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
Ayça Bağcı
Senior Manager, European Union Projects, WRI Türkiye
Tsvetilena Bandakova
Program Manager, Nature Crime Alliance
Angela Bekkers
Head of Communications, WRI Europe
Tatiana Bogdanova
Product Specialist, Global Forest Watch, Data Lab
Mariska Bottema
Blue Food Lead
Jelena Bukin
Senior Accountant
Emer Byrne
Senior Talent Acquisition Associate
Imane Chafiq
Country Engagement Specialist
Sod-Erdene Davaadorj
Grants and Finance Manager, Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure Initiative
Caroline de Bruin
Development Manager, Government and Multilateral Relations
Janneke de Vries
Head of The Hague regional office and Director of European Partnerships
Quentin Dean
Executive Assistant, NDC Partnership
Irina Didenko
Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests
Michael Doust
Director, Urban Efficiency & Climate, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Olaf Erenstein
Director Research Integrity, Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), WRI Europe
Elena Esipova
Satellite Data Analyst
Despina Gkotsidou
Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio
Henrieke Jonker
WRI Europe Liaison
Gaia Larsen
Director, Climate Finance Access, Finance Center
Leah Lazer
Research Associate, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Caroline Lesser
Development Director, Government and Multilateral Relations
Suzanna Lund
Operations Director, WRI Brasil
Victoria Malolina
Staff Accountant
Dimitris Mentis
Lead, Energy Access Explorer
Sophie Mongalvy
Communications Director, Food and Land Use Coalition
Kate Morton
Senior HR Manager, WRI Europe
Klara Nilsson
Senior Communications Associate, Food and Land Use Coalition
Cait O'Donnell
Learning Manager, Gender and Social Equity
Henk Ovink
Senior Fellow for Water
Iryna Payosova
Economist, Climate Action
Sevdalina Rukanova
Head of Foundation Relations, Europe
Guly Sabahi
Senior Advisor, Climate Finance
Charlotte Schep
Grants & Finance Specialist, Sustainable Ocean Initiative
Tina Schneider
Director, Forest Governance and Policy
Donald Spencer
Global Grants and Contracts Director
Sebastian Sterl
Senior Researcher, Clean Energy Transitions, WRI Africa
Emily van Bronkhorst
Operations Manager, Development
Rogier van den Berg
Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Wessel van Eeden
Strategic Communications Manager, Restore Local
