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
Bernadette Arakwiye
Senior Manager, Africa Land Restoration Programs
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
Yared Deme
Research Analyst, International Climate Action, WRI Africa
Berhanu Desta
Global Accounting Director
Irina Didenko
Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests
Elena Esipova
Satellite Data Analyst
Beakal Fasil
Communications and Engagement Specialist, The New Climate Economy, WRI Africa
Mihret Gebru
Facilites Coordinator
Despina Gkotsidou
Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio
Libby Gladding
Operations Manager, CAEP, NDC Partnership
Jiregna Hirpa
Transport Planner, WRI Africa
Gloria Kantengwa
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist
Victoria Malolina
Staff Accountant
Marc Manyifika
Country Lead for Urban Water Resilience/Lead Spatial Planner for the program
Thacien Munyamahame
Community Coordinator, Global Restoration Initiative, WRI Africa
Bernadette Muteteri
Fund Manager, Circular Food Systems for Rwanda
Gilbert Muvunankiko
Communications Manager, Restoration, WRI Africa
Jackson Ndera
Portfolio Specialist for Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin, TerraFund for AFR100, WRI Africa
Solomon Negusse
API Software Engineer, Data Lab
Jean Marie Ntakirutimana
Portfolio Specialist, TerraFund for AFR100, Global Restoration Initiative, WRI Africa
Tina Nyunga
Project Assistant, Circular Food Systems for Rwanda
Cait O'Donnell
Learning Manager, Gender and Social Equity
Michael Orang'i Onchabo
Director, Food and Land Use Coalition, Kenya
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
