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
Merve Akı Yaman
Senior Urban Mobility Manager, WRI Türkiye
Bernadette Arakwiye
Senior Manager, Africa Land Restoration Programs
Ayça Bağcı
Senior Manager, European Union Projects, WRI Türkiye
Andreea Balan
Talent Acquisition Manager, WRI Europe
Meltem Bayraktar
Senior Program Manager, Urban Efficiency & Climate, WRI Türkiye
Günes Cansiz
Director, WRI Türkiye
Çiğdem Cörek Öztaş
Senior Manager, Sustainable Urban Development, WRI Türkiye
Kiyomi de Zoysa
Engagement Specialist, Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025)
Cynthia Elliott
Senior Associate, Climate Policy
W. Briana Fowler-Puja
Research Analyst, U.S.-International Engagement
Despina Gkotsidou
Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio
Hannah Harasaki
U.S. Policy Engagement Specialist
Celal Tolga Imamoglu
Senior Manager, Transport & Road Safety, WRI Türkiye
Zhaoqianyi (Zhao) Ji
Research Analyst, Greenhouse Gas Protocol
Asena Johnson
Event Coordinator
Gloria Kantengwa
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist
Marc Manyifika
Country Lead for Urban Water Resilience/Lead Spatial Planner for the program
Dimitris Mentis
Lead, Energy Access Explorer
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
Jean Marie Ntakirutimana
Portfolio Specialist, TerraFund for AFR100, Global Restoration Initiative, WRI Africa
Tina Nyunga
Project Assistant, Circular Food Systems for Rwanda
Cemil Oğuz
Manager, Urban Mobility, WRI Türkiye
Michael Orang'i Onchabo
Director, Food and Land Use Coalition, Kenya
Gülcan Orak
Urban Planner, WRI Türkiye Sustainable Cities
Jerin Tan
Digital Communications Manager, Global Restoration Initiative
Tomohiro Tasaki
Visiting Research Fellow, Systems Change Lab
Assumpta Uzamukunda
Rwanda Restoration Research Associate
Tuğçe Üzümoğlu
Integrated Climate Action Manager, Urban Efficiency & Climate, WRI Türkiye
Yaren Yanık
Communications & Operations Specialist, WRI Türkiye
Yunus Emre Yılmaz
Analyst, Urban Mobility and Health & Road Safety, WRI Türkiye
