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
Bernadette Arakwiye
Senior Manager, Africa Land Restoration Programs
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
Christina Hernandez
Grants and Finance Specialist, Sustainable Finance Center
Sod-Erdene Davaadorj
Grants and Finance Manager, Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure Initiative
Irina Didenko
Grants and Finance Specialist, Cities4Forests
Elena Esipova
Satellite Data Analyst
Despina Gkotsidou
Program Assistant, Data Lab Product Studio
Gloria Kantengwa
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist
Victoria Malolina
Staff Accountant
Marc Manyifika
Country Lead for Urban Water Resilience/Lead Spatial Planner for the program
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
Cait O'Donnell
Learning Manager, Gender and Social Equity
Michael Orang'i Onchabo
Director, Food and Land Use Coalition, Kenya
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
Assumpta Uzamukunda
Rwanda Restoration Research Associate
