United States
Dr. Mark J. Plotkin
Co-Founder & President
Mark Plotkin, ACT President
Dr. Mark J. Plotkin has led ACT and guided its vision since 1996, when he co-founded the organization with his fellow conservationist, Liliana Madrigal. He is a renowned ethnobotanist who has spent almost three decades studying traditional plant use with traditional healers of tropical America.
Dr. Plotkin has previously served as Research Associate in Ethnobotanical Conservation at the Botanical Museum of Harvard University; Director of Plant Conservation at the World Wildlife Fund; Vice President of Conservation International; and Research Associate at the Department of Botany of the Smithsonian Institution.
Among his many influential writings, Dr. Plotkin may be best known for his popular work Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice (1994), which has been printed continuously and has been published in multiple languages. Other works include the critically acclaimed children's book The Shaman's Apprentice - A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest, illustrated by Lynne Cherry, and Medicine Quest: In Search of Nature's Healing Secrets. His most recent book, The Amazon – What Everyone Needs to Know, was published by Oxford University Press in 2020.
In 1998, he played a leading role in the Academy Award-nominated IMAX film Amazon. Dr. Plotkin's work also has been featured in a PBS Nova documentary, in an Emmy-winning Fox TV documentary, on the NBC Nightly News and Today Show, CBS' 48 Hours and in Life, Newsweek, Smithsonian, Elle, People, The New York Times, along with appearances on National Public Radio. Time magazine called him an "Environmental Hero for the Planet" (2001) and Smithsonian magazine hailed him as one of "35 Who Made a Difference" (2005), along with Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, and fellow New Orleanian Wynton Marsalis.
Dr. Plotkin has received the San Diego Zoo Gold Medal for Conservation; the Roy Chapman Andrews Distinguished Explorer Award; an International Conservation Leadership award from the Jane Goodall Institute; and, with Liliana Madrigal, the Skoll Foundation’s Award for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2010, he received the honorary degree of "Doctor of Humane Letters" from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Plotkin was educated at Harvard, Yale and Tufts University.
His ongoing podcast Plants of the Gods is available on Apple Podcasts and other platforms.
Liliana Madrigal
Co-Founder & Executive Vice President
ACT Senior Director of Program Operations Liliana Madrigal
Liliana Madrigal is co-founder of the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), created in 1996 with Dr. Mark J. Plotkin. Previously, over a decade, she led conservation efforts with the Fundacion de Parques Nacionales de Costa Rica, Conservation International, and The Nature Conservancy.
Liliana is ACT’s Senior Director of Program Operations, and serves on its board. Her special mandate is providing the vision, strategic direction, and organizational leadership to advance ACT’s mission.
Additionally, Liliana oversees ACT’s fundraising and programmatic activities, traveling frequently to South America to meet and work with ACT's local teams and indigenous partners.
In particular, she drives the implementation of programs focusing on indigenous leadership and rights, especially with regard to women, elders, and youth.
Liliana also serves as the chair of the board of directors of the Costa Rican NGO Osa Conservation. In 2006, Liliana won the Circle of Bridge-Makers Award from the Angeles Arrien Foundation. She and Dr. Plotkin were co-awardees of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2008. In 2017, she was awarded a residency fellowship at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center.
A native of Costa Rica, Liliana lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Dr. Mark J. Plotkin. She is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles.
Karla Lara
Senior Director, Finance & Operations
Crisbellt Alvarado
Senior Manager, Finance & Operations
Angie Bolzan
Manager, Grants and Development
Susan Coreas
Assistant, Operations
Pascual Gonzalez
Coordinator, Mapping
Isidoro Hazbun
Manager, Public Affairs & Programs Support
Brian Hettler
Senior Manager, Mapping and Programs Support
Bruce Hoffman
Manager, Scientific Research
Vanessa Mendez
Coordinator, Finance & Administration
Zach Nelson
Associate, Reporting and Development
Francelys Peche
Coordinator, Executive and Operations
Antonio E. Peluso
Coordinator, Communications
Kenza Sidi Ali Cherif
Associate, Executive Support
David Stone
Senior Manager, Narrative & Media Content
Brazil
Luiz da Silva
Executive Secretary
ACT-Brasil Program Director Luiz Lopes
Luiz Cláudio joined ACT in May 2020. Previously, he served as Advisor to Brazil’s National Council for Sustainable Rural Development (CONDRAF), and Advisor, Coordinator and National Executive Director of Caritas Brasileira. Additionally, he was a founder and member of the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change and Environmental Justice. Luis Cláudio has long experience in the fields of conservation, human rights, economics and education, with an emphasis on agroecology and sustainable rural development, generating studies and publications. Other areas of expertise are strategic planning, organizational management, and international cooperation. He carries a master’s degree in Politics and Development and a Bachelor’s in agronomy from the Federal University of Bahia.
Roberta Anffe
Consultant, Field Analyst
João Barreto
Consultant, Traditional Medicine Analyst
Evandro Bernardi
Field Analyst
Carla Cetina
Legal Consultant
Luciana Ferraz
Field Analyst
Alinne Ferreira
Financial Analyst
Felipe Garcia
Field Analyst
Amanda Lelis
Consultant, Communications
Leonardo Nery
Administrative Financial Intern
Nian Pissolati
Field Analyst
Marcio Sabbadini
Analyst in Geoprocessing
Fernando Santos
Accountant Analyst
Ayrton Vollet
North Regional Project Coordinator
Eryka Waleska de Seixas
Consultant, Finance and Administration
Colombia
Carolina Gil
Northwest Amazon Regional Director
ACT-Colombia Program Director Carolina Gil
Carolina Gil, a practicing attorney since 1997, has lengthy experience in administrative and financial management, contractual law, and the development of public and private contracting mechanisms, including international assistance and agreements.
Prior to assuming her role as the Amazon Conservation Team’s Director for its Colombia program in November 2011, she served as Financial and Administrative Subdirector for the National Parks Unit of Colombia. Additionally, Carolina served an important role with Colombia’s Fondo Patrimonio Natural, which manages all international environmental cooperation for Colombia.
From 2006-2007, Carolina was ACT-Colombia’s Administrative & Financial Director, overseeing the transition to a reformed institution while also functioning as the organization’s Colombian legal counsel. In 2007, she also served as the Administrative and Financial Subdirector for Colombia’s Natural Heritage Fund for Biodiversity and Protected Areas.
Prior to that, Carolina served three years as the legal coordinator for the Corporation for Environmental and Cultural Protection and Land Management (CORPACOT), facilitating the negotiation and fulfillment of contracts from institutions including the U.S. Department of the Interior, the World Bank, the government of the Netherlands, and Conservation International. She also served three years as the attorney for the Colombian National Parks with respect to the country’s northwest territory.
Carolina carries honors degrees from Colombia’s Universidad de Antioquia and Universidad Nacional. She has a strong academic background and interest in historical research.
Paola Aguilar
Communications
Mauren Alvarez
Consultant, Communications
Carlos Alvarez
Administrative Support, Land Program
Daniel Aristizabal
Program Coordinator, PIACI & Lower Amazon Program
Diana Baeza
Profesional Jurídico Proceso Tierras
Cristhian Boada
Professional, Land Program
Andrea Bonilla
Specialist, Contracts, Procurement & Project Management
Jaime Burgos
Professional, Land Program
Alejandra Calderon
Putumayo Process Professional
Jhon Calderón
Field Promoter
Yendy Cantillo
PROPLAB Local Promoter
Valentina Cardona
Ecologist, PIACI Program
Edgar Castro
Professional, Land Program
Lina Castro
Environmental Education Specialist
Ubency Cerquera
Field Promoter
Melany Chingate
Assistant, Administrative
Reinaldo Corredor
Professional, Land Program
Carlos Cruz
Procurement Professional
Javier Cúellar
Field Technician, Putumayo Program
David Delgado
Professional, Land Program
Libardo Diaz
Agroecologist, Fragua-Churumbelos Program
Paula Galeano
Program Coordinator, Putumayo
Alexis García
Field Technician
Linda García
Program Coordinator, Land Program
Alvaro Gil
Graphic Designer
Natalia Giraldo
Field Professional, SNSM Process
Artist PIACI Process & Lower Amazon
Gonzalo Gómez
Field Promoter
Antonia González
Legal Support
María Camila González
Ecologist, PIACI & Lower Amazonas Program
Saul Gutierrez
Field Technician, Fragua-Churumbelos Program
Ricardo Gutiérrez
Intern
Constanza Guzman
Accountant
Juliana Henao
Assistant, Accounting
Carlos Hernández
Professional, Land Program
Diego Hoyos
Legal Professional
John Hoyos
Land Process Professional
Edwin Jaramillo
Anthropologist, Land Program
Pedro Jiménez
Field Promoter
Yanelis Julio
Administrative Assistant, Bogotá Office
María Paula Kairuz
Anthropologist, Medio Río Caquetá Program
Edinson Lara
Field Technician, Fragua-Churumbelos Program
Germán Laserna
Professional, Fragua-Churumbelos Program
Sonia Leal
Psychologist
Juan Leguizamón
Financial Specialist
Beatriz Leguizamón
Land Process Professional
Juana Londoño
Program Coordinator, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM)
Camila Malaver
Audiovisual Director
Vanesa Martinez
Professional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Mateo Medina
Communications Professional
Germán Mejía
GIS Specialist, PIACI & Lower Amazonas Program
Maricel Melo
Legal Advisor, Land Program
Andrea Montoya
Coordinator, Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation
Carmen Moreno
Administrative & HR Support
Juan Moreno
Accounting Professional
María Patricia Navarrete
Program Coordinator, Fragua-Churumbelos
SNSM Process Support Professional
Edgar Nuñez
Field Technician, Fragua-Churumbelos Program
Celene Paz
Territorial Professional Health Liaison 2
Sandra Patiño
Profesional en Salud Indígena e Intercultural
Valentina Perdomo
SISPI Systematization Consultant
Nelson Pinilla
Biologist, Medio Río Caquetá Program
María Consuelo Prada
Finance & Administration Subdirector
Alejandra Quintero
Apprentice
Delver Ramírez
Administrative Technician
Ricardo Rey
Professional, SNSM Program
Norma Riaño
Public Policy Specialist, PIACI Program
Professional Cultural Strategies & Strengthening
Ángela Rincón
Social Professional
Enyel Rodriguez
Pedagogical Advisor Process Putumayo
Laura Rodríguez
Legal Professional
Anamaria Rodriguez
Professional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Laura Rodriguez
Junior Legal Support
Juliette Rojas
Local Monitoring & Environmental Education
Isabella Roldan
Graphic Designer
Paola Romero
Accounting Assistant
Mauricio Romero
Thematic Professional of the Planicie-PIACI Process
Andrés Ruiz
Profesional Jurídico Proceso Tierras
Jhon Sabogal
Field Promoter
Specialist in Project Management, Design & Monitoring
Hector Silva
Field Technician, Medio Río Caquetá Program
Wilmer Silva
Field Technician, Fragua-Churumbelos Program
Camila Silva
Assistant, Administrative
Accounting Professional
Jenifer Tobar
Profesional de enlace en salud Proceso Putumayo
Juan Varela
Legal Professional
William Vargas
Administrative Support, SNSM Program
Juan David Vargas
Accounting Professional
Pablo Velásquez
Coordinator, GSI
Daniel Villamil
Communications, Fragua-Churumbelos Program
Henry Yucuna
Local Expert
Rolando Zambrano
Legal Professional PIACI Process Amazon Plain
Lucia Zarama
Social Communications Intern
Europe
Daniel Pedraza
Development Advisor
Sanne Olthof
Assistant
Suriname
Minu Parahoe
Northeast Amazon Regional Director
ACT-Suriname Program Director Minu Parahoe
Minu Parahoe, a Surinamese national, is a specialist in natural resource management and sustainable agroforestry/silviculture systems with local communities in the Guiana Shield region.
Prior to joining ACT, Minu served as project manager for a UNDP/GEF-funded project on Suriname Coastal Protected Areas Management. Additionally, through her consultancy, she conducted auditing of timber operations, developed draft guidelines for high conservation forest value in timber concessions for WWF, and acted as national project coordinator for the government in preparation for a GEF project promoting effective and efficient management of western Surinamese protected areas.
From 2007-2010, she served as Freshwater and Protected Areas Field Officer for WWF Guianas, responsible for project development, monitoring, and reporting in close collaboration with stakeholders. She also served many years as a key staff member/researcher at the Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname (CELOS) and lectured at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname in GIS, environmental science, and land and environmental management. Longtime study and work areas include Suriname’s Bigi Pan wetlands / multiple use management area, mangrove forests, the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, and the Sipaliwini Nature Reserve.
Minu carries an M.S. in Natural Resource Management from the University of the West Indies and a B.S. in Agronomy from the Anton de Kom University.
Peggy Baisie
General Services
Roché Bhola
Indigenous People Regional Coordinator
Marel Daal
Assistant, Finance
Michel Debidin
Logistics Officer
Aarthi Dhanradj
HR Consultant
Ben D'Leon
Coordinator, Communications
Mercedes Hardjoprajitno
Forestry Coordinator & GIS Technician
Christine Kartodikromo
Assistant, Finance
Maike Jaachpi
Assistant Station Coordinator
Hemwattie Jagroop
Finance Coordinator
Judith Koning
Office Manager
Carlo Koorndijk
Tribal Regional Coordinator
Asante Leidsman
IT Consultant
Donicia Molly
Station Coordinator
Michael Nanden
Livelihood Coordinator
Jerrel Pinas
Project Manager
Rouché Ronosemito
Station Coordinator
Tristauw Rosiek
Station Coordinator
Felipe Samper
Program Manager
Shannon Sandjon
Assistant Station Coordinator
Sairah Tujeehut
Assistant, Communications
Lucio Wajacabo
Station Coordinator