RF-US - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Lead Writer
- Writer and Editorial Manager
Adam Janos is Rainforest Foundation US's lead writer and storyteller, translating programmatic impacts and capturing the human face of RFUS's partnerships for the organization's priority engagement needs. He brings over 10 years of professional writing experience to the organization, having contributed to several outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The Budapest Times, and A&E, amongst others. He's also a published fiction writer and playwright. Adam holds a Master's in Creative Writing from Rutgers University-Camden. He is bilingual in Hungarian and fluent in Spanish, which he learned while traveling the Pan-American Highway in his early twenties. That's also when he came to know the rich indigenous cultures of the continent and the stunning forests that house them, ultimately guiding him to this work.
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
Andrea supports communications and logistics across a broad range of projects for the Peru program. Andrea previously worked in private and public organizations since 2014, including the Canadian Embassy in Peru, Canadian Commercial Corporation, and El Dorado Investments. She is dedicated to elevating the voices and messages of Peru's indigenous peoples and organizations. She holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the Universidad del Pacífico and a Certificate in International Business Management from Greystone College. She is a native Spanish language speaker and is fluent in English and French.
Astrid co-leads local implementation of Rainforest Foundation US's initiatives in partnership with indigenous partners in the Ucayali region of Peru. Previously, she worked for the Environmental Assessment and Enforcement Agency (OEFA) and as a health and safety supervisor for private businesses in the country. Astrid sees the role of indigenous communities in forest protection as crucial not only for climate change mitigation, but also for sustaining their worldview. Astrid holds a Bachelor's in Environmental Engineering, and a Master's in Environment, Sustainable Development, and Social Responsibility from the National University of Ucayali. She also holds a certificate in Environmental Auditing and Inspection from the College of Engineers of Peru - Ucayali. Astrid speaks Spanish, basic English, and basic Quechua Chanka.
Job Titles:
- Founder of Lin Lane
- Founder, Lin Lane Partner, the Fund
Becky is the founder of Lin Lane, an advisory and investment firm focused on early stage companies. She is also currently working as Partner at The Fund, a platform of founders and operators investing in the next generation of local entrepreneurs. Before joining The Fund, she worked in global expansion and business development at WeWork, and later served as the Global Director of Growth and Community at Summit. She holds a Bachelor's from Vanderbilt University and a Master's in Business Administration from Columbia University.
Becky brings with her over a decade of public and private sector partnerships and fundraising work, including at the Clinton Foundation and Avantage Ventures, which focuses on impact investing. She is committed to aligning these skills with her deep interests in climate change and biodiversity to advance Rainforest Foundation US's mission.
Job Titles:
- Senior Communications Manager
Beth Duncan oversees the communications portfolio for Rainforest Foundation US, bringing to the organization over 20 years' experience in diverse communications roles. Previously, Beth spearheaded development and program initiatives for an indigenous-led nonprofit organization that supports indigenous communities and indigenous Elders from around the globe. Prior to that, she worked in the private sector as a higher education communications and marketing consultant. She also served in the public sector, having served as a diplomat in Shanghai, China, and on special assignments across Latin America. Beth holds a Master's of International Management from Thunderbird Global School of Management and speaks Spanish and rusty Mandarin. She currently calls Baltimore home.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer / Retired Finance Executive
As Deputy Chief Compliance Officer for Partner Fund Management, L.P. from 2016 to 2019, Brett ensured the firm met national and international regulations. Formerly, he held leadership roles at Kingdon Capital Management, L.L.C., PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Brett is also a dedicated volunteer, having worked for several years at Animal Haven, where he prepared dogs for adoption. Now retired, he currently volunteers at Sea Turtle Oversight Protection, an NGO dedicated to rescuing disoriented sea turtle hatchlings in coordination with local and state authorities. He earned his Bachelor's in Accounting from Millsaps College and uses his background in accounting and finance to serve as the Treasurer of Rainforest Foundation US. Brett is dedicated to environmental causes and ensuring that the indigenous populations of Central and South America are entitled to own and manage their own land.
Cameron Ellis manages mapping and field operations for Rainforest Foundation US's work in Central America and the Guiana Shield. He is also a skilled multimedia artist. Cameron has been working with indigenous communities for over fifteen years, supporting them to map, manage, articulate and advocate their own vision for a prosperous and sustainable future. Cameron has a Master's in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico and is fluent in Spanish.
Carlos Doviaza is an indigenous Emberá from the Darien in Panama and coordinates Rainforest Foundation US's mapping and monitoring work with indigenous peoples across the country and for projects elsewhere in Central America. Previously, Carlos supported the Congreso General de Tierras Colectivas Embera y Wounaan to advance a range of the organization's initiatives. He holds a Bachelor's in Computer Science from the Universidad Interamericana de Panamá and is currently working on a Bachelor's in Environmental Risk Management at the Universidad Latinoamericana de Comercio Exterior in Panama. Carlos is bilingual in Spanish and Emberá.
Job Titles:
- Director, Natural Resources at Kayrros
With more than 20 years of experience working in the natural resources, technology and financial service sectors, Christian leads the development of environmental services based on satellite imagery and advanced analytics at Kayrros. Formerly, he played leadership roles at Goldman Sachs and BHP. Christian started his career as a software engineer and holds a Master's of Business Administration from INSEAD.
Christian supports the RFUS team by analyzing the risks presented by extractive industries, and finding ways in which indigenous communities can use new technologies to protect their lands and livelihoods. Christian's life-long devotion to environment issues and interest in supporting indigenous peoples stem from his childhood in Mexico.
Christine Halvorson oversees Rainforest Foundation US's partnerships in Brazil, Guyana and Panama and brings extensive expertise in institutional strengthening, land management planning and titling, policy and campaigning. Prior to joining RFUS in 1999, she was a director of Amanaka'a Amazon Network. She has worked on issues connecting the environment and social justice for nearly thirty years, both in the Amazon as well as locally in New York City where she serves on the board of ABC No Rio, a cultural center in the Lower East Side. She holds a Master's in Anthropology from The New School for Social Research. She is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish and also speaks rusty French.
Job Titles:
- Logistics Coordinator
- Administrative and Logistics Coordinator
Daniela supports the overall administration and financial and operational management of Rainforest Foundation US's work in Peru, with a recent focus on supporting the program's COVID-19 response. Prior to joining Rainforest Foundation, Daniela was a supervisor at the Casa Andina hotel network in Peru, providing staff and management oversight of large teams. She holds a Master's in Business Management from the Universidad San Martin De Porres. She is a native Spanish language speaker and is proficient in English.
As RFUS's Grant Accountant, Elizabeth looks forward to applying her accounting and grants management expertise to further the goals of Rainforest Foundation US. She has 15 years' experience in accounting in various industries, including 5 years of fiscal management for government contracts, from budget proposal through closeout and audit. Elizabeth is a certified public accountant (CPA), and has a Master's in Accountancy from DePaul University. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
Henry is supporting the scale up planning of Rainforest Alert within Peru. Previously, he worked for four years with the National Parks service of Peru identifying and developing sustainable financing opportunities for Peruvian Protected Areas and local community allies. Working with indigenous communities in the Amazon and supporting their autonomy and sustainable economic development is incredibly important to Henry, and he feels privileged and humbled to be working with Rainforest Foundation US to achieve that. Henry received his Bachelor's in Economics from Willamette University, where he found his passion for international development. He is a native English speaker who is also fluent in Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Loreto Information Coordinator
Jaime works directly with the Organization of the Indigneous People of the Eastern Amazon (ORPIO) and indigenous communities in Loreto to systematize and manage data on environmental crimes to support community-led reforestation projects. Jaime holds a degree in Tropical Forest Ecology from the Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana (UNAP) in Peru. He is a native Spanish language speaker and is also fluent in Portuguese.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Global Program on Governance and Rights, IUCN
- Director, Global Program on Governance & Rights at IUCN
Jenny Springer is an anthropologist with over 20 years of experience working on indigenous peoples' and community land rights, community-based natural resource management, and social dimensions of conservation. She joined the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Director of the Global Programme on Governance and Rights in October 2018. From 2015 to 2018, Jenny served as Chair of the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy's Theme on Governance, Equity and Rights, where she played a lead role in the development of the IUCN Natural Resource Governance Framework. Formerly, she held leadership roles with Rights and Resources Initiative and World Wildlife Fund US, where she co-founded the Conservation Initiative on Human Rights. She holds a Bachelor's in Social Studies from Harvard and conducted graduate work in Socio-Cultural Anthropology at the University of Chicago.
Job Titles:
- Environmental Education Intern / Communications
Jeremy Kundtz is supporting environmental education initiatives at Rainforest Foundation US, in close collaboration with the Communications and Development teams. He has four years of experience in education and communications surrounding environmental issues. Prior to joining RFUS, Jeremy worked in communications at the OECD Environment Directorate in Paris. Before that, he spent two years in Colombia as a Fulbright Grantee. Teaching at universities in the Andes and Amazon, Jeremy was inspired to support the rights of indigenous and rural peoples living in these amazing ecosystems. Jeremy holds a Master's in Communications and Media Studies from Sciences Po Paris, and a Bachelor's in Spanish Language and Latin American Studies from The Ohio State University. A native English speaker, Jeremy speaks Spanish at a near-native level, and can get by in Portuñol and French. When he's not working, he's practicing yoga, or taking a hike with his dog (and best bud), Kaya.
Job Titles:
- Institutional Giving Manager
Jessica manages institutional giving relationships for Rainforest Foundation US, connecting with foundation and corporate partners to elevate and expand the organization's critical work in Central and South America. She brings nearly 10 years of nonprofit experience to the role, including work advancing equitable workforce development, food and health care access, and voting rights. She holds a Master's of Public Administration from American University and lives in Rhode Island.
Job Titles:
- Chairman / Managing Partner, Wealth Partners Capital Group, LLC
John is Managing Partner of Wealth Partners Capital Group, LLC, which provides capital and strategic support to Registered Investment Advisor firms. Formerly, John was President of AMG Wealth Partners, and served in leadership roles prior to that at Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse First Boston and Goldman, Sachs & Co. John holds Bachelors' degrees in Economics and English Literature from Georgetown University, a Master's in Management from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
As a child of the ‘70s, John remembers celebrating the first Earth Day. He has been involved in various environmental causes for over 30 years. John has been a RFUS board member since 2009, and is particularly devoted to RFUS given the team's efficiency and intense commitment.
Josh Lichtenstein provides policy, negotiation and management guidance to Rainforest Foundation US's Panama and Guyana programs. Josh has been a rights and environment activist for almost thirty years, working with community, indigenous, women, farmer and conservation grassroots organizations and NGOs to advance their initiatives in both the US and internationally. Prior to joining RFUS, he served as the Latin America and Forest Program Manager and then as Campaign Director at the DC-based Bank Information Center, where he was also one of the CSO Observers to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. Josh holds a Master's in International Economics from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and is fluent in Spanish.
Julia Sperry is responsible for performing all aspects of day-to-day bookkeeping, and assists the operations manager in upholding RFUS's policies, procedures, and grant requirements to ensure the integrity of all financial systems. She has more than 10 years' experience working with a national CPA firm, where she gained an appreciation for the importance of teamwork, trust, and reliability. Prior to working in the accounting field and becoming a certified bookkeeper, Julia spent more than 15 years working for national parks and natural history museums across the United States, where she specialized in paleontological and geologic exhibits and field research. She lives with her husband in Montana and enjoys skiing, hiking, and gardening in addition to spending time with family and friends.
Karen Osorio supports Rainforest Foundation US's digital communication efforts. Formerly, Karen was the Ecuador Program Coordinator at Global Citizen Year, where she had the opportunity to live and work with Kichwa indigenous communities in northern Ecuador. This experience ignited in her a deep respect for indigenous cosmovisions, and the dedication to deconstructing preconceived ideas of development, wellbeing and human-nature relations. She holds a Bachelor's in Public Relations from the University Espiritu Santo in Ecuador and a Master's in Governance and Development from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. She is a native Spanish speaker, fluent in English and currently learning French.
Job Titles:
- Social Specialist and Project Facilitator
Kathya is a Social Specialist and Project Facilitator, working to implement projects with a focus on gender, social inclusion, and interculturality. She brings experience with artisan cooperatives, economic alternatives, women's empowerment, and indigenous autonomy in the Peruvian Amazon. She holds a Bachelor's in Anthropology from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. She speaks Spanish and basic English.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Impact
Kim oversees key aspects of the organization's fundraising, and communications activities and spearheads strategic partnerships and new initiatives. Previously, Kim served as the Director of Virunga Fund, a US non-profit dedicated to the protection of Africa's oldest and most biologically diverse national park. He also founded The Charcoal Project, a non-profit dedicated to bringing better biomass fuels and technologies to populations that depend on wood and traditional charcoal in sub-Saharan Africa. Kim's first career was as a television news producer and wildlife documentary film-maker. As a French-Nicaraguan, Kim is a native Spanish and French speaker.
Laura coordinates Rainforest Foundation US's grant reporting and institutional metrics. She joined the organization as an intern in May 2020, and worked with the communications team before transitioning to programs. She holds a Master's in Global Affairs from New York University, with a concentration in Energy and Environment Policy and a specialization in Data Analysis. Before pursuing her Master's, Laura earned her BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She is an associate member of The Rude Grooms, a Queens-based theater company that brings free and low-cost productions of Shakespeare to underserved communities. She is eagerly working on her Spanish.
Luz del Alba Sánchez manages Rainforest Foundation US's administrative and operational systems, bringing over 10 years of experience in nonprofit operations and finance. Born and raised in Queens, NY to Dominican immigrant parents, Luz del Alba is passionate about improving the lives and opportunities for marginalized communities in and outside of the US. Luz del Alba holds a Master's in Nonprofit Management with specializations in Leadership & Change as well as Gender & Sexuality Studies from the Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at The New School. She is fluent in Spanish.
Margoth Quispe works as a liaison with governmental agencies and counsels indigenous communities on applying for land titles. Since 2014, Margoth has represented the indigenous Ashaninka community of Saweto in their active murder prosecutions of prominent indigenous leaders and to obtain the legal title to nearly 81,000 hectares of their ancestral land. Margoth is a trained human rights lawyer and formerly served as the Human Rights Ombudsman in the eastern Amazonian Department of Ucayali. She is a native Spanish language speaker.
Job Titles:
- Head of Donor Relationships
Marina Zelle ensures that Rainforest Foundation US's donors are connected and engaged with the organization's programming, and that programming is aligned with donors' interests. Marina was first introduced to the organization in 2012 as a donor herself after a visit to the Amazon. She believes the climate crisis is the most urgent global problem we are collectively facing today and that RFUS's work is a logical approach to protecting forests in a way that respects the people and wisdom that they hold. Marina has an entrepreneurial background and has founded several companies, including a matchmaking service in NYC. Her passions lie in exploring consciousness, music and art, and she lives in Brooklyn with her pets.
Maryka Ives Paquette provides strategic and operational advising in support of Rainforest Foundation US's programs and facilitates government engagement and special initiatives. She brings to this role over 10 years' experience, including five years at the UN, advancing climate, forest, and development policy with particular focus on indigenous peoples' rights, advocacy, and engagement. She holds a Master's of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy with a focus on indigenous peoples' rights from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs as well as a Master's in Indigenous Mind. She speaks Spanish, rusty Italian and is learning French.
Olivia provides essential support for the communication department's technical and content needs. Her background is in environmental and social science research, which drew her to RFUS's commitment to the intersection of environmental sustainability and human rights. She has worked in wildlife research, with a focus on birds, in rainforests across five Latin American countries. She holds a Bachelor's in Anthropology from Hunter College and a Master's in Conservation Biology from University College London. She speaks Spanish and intermediate German.
Job Titles:
- Policy Analyst & Capacity Building Specialist
Plinio Pizango Hualinga is an indigenous Kampu Piyawi specialized in training communities on strategies and policies to protect their forests against deforestation and securing climate change mitigation resources. Previously, he worked with AIDESEP, a national indigenous peoples' organization providing technical advising and analysis on forest and climate change policy. Plinio holds a Bachelor's in Political Science and a specialization in Public Policy focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation from the National University of San Marcos. He is a native Spanish language speaker.
Robert is a photographer, explorer, and environmental activist, born in Manhattan and raised in Peru. He has completed several expeditions to the Amazon over the last thirty years and is also a member of the NYC-based Explorers Club. His photography extends from work in advertising and fashion to personal work capturing people of different cultures in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. His work has appeared in Vogue, Town and Country, Harper's Bazaar, People, and George magazine. He has photographed celebrities such Pope Francis, John F Kennedy Jr, Shakira, Pitbull, Roy Jones Jr, and many others over the years. He also is an Ambassador for All Hands and Hearts, a volunteer organization that has built over 300 schools after natural disasters on five continents. Robert holds a Bachelor's in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.
Robert is one-eighth Native American (Inca). He grew up in Cuzco, Peru-home to a large indigenous population-and speaks Spanish and Portuguese. As a Rainforest Foundation US board member, Robert's interests lie in protecting indigenous peoples' cultures in the Andes and Amazon through advocacy and enabling the legal recognition of indigenous peoples' lands.
Job Titles:
- Distinguished Professor & the Nicholas Doman Professor of International Law, University of Colorado Law School
- Professor of International Law at the University of Colorado Law School
S. James Anaya is a University Distinguished Professor and the Nicholas Doman Professor of International Law at the University of Colorado Law School (USA), where he teaches and writes in the areas of international human rights and issues concerning indigenous peoples. Professor Anaya is a graduate of the University of New Mexico (B.A. in Economics, 1980) and Harvard Law School (J.D., 1983). Among his numerous publications is his acclaimed book, Indigenous Peoples in International Law (Oxford Univ. Press, 1996, 2d. ed. 2004) and his widely-used co-authored textbook, International Human Rights: Problems of Law, Policy and Practice (Aspen, 6th ed. 2016) (with Hurst Hannum and Dinah Shelton).
Professor Anaya served as the United Nations Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from 2008 to 2014. In that capacity, he examined and reported on conditions of indigenous peoples worldwide and responded to allegations of human rights violations against them, including through country visits and direct contacts with governments. In addition, Professor Anaya has litigated major indigenous rights and human rights cases in domestic and international tribunals, including the United States Supreme Court and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Among his noteworthy activities, he participated in the drafting of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and was the lead counsel for the indigenous parties in the case of Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua, in which the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for the first time upheld indigenous land rights as a matter of international law.
Job Titles:
- Head of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP 's Latin America Practice
- Vice Chair / Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Member Executive Committee ( Founding Chair ), the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
As Head of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP's Latin America Practice, Todd advises clients in international corporate finance transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and project finance. A leader in pro-bono practice, he is a member of the governing body and executive committee of the Cyrus R. Vance Center of International Justice, where he was founding chair. He also serves as the Vance Center representative to the boards of the Pro Bono Network of the Americas (Red Pro Bono de las Américas) and the Lawyers Council for Civil and Economic Rights of the Americas. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Howard College of Arts & Sciences at Samford University, the board of directors of the Council of the Americas and the board of directors of Equitable Origin. He has acted as counsel to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in the context of the Awas Tingni case, an important precedent-setting case related to property rights of indigenous peoples under international law. Todd holds a Bachelor's in International Relations from Samford University, a License d'histoire from Université de Paris IV Sorbonne, and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School.
Todd came to issues related to indigenous peoples rights almost three decades ago. As a young lawyer, he represented the Awas Tingni community in Nicaragua in negotiations with the Nicaraguan government and a lumber company. The experience introduced him to the intersection of environmental concerns and human rights, which defines the work of Rainforest Foundation US. Todd has served on RFUS's board since 2007. He firmly believes that supporting indigenous peoples to protect their rainforests is the most cost-effective solution to forest degradation, deforestation, and related climate change.
Sofiya supports Rainforest Foundation US's general fundraising operations, data collection and analysis, as well as assisting with various special projects. As a trained early childhood educator and an independent filmmaker, Sofiya is passionate about solving environmental problems through educational initiatives, experimental pedagogical approaches, and intercultural dialogue. Prior to joining Rainforest Foundation US, Sofiya held various administrative positions in film production. She studied Humanities in Moscow, Russia and has a Bachelor's in Film Direction from the School of Visual Arts in New York. She is currently working towards a Master's degree in Coastal and Marine Management at the University of Akureyri, while teaching and developing environmental curriculums for elementary school students. She is fluent in English and Russian.
Sophia Rokhlin facilitates community engagement at Rainforest Foundation US, connecting purpose-driven businesses and individuals to the critical mission of protecting the world's tropical forests and their human cultures. Sophia has lived and worked in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Amazon, partnering with NGOs and grassroots organizations on regenerative agriculture programs and indigenous peoples' rights campaigns. She holds a Master's in Ecological Economics from the University of Barcelona-ICTA, and is a co-author of When Plants Dream (Watkins, 2019) on the global popularity of Amazonian plant medicines. Sophia is an amateur ethnobotanist and an avid bird watcher. She speaks fluent Spanish, dusty French, and rusty Portuguese.
Job Titles:
- Principal & Managing Director, Stone Arch Group
Steve is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is the Principal of the Stone Arch Group, a private investment firm that funds single and multi-family real estate opportunities and growth stage companies. Steve and Stone Arch also support organizations committed to climate change mitigation, rainforest preservation, education, children's health, and the arts. Between 2005 and 2016, he was the Co-Founder and CEO of Group of Health Care Training Companies, which built and operated five healthcare training organizations. Formerly, he served as the Managing Director of Fastwired, and as the CEO and Owner of Human-i-Tees. Steve holds a Bachelor's in Economics from Trinity College-Hartford and a Certificate in Organizational Design for Digital Transformation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.
In addition to running various businesses, Steve has been involved in environmental advocacy and forest preservation for over twenty years. He is committed to utilizing this experience in helping Rainforest Foundation US effectively fulfill its mission.
Suzanne Pelletier has served as the Executive Director of the Rainforest Foundation US since April 2009. Formerly, Suzanne was the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the National Audubon Society. Suzanne holds a Master's in Business Administration from Columbia Business School and a Master's of Environmental Studies from the Yale School of Forestry.
Tom Bewick directs research, forest protection, and legal work as well as fundraising, communication, operations and outreach for Rainforest Foundation US's Peru program. Tom previously worked as an international tropical timber trade investigator, an environmental services project developer, and as an international human rights observer. Tom holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the University of Nottingham and a Master's in Education from Fordham University. He is fluent in Spanish and Indonesian.
Job Titles:
- Development Operations Manager
Viviana Briseño Márquez manages the planning and operational optimization of Rainforest Foundation US's fundraising efforts. A passionate visual communicator and committed animal rights activist, she co-founded the Fundación de Protección Animal (FUPA), a Mexican organization committed to animal welfare, where she volunteers as a digital consultant. She holds a Master's in Conservation and Education from Miami University. Born and raised in Mexico, she is a native Spanish speaker and is learning German.
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator
- Management Tools Specialist
Wendy Pineda is a territorial management tools specialist using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), mapping, geographic and environmental engineering, satellite remote sensing and project management techniques to create participatory tools and training methodologies for communities working to protect and manage their ancestral lands. Since 2007, she has collaborated with many indigenous peoples' organizations in the Peruvian Amazon on community monitoring, ethno mapping and technology transfer initiatives. She is a native Spanish language speaker.
Ziv supports Rainforest Foundation US's fundraising efforts with database management and donor strategy. As an Ashkenazi Jew, Ziv is particularly dedicated to cultural preservation for the victims of genocide, and as a colonizer he feels a particular obligation to indigenous peoples of the Americas. Since graduating from Swarthmore College in 2020, he has been organizing with Sunrise NYC and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice to support environmental justice, indigenous peoples' sovereignty, and the progressive political movement in New York. He holds a Bachelor's in Linguistics and speaks Hebrew, Latin, and Ancient Greek, among other languages. When not getting excited about language, Ziv enjoys the magic of musical theater and cryptic crosswords.