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Paola Andrea Mejía
Coordinadora programa marino
Biologist and Doctor in Sciences-Biology from the Universidad del Valle, Colombia. Marine leader of WCS Colombia since 2017. She has been supporting processes for the declaration and management of marine protected areas, as well as strategic planning processes based on community participation and adaptive management, as mechanisms to direct and execute actions towards the sustainability of the resources and their ecosystem services. She has experience in population assessments of fishery resources, based on both life history and demographics and poor data, aiming to contribute to the management of those resources of economic importance and food security of coastal communities.
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Paola Andrea Mejía
Coordinadora programa marino
Biologist and Doctor in Sciences-Biology from the Universidad del Valle, Colombia. Marine leader of WCS Colombia since 2017. She has been supporting processes for the declaration and management of marine protected areas, as well as strategic planning processes based on community participation and adaptive management, as mechanisms to direct and execute actions towards the sustainability of the resources and their ecosystem services. She has experience in population assessments of fishery resources, based on both life history and demographics and poor data, aiming to contribute to the management of those resources of economic importance and food security of coastal communities.
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Patricia Falk Fernández
Líder Procesos Sociales
Patricia is a marine biologist from the Universidad del Valle, with a specialization in Environmental Management, with studies in Communication for Environmental Education and Aquatic Conservation Biology.
In 30 years of experience, she has worked as a researcher in different groups of birds and marine mammals and in projects coordinating education and social action strategies that seek to generate strategies to articulate and understand the relationships of communities with nature and, from the appropriation of these elements, promote new attitudes of appreciation and respect for the environment.
Since February 2023, she has been working as Leader of social processes in the WCS´s Marine Program, where she bases her work on the empowerment of the communities of the Andes-Chocó Landscape.
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Patricia Falk Fernández
Líder Procesos Sociales
Patricia is a marine biologist from the Universidad del Valle, with a specialization in Environmental Management, with studies in Communication for Environmental Education and Aquatic Conservation Biology.
In 30 years of experience, she has worked as a researcher in different groups of birds and marine mammals and in projects coordinating education and social action strategies that seek to generate strategies to articulate and understand the relationships of communities with nature and, from the appropriation of these elements, promote new attitudes of appreciation and respect for the environment.
Since February 2023, she has been working as Leader of social processes in the WCS´s Marine Program, where she bases her work on the empowerment of the communities of the Andes-Chocó Landscape.
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Sandra Milena Salgado Ramirez
Líder de Recursos Humanos
Specialist in Occupational Health and Safety Management and Professional in Economics, with over 12 years of experience leading the area of human resources and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (SG-SST). With extensive knowledge in labor legislation and audits of integrated management systems ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007- ISO 45001. Currently studying Psychology at UNAD and working at WCS in the planning and management of the human resources area, implementing Global HR initiatives and ensuring regulatory compliance of the SG-SST.
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Sandra Milena Salgado Ramirez
Líder de Recursos Humanos
Specialist in Occupational Health and Safety Management and Professional in Economics, with over 12 years of experience leading the area of human resources and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (SG-SST). With extensive knowledge in labor legislation and audits of integrated management systems ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007- ISO 45001. Currently studying Psychology at UNAD and working at WCS in the planning and management of the human resources area, implementing Global HR initiatives and ensuring regulatory compliance of the SG-SST.
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Silvia Juliana Álvarez
Subdirectora de Sostenibilidad
Silvia is a biologist from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. She has a master’s degree in Biodiversity and Ecology from the University of Göttingen in Germany, where she studied fruit selection by titi monkeys (Callicebus lugens) in the Colombian Amazon. She worked as a lecturer and research scientist at the Universidad de Pamplona. For her PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, she studied the relationship between movement ecology and group dynamics in mammals. Her main research interest is understanding the distribution patterns and spatial ecology and behavior of species and communities, and their responses to changes resulting from human activities. Her work at WCS focuses on the generation of information and tools to support planning and decision-making processes that promote the development of sustainable landscapes.
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Silvia Juliana Álvarez
Subdirectora de Sostenibilidad
Silvia is a biologist from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. She has a master’s degree in Biodiversity and Ecology from the University of Göttingen in Germany, where she studied fruit selection by titi monkeys (Callicebus lugens) in the Colombian Amazon. She worked as a lecturer and research scientist at the Universidad de Pamplona. For her PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, she studied the relationship between movement ecology and group dynamics in mammals. Her main research interest is understanding the distribution patterns and spatial ecology and behavior of species and communities, and their responses to changes resulting from human activities. Her work at WCS focuses on the generation of information and tools to support planning and decision-making processes that promote the development of sustainable landscapes.
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Tania Delgado
Asistente de Legalizaciones
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UniCatólica University in Cali, Colombia. She joined WCS in 2021 as a university intern, working as a trainee in the Human Resources and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) department to gain professional experience in various areas within the organization. This has allowed her to successfully take on different roles. She has worked in the accounting and administrative departments, holding positions such as Legalization Assistant, Financial Administrative Assistant for the UNDP project, and is currently part of the organization as the Regional Legalization Assistant in Colombia.
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Tania Delgado
Asistente de Legalizaciones
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UniCatólica University in Cali, Colombia. She joined WCS in 2021 as a university intern, working as a trainee in the Human Resources and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) department to gain professional experience in various areas within the organization. This has allowed her to successfully take on different roles. She has worked in the accounting and administrative departments, holding positions such as Legalization Assistant, Financial Administrative Assistant for the UNDP project, and is currently part of the organization as the Regional Legalization Assistant in Colombia.
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Wilfredo Cuestas
Especialista de Gestión de Proyectos
Wilfredo is Business Manager, a specialist in the formulation and social and economic evaluation of projects, with more than nine years of professional experience in construction, execution and monitoring projects focused on conservation, protection and sustainability of biodiversity in Colombia, he has worked on the implementation of International Cooperation projects to support local communities in issues related to ecological restoration, productive alternatives, sustainable conservation systems, ecotourism, and in general support for the strengthening and conservation of protected areas.
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Wilfredo Cuestas
Especialista de Gestión de Proyectos
Wilfredo is Business Manager, a specialist in the formulation and social and economic evaluation of projects, with more than nine years of professional experience in construction, execution and monitoring projects focused on conservation, protection and sustainability of biodiversity in Colombia, he has worked on the implementation of International Cooperation projects to support local communities in issues related to ecological restoration, productive alternatives, sustainable conservation systems, ecotourism, and in general support for the strengthening and conservation of protected areas.
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William Bonell
Especialista en fauna salvaje
William has a degree in Biology from the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas (Bogotá) and has been part of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) - Colombia since 2011. Because of his great interest in field research, he has supported the development of ecology and conservation projects with populations of primates and medium and large mammals. Also, he has participated in monitoring activities of species that are the object of study for WCS and he has coordinated biodiversity inventories in different processes in the axes of species and areas for conservation where he has supported the implementation of the declaratory route for some new protected areas in Colombia.
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William Bonell
Especialista en fauna salvaje
William has a degree in Biology from the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas (Bogotá) and has been part of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) - Colombia since 2011. Because of his great interest in field research, he has supported the development of ecology and conservation projects with populations of primates and medium and large mammals. Also, he has participated in monitoring activities of species that are the object of study for WCS and he has coordinated biodiversity inventories in different processes in the axes of species and areas for conservation where he has supported the implementation of the declaratory route for some new protected areas in Colombia.
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William Javier Bravo Pedraza
Especialista Restauración
Biologist from the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia, with a specialization in Environmental Management from the same university.
He has worked in Andean and high-Andean ecosystems, contributing to the development and implementation of research projects focused on the taxonomy and ecology of vascular plants, ecological restoration projects, nursery management, studies of threatened tree species, and community engagement.
He has published and co-authored scientific articles, book chapters, and outreach materials such as booklets and guides.
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William Javier Bravo Pedraza
Especialista Restauración
Biologist from the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia, with a specialization in Environmental Management from the same university.
He has worked in Andean and high-Andean ecosystems, contributing to the development and implementation of research projects focused on the taxonomy and ecology of vascular plants, ecological restoration projects, nursery management, studies of threatened tree species, and community engagement.
He has published and co-authored scientific articles, book chapters, and outreach materials such as booklets and guides.
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Yanily Elizabeth García
Especialista Alternativas Productivas Sostenibles
Professional in agroforestry management, specialist in environmental management, with more than 18 years of experience in productive fields, combining agroecosystems aimed at ecological principles and sustainable production. During her career she has worked as a field technician, professional support, consultant and coordinator at projects in the department of Putumayo. Her work has contributed to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the peasant population, leading significant processes in the region. After 3 years as consultant for the Cacao for Life Program, she joins WCS in 2023 as a specialist in sustainable productive alternatives where she supports the different WCS projects.
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Yanily Elizabeth García
Especialista Alternativas Productivas Sostenibles
Professional in agroforestry management, specialist in environmental management, with more than 18 years of experience in productive fields, combining agroecosystems aimed at ecological principles and sustainable production. During her career she has worked as a field technician, professional support, consultant and coordinator at projects in the department of Putumayo. Her work has contributed to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the peasant population, leading significant processes in the region. After 3 years as consultant for the Cacao for Life Program, she joins WCS in 2023 as a specialist in sustainable productive alternatives where she supports the different WCS projects.
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Yeiner Vega Martínez
Especialista Estrategias Locales de Conservación
Agricultural engineer, graduated from the University of Sucre, Sincelejo in 2019, joined WCS Colombia in 2020 as a consultant, currently staff, leading restoration processes to conserve the habitat of the Carranchina turtle (Mesoclemmys dhaly) within the "La Carranchina" Civil Society Natural Reserve, located in San Benito Abad - Sucre. Supporting restoration projects for Trillion Trees, Rain Forest Trust, PVS, and involved in all technical and structural processes within the TSA workgroup for the management and conservation of the Carranchina turtle (Mesoclemmys dhaly). Interested in environmental conservation, GIS, and monitoring of wildlife species.
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Yeiner Vega Martínez
Especialista Estrategias Locales de Conservación
Agricultural engineer, graduated from the University of Sucre, Sincelejo in 2019, joined WCS Colombia in 2020 as a consultant, currently staff, leading restoration processes to conserve the habitat of the Carranchina turtle (Mesoclemmys dhaly) within the "La Carranchina" Civil Society Natural Reserve, located in San Benito Abad - Sucre. Supporting restoration projects for Trillion Trees, Rain Forest Trust, PVS, and involved in all technical and structural processes within the TSA workgroup for the management and conservation of the Carranchina turtle (Mesoclemmys dhaly). Interested in environmental conservation, GIS, and monitoring of wildlife species.
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