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.

37 Featured Experts

Program Experts & Staff

Iman Abdulwassi Abubaker

Urban Mobility Project Manager, WRI Africa

Zablon Adane

Water Program Associate, WRI Africa

Zablon Adane

Alemayehu Agizew

GIS Analyst, Energy Access Explorer

Alemayehu Agizew.

Natalia Akopian

Policy & Government Affairs Associate

Natalia Akopian.

Agraw Ali

GIS Research Analyst, WRI Africa

Ayça Bağcı

Senior Manager, European Union Projects, WRI Türkiye

Acya Bagci.

Mulubrhan Balehegn

Agriculture and Climate Research Associate II

Mulubrhan Gebremikael.

Tsvetilena Bandakova

Program Manager, Nature Crime Alliance

Tsvetilena Bandakova

Tatiana Bogdanova

Product Specialist, Global Forest Watch, Data Lab

Tatiana Bogdanova

Jelena Bukin

Senior Accountant

Jelena Bukin

Sod-Erdene Davaadorj

Grants and Finance Manager, Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure Initiative

Sodoo Davaadorj.

Yared Deme

Research Analyst, International Climate Action, WRI Africa

Yared Abera Deme

Berhanu Desta

Global Accounting Director

Irina Didenko

Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests

Irina Didenko.

Elena Esipova

Satellite Data Analyst

Elena Esipova

Beakal Fasil

Communications and Engagement Specialist, The New Climate Economy, WRI Africa

Beakal Fasil

Mihret Gebru

Facilites Coordinator

Mirhet Gebru.

Despina Gkotsidou

Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio

Despina Gkotsidou.

Libby Gladding

Operations Manager, CAEP, NDC Partnership

Libby Gladding

Jiregna Hirpa

Transport Planner, WRI Africa

Jiregna Hirpa

Victoria Malolina

Staff Accountant

Victoria Malolina.

Solomon Negusse

API Software Engineer, Data Lab

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Cait O'Donnell

Learning Manager, Gender and Social Equity

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Iryna Payosova

Economist, Climate Action

Iryna Payosova.

Sevdalina Rukanova

Head of Foundation Relations, Europe

Sevdalina Rukanova

Guly Sabahi

Senior Advisor, Climate Finance

Guly Sabahi

Tina Schneider

Director, Forest Governance and Policy

Yigremachew Seyoum Lemma

Research Associate II

Yigremachew Seyoum Lemma.

Semere Jelalu Shafi

Urban Mobility Analyst, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, WRI Africa

Semere Jelalu Shafi.

Meseret Shiferaw

Associate II

Meseret Shiferaw

Donald Spencer

Global Grants and Contracts Director

Donald Spencer

Alemakef Tassew

Urban Development Project Specialist, WRI Africa

Alemakef Tassew

Gubignet Tekle

Finance and Administration Specialist, WRI Africa

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Wubanchi Tesso Wakoya

Urban Development Project Manager, WRI Africa

Wubanchi Tesso Wakoya

Tesfay Woldemariam

GIS Research Associate I

Kalkidan Wondimu

Communication and Engagement Specialist, FOLU Ethiopia

Kalkidan Wondimu

Tinebeb Yohannes

Research Associate, Water Program

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