Experts & Staff
WRI brings together nearly 1,900 staff and experts who are leaders in their fields. Their work spans topics such as food and land use, energy, cities, economics, finance, governance and more. Our staff and researchers work globally and in 12 focus countries to meet people’s essential needs, to protect and restore nature, and to stabilize the climate and build resilient communities. Contact our media team to arrange an interview with any of our experts.
Program Experts & Staff
Iman Abdulwassi Abubaker
Urban Mobility Project Manager, WRI Africa
Zablon Adane
Water Program Associate, WRI Africa
Alemayehu Agizew
GIS Analyst, Energy Access Explorer
Natalia Akopian
Policy & Government Affairs Associate
Agraw Ali
GIS Research Analyst, WRI Africa
Ayça Bağcı
Senior Manager, European Union Projects, WRI Türkiye
Mulubrhan Balehegn
Agriculture and Climate Research Associate II
Tsvetilena Bandakova
Program Manager, Nature Crime Alliance
Tatiana Bogdanova
Product Specialist, Global Forest Watch, Data Lab
Jelena Bukin
Senior Accountant
Sod-Erdene Davaadorj
Grants and Finance Manager, Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure Initiative
Kiyomi de Zoysa
Engagement Specialist, Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025)
Yared Deme
Research Analyst, International Climate Action, WRI Africa
Berhanu Desta
Global Accounting Director
Irina Didenko
Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests
Cynthia Elliott
Senior Associate, Climate Policy
Elena Esipova
Satellite Data Analyst
Beakal Fasil
Communications and Engagement Specialist, The New Climate Economy, WRI Africa
W. Briana Fowler-Puja
Research Analyst, U.S.-International Engagement
Mihret Gebru
Facilites Coordinator
Despina Gkotsidou
Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio
Libby Gladding
Operations Manager, CAEP, NDC Partnership
Hannah Harasaki
U.S. Policy Engagement Specialist
Jiregna Hirpa
Transport Planner, WRI Africa
Zhaoqianyi (Zhao) Ji
Research Analyst, Greenhouse Gas Protocol
Victoria Malolina
Staff Accountant
Solomon Negusse
API Software Engineer, Data Lab
Cait O'Donnell
Learning Manager, Gender and Social Equity
Iryna Payosova
Economist, Climate Action
Sevdalina Rukanova
Head of Foundation Relations, Europe
Guly Sabahi
Senior Advisor, Climate Finance
Tina Schneider
Director, Forest Governance and Policy
Yigremachew Seyoum Lemma
Research Associate II
Semere Jelalu Shafi
Urban Mobility Analyst, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, WRI Africa
Meseret Shiferaw
Associate II
Donald Spencer
Global Grants and Contracts Director
Jerin Tan
Digital Communications Manager, Global Restoration Initiative
Tomohiro Tasaki
Visiting Research Fellow, Systems Change Lab
Alemakef Tassew
Urban Development Project Specialist, WRI Africa
Gubignet Tekle
Finance and Administration Specialist, WRI Africa