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
Marlena Chertock
Communications Manager, Water Program
Sod-Erdene Davaadorj
Grants and Finance Manager, Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure Initiative
Quentin Dean
Executive Assistant, NDC Partnership
Irina Didenko
Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests
Elena Esipova
Satellite Data Analyst
Despina Gkotsidou
Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio
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
Sivan Menache
Individual Philanthropy Coordinator
Dimitris Mentis
Lead, Energy Access Explorer
Sophie Mongalvy
Communications Director, Food and Land Use Coalition
Klara Nilsson
Senior Communications Associate, Food and Land Use Coalition
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
Evana Said
Research Analyst II
Tina Schneider
Director, Forest Governance and Policy
Donald Spencer
Global Grants and Contracts Director
Neil Stein
Research and Engagement Associate, TerraFund
