Protecting rainforests at the local and global levels to end deforestation by 2030.

Niyanta founded Rainforest Partnership in 2007 with a clear vision for achieving ground-up and global-scale rainforest conservation that can provide the sweeping and rapid impact we need to protect biodiversity, sustain thriving rainforest communities, support a balanced climate, and ensure a livable planet for all. Prior to founding Rainforest Partnership, she worked at the first lobbying firm in London, led a management consultancy, and worked with Texas environmental agencies as part of a legislative agency.

Beth works with the CEO and leadership team to design and implement strategies across the organization: from top-level strategies such as vision and mission; to the operational strategies that inform campaigns, partnerships, messaging, and initiatives. A professional analyst and strategist, her 30 + years of experience are rooted in a two-decade career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, before moving to the nonprofit sphere. Beth has been part of Rainforest Partnership since inception, first as a strategic planner, later as strategic advisor.

Nabeel applies his experience as a former Business Analyst, Quality Assurance Tester, and Structured Query Language (SQL) Developer to contribute to the growth, operational performance, and impact of Rainforest Partnership. He started volunteering with Rainforest Partnership in 2018, and since then has worked to support its mission, staff, and volunteers. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Raina joined the RP team after graduating from Amherst College with degrees in Geology and English. She currently lives in Salinas on the coast of Ecuador. Raina’s background in political ecology, environmental justice, writing, and earth science brings a nuanced perspective to her work and a dedication to the power of language. She feels very lucky to have found an organization in which she believes fully and deeply, and work that involves some of her all-time favorite things: trees, sustainable food systems, monkeys, birds, geology, and environmental justice.

With a keen interest in amphibians and reptiles since the age of four, Pablo grew up in a town on the northern coast of Peru searching for snakes and lizards in the desert after school. Pablo has participated as a herpetologist in several biological assessments and expeditions. So far, he has published more than 60 scientific papers on taxonomy and systematics of amphibians and reptiles, and discovered several new species of frogs and lizards.

Luther, now living in Boston, has been working at Rainforest Partnership since the beginning of 2022 as an Executive Assistant to the CEO while also coordinating one of its new Global Initiatives, Rainforest Partnership Publishing, and completed a professional certificate in Geographic Information Systems and Data Communication from the University of Vermont. He has a B.A. from Boston College majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Global Environmental Issues.

As a self-described “disillusioned GenZer”, Rainforest Partnership gave Geovanny the gift of hope. “I have learned how to hope in a way that is imperfect — honest, real, and grounded in action. I am humbled and energized by our vision and impact and feel grateful to the RP team for showing me that no matter the challenges and stakes, this work can and should be done with joy.”

Senaida is a Kichwa woman of the Ecuadorian Amazon, a cultural activist and founder of Yuramuyo, a project which empowers Amazonian women to protect ancestral knowledge and to support themselves and their families through sustainable agriculture and traditional artisanship, benefiting from the abundant resources provided by forests, the earth, and pachamama (Mother Earth). She coordinates Rainforest Partnership’s projects in Ecuador, working directly with communities along the Rio Napo.

Elisa was born and raised in rural northwestern Ecuador. As a Biologist – specialized in butterflies, she has been involved for more than 15 years in numerous research and conservation projects, always aiming to properly involve local communities in the conservation efforts. She is also part of OMASNE, a grassroots organization who accompanies communities and territories threatened by mining in northern Ecuador. She truly enjoys sharing with kids about nature as well as the beautiful landscapes and cultures of the middle of the world.

Nia’s work focuses on ensuring that global action for forests matches the urgency of the moment. She leads World Rainforest Day events and programs, including the Global Summit, and manages the partner network, facilitating connections and collaboration to drive resilient rainforest protection. Nia has been part of the World Rainforest Day team since 2020; in 2021, she helped launch the Global Summit. She is from Tbilisi, Georgia.

Andrea leads strategy and implementation of Films for the Forest, RP’s forest-focused annual juried short film competition, and Music for the Forest, a new initiative to inspire and raise awareness about forests and climate change through the power of music. As a professional biologist, she has experience in the field of science communication within museums and the creation and management of strategies for audience engagement in educational and cultural environments.

Anne Hebert is an independent marketing strategist with more than 25 years of experience. She has worked with companies, organizations, and individuals in dozens of sectors, creating strategy and content to help them effectively deliver their messages and define their brands. Her specialties include marketing and content strategy, message development, marketing and business communications, social media strategy, influencer/partner relations and community activation. She lives in Austin, Texas and joined the Rainforest Partnership team in 2022.

Tadzio, passionate about storytelling and coalition building, has experience working on sustainability projects in Mexico, Venezuela, Indonesia, Nicaragua, France, and Brazil. He is co-founder of The Javari Project, working in of the most remote and environmentally pristine areas of the world. He previously worked for The WaterBear Network and Off the Fence, securing partnerships with international organizations, co-creating video content and promoting impact campaigns. He worked for France Télévisions, Shine Productions, and Mantarraya Productions creating environmental impact productions.

I'm Shambhavi Kulkarni, a recent Computer Science Master's graduate. With experience as a Data Scientist, I'm fueled by a strong drive to apply data-driven solutions for societal benefits. Joining Rainforest Partnership, I'm thrilled to embark on a new role as a Data Scientist and Project Manager for the Web Development team. I'm eager to utilize my skills to address real-world challenges and create a positive social impact. This file was not found.

Rick is a uniquely experienced storyteller and creative content pro. He’s written feature film scripts, dangled from helicopters on extreme TV shoots, been chased by people with machetes while filming documentaries, attended ad school, worked at top Hollywood agencies and production companies, and now collaborates with impact-making nonprofits like Rainforest Partnership, 4DWN Project, Restorative Farms, EarthX, and more in order to be the change he wishes to see in the world. His forte is crafting positive, engaging content that inspires audiences to action.

Linda worked for the State of Texas as a manager and accountant at several state agencies for 21 years. The mission of Rainforest Partnership is dear to her heart, and she began volunteering her skills as the organization’s accountant in 2013. She also works with other non-profits and enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Kim engages with change makers who make an impact on causes I believe need to be amplified, need to be at the forefront of digital platforms, and need to be captivated by the usual passive onlooker. She translates their empowerment and strategic efforts into accessible products for measurable success. Thoughtful strategy is powerful with mindful delivery.

Katelynn is originally from El Paso, Texas and made the big move to Austin in 2017. Since beginning her education at the University of Texas at Austin she joined the Longhorn Band, a service sorority called Tau Beta Sigma, as well as Hispanic Business Student Association while taking Japanese and business courses for my minor. Katelynn assists Rainforest Partnership with their recruitment and human resource efforts.

Han is a UX designer with a multidiscipline background in psychology, cognitive science, education and technologies. She is passionate about applying design thinking skills to solve problems and augment community growth.

Frank is a seasoned entrepreneur, CEO, and growth executive with 20+ years success in founding, building, and growing companies. Frank has made a career out of helping Fortune 1000 companies acquire new customers and create loyalty, and he brings that expertise to the nonprofit industry to empower social and mission-driven organizations to grow and have more impact to make the world a better place.

Hazel worked for many years at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), where she was the manager of the agency’s Mobile Source Emission Reduction Programs. Hazel supported the founding of Rainforest Partnership to make a difference regarding carbon emissions and climate change. She believes that RP’s model and way of working is one of the keys to saving the rainforests for us all.

Sumit is an entrepreneur, executive and Board leader with deep expertise in building and transforming businesses across genomics & biotechnology, financial services, education and public sectors. Sumit enjoys a unique perspective of leadership and execution from FTSE 100 corporate to being founder of a successful start-up. He has an excellent track record in the C-suite in various roles including Chairman, CEO, Board Member, Advisory Board, Managing Director and on Committees of various enterprises.

Beth works with the CEO and leadership team to design and implement strategies across the organization: from top-level strategies such as vision and mission; to the operational strategies that inform campaigns, partnerships, messaging, and initiatives. A professional analyst and strategist, her 30 + years of experience are rooted in a two-decade career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, before moving to the nonprofit sphere. Beth has been part of Rainforest Partnership since inception, first as a strategic planner, later as strategic advisor.

Lucia is a Honduran serial entrepreneur building socially impactful emerging technology solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems as Founder & CEO of Emerge. Lucia is also pioneering a progressive, impact-focused ecology model as the Managing Partner of Penta Network’s Impact Ecosystem. Her life’s work revolves around meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal targets. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading, music, and practicing Krav Maga and kickboxing.

Niyanta founded Rainforest Partnership in 2007 with a clear vision for achieving ground-up and global-scale rainforest conservation that can provide the sweeping and rapid impact we need to protect biodiversity, sustain thriving rainforest communities, support a balanced climate, and ensure a livable planet for all. Prior to founding Rainforest Partnership, she worked at the first lobbying firm in London, led a management consultancy, and worked with Texas environmental agencies as part of a legislative agency.