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.

16 Featured Experts

Program Experts & Staff

Natalia Akopian

Policy & Government Affairs Associate

Natalia Akopian.

Ayça Bağcı

Senior Manager, European Union Projects, WRI Türkiye

Acya Bagci.

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.

Irina Didenko

Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests

Irina Didenko.

Elena Esipova

Satellite Data Analyst

Elena Esipova

Despina Gkotsidou

Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio

Despina Gkotsidou.

Victoria Malolina

Staff Accountant

Victoria Malolina.

Cait O'Donnell

Learning Manager, Gender and Social Equity

Person default

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

Donald Spencer

Global Grants and Contracts Director

Donald Spencer
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