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
Natalia Akopian
Policy & Government Affairs Associate
Anna Amato
Planning, Evaluation and Learning Manager, Managing For Results
Ettore Arpini
Data Systems and Institutional Reporting Manager
Lorena Baca
Head of International Cooperation, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Ayça Bağcı
Senior Manager, European Union Projects, WRI Türkiye
Sandra Baltazar
Digital Communications Coordinator, WRI México
Tsvetilena Bandakova
Program Manager, Nature Crime Alliance
Amanda Barreto Salgueiro
Project Specialist, TerraFund
Francesca Battistelli
Associate III, Water Security & Nature-Based Solutions
Meltem Bayraktar
Senior Program Manager, Urban Efficiency & Climate, WRI Türkiye
Valéria Blos
Senior Fundraising & Donor Relations Manager, WRI Brasil
Tatiana Bogdanova
Product Specialist, Global Forest Watch, Data Lab
Jelena Bukin
Senior Accountant
Willy Carlsen
Research Analyst, Industrial Innovation and Carbon Dioxide Removal
Sod-Erdene Davaadorj
Grants and Finance Manager, Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure Initiative
Irina Didenko
Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests
Helen Ding
Senior Economist
Elena Esipova
Satellite Data Analyst
Jefferson Ferreira-Ferreira
Data Science Coordinator
Nicole Fragano
Program Coordinator, Climate Program
Despina Gkotsidou
Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio
Tatsatom Gonçalves
Research Associate, Energy Program
David Bronzwaig Kravzov
Green Finance Coordinator, WRI Mexico
Laura Malaguzzi Valeri
Deputy to Vice President of Research, Data and Innovation
Victoria Malolina
Staff Accountant
Cait O'Donnell
Learning Manager, Gender and Social Equity
Alberto Pallecchi
Acting Director, WRI Faith and Sustainability
Arun Panda
Senior Fellow, Climate Program, WRI India
Francisco Minella Pasqual
Urban Mobility Analyst, WRI Brasil Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Iryna Payosova
Economist, Climate Action
Sevdalina Rukanova
Head of Foundation Relations, Europe
Guly Sabahi
Senior Advisor, Climate Finance
Angela Scafidi
Research Analyst, US Lands and Land & Carbon Lab
Tina Schneider
Director, Forest Governance and Policy
Donald Spencer
Global Grants and Contracts Director
Giuseppe Tesoriere
Urban and Regional Economist, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Lourenço Valentini
Urban Mobility Intern, WRI Brasil Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Ke Wang
Strategy Lead, Energy Materials and Circularity
Tesfay Woldemariam
GIS Research Associate I
Camilla Zanetti
Urban Mobility Research Assistant, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities