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
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
Roman Dehsabzi
Project Coordinator, Country Engagement
Irina Didenko
Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests
Elena Esipova
Satellite Data Analyst
Despina Gkotsidou
Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio
Farid Hakemi
Project Associate, Restoration
Victoria Malolina
Staff Accountant
Khabir Mirzakhail
Training Manager, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Managing for Results
Mona Nabi
Project and Finance Specialist, Center for Equitable Development
Behrouz Nouri
Energy Sector Manager, Science Based Targets initiative
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
Donald Spencer
Global Grants and Contracts Director
Mende Thuji Yangden
Researcher and Gender, Equity, and Social Inclusion Coordinator, Electric Mobility, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities