Nestle, Avon, Dupont, Brinks, Belcorp, Accenture, Telecom, Acindar and others. Carlos also practices in a clinical capacity, working with adolescents and adults; moreover, he collaborates with various foundations, concentrating on topics related to mental health and stress.

CENTER FOR BLUE ECONOMY

Charles S. Colgan is Research Director at the Center for Blue Economy and Editor in Chief of the Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics.

For more than 14 years, Charles has been a consultant with the National Ocean Economics Program. He is a Professor of Public Policy and Management in the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. Dr. Colgan is the Chair of the Muskie School’s PhD Program in Public Policy and is a Senior Research Associate in the USM Center for Business and Economic Research. His long term economic forecasts are used by the Maine Department of Transportation and the Economic Development Districts of Maine.

Prior to joining the University of Southern Maine, he served in the Maine State Planning Office, was State Economist, and Director of Natural Resource and Economic Policy. He received his B.A.from Colby College and received his Ph.D. in economic history from the University of Maine.

Cindy Flores holds a BA in Biology from the Autonomous University of Honduras and a Diploma in Education from the National Pedagogical University Francisco Morazán. After graduating she has been teaching biology for 6 years at middle school, realizing that one of her passions is to convey conservation messages and protect the environment through her classes. She supported her husband coordinating the environmental education program and raising visitors´ awareness on the conservation of species and ecosystems at the National Zoo of Honduras. She worked at BICA Roatan (Society for Ecological Conservation of Bay Islands) as coordinator of the environmental education program. And since 2014, she also teaches Environmental Education to future teachers of the island at the Regional Center of the National Pedagogical University Francisco Morazán. Nowadays Cindy is the technical coordinator of the Forest Conservation Institute at the Bay islands station.

COSTAS CHRIST, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER
Costas Christ is the Editor-at-Large for National Geographic Traveler and serves as the Chairman for the World Travel and Tourism Council – Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, which recognizes leading models in sustainable tourism that are helping to protect natural and cultural heritage. He is an internationally recognized expert on sustainable tourism who has traveled and worked in more than 100 countries on six continents. He was a founding member and served as Chairman of the Board of The International Ecotourism Society. As a Senior Director at Conservation International, Costas supervised sustainable tourism projects in more than a dozen countries focused on the protection of nature and support for community development. He is a special advisor to World Responsible Tourism Day, is on the Advisory Board of The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation, and on the Executive Board of Sustainable Travel International. Costas is also the sustainable travel columnist for Virtuoso Life magazine and serves as Ambassador-at-Large for the Spirit of Big Five Foundation. He is the lead author of Tourism and Biodiversity: Mapping Tourism’s Global Footprint and a contributing author in Wilderness: Earth’s Last Wild Places. His articles and essays on travel and tourism have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, International Herald Tribune, and Sunday Times of London. He has appeared many times on television and radio, including BBC World, Travel Channel, NBC Today Show, National Public Radio, Good Morning America, and CNN International, to advocate for a new vision of tourism that embraces care for our planet, respects cultural diversity and directly supports local people’s livelihoods. In 2008, Costas was honored as a ‘Tourism Visionary’ by the International Hotel and Restaurant Awards.

CRISTINA CORTINAS DURÁN, INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, a PhD in Science from the University of Paris and a training certificate in Hazardous Waste Management from the Agency of BITS Sweden (Swedish Board for Investment and Technical Support).
Cristina has worked as the Assistant Director of Impact of Environment on Health of the Committee on Ecology at the Department of Mexico City from 1984 to 1985, as General Director of Environmental and Occupational Health and Sanitation of the Ministry of Health (SSA) from 1989 to 1991 and as General Director of Supplies, Waste and Hazardous Activities of the National Institute of Ecology (INE). She was also the General Director of the Secretariat of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries (Semarnap) from 1998 to 2000.
From 2001 to 2008, she provided advice to legislators and environmental authorities at the federal and state level, to formulate the technical proposals and support the process of opinion of the General Law for the Prevention and Management of Waste, as well as waste laws in Queretaro, Guanajuato and Quintana Roo, and also regulations and laws in Queretaro and Morelos. Likewise, in the course of 2007, she collaborated in developing the Law on Integrated Waste Management in Costa Rica.
From July 2006 to October 2007, she served as General Technical Coordinator of the draft preparation of the National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). She’s currently a member of the Scientific Council of the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS), of the Ministry of Health, of the National Advisory Committee on Chemicals Subject to International Agreements, and a member of the council in SEMARNAT. She’s President of the Queretaro Network of Waste Management and serves as an independent environmental consultant.
 

INSTITUTE OF ECONOMICS, UNAM

Daniel A. Revollo Fernandez is an economist by the Catholic University of Bolivia, he holds a Master in Economics of Natural Resources and Environment at the Universidad de los Andes, Colombia, and University of Maryland, United States. He is a Doctorate Professor at the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Economics Department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

He is Fellow at the Institute of Economic Research of UNAM, and former advisor to the Technical Branch of the Regulatory Commission for Drinking Water and Sanitation of the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development of Colombia. He teaches the subjects of Microeconomics I, II and III, Macroeconomics I, National Accounts and Econometrics I of the Great Colombia University. He is also Professor of Econometrics at the Econometrics Laboratory II and II of the University of Magdalena, Colombia.

EDA ROTH, ACTRESS AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT
Eda is an actress and consultant who specializes in bringing theatre based skills to business communications. She has taught presentation and communication skills and has worked extensively in the area of leadership, helping executives to develop clear messages and powerfully and effectively engage others. Eda has been on the faculty of Boston University’s School of Management Leadership Institute since it began in 1989. She also teaches in the Executive MBA program and for seven years taught in the Executive MBA program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Management. She is a national faculty member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows Leadership program. She also teaches in the California Health Care Foundation Leadership program and has worked with the Rennaissance CEO Leadershp Forum at Gozaga University and the Women’s Leadership Forum at the University of Alabama. She has taught voice, speech, and acting at New York University Graduate Acting Program, Boston University, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Eda has worked as a professional dialect coach in theater and film and has coached Danny Aiello, Jeff and Lloyd Bridges, Richard Dreyfuss, and Holly Hunter. She received her BA from Connecticut College and an MFA from New York University’s Graduate Acting program.

EDUARDO ROLÓN, COMMUNITY AND BIODIVERSITY
Eduardo Rolón is the Director of Public Policies at Community and Biodiversity (COBI) where he directs all work related to the organization’s analysis, design and evaluation of public policy together with strategies for influencing public policies in the Executive and Legislative branches of the Mexican government. Eduardo has his doctorate in Environmental Studies and Development from East Anglia University in England. He has carried out research on the design, analysis and evaluation of the political and institutional feasibility of public policies and on themes related to impacting social society with policies, governance mechanisms and citizen participation as well as the use of economic incentives for environmental conservation in themes such as waste management, forests, biodiversity and marine & coastal ecosystems at both a national and international level. With close to 12 years of experience in environmental public policy, he has worked in academia, the federal government and NGOs. His current work includes the design of public policy changes that promote a better management of coastal & marine areas based on reforms of usage and extraction rights, the instrumentation of payment schemes for environmental services and the analysis and elaboration of proposals to improve observance of regulations in coastal & marine areas in Mexico.

ELITO ARCEO, AMBERGRIS CAYE CITIZENS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Elito was born in San Pedro, Belize and has spent his entire life protecting and caring for the barrier reef. In 1995, he started SEAduced by Belize – a tour company based in San Pedro. Since its founding 6 years ago, Elito has faithfully organized the Lagoon Reef Eco-challenge – a two day Kayak Race to raise awareness towards wetland and reef protection. He is the President of the San Pedro Business Association (SPBA), which contributes to the protection of local businesses rights, promotes tourism and lobbies the Government of Belize on issues affecting the business community. Elito is also a member of the Belize Tourist Board. Finally, he is the President of the Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development, an organization that works diligently to protect the caye’s fragile ecosystems and support and promote sustainable development on the island.

EMMA DOYLE, GCFI-CAMPAM
Emma Doyle is CaMPAM’s marine protected areas specialist and the link to the Wider Caribbean region. Emma is an environmental management professional with 15 years’ experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean. Her experience covers some 70 international cooperation projects and stretches across a range of themes related to biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, climate change, outreach and education, sustainable alternative livelihoods and coastal tourism. Marine protected areas play an important role in helping to conserve marine biodiversity, addressing impacts of overfishing, helping to solve conflicts between marine resource users, and providing opportunities for sustainable alternative economic activities for local coastal communities. Emma works with government agencies, NGOs, multilateral organizations, the private sector and technical experts in the nearly 40 countries and territories of the Wider Caribbean region to build and strengthen connections between marine protected area managers, as well as with potential partners to exchange information and share best practices. Her connections within the region are vast, and she brings first-hand knowledge of the realities of coral reef and protected areas management to our group. Emma first worked in the Caribbean region as the manager of bilateral cooperation and project funding for a diplomatic mission, and she has a solid reputation in both grantmaking and project management. She is an experienced researcher, strategic planner, and author of reports, briefs, and papers with a flair for environmental communications. She frequently facilitates workshops and organizes training activities. Emma studied coastal zone management at Sydney University and has a Master of Science in urban environmental management from Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

EUGENIO GOBBATO, HACIENDA TIJAX

Eugenio has worked with communities, cooperatives and rural associations in the western plateau of Guatemala for the last 15 years producing community and sustainable development projects. His work has resulted in proposals from the Social Investment Fund and the National Committee of the Environment before the Government of Vinicio Cerezo and the Congress of the Republic. Currently, he is in charge of the management and sustainable operation of the Hacienda Tijax project, which integrates conservation, reforestation and ecotourism activities in Río Dulce, Izabal into a comprehensive business scheme. This project, carried out over the last 20 years with the support of friends, acquaintances and the surrounding community, has resulted in the creation of a model of sustainable development for the region. Additionally, Eugenio is president and founder of the Eco-Río Association – an organization established in Livingston and integrated by neighbors and local businesses that seeks to develop sustainable tourism businesses in the Izabal region.

EXEQUIEL EZCURRA, THE INSTITUTE FOR MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES
Exequiel Ezcurra has a doctorate in ecology from the University of Wales. In 1979, as a young researcher, he developed the first systematic study of environmental impacts in Mexico. He has published over 200 research articles, books and essays. He was a screenwriter and narrator for the movie Marine Oasis, a scientific document about the Gulf of California that has won a number of prestigious international prizes. Among other distinctions, he was a recipient of a Conservation Biology Award and a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation; received UAM’s scientific research award; was president of the Scientific Committee of the Convention on Trade of Threatened Species (CITES); and editor of the magazine Journal of Vegetation Science. He was president of the National Institute of Ecology from 2001 to 2005 and Dean of the National History Museum of San Diego between 2005 and 2008. Currently he is a Professor of Ecology and Director of the Institute for Mexico and the United States at the University of California, Riverside.

FAY CREVOSHAY, WILDCOAST

Fay is a sparkplug, equally comfortable talking to a fisherman, a secretary of state, or in front of a TV camera. She’s the one responsible for you having heard about WiLDCOAST. Fay is the resident media guru of WiLDCOAST in charge of media campaigns and spokespeople as well as organizational outreach. Fay is a former NPR and El Financiero reporter. She is considered to be one of Mexico’s top environmental communications professionals. Before working in WiLDCOAST, she served as Communications Director for publicly traded PriceSmart, Inc. where she was responsible for corporate and member communications for the company’s operations in Central America, the Caribbean, as well as the Philippines. Fay holds degrees in economics and political science from universities in Mexico, Israel, and Canada. She wrote her dissertation at UCSD Center for US-Mexico Studies. Fay is a native of Mexico.

He begun in the media as creative and DJ in the first Internet radio station in Mexico “XSRADIO.COM”, later he become in the Coordinator of Organizational Communication of the station, responsible for promotion and Director of Quality Programs. He began as a scriptwriter at Radio Mexico International (Wave short Radio station of the Instituto Mexicano de la Radio – IMER-), and concluded he participation there after having occupied the positions of Project Leader, Strategic Planning Coordinator, and Producer. Fernando started in W RADIO 96.9FM as a manager of the movies section for the radio program “Radiotherapy”, while, at the same time writing for the magazines 24XSegundo MAGAZINE, Cine premiere, MAX, CAR, Inversionista, and La Mosca. He moved into the Non-Profit Sector in 2006 as Chief of the Department of Social Communication at AMANC, I.A.P., where, a few months later he was promoted to the Direction of Communication and Public Relations. He occupied positions as Communications advisor, PR, Institutional Relations, Coordinator, and PR of the Cancer anti-stigma initiative at LIVESTRONG Foundation in Mexico, and was named the first Global Fellow of LIVETSRONG Foundation and Senior Leader of Region 11 (Mexico, Uruguay and Brazil). Since 2015 he is the Development Director of Fundacion para la Proteccion de la Niñez, I.A.P., Currently he is the Development Director of Fundación Mozcalti and International Observer for the Ethics Committee of AFP. Along with these activities he has worked as mass events coordinator, advisor and consultant in communications, the use of social media, social marketing and social innovation for Non-Profits, and fundraising. He has presented lectures and workshops on nonviolence, social media, media management, alliances with stakeholders and government, new trends on fundraising, social innovation and for-benefit businesses. Fernando belongs to the team that developed the first fundraising certification endorsed and recognized by the Federal Ministry of Education of Mexico and Mexico’s National Council for the Standardization and Certification of Labor Competences (CONOCER).

GONZALO SANJURJO, EOLIC PEOPLE
Gonzalo was a leader of religious communities oriented toward service and the common good; he is eternally seeking opportunities in situations of permanent change, and he promotes growth and development of work teams, facilitates people’s growth and development, and is a shaper and trainer of community leaders. Furthermore, he promotes leadership in projects involving actors with different backgrounds and goals. He specializes in creating teams, strategic vision, results orientation, negotiation/mediation, creativity, client orientation, good teamwork, and good interpersonal relations. He is a consultant at Eolic People, working as a coach and consultant in personal development. He likes to work with business groups and high-level athletes, and in the fields of personal follow-up in times of change, vital processes, team-building, creativity and innovation, leadership, communication and conflict resolution, public speaking, and personal development. He is also a certified PDA Report coach with PDA International.

GRAZZIA MATAMOROS, ROATAN MARINE PARK
Grazzia has a BS in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Honduras. She has always been passionate about the ocean and natural resource conservation. In 2006 she moved from her home town of Tegucigalpa to the Gulf of Fonseca in the Honduran Pacific, where she was a technical assistant to the Committee on the Defense and Development of the Flora and Fauna of the Gulf of Fonseca. A year later she moved to Roatán to work with local communities and coordinate RMP’s environmental education program. She also served as the co-manager of the Sandy Bay-West End Marine Protected Area. Later on, after receiving a grant from the Center for International Postgraduate Studies on Environmental Management in 2009, she moved to Germany and obtained a diploma in Environmental Management. She is currently working at RMP where she oversees all of the organization’s activities. Her goal is to contribute to the management of protected areas and to the development of Roatán’s natural resources; a place she loves calling home

GREGG VERUTES, NATURAL CAPITAL PROJECT, STANFORD

Gregg Verutes develops the Marine InVEST tools, a set of models created by the Natural Capital Project for quantifying the services provided by coastal and marine ecosystems. His work focuses on automating GIS processes for conservation modeling and coastal planning, along with enhancing the usability of these spatial decision support tools. He has previously worked for the Maps division at National Geographic assisting with their Atlas of the World, 4 Ninth Edition and as a GIS instructor for National Geographic Magazine.  Since December 2009, he has been providing GIS support to the World Wildlife Fund’s Conservation Science Program. Gregg received his M.S. in Geographic Information Science from the Department of Geography at San Diego State University and his B.S. in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University.

GUILLERMINA MARTÍNEZ, CONSULTANTS IN STRATEGIC BUSINESS
Guillermina Martinez has her academic formation in finance and accounting. Throughout her career, she has evolved in financial management positions in the private and public sectors. She also had the experience of running a business of her own when she helped start up of franchise. In the advisory arena, she is a Small Business Consultant accredited by the Mexican Federal Economy Office and has produced financial analysis for Business Plans in a wide variety of organizations. Guillermina has designed and executed financial seminars for entrepreneurs and businessmen, essentially guide participants on how to complete the financial section of their Business Plans, an indispensable part of these documents for obtaining funds before finance institutions, governments, and potential associates. Additionally she collaborates with a business incubator and knows how to accelerate entrepreneurial companies, extending the probability that a start-up company will stay in business for the long-term. Her contribution focuses on strategic business focus, which has to be economically viable and have a beneficial social impact.

HUGO GALEANO, UNDP/SGP HONDURAS
Hugo Galeano has been the National Coordinator for the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) in Honduras for over ten years. During this time, SGP Honduras has supported an extensive number of projects directly led by indigenous peoples, in particular in the Moskitia region along the Caribbean coast, strengthening the capacity of indigenous peoples to respond and adapt to climate change.

IMANI MORRISON, OAK FOUNDATION
Imani Morrison is presently the Oak Foundation’s Mesoamerica Program Officer. In this position, which she has held for six years, she facilitates grant making for marine protected areas management, capacity building, research and monitoring, and policy and advocacy initiatives, among other activities in the Mesoamerica region. Prior to her position with the Oak Foundation, Imani was the CEO of the Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute which undertakes the country’s coral reef, water quality, coastal planning, environmental education, endangered species monitoring programs, and marine protected areas management activities. Imani holds an MSc with distinction in Regional Planning and Development from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and has served on many national advisory bodies including the Belize Advisory Committee on the Guatemala Claim and the Protected Areas Trust Advisory Board. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Belize. She is the proud mother of two boys, Bryce and Ahkeil, and is married to Ian Morrison.

ISAIAS MAJIL, BELIZE FISHERIES DEPARTMENT
Isaias has worked for the Belize Fisheries Department since 1996. He has held several roles –beginning his career as a biologist for the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve and then moving on to a managerial position thereafter. In 2003, he took over the Marine Protected Areas Coordinator portfolio, which includes management of the Belize Marine Reserves Network. Isaias’ technical experience in coral reef monitoring has played an integral part in the elaboration of several monitoring protocols for the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Project, as well as for monitoring mechanisms for spawning aggregations, sea turtles and other commercial species. Until his passing in 2016, he was the  chairman of several national working groups including the Coral Reef Monitoring Network, Sea Turtle Conservation Network, and the Gover’s Reef Advisory Committee. He was also a point person in Belize for the Inter-American Convention on the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles and a liaison officer to the National ProtectedAreas Secretariat. He has co-authored several papers on spawning aggregations, coral monitoring and sea turtles.

IZARELLY ROSILLO PANTOJA, INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT

Izarelly has a bachelor’s degree in Law, a master’s degree in State and Municipal Public Administration, specializing in Constitutional Law and Notarial Law, and a PhD in Law from the Autonomous University of Queretaro. She has held several positions in private companies as a manager and legal director. She has been working for the past 10 years as a senior lecturer at the Anahuac University of Queretaro, at the Autonomous University of Queretaro and at the Valley of Mexico University, teaching the subjects of: legal research methodology, environmental law, human rights and corporate law. She is a consultant and litigant lawyer on the topic of human rights and environmental issues. She has participated in the development of environmental law in particular about waste, water and restoration of contaminated sites nationally and internationally.

Izarelly has worked as a temporary consultant with the German Cooperation Agency (GTZ), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), SEMARNAT, the Inter-American Development Bank, and with various state authorities on environmental projects. She represented Mexico at the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), based in the city of Santiago, Chile, and participated

JANET GIBSON, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
As Country Director, Janet lead the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Belize Program. She received her training from London University and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. She has over three decades of experience working in marine biodiversity conservation in Belize and held the positions of National Project Advisor for the GEF/UNDP Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Project for Belize, and subsequently Director of the CZM Institute. She was instrumental in expanding the network of MPAs in Belize and establishing seven of the reserves as a World Heritage Site. She is currently leading a range of activities in protected area management and sustainable fisheries, with a focus on the Glover’s Reef and South Water Caye marine reserves. These inclue: fostering support for the reserve by fishermen through their participation in catch-data collection; assisting reserve staff and other government agencies in monitoring and enforcement; conducting fisheries-independent monitoring of fishery stocks and critical habitats; developing a rights-based approach to fisheries management; and supporting policy initiatives to improve the management of reef species, including national efforts to protect reef fish spawning aggregations, reduce catches of vulnerable species, such as groupers and sharks, and, most recently, revise the national Fisheries Act and supporting regulations. Janet has served on the board of the Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations, and is country focal point for the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Network (WIDECAST). She has received several awards for her work, including the Goldman Environmental Prize, a Citation from the University College of Belize, the James Waight Award, and the Knight of the Golden Ark by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.

JIMENA FERRAEZ, CONSULTANTS IN STRATEGIC BUSINESS
Jimena Ferráez is founder and firm associate in CONNESTRA, a company dedicated to developing small and medium sized companies. She has worked as a business consultant for the past 4 years, helping over 20 companies to evolve by designing and executing 2 competitive enhancement programs for the metal-mechanic sector, as well as advising 80 entrepreneurs and businessmen in strategic planning and how to build a business plan. Jimena specializes in strategy design and implementation, and productive program design. She majored in international business at ITESM Mexico and is an accredited consultant in Japanese methodologies; a distinction bestowed by the Mexican Federal Economy Office. Jimena represents an international consultancy firm (Break-Even-Point) with offices in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Chile and China.

JOAQUÍN DE LA TORRE, PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR IFAW MEXICO
Joaquín has his BA in Communication from the Iberoamerican University and a diploma in Crisis Communication from the Autonomous Institute of Technology of Mexico. He has more than 10 years of experience in communication, working in areas such as environmental protection, animal welfare, and biodiversity conservation. Currently, he is Companion Animals Project Coordinator at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, where he is helping local partners establish standards and work protocols focused on guaranteeing and improving the welfare of companion animals in Cozumel and the Riviera Maya. He is also a communication consultant for the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative. He is a 2011 MAR Leader and works with fellow leaders as a communication expert.

JORGE HERRERA, CINVESTAV, MÉRIDA

Prof. Herrera – Silveira is a marine biologist with an expertise in the ecology primary production and biogeochemical processes in coastal ecosystems. He has experience about the factors limiting the primary production in mangrove ecosystems, sea grass beds, coastal lagoons and coastal marine in the area of the Yucatan Peninsula.

His research is aimed at studying the ecology of primary producers at coastal zones (phytoplankton, submerged macrophytes and mangroves), nutrient dynamics in aquatic ecosystems, biotic factors (macro algae versus phytoplankton competences, zooplankton versus phytoplankton) and abiotic (light, nutrients) that influence primary production. He actively participates in the research related to environmental impact, coastal ecosystems health indicators, water quality and eutrophication, biological indicators and restoring aquatic ecosystems (coastal lagoons, mangroves, sea areas, sea grass, coral reefs) and systems ecology.

Prof. Herrera – Silveira participates in the activities of the Coastal Management Department Processes and Program in addition to coordinating and participating in courses of the Graduate Program of the Department such as: ” Ecological Basis for Management of Coastal Ecosystems” in collaboration with Prof. Francisco Comin, from the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (Spain), “Systems Analysis and Simulation Tool for Research and Ecosystem Management” in collaboration with Dr. Enrique Reyes from the University of New Orleans; “Structure and Function of Mangrove Forests: Current Concepts and Application on Rehabilitation and Restoration Projects of the Coastal Zone” in collaboration with the Doctors Victor Rivera –Monroy from the Center for Ecology & Environmental Technology, Robert Twilley from the University of Louisiana, Dr. Carlos Coronado from the South Florida Water Management District, and Dr. Ernesto Medina from the IVIC Venezuela. Prof. Herrera – Silveira has published among others: 28 articles in international journals, 10 summit memory aides with proceedings, 5 science magazines, and 13 chapters in specialized books.

General Director of Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C. (COBI). Jorge got his Ph.D. from the School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, USA (2002). In 2018 he completed a Diploma in Social Impact Strategies at the University of Pennsylvania, and in 2019 he completed The Art of Leadership course at the Rockwood Leadership Institute. His work has focused on the development of comprehensive applied research to solve marine conservation and sustainable fishing problems. He has contributed to more than 50 publications. His current interest is to achieve gender equity in conservation and management decision-making, as well as identifying the best ways to transmit conservation and management knowledge generated over the last two decades to the new generation of fisherwomen and fishermen to achieve adaptation to the global changes that impact coastal communities on a daily basis.

JOSE LUIS FUNÉS, SEMARNAT

José Luis was SEMARNAT’s Delegate for Quintana Roo State until 2016, when he was promoted to the federal position of Wildlife Director. He holds Bachelor in Law from the Iberoamericana University with a Master in Environmental Law from the University of the Basque Country. He also has Diplomas on Legal Aspects of Foreign Trade and Environmental Law from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM). He has worked in the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America as a consultant to the Joint Public Advisory Committee (1997-1998); in the former Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries (1998-2000); in 2008 he was appointed as the International Liaison of the National Association of State Environmental Authorities (ANAAE) and since 2005, he has worked in the environmental field with the government of Quintana Roo.

Kim Bonine joined Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) in 2001 and has led dozens of environmental economics courses in Africa, Asia and North and South America on themes such as general conservation economics, values of terrestrial and marine protected areas, cost-benefit analysis, fisheries and forestry economics, and endangered species conservation. For the past 12 years, she has led CSF’s international Economic Tools for Conservation course in partnership with Stanford University. Kim is currently leading CSF’s Conservation Economics Initiative in partnership with Duke University. Prior to joining CSF, Kim worked at Stanford’s Center for Environmental Science and Policy researching the ecological and economic dimensions of mangrove resource use in Micronesia and studying vulnerability and resilience in coupled human-environment systems. Her work has appeared in Ambio, Conservation Biology and Pacific Science. Kim holds a Master’s degree in Earth Systems and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology, both from Stanford University. She is 2016 MAR-L cohort’s mentor.

KRISHNA ROY, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Krishna K. Roy is a conservationist and social activist. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for three decades as a consultant and in senior management positions specializing in capacity building, strategic planning, development, marketing, event planning, and public relations. She currently serves as the Branch Chief of Global Programs for the Division of International Conservation at the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Formerly, she was Vice President of Communications and Development at Island Press and Senior Conservation Advisor to the Zoological Society of San Diego and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Before that, she was the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing for the Wolf Trap Foundation, and the Center for Marine Conservation’s Vice President for Communications and Marketing. Other assignments include The Nature Conservancy, New York University, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. In addition to raising more than $80 million for various causes, she has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking environmental media and marketing campaigns involving public-private partnerships with Discovery Communications, Black Entertainment Television (BET), Telemundo, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Exxon, Arm and Hammer, and Chevrolet, among others. In 1995, Ms. Roy played a key role in designing and launching the “Save the Tiger Fund,” an international grantmaking and public awareness campaign, created with a $5 million initial gift from the Exxon Corporation to protect tigers in the wild. To date, this is the largest conservation fund dedicated to a single species. Ms. Roy has a B.A. (Honors) in Political Science from Jadavpur University in Calcutta, India and an M.A in Comparative History and Television Production and Direction from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She serves on many nonprofit boards including Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders, National Architectural Trust, Gull Rock Lightkeepers, and Coalition for Pastors’ Spouses, and was chairman of the board of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, founded by Gandhi’s grandson Arun Gandhi.

Larry Epstein is the Director of the Environmental Defense Fund’s Oceans projects in Mesoamerica and Myanmar. Larry uses market based tools, economic incentives, and conservation strategies to encourage policymakers and fishermen to transition to sustainable fisheries management. He has led the process of scoping, developing, and implementing EDF’s strategy in Belize, where a network of Belizean partners are helping to manage an ecosystems based approach to fisheries management.

LAURA CARDOSO, SYRACUSE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS
Laura Cardoso is a Program Coordinator at the Syracuse Environmental Finance Center housed at the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Ms. Cardoso specializes in communication, outreach and management of various Syracuse EFC programs in the Caribbean. Her focus areas include sustainable materials management, education, and Spanish and Portuguese language. She is of Portuguese descent. Ms. Cardoso assists in facilitating the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership and the Virgin Islands Recycling Partnership and is a member of the Vieques Sustainability Task Force, part of President Obama’s Task Force on Puerto Rico. She manages three environmental stewardship programs offered to university students across New York, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, and works with various partner organizations to facilitate community events and forums. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Spanish from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and a Master in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from the University of Alcalá de Henares in Spain.

She is a Civil Engineer from the Technological Institute of Durango, Master of Science from the Technological Institute and Higher Studies of Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, and PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. She has performed academic, research, and managerial work in various institutions, such as: the Technological Institute of Durango, the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies (Monterrey Campus), the Paul Sabatier University in France, and the Yucatan Scientific Research Center.  She is currently a professor-researcher at the Universidad del Caribe and belongs to the National System of Researchers (Level I), he has directed research projects, among which is the project that allowed the Government of the State of Yucatan to decree in 2013, the first hydrogeological reserve. She has published articles in Q1 journals in his specialty and has directed more than 20 theses for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees. She is coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Sustainable and Bioclimatic Urbanism at the Universidad del Caribe. She was the first citizen president of the Yucatan Peninsula Basin Council, in the period from 2012 to 2016, and in the period 2015-2016 she was appointed European coordinator of the GlobalMx Network.

Laura Palmese is a social interest lawyer graduated with honors from the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC). From the early stages of her professional training, she became interested in the branch of the human rights and environmental rights. This led her to focus her research in this area, and finally developed her thesis on the subject of institutional ineffectiveness of the Regulations for the Integrated Management of Solid Waste in force in Honduras since 2011. Before earning an LL.M. in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Oregon, she used to work for the Environmental Law Institute of Honduras (IDAMHO), a nongovernmental organization that promotes environmental justice through the use of legal tools: organizing workshops about the law and the mechanisms for citizen participation, leading legal publications and educational materials and submitting petitions to the state authorities. Laura was selected as MAR Leader for the 2014 Cohort on Sustainable Materials Management, since when she initiated – along with MAR Leader Cindy Flores – the execution of a project on the matter in Roatán. Currently, Laura is developing a joint project with the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) to mitigate the impacts from tourist developments in Roatán, using of the Law and promoting public participation to restore coral health and stable fisheries.

WORLD RESOURCE INSTITUTE.
Lauretta has led WRI’s coastal ecosystem work since 2001, which focuses on producing high-quality analyses and tools to improve management and foster resilience in coastal ecosystems. This includes both the Reefs at Risk project, which uses GIS spatial analysis to evaluate local and climate-related threats to coral reefs, and the Coastal Capital project, which uses economic valuation to evaluate and communicate the goods and services that coastal ecosystems provide to people. She is currently focusing on valuing the benefits from improved wastewater treatment in the Caribbean, the ecosystem services provided by mangroves, and adaptation to climate change and building resilience in coastal and urban areas. Lauretta holds a Master’s in Geography from University of California at Santa Barbara, a Master’s in Environment and Resource Policy from the George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the State University of New York.

LISA CARNE, M.SC. STUDENT, UB/UWI
Lisa Carne has resided in Placencia, Belize for 18 years working both as a marine biologist and a PADI Open Water Instructor. She has worked for the Belize Fisheries Department (Manager, Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve) and SEA (formally FoN, as a biologist), but since 2006 has been working as a consultant writing and implementing grants for the Placencia Tour Guide Association and the Placencia Producers Cooperative Society Ltd., and as an independent researcher. While building capacity for local stakeholders and disseminating information are key themes (with over 25 articles published in the local Amandala), her personal research focuses on the Critically Endangered Acroporid corals. With funding from PACT, the World Bank, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, Project AWARE and the World Wildlife Fund she has established six in situ coral nurseries in southern Belize, out-planted over 4000 Acroporid fragments at Laughing Bird Caye National Park, and held multiple training workshops both in Belize and regionally. Combined with restoration efforts, the research seeks to understand resiliency in Acroporids by studying the relationship between coral host genetics and their symbiotic algae clades as it relates to thermal tolerance and disease resistance. Information and videos on this project can be found on the Facebook page “Fragments of Hope.” A digital case study on the project is available via WWF. Lisa has a B.S. from the University of California at Santa Cruz and is currently enrolled in the University of Belize’s first M.Sc. program in Biodiversity and Conservation. She has published two books to date: Mangoes and More: A Rough Guide to Local Fruit Trees and Flowers in Belize (2002) and Way Bak Den: Preserving and Celebrating Creole and Garifuna Culture on the Placencia Peninsula, Belize (2010). The first publication on her coral work was co-authored with Dr. Austin Bowden-Kirby for the 2012 International Coral Reef Symposium, entitled “Thermal tolerance as a factor in Caribbean Acroporid restoration.”

LOREN MONTERROSO, ASSOCIATION OF FISHERMEN OF ROATAN
Loren was born and raised on the island of Roatan. His mother, Mary Monterroso, founded Island Properties – the first real estate agency on the island. Loren’s father, Tino Monterroso is a well-known leader in the diving community and was one of the founders of the marine reserve, which extends from Sandy Bay to Key Hole. He also contributed to naming and making many of the dive attractions on Roatan and the surrounding islands, including the shark dive. Loren completed his high school education at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia and attended Christopher Newport University in Newport News,Virginia for one year before returning to Roatan. Upon his return to the islands, Loren started Early Bird Fishing Charters, which he has been running for the past 10 years. In 2009, he founded the Fishermens’ Association of Roatan and is the current President. Loren has been involved with the Roatan Marine Reserve since 2007. In 2010, he, along with a commitee of local fishermen, arranged the first catch and release Billfish Tournament which was a complete success. Currently, Loren is in the process of starting a new snorkel attraction, Monterroso’s Bay Islands Underwater Museum.

LORI MADDOX, ELAW

Lori is the Associate Director of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide –ELAW. Lori helped launch the ELAW network in 1991 and has traveled to Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific, and Central and South America to reach out to public interest advocates and help build strong organizations and cross-border collaboration. She designed and ran the ELAW Fellows Program and Technology Program for more than 10 years. Lori continues to work on building the global ELAW network and the ELAW Secretariat’s capacity to meet the growing needs of the network. She leads ELAW’s work in Mexico and Central America, and works closely with the Mesoamerican Legal Strategy Group to protect marine and coastal biodiversity, and build public interest environmental law in SE Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Lori oversees ELAW administration and finance. She is President of the Board of the Western Environmental Law Center, a regional public interest law firm in the Western United States. Lori has a B.A. degree from Hollins University in English with a minor concentration in Theater Arts. She completed an Entree to Business Program for Graduates at the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston, MA, and certification as a paralegal in Oregon with a focus on environmental and administrative law. Prior to joining ELAW she worked as an environmental activist and as a paralegal in environmental and nonprofit law.

Ph.D. Biologist graduated from the Faculty of Sciences, theNational Autonomous University of Mexico, and a postgraduate degree in Resource Managementand Sustainable Development from the Colegio de la Frontera Sur.Three-star FMAS divinginstructor and cave diver. Marine mammal researcher for more than ten years. In 1996 she joinedthe National Commission of Natural Protected Areas in marine reef areas. She was director of theBanco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Xcalak Reefs National Park, Whale Shark Biosphere Reserve,currently director of Isla Contoy and Puerto Morelos Reef National Parks. Her work has focused onstopping poaching and illegal environmental fishing WITH ZERO TOLERANCE, promotingsustainable tourismthrough alliances with tour guides, anglers, academics, and hoteliers,integrating users to monitoring campaigns, restoration, environmental education, pest control,and monitoring of the reef. In 2015, it was involved in the management and control of sargassoand coastal erosion, and in 2018 it detects the white syndrome in the corals of the MexicanCaribbean, promoting a management strategy.

Mariana Mendoza, Center for Story-based Strategy

Mariana grew up in the ironic Mexico City. She has a diverse background in community and youth organizing, grassroots project development, research, and training. In 2013, she moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a Masters in Urban Sustainability. For the last years, Mariana has worked in facilitating capacity building and organizing trainings for grassroots organizations and women in Mexico and the U.S., organizing to fight against the criminalization of immigrants and people of color, advocating for investment in community solutions, developing imagination youth projects, and supporting groups with narrative analysis. Now she works on the Local Peace Economy project at CODEPINK, trains with Center for Story-based Strategy, is an Affiliate Faculty at Antioch University, and supports other projects. Mariana deeply believes and supports the collective-self-determination of communities. When she is not organizing, studying, or eating, she is usually climbing rocks.

WATER SCIENCES DPT, CICY

Mario Rebolledo-Vieyra was born in Mexico City. His primary vocational focus is oceanography, specializing in paleoceanography. During his senior year attending his university, he discovered geophysics and found his calling. He attended graduate school in Mexico, the United States and Israel, and completed a post-doc in France, where he became involved in the scientific research of the Yucatán Peninsula.

During his doctoral studies, he investigated the Chicxulub Impact Crater and its role in the extinction of dinosaurs. For 10 years, Rebolledo-Vieyra has been researching the geology and geophysics of the Yucatan Peninsula. Since 2004, he has been a scientist at Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, A.C. (CICY), and from January 2005 to August 2009, he was the director of the Center for the Studies on Water at CICY.

MARK LICHTENSTEIN, SYRACUSE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS
Mr. Lichtenstein leads the Syracuse EFC, is the Executive Director of the SyracuseCoE Center for Sustainable Community Solutions at Syracuse University, and is a Faculty Associate at the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration at Syracuse’s Maxwell School. Mr. Lichtenstein is President of the National Recycling Coalition, Inc., serves as an Expert Witness to the congressionally-authorized Federal Environmental Finance Advisory Board (EFAB), and he is a credentialed green building professional (LEED-GA). He facilitates the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership Council and the US Virgin Island Recycling Partnership Council, both created by the US EPA. He has a Master of Arts in Public Administration, a Graduate Certificate of Advanced Studies in Conflict Resolution, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration all from the Maxwell School. He also has graduate training in Environmental Science and holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, both from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He has certified mediator training, is an experienced interest-based negotiator and process facilitator, and a certified public participation specialist. He has interest and expertise spanning a broad range of sustainability, resiliency, and regenerative community concepts and issues.

MARTIN GOEBEL, SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST

Martin is one of the pioneers of the sustainability movement. His desire to find solutions that worked for communities, businesses and the environment during the “timber wars” led him to create Sustainable Northwest in 1994. Born and raised in Mexico, Martin’s conservation career includes work with The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Mexico Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN), which he helped found. Martin is a member of the Oregon Sustainability Board and currently serves as a trustee of the Compton Foundation. He frequently speaks and publishes on the subjects of conservation and sustainable development in the Pacific Northwest and Latin America. An avid fly fisherman, Martin loves to explore the rivers of Oregon any chance he gets.

MELANIE MCFIELD, HEALTHY REEFS FOR HEALTHY PEOPLE

Melanie McField is the Smithsonian Institution’s coordinator for the Healthy Mesoamerican Reef Ecosystem Initiative (a.k.a. Healthy Reefs for Healthy People), a multi-institutional effort to track the health of the reef ecosystem, the human choices that shape it, and our progress in ensuring its long-term integrity. Prior to this position she worked for five years as the Senior Program Officer in Belize for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), where she worked on design and management of marine protected areas, coral reef research, alternative income generation strategies for fishers, better management in shrimp farming, and monitoring of pesticides in reef organisms. Melanie remains affiliated with WWF’s Mesoamerican Reef Program as a Senior Fellow.
Melanie has lived and worked in Belize since 1990. In 2003, she was awarded the National Coastal Award for Marine and Coastal Research from the Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, in recognition of her research and conservations achievements. In September 2006, she was elected to serve on the Council of the International Society of Reef Studies.

Mélina Soto is the coordinator for Mexico of the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, an organization that brings together more than 70 partners from the different sectors committed with monitoring and protecting the Mesoamerican Reef System’s coastal marine resources. Thanks to this collaborative effort, sound scientific data has been generated for more than 14 years, which is the basis for recommendations to improve the management and health of the MAR. During the last fifteen years, Mélina has been involved in research and conservation projects, from water quality monitoring, ecotoxicology, to coral reefs monitoring and restoration.

Raised in the French island Guadeloupe, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Marine Environment in a binational program between Wales and France at the University of South Wales and the National Institute of Marine Sciences, INTECHMER. Mélina worked for years on research on water pollution and the health of ecosystems at CICY. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Marine Biology from the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology at UNAM with an ecotoxicology thesis that shows the endocrine disruptive effects of sunscreens on the charismatic Sergeant Major Abudefduf saxatilis. Mélina has also been working on coral reef restoration programs at the National Fisheries Institute in Quintana Roo and has collaborated with the Mesoamerican Reef Leadership Program, a dynamic leadership and capacity development program of the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature A.C.

NORISSA GIANGOLA, SPITFIRE STRATEGIES
Norissa brings over 16 years of communications planning, online communications, and public relations expertise and almost a decade of success in helping top-performing nonprofits, foundations, and corporations manage their marketing, communications and advocacy efforts. Recently, Norissa has worked with Coca-Cola to develop an international communications plan to engage their bottlers in reducing emissions; managed global strategic and communications planning for the United States Pharmacopeia’s expansion into 4 additional international markets; led coalition planning for the World Wildlife Fund’s sustainable fisheries work; and led national and local campaigns to drive voters to the polls for flu vaccinations, to raise public awareness about invasive species, to promote sustainable seafood, etc. Norissa’s work has taken her from the Amazon Rainforest to the board rooms of big-brand companies like Procter & Gamble, Fannie Mae, and Deutsche Bank and mission-driven marketers like The World Health Organization, AARP, The United States Pharmacopeia, America’s Voice, World Wildlife Fund, and World Resources Institute. In recent media work, her hot button media campaigns include the initiation and management of media relations around the “Dubaiport story,” current work in immigration reform, as well as managing media and online campaigns on climate change and health care. She advises on communications for two litigation firms. Norissa has taught entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins University business school, has written several business cases used for teaching bottom-of-the-pyramid and advocacy strategies, and was chief editor of The Just Enough Planning Guide, a guide for nonprofit advocacy.

OCTAVIO ABURTO, SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY

Octavio Aburto-Oropeza works to change fishing practices and unsustainable tourism development in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez. Aburto-Oropeza, who has been photographing marine ecosystems along the Mexican coast since 1994, completed his undergraduate studies in Marine Biology at the University of Baja California Sur in 1995 and worked as a professor in that program from 1997 to 2003. The research group he coordinated analyzed the social, cultural, and environmental impacts of human activity in the Gulf of California. One of his projects studied the effects of overfishing of large predators, like sharks. Aburto-Oropeza received his Ph.D. from the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where his work focused on the effects of commercial exploitation of fish and fisheries on reefs in the Gulf of California. Currently he directs a research group of undergraduate and graduate students investigating the importance of mangroves for local fisheries.

OMAR ORTIZ, SIAN KA’AN BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Omar is a native of Mexico City and comes from a family of photographers. He studied biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, focusing his studies on marine and aquatic ecosystems. He has been working to conserve biodiversity in Mexico for over 13 years and has participated in projects related to the protection of turtle nesting areas, characterization and monitoring of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, and writing of management proposals for lobster fisheries. His work has focused on developing and strengthening the abilities of residents that benefit from the biodiversity living in protected areas and promoting the creation of management strategies based on scientific knowledge and the active participation of stakeholders. Currently, he is the Assistant Manager of the Sian Ka’an Complex, which is made up of three protected areas that boast ecosystems ranging from seasonal evergreen forests to coral reefs. He has also participated in the creation of various documents that support the management and conservation of biodiversity. His hobbies include nature photography, cycling and diving. Omar collaborates in various local and national forums that seek to encourage the protection of Mexico’s natural heritage.

PAQUITA BATH, ALIGNING VISIONS

Paquita is a facilitator with over 25 years experience working with conservation organizations throughout the Americas. Founding her own company, Aligning Visions LLC, in 2005, she provides strategic planning, capacity building, learning, partnering, conservation action planning, board development, and participatory evaluation services to mission-driven organizations. Her goal is to engage team members and partner groups to define their strategic directions and knowledge sharing strategies for protecting the natural areas and ecological processes that shape the quality of our lives! Having learned English, Spanish, and Portuguese in her youth, Paquita has spent many years traveling and working round the globe, primarily in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. She has a B.S. from Georgetown University and a M.S. from California Polytechnic in Agriculture. Her strong science background was further strengthened through 11 years of work with The Nature Conservancy and the profusion of new insights into ecological interconnectedness over the past 2 decades. She is passionate about building nonprofit capacity as she understands the need for civil society to promote long-term conservation and sustainability. As such, she has designed leadership and training programs, written many capacity-building guides, and coached many nonprofit organizations. Paquita lives with her family in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California and travels as needed for clients. www.aligningvisions.com

PATRICIA SANTOS, CONANP

Graduated from the Faculty of Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Patricia has postgraduate studies in marine invertebrates, biochemistry and coastal ecology. Dedicated to teaching, research and public service, her “love for the swamps” has made her story one worth knowing it, as a specialist in wetlands management, her participation has been crucial for the rehabilitation of the Nichupté Mangroves Flora and Wildlife Protection Area, which was devastated in 2005 after Hurricane Wilma.

PAUL SÁNCHEZ-NAVARRO,  OMCA

Paul Sánchez-Navarro has been Director of Centro Ecológico Akumal for more than 8 years and is now leading the Organización Mexicana para la Conservación del medio Ambiente . He has a Master’s degree in International relations and was Policy Advisor for World Wildlife (WWF) Fund International and both the WWF México Office and Pronatura. Paul has worked on development and environmental issues at the local, national and international levels for seventeen years. He has also designed policy strategies for non-governmental organizations, and participated in national efforts to improve Mexico’s environmental policy framework. Focusing on marine and coastal protection, he has worked to create a model of sustainable tourism development in Akumal, one of Quintana Roo’s prime tourism destinations. Half Mexican and half United States American, Sánchez-Navarro’s life reflects the blend of both cultures as he works to better understand and contribute to the relationships between democracy, economic growth and environmental stewardship.

RACHEL GRAHAM, MAR ALLIANCE

Fascinated with the sea from the early days growing up in Tunisia, Rachel Graham was drawn to the fields of research, environment and development in Latin America, Africa and Micronesia. For the past 30 years she has worked with both the private sector and institutions such as the United Nations, the University of York, the Smithsonian Institution and the Wildlife Conservation Society.  For nearly two decades, Rachel has worked with fishers and partners in several countries to identify threats, research needs and conservation opportunities for threatened marine wildlife and their critical habitats. As part of this work, Rachel has catalyzed a range of megafauna research and conservation action worldwide and is an active member of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and helped to found several National Shark Advisory Committees to better facilitate information sharing as well as management and policy reform for elasmobranchs.In 2011, she won the Whitley Fund for Nature Gold Award for her work with sharks and communities. 

In 2014, Rachel founded the international NGO MarAlliance to promote impactful and inclusive grassroots science and conservation of marine wildlife. She is most proud of her two sons who balance their love of fishing with their desire to be marine scientists and conservationists. Rachel holds a BSc in Zoology from Oxford, an MSc from Edinburgh and a PhD from the University of York, UK.

Rafael González Franco de la Peza has a degree in Latin American Studies, and in Social Psychology, with a doctorate in Philosophy of Education from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education – ITESO). He is also a graduate of the Advanced Studies Program in Sustainable Development and Environment Management (LEAD-Mexico) at El Colegio de México. Since 2002 he is the CEO of his own consulting firm Diagnósticos y Estrategias para el Fortalecimiento Institucional (Diagnostics and Strategies for the Strengthening of Institutions -Define). After over twenty years of working in different civil society organizations, such as Greenpeace International and Greenpeace México, AC, (organization of which he was co-founder, first executive director and president of its Board of Directors for many years), Fundación Compartir, IAP and Fundación Xochitla, AC. He is a partner of Menos dos grados Consultores, S.C. (Minus two degrees Consultants, SC) and co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of Cuidarte, AC. Institutional analyst, mediator and facilitator of change management and conflict management. Writer, advisor, trainer and speaker on issues of human rights, citizen participation, equity and inclusion, community development, human development, local and institutional governance, and reflections on masculinity and spiritual intelligence. He teaches the modules of “Cooperation and Conflict Management” and “Thinking about masculinities” of the diplomats that Tec de Monterrey has with Cuidarte AC, “Emotional education” and “Education in child and adolescent sexuality” respectively. He is the author of the books The government of organizations (Editorial Arlequín, 2015) and Spiritual Intelligence without spirits or gods.

RICARDO GÓMEZ, CONANP

Ricardo Gómez was previously the Director of Cozumel Reefs National Park and is now the Regional Director for the Yucatán Peninsula and the Caribbean . After becoming interested in biology in high school, he continued studying the subject as an undergraduate and while completing his Masters in Sciences with a specialization in marine mammals in Mexico City. Gómez Lozano completed the certificate course “Conservation Strategies and Techniques,” offered through a partnership with the Nature Conservancy, at Tecnológico de Monterrey in 2007.
He has been dedicated to ecosystem conservation through public service for over ten years, from his start at Desierto de los Leones National Park topark director of Cozumel Reefs National Park. Cozumel Reefs National Park is dedicated to the conservation of reefs and the incredible natural attraction of the area as well as the regulation of activities for the purpose of preventing reef degradation.

RICH WILSON, SEATONE CONSULTING

Rich Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of Seatone Consulting, is an award winning consultant, trainer and facilitator with more than twenty years’ experience in resource conservation, sustainable business and public engagement in natural resources management planning. Rich brings a collaborative approach to his work in order to create durable alliances between resource managers, the private sector, conservation non-profits and resource users. He specializes in conservation program development, consensus building and conflict resolution surrounding natural resource management planning and policy issues. Since founding Seatone Consulting in 2010, Rich has focused work in his home state of California and around the Wider Caribbean. Among his many projects he has designed and facilitated ‘Training of Trainers’ workshops for the United Nations Environment Program; assisted the Bahamas government in conducting a management effectiveness evaluation of its national park system; and provided facilitation support to the Belize government and community stakeholders as they considered, and ultimately rejected, a controversial cruise ship project. He is currently playing a lead role in the design and implementation of the Mesoamerican Reef Leadership Program 2015 training series. Over the course of his career, Rich has designed and facilitated hundreds of workshops, public consultations and training-of-trainers on resource management, sustainable business, public policy development and a wide array of conservation oriented topics. When not designing and leading Seatone projects in different regions of the world, Rich works as a senior mediator and facilitator on multi-stakeholder resource conservation initiatives across California for the Sacramento State University Center for Collaborative Policy.

ROBERT CUDNEY, MEXICO SILVESTRE

Robert Cudney has been a conservationist since he was a child. He has participated and directed diverse environmental organizations. He recently created Mexico Silvestre, an organization dedicated to the conservation of Mexico’s wilderness.
For 10 years, Robert worked at the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas in Mexico as Director of 2 Natural Protected Areas and Director of the Ecotourism Program for Natural Protected Areas. He was the representative of Mexico for the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and President of its Secretariat. During his participation in ICRI the “Coral Reef Year” was launched. Robert is an experienced ecotourism guide in wilderness areas in Mexico and other countries. He is certified as rafting instructor, mountain instructor and rescuer. Currently he works as a conservation photographer.

ROBERTO IGLESIAS, INSTITUTE OF OCEANIC AND LIMNOLOGY STUDIES-UNAM

Roberto is a full time researcher and the Academic Chief of the Coral Reef Academic Unit at the Institute of Oceanic Sciences and Limnology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). For the past 28 years, Roberto has concentrated on the physiology of reef-building corals, in particular the photobiology in the symbiosis between dinoflagellates (microscopic algae) and corals, as well as the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on coral reefs. Roberto has a BS in Biology and a Master’s in Biological Oceanography from the UNAM as well as a doctorate in Marine Biology and Population Studies from the University of California Santa Barbara in the United States, where he worked as a postdoctoral researcher. Between 1995 and 1996, Roberto worked as a researcher at the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education at Baja California and since ’96 has lived and worked in Puerto Morelos, in the Mexican State of Quintana Roo. Although his scientific activities focus on the understanding of basic coral reef biology—utilizing genetic techniques, biochemistry and biophysics—Roberto is a passionate spokesman for the conservation of biological heritage and cultures with close bonds to coral reefs. When he’s not working in the lab, Roberto can be found listening to music and windsurfing.

RUPESH BHOMIA, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Rupesh is a postdoc researcher at Wetlands Biogeochemistry Laboratory in the Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida (UF). His research interest lies in understanding biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling in freshwater and coastal wetlands. His research has focused on phosphorus cycling in the freshwater wetlands of Everglades ecosystem and carbon cycling in the mangroves ecosystems across many regions. Previously he was a research fellow /courtesy faculty in the Fisheries and Wildlife Dept., Oregon State University. As a researcher for Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Project (SWAMP), he has studied mangroves in Honduras, India, Liberia, Gabon and Senegal and freshwater peatland swamp forests of Peruvian Amazonia. He received his Doctorate degree at University of Florida and his Masters in Science from both Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and the University of Oxford, UK. Before attending graduate school, Rupesh spent two years working for the WWF in New Delhi, where he managed projects aimed at conserving biodiversity in Indian forests and marine protected areas.

STEVE KNAEBEL, INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT

Steve’s professional career is an amalgam of professional ventures that is enriched by various pro bono activities, which illustrate his entrepreneurial spirit. Steve worked with Cummins from 1981 – 2004 – a company that is best known for their international production of diesel engines and components. While at Cummins, Steve negotiated regulation of bus and truck diesel emissions, was actively involved in the forefront of NAFTA discussions, and was a Member of the Chairman’s Diversity Council from 1998 – 2004. Steve’s most recent foray into vehicle–related fields includes work as an executive coach and consultant for Vehizero – a company that looks to design and produce electric vehicles in Mexico. Highlights of Steve’s professional career include two years in Venezuela as a Peace Corps Volunteer; a director’s position working with USAID in Costa Rica; and international experience with the International Basic Economy Corporation as manager of its Housing Division. Steve is an active board member of many NGOs, the likes of which include: FMCN, LightHawk, the Center for Sustainable Transport (Mexico), the Mexican Center for Philanthropy, and Leadership for Environment and Development (U.K.), among others. He was the founder and president of Dynamic Assistance to Micro-Entrepreneurs and the Cummins (Mexico) Philanthropic Association. Steve received his bachelor’s in English and an MBA from Stanford University and lives in Mexico with his wife and two sons.

THOMAS MELLER, MESOAMERICAN REEF TOURISM INITIATIVE

Thomas Meller has over 17 years of experience in managing environmental projects working for the German technical assistance program, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), private sector consulting firms, industry associations and international NGOs.
Since October 2006, Thomas works at the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI), first as Director of the Hotel Component, and since august 2011 as Chief Executive Officer of MARTI.

TUNDI AGARDY, FOREST TRENDS MARINE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROGRAM (MARES)

Tundi is an internationally renowned expert in marine conservation, with extensive field and policy experience in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, North America, and the Pacific. Tundi specializes in coastal planning and assessment, marine protected areas, fisheries management and ocean zoning, and has published widely in these fields. She founded Sound Seas in 2001 as an independent group working at the nexus of policy and science to promote marine conservation. At Forest Trends, she is heading up the MARES initiative – a program looking to protect Marine Ecosystem Services through Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) markets. Tundi works with international think tanks, foundations, multilaterals, museums and academic institutions, environmental groups, and consortia with interest in solving local and regional coastal and marine conservation problems. She completed her undergraduate work at Wellesley and Dartmouth Collees and then received her Ph.D. in biological sciences and Masters in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island and was postdoctoral fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She has served as Senior Scientist for the World Wildlife Fund and began Conservation International’s Global Marine Program, which she oversaw as Senior Director. She also led the coastal portion of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment – a 3-year global analysis released in 2005 that represents the consensus of over a thousand scientists on the state of the world’s ecosystems.

VALENTINE ROSADO, GRASSROOTS BELIZE

Valentine Rosado was born and raised in the sweet his time throughout Belize. He began his career working for non-profit organizations focused on coral reef conservation and has had the opportunity to work on a multitude of conservation initiatives.

As the country representative for the Coral Reef Alliance, he coordinated the development and implementation of grassroots conservation projects aimed to improve sustainability practices in the tourism sector. Most recently, he worked for the National Protected Areas Secretariat during which he served as the lead officer implementing a national campaign designed to elevate the profile of Belize’s protected areas. In his free time, he provides technical support to several community organizations across Belize with the aim of enhancing their capacity as natural resource stewards. His special interest is mangrove and has been involved in several reforestation projects throughout the Caribbean via a close partnership with mangrove.org.

Valentine is a passionate and committed natural resource advocate and strongly believes in empowering communities and individuals to sustainably manage our natural capital. He has a graduate degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development and is actively involved in many exciting conservation projects via his consulting company called “Grassroots Belize: True sustainability for life”.

WALLACE J. NICHOLS, BLUEMIND

Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols is a scientist, activist, community organizer, author and dad. He works to inspire a deeper connection with nature, sometimes simply by walking and talking, other times through writing or images. Science and knowledge can also stoke our fires. But he knows that what really moves people is feeling part of and touching something bigger than ourselves. J. is a Research Associate at California Academy of Sciences and founder/co-director of OceanRevolution.org,SeeTheWild.org, and LiVBLUE.org, a global campaign to reconnect us to our water planet. He has authored and co-authored more than 50 scientific papers and reports and his work has been broadcasted on a wide range of media. Nichols earned his MEM in Environmental Policy and Economics from Duke University’s Nicholas School and his PhD in Wildlife Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Arizona. He advises a motivated group of international graduate students and serves as an advisor to numerous non-profit boards and committees as part of his commitment to building a stronger, more progressive and connected environmental community. Lately he is working on BLUEMiND: The Mind + Ocean Initiative, merging the fields of cognitive science and ocean exploration.

WILL HEYMAN, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Will built a broad interest in science and sustainable management of tropical coastal and marine systems from the time he was a child, snorkeling before he could walk. He graduated from Tufts University with a major in Marine Biology and Environmental Studies in 1983; then he spent three years working in marine aquaculture in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Marshall Islands. Will did his MS and Ph.D. with the University of South Carolina, conducting field research in both the Marshall Islands and Belize, finishing in1996. In 7 years of graduate work, he spent only 5 semesters in residence, gaining him the dubious honor of the student with the most degrees, and least amount of time on campus at USC. Meanwhile, he began working for the International Division of the Nature Conservancy in Belize, where he lived for ten years. Will’s escape from academia was fleeting, however, as he is now an Associate Professor of Geography at Texas A&M University.  He teaches undergraduate courses in Environment and Natural Resources and field courses in Dominica; administers internship programs; and mentors graduate students in conducting applied, interdisciplinary marine projects for MS and PhD degrees. Will continues to conduct field research in the Mesoamerican Reef and serves as Board Member of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.  He is continuously supportive of working with local actors to co-produce information that is relevant to and supportive of effective marine and coastal management that benefits both natural resources and users in the long term.