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
Kiyomi de Zoysa
Engagement Specialist, Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025)
Quentin Dean
Executive Assistant, NDC Partnership
Irina Didenko
Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests
Cynthia Elliott
Senior Associate, Climate Policy
Elena Esipova
Satellite Data Analyst
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
Zhaoqianyi (Zhao) Ji
Research Analyst, Greenhouse Gas Protocol
Gaia Larsen
Director, Climate Finance Access, Finance Center
Leah Lazer
Research Associate, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
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
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
Tina Schneider
Director, Forest Governance and Policy
Donald Spencer
Global Grants and Contracts Director
Jerin Tan
Digital Communications Manager, Global Restoration Initiative
Tomohiro Tasaki
Visiting Research Fellow, Systems Change Lab
