Ape Trees™ project

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Adam Henson

Conservation Director

Responsible for overall program design and partnerships, Adam has over 20 years’ experience working in international biodiversity conservation and natural resources management, with experience in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the United States. His areas of technical expertise include landscape-level conservation planning, project design, performance monitoring, protected area management, and watershed sciences. Adam has held senior positions with African Wildlife Foundation and FFI, Inc., and worked for the US National Park Service at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, where he engaged in forest restoration, wildlife monitoring, and wildland firefighting.He also served as an agriculture extension agent in the US Peace Corps in Central African Republic and Guinea. Adam holds an MSc in Watershed Sciences from Colorado State University and a BA in Anthropology.

Katie Frohardt

Executive Director

With over three decades of experience, Katie is a recognized non-profit leader, field practitioner, and international conservationist. At the helm since 2003, and leading our re-branding in 2016, Katie focuses on delivering the Wild Earth Allies mission to protect vital areas of our natural world for the benefit of wildlife, habitats and people by inspiring collaborative action. Her grounded leadership style draws from years spent living in Rwanda as director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program and as program technical director for the African Wildlife Foundation. Her earlier career included grant-making with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, private sector natural resource management consulting, and land use planning.

Sarai Francois

Director of Finance & Administration

Sarai brings over 15 years of experience in finance and accounting management at various organizations to her role as Director of Finance and Administration. She has applied her experience in US government audit requirements for non-profits and uses her expertise in expense planning and control, financial analysis, audit preparation and budget management to support the organization’s global mission. Previously, Sarai was Finance Manager at The Arts and Technology Academy, Public Charter School, in Washington DC, where she led all financial aspects of the organization and oversaw its annual planning and budgeting, along with other management and compliance processes. Earlier in her career, she worked at the prestigious Withum Smith and Brown public accounting firm in Princeton, New Jersey. Sarai has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a minor in finance from Strayer University.

José Urteaga, Ph.D.

Director of Marine Partnerships

José Urteaga has been working in sea turtle and coastal habitat conservation in Central America for more than two decades. He uses interdisciplinary methods to find solutions that integrate human needs and conservation. In his role as Wild Earth Allies Director of Marine Partnerships, José focuses on improving the organization’s impact on the promotion of socially sound conservation interventions, the support of community-based conservation, and creative ways to cultivate local stewardship and conservation capacity.

Laura Milton

Communications Director

As Communications Director at Wild Earth Allies, Laura Milton leads strategies that raise the visibility of our brand and partners, drive audience engagement, and inspire action to protect our natural world. She draws on more than 15 years of deep experience amplifying the impact of purpose-driven organizations.

Laura comes to Wild Earth Allies from African People & Wildlife, where she served as the Director of Marketing and Communications. Previously, she developed and managed the visual brand at the Clinton Global Initiative. Laura holds a master’s degree in international affairs from The New School and a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Virginia Tech.

Steven W. Brewer, Ph.D.

Botanist

Steven’s passion for plants was born in a boyhood exploring the outdoors of South Carolina and nurtured by a fascination with and love of nature. He brings over 30 years of experience in field botany and ecology from a wide variety of ecosystems, including more than two decades of experience in the rainforests of Belize, Central America. He has long been conducting threatened, endangered, sensitive, and invasive plant surveys in federal and state lands in the southeastern United States during the summer, and floristic research, botanical training, and collaborative ecological studies in Belize during the winter and spring. Steven leads our Trees of Belize Project and our botanic work with partner Delaware Wilds Lands in the Great Cypress Swamp. Steven has a master’s degree in Natural Resource Policy and Administration from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of California, Davis.

Maddy Caldeira

Development & Communications Associate

As the Development & Communications Associate at Wild Earth Allies, Maddy supports our growing philanthropic efforts and helps to increase the visibility of our partners and programs through effective communications. Previously, she worked as an Account Executive with Metis Communications, where she supported client account teams through public relations, communications, and digital marketing campaigns. In this role, she also gained insight into the value of informative, impact-driven messaging. Maddy completed a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications with a minor in psychology from Elon University.

Aaron Gold

Development Manager

As Development Manager at Wild Earth Allies, Aaron leads efforts to enhance and manage financial engagement across all revenue streams. Collaborating closely with key team members, Aaron works to sustain and grow the organization’s portfolio. With over five years of experience in development, Aaron has a proven track record in managing campaigns, orchestrating events, and cultivating strong partnerships with supporters. Aaron has a bachelor’s degree in international affairs with a minor in history from The George Washington University, as well as a master’s degree in European and Global Studies from the University of Padua.

Joe Heffernan

Conservation Advisor

As Conservation Advisor, Joe Heffernan supports Wild Earth Allies to identify, evaluate and apply high-integrity nature finance to locally defined conservation priorities. Joe has been developing and managing wildlife conservation projects globally for 25 years in a range of field, legal, and governance roles. He and his family have recently relocated to Perth from Australia’s remote Kimberley region, where Joe was assisting Indigenous organizations with legal advice and in developing economic opportunities to protect nature and cultural heritage.

Kelly Hogan

Senior Program Officer

As Senior Program Officer, Kelly supports our conservation programs and partnerships on strategy, implementation, and impact monitoring. She also manages Wild Earth Allies’ portfolio of marine conservation programs in close collaboration with field teams and partners, with an emphasis on Cambodia and El Salvador. Kelly has conducted biological research and implemented environmental education programs, and she has experience in biodiversity conservation in the US, Latin America, and Asia. Kelly received a MSc in Biological Sciences from Clemson University, with specialized skills in aquatic research and fish biology. She completed a BSc in Integrative Biology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, including a semester of marine biology course work in Ecuador.

Kim Richards

Strategy & Program Design Manager

As Strategy & Program Design Manager at Wild Earth Allies, Kim manages strategic planning and program design work for the organization, using Open Standards and other participatory methodologies to increase effectiveness and impact. She plays a key role in multi-year organizational planning and the Conservation Fellows program. Kim has more than 10 years of experience with non-profits, spanning various sectors and geographic regions. She holds an M.A. in communications from Johns Hopkins, with studies centered on behavior change and environmental communications. She completed her B.A. in political science and international studies from the University of Wisconsin, including a year of coursework at the Hebrew University in Israel.

Joelle Rutagarama

Program Manager, Rwanda

Joelle Rutagarama serves as Wild Earth Allies’ Program Manager in Rwanda. In this role, she manages the expansion of our community-based partnerships and programs in Rwanda. Joelle brings diverse marketing, business development, and communications experience to the team. She has a strong track record of working with organizations to grow brand awareness, increase revenue, and build strategic partnerships.

Growing up in Rwanda, Joelle developed a passion for nature at an early age. She is excited to be making a positive impact on people and wildlife through conservation. Joelle received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Edith Cowan University in Australia.

Eugène Rutagarama

Conservation Advisor

Eugène has over 25 years of experience working in conservation in the Great Lakes region of Africa and is a leader in the transboundary conservation of the critically endangered mountain gorilla. He is a committed and respected conservation professional. In 1996, with park staff in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Eugène received the J. Paul Getty Conservation Prize in recognition of outstanding contributions in times of conflict. In 2001, he was individually recognized as the Africa recipient of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. In 2007, Eugène was recognized as a CNN Hero. As the Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), he worked on all aspects of regional program design, management, and technical support for the conservation of mountain gorillas and their habitat in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Eugène has also held senior positions with the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Center, and Rwanda’s national parks agency following the war and genocide in 1994. In this government capacity, he was instrumental in restoring and restructuring the parks department and restarting gorilla-based tourism in Volcanoes National Park. Eugène holds an MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation from the University of East Anglia, UK, and a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Burundi, Bujumbura.

Tuy Sereivathana (Vathana)

Cambodia Program Director

Tuy Sereivathana (Vathana) is internationally recognized for his Asian elephant conservation efforts. He has received the Goldman Environmental Prize (2010) and is a National Geographic Explorer (2011), a member of the Green Asian Forum, and a member of the IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group. He builds on 20+ years of researching elephant populations and successfully mitigating human-elephant conflict. Vathana has introduced innovative low-cost solutions to help farmers defend their fields while improving their farming practices and has pioneered community outreach to teach children in remote villages about elephants and other wildlife. His work has brought hope and empowerment to local communities and has improved the prospects of endangered Asian elephants. Vathana’s commitment to conservation in Cambodia is demonstrated by his other leadership roles, which include: Chairman of the Cambodian Rural Development Team, Vice Chair of a local NGO, Natural Life, and member of the Technical Working Group for Forest Reform in Cambodia. Vathana holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forestry from Belarus Government University of Technology.

Chea Phallin

Operations Manager

As the Operations Manager with Wild Earth Allies’ Cambodia program, Chea Phallin leads organizational planning and implementation, capacity development, community and livelihood development, environmental education initiatives, and communications campaigns. His more than 17 years of environmental and natural resource experience includes the development and management of protected areas, the implementation and management of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools (SMART) system, and biodiversity monitoring. Phallin holds a master’s degree in development studies and a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in project management and development from Build Bright University.

E En

Community and SMART Coordinator

E En is the Community and SMART Coordinator with Wild Earth Allies’ Cambodia program. He supports our community livelihood program, leads the SMART program and patrol data management, and conducts field research on Asian elephants and pileated gibbons. His focus areas include deploying and monitoring motion-triggered cameras, producing site maps using GIS and QGIS, and managing data collection. Previously, he worked with local authorities and communities to establish community forests and protected areas. En holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh..

Ith Srey Oun

Marine Project Coordinator

As the Marine Project Coordinator with the Wild Earth Allies Cambodia program, Ith Srey Oun focuses on marine species assessment, seagrass conservation efforts, and socioeconomic surveys of Cambodia’s coastal areas. Previously, she led coral reef research, training, and monitoring to support the creation of the Koh Sdach Marine Fisheries Management Area in Koh Kong Province.

To increase marine research capacity in Cambodia, Srey Oun serves as co-advisor for master’s students assessing fish diversity in coral reef and seagrass habitats. She holds a master’s degree in biodiversity conservation from The Centre for Biodiversity Conservation at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, where she completed research on coral reef community structure and health in the Kep archipelago.

Ben Valentine

Development & Communications Consultant

Ben Valentine is a Development and Communications Consultant with Wild Earth Allies in Cambodia. In this role, he crafts stories about our work and secures funding for our conservation programs.

A strategic thinker and innovator, Ben has over 13 years of experience helping nonprofits scale their impact through partnerships, increased financial support, and volunteers. He is driven to protect our planet’s biodiversity for future generations. Based in Kampot, Cambodia, Ben speaks and reads Khmer and loves birding, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Meas Viphou headshot

Meas Viphou

Community & Livelihood Manager

As the Community & Livelihood Manager with Wild Earth Allies’ Cambodia program, Meas Viphou improves community livelihoods through sustainable agriculture and other conservation-compatible options. His efforts help people and wildlife coexist in support of forest and marine conservation. With more than 17 years of experience in community livelihood development, Viphou enjoys working toward a shared personal and organizational mission to improve household economics, human health, and environmental well-being. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Maharishi Vedic University (MVU), currently called Chea Sim University of Kamchaymear.

Moeu Dalik

Marine Project Officer

As a Marine Project Officer, Moeu Dalik supports our marine conservation efforts around the Prek Kampong Smach Marine Fisheries Management Area. Dalik collaborates with eight Community Fisheries to develop sustainable livelihoods that protect marine habitats and wildlife. Previously, Dalik worked as a marine project intern with Wild Earth Allies and a volunteer with Marine Conservation Cambodia. Dalik graduated from the Royal University of Phnom Penh with a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management and development.

Neang Thy_WEA

Neang Thy

Conservation Manager

Neang Thy brings 20 years of conservation and biological research experience to his role as Conservation Manager with Wild Earth Allies’ Cambodia program. In this role, he leads field research and project implementation. As a leading herpetologist, Thy has described new species to science and first-country records of reptile and amphibian species in Cambodia. Thy is also a wildlife generalist with skills ranging from taxonomy, biological ecosystems assessment, ecology, and research on at-risk native wildlife species such as Asian elephants, Sunda pangolins, and pileated gibbons. He has designed, implemented, and managed multiple field projects and teams, trained rangers and local community members in survey and monitoring techniques and tools, and delivered a broad range of wildlife research methodologies and techniques to field teams and students alike.

Thy has authored and co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal papers and supervised students in their master’s thesis topics. He holds a master’s degree in forestry from the Voronezh State Academy of Forestry Engineering in Russia.

Vireak Samorn

Samorn Vireak

Field Research Officer

Samorn Vireak is the Field Research Officer with Wild Earth Allies’ Cambodia program. In this role, he supports our biomonitoring program and conducts surveys on at-risk species, including Asian elephants, pileated gibbons, and Sunda pangolin. Previously, Vireak volunteered with several NGOs and worked with BirdLife International and Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden.

Vireak earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. He holds a master’s degree in biodiversity conservation from the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation. While earning his master’s, Vireak volunteered with Cambodia’s Department of Biodiversity and the Ministry of Environment. He conducted his thesis research on species diversity and the distribution of the gliding lizard (genus Draco) in Cambodia.

Sem Srey Thai

Community & Awareness Officer

Sem Srey Thai serves as the Community & Awareness Officer with the Wild Earth Allies Cambodia program. In this role, she supports community-based marine conservation along coastal areas of Cambodia. Her experience in environmental and marine conservation includes sea turtle rescue, seagrass surveys, anti-trawling structure deployment, and community-led mangrove restoration. Srey Thai is passionate about protecting marine wildlife in ways that benefit coastal communities. She is currently earning her bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences and engineering from Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia.

Sok Sreymau

Marine Project Assistant

As the Marine Project Assistant, Sok Sreymau supports our collaboration with Community Fisheries in Kampot Province and our marine research across all three coastal provinces. Sreymau worked as a marine project intern with Wild Earth Allies before joining the team full-time. Previously, she was a volunteer with Marine Conservation Cambodia, where she was introduced to marine conservation field research and became a proficient SCUBA diver. Sreymau is earning her bachelor’s degree in fisheries and aquaculture at the Royal University of Agriculture. Her thesis focuses on coral reef health in Kampot Province.

Song Det

Field Research Officer

Song Det’s expertise in botany advances our efforts to protect and restore vital habitats for Asian elephants, pileated gibbons, and other key wildlife species. Det loves collecting, photographing, and identifying plants, especially in the Zingiberaceae, Orchidaceae, and Apocynaceae families. His conservation experience began with biodiversity assessments and habitat restoration of mangrove forests for the Cambodian Fishing Cat Project. Det graduated with a master’s degree in biodiversity from the Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2019.

Ben Valentine

Development & Communications Consultant

Ben Valentine is a Development & Communications Consultant with Wild Earth Allies in Cambodia. In this role, he crafts stories about our work and secures funding for our conservation programs.

A strategic thinker and innovator, Ben has over 13 years of experience helping nonprofits scale their impact through partnerships, increased financial support, and volunteers. He is driven to protect our planet’s biodiversity for future generations. Based in Kampot, Cambodia, Ben speaks and reads Khmer and loves birding, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Vong Vutthy

Marine Research Officer

Vong Vutthy implements research projects on marine biodiversity and engages communities in marine conservation and sustainable development. Vutthy’s previous experience includes working in biodiversity conservation in coastal areas such as the wetlands of Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong River ecosystems. He has co-authored four papers on biodiversity conservation and the effects of climate change on wetlands. Vutthy received a master’s degree in biology from Prince of Songkhla University, Thailand, and a bachelor’s in biology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Clea Newman Soderlund

Chair

As the youngest daughter of the legendary acting couple Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Clea’s parents not only encouraged her to find her passion in life and pursue it with fervor, but they taught her the importance and power of giving back. Those two lessons merged for Clea when she discovered her passion in life was philanthropy and working to advance the causes and organizations she cared about.

In addition to her role as Board Chair at Wild Earth Allies, Clea serves as the proud Ambassador and spokesperson for SeriousFun Children’s Network (SeriousFun), helping to elevate awareness of the mission and advance the legacy of her father and SeriousFun founder, Paul Newman. SeriousFun is a global network of 30 camps and programs that provide life-changing experiences to children living with serious illnesses and their family members, totally free of charge.

Clea also sits on the Board of the American Institute of Neuro Integrative Development (AIND), an organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of children and adults with neurobiologically based learning; as well as developing and maintaining outreach, educational, recreational, and therapeutic programs while staying current with clinical and medical research.

Clea holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. She resides in Fairfield, Connecticut, with her husband Kurt Soderlund. A serious horseback rider since the age of six, Clea is still an avid rider competing in show jumping events throughout the United States. She also enjoys yoga, running, driving anything fast with four wheels, and walking her rescue dog, Teddy, on the beach.

Virginia M. Busch

Vice Chair

Virginia Busch grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. As part of the Busch family, she has always had a connection to wildlife and animals through the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Parks. For eight years, she served as Conservation Ambassador for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens as well as President of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. In her role, she assisted in the planning and execution of the parks’ expanding conservation programs, including development and oversight of partnerships to support collaborative research projects. She also served as media spokesperson for environmental efforts at the parks.

Since January of 2012, Virginia has led the Endangered Wolf Center as Chief Executive Officer. The Center’s mission is to preserve and protect Mexican gray wolves, red wolves, and other wild canid species with purpose and passion through carefully managed breeding, reintroduction, and inspiring education programs. The organization continues to assist U.S. Fish and Wildlife in the recovery efforts of the critically endangered Mexican wolf and red wolf.

Virginia contributes to conservation and animal welfare at home and abroad as Chair of the National Council and board member for World Wildlife Fund, the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, and the Humane Society of Missouri.

Virginia earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with an emphasis in animal behavior from Washington University in St. Louis.

Steven Rosenthal

Secretary

Steven Rosenthal is a litigator who has handled more than sixty appeals in various appellate courts, including four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Among his noteworthy cases, he successfully represented environmental groups suing to challenge a federally-funded road construction project through El Yunque National Forest, a richly biodiverse tropical rain forest in Puerto Rico, and secured an injunction preventing the project from going forward. Steven also represented Keiko, the male orca that was the star of the movie Free Willy, in securing his transfer to specially-built facilities in Oregon from an amusement park in Mexico. He also successfully represented, at the request of the American Kennel Association, the owner of a pit bull dog who challenged a Denver city ordinance that banned ownership of pit bulls in the city.

Steven has long experience with nonprofits, having served as the President and trustee of the largest family social service agency in the Greater Washington area and as an adviser on legal and policy matters to other organizations. He is a Life Member of the American Law Institute.

Steven received an A.B. degree magna cum laude from Dartmouth College and a J.D. degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He served as law clerk to the late Judge Malcolm Richard Wilkey of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, one of the nation’s leading authorities on international law.

C. Jonathan Fischer

Treasurer

Born and raised in Madison, Connecticut, C. Jonathan Fischer currently resides in Miami Beach, Florida. He is a founding partner of Stone Harbor Investment Partners and, for over twenty years, has specialized in the pension industry.

He graduated with a degree in History from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1981. Jonathan began his career as a consultant and eventually headed the global sales effort for Gordon, Haskett & Company in Stamford, Connecticut. Later, after representing Citigroup Asset Management as a Managing Director of Institutional Sales, he became a founding partner of Stone Harbor Investment Partners.

His active interests include skiing, climbing, hiking, kayaking, and travel. He has climbed several notable peaks in Europe, North America, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Russia, New Zealand, and Africa. In addition to Wild Earth Allies, his non-profit involvement has included participation with the efforts of The Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, The Appalachian Mountain Club, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Mohamed I. Bakarr, Ph.D.

Mohamed I. Bakarr is a Sierra Leone national who has worked in the environment and conservation field for over three decades. His expertise covers a broad range of issues related to natural resource management in the tropics, with a focus on the linkages between biodiversity conservation, agriculture, and human livelihoods in rainforest regions.

Mohamed is currently Lead Environmental Specialist in the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat, where he oversees all major GEF programs designed to advance holistic and integrated solutions to global environmental challenges.

Prior to joining the GEF, Mohamed was with Conservation International (CI) as Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science. While at CI, he served as Deputy Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and played an important role in organizing the 5th World Congress on Protected Areas. Mohamed also served for four years as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Assistant Director General at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mohamed holds a B.Sc. in biological sciences from Njala University in Sierra Leone and an M.S. and Ph.D in tropical biology from the University of Miami in Florida. He has authored/co-authored more than three dozen peer-reviewed publications and contributed to major global assessments, including the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the International Assessment of Agriculture Science and Technology Development, and the 4th Global Environment Outlook. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Natural Resources Management at Njala University.

David Hamlin

David Hamlin is a multi-Emmy and Pulitzer Prize-winning media executive and filmmaker. He’s responsible for 250+ award-winning, commercially successful landmark Specials, Long Form Series, Digital Shorts, and VR Experiences for broadcasters, including National Geographic, NBC, PBS, TBS, Smithsonian Channel, USA TODAY NETWORK, Google/YouTube, and numerous global foundations and NGOs.

For two decades, David served as an Executive Producer and Writer/Producer/Director at National Geographic Television. David’s work has received numerous international awards, including two Emmy wins and eight nominations. He’s led production crews of 100+ in environments ranging from the Polar Regions to the Amazon to the Himalaya to the Congo Basin. His work focuses on science, natural history, conservation, and social justice. Hamlin’s landmark series, Great Migrations, remains the highest-rated Natural History program in the history of National Geographic Television.

David also produced almost 100 AR/VR/XR projects, including The Protectors, filmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This project was co-produced with Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty), National Geographic, and Here Be Dragons. The Protectors premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was introduced by Hillary Clinton.

Currently, David is working for Gannett, America’s largest newspaper company, to launch a new film/television production studio, Blue Point Originals. He holds an MFA from USC School of Film/Television and a BA from Dartmouth College.

Jo-Elle Mogerman, Ph.D.

Jo-Elle Mogerman is a native Chicagoan who grew up with a love of animals. She applied that love to her academic pursuits, obtaining a B.A. in biology from Macalester College, an M.A. in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in biology with a focus on foraging ecology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition, she is currently an adjunct at DePaul University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, teaching an online course that engages students as citizen scientists.

On October 30, 2023, Jo-Elle became the Philadelphia Zoo’s 15th President and Chief Executive Officer. She is the first woman and woman of color to serve in the Zoo’s 164-year history.

Prior to coming to the Philadelphia Zoo, Jo-Elle served as the first African American female zoo director as the Director-Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park. There she led the effort to build from scratch a new safari experience and animal science and conservation breeding facility. At John G. Shedd Aquarium she oversaw the vision and strategic direction for all learning and community programs. She brings extensive executive experience in informal education and community relations and is well-versed on topics related to the conservation and zoological community through nearly 14 years at Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo. Dr. Mogerman currently serves the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as the Chair of the Wildlife Conservation Committee. She has served as chair of the AZA’s Diversity Committee and a member of the Ethics Committee. She currently serves on the boards of Wild Earth Allies and Alliance for the Great Lakes (as Chair). She has garnered more than 10 awards for the organizations, programs, and projects under her lead.

Sophie Oppenheimer

Sophie Oppenheimer grew up on a ranch in Oklahoma and developed a deep love for nature from a young age. She has had the opportunity to travel the world and explore different cultures, which has helped to foster an appreciation for diverse perspectives. As a Trustee of the Reed Jules Oppenheimer Foundation, Sophie has been involved with philanthropy most of her life and finds joy in supporting individuals and organizations working to make the world a better place.

Sophie has a background in food systems, applied nutrition, and public health. She believes that people can live in harmony with nature to produce their food – and that transitioning to a nature-based approach to agriculture is crucial to improving human and environmental health. She has spent the majority of her professional career supporting people and organizations focused on improving livelihoods, increasing food security, and restoring natural ecosystems.

Sophie is the Executive Director of the Valley Foundation and the Co-Founder/CEO of the Earth Allies Restoration Network (EARN). Prior to these roles, Sophie worked as a professional researcher and evaluation consultant for twelve years. Sophie holds an MPH and an MS from Tufts University, as well as a BA from the University of Colorado Boulder. Sophie also received her official permaculture design certificate in February 2020.

Beth Ruoff

Beth Ruoff worked at senior levels with Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide for more than 25 years. A member of Ogilvy’s Strategy & Planning team, Beth was integral to shaping communications strategies and programs for corporate, nonprofit, and government clients. She has a particular expertise in awareness building and behavior change and developed innovative programs that address such topics as heart disease, sexual health, education, and environmental sustainability.

Beth was the creative force behind the National Institute of Health’s campaign, The Heart Truth, also known as “The Red Dress Campaign,” which made that garment an iconic symbol for women and heart disease. In addition, Beth helped lead the development of Ogilvy’s corporate responsibility (CR) offering, working closely with agency clients to develop CR strategies and surrounding marketing and communications programs.

She also brings professional, real-world experience to Johns Hopkins University, where she teaches a graduate course in corporate responsibility.

Beth is active in the nonprofit community, serving on several boards and providing branding and communications expertise to a diverse set of organizations. She holds a BA in graphic design from Pennsylvania State University and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Karen B. Winnick

Karen Winnick is an author and illustrator of children’s picture books, including How Lucky Got His Shoe and Goodnight, Baby Animals, You’ve Had a Busy Day, Gemina, the Crooked Neck Giraffe, Hank the Ballpark Pup, Lucy’s Cave, Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers, Sybil’s Night Ride, A Year Goes Round, Barn Sneeze, The Night of the Fireflies, Cassie’s Sweet Berry Pie, and Sandro’s Dolphin and Patch & The Strings. Her paintings have been exhibited in local galleries, and her poetry has been published in magazines and anthologies.

Karen also serves as President of the Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Zoo, the Board of Trustees Emeritus at Brown University, and on the Board of the Lange Foundation, an animal rescue group.

She and her husband Gary, Chairman of Winnick and Company, support many health, education, and animal charities.

Karen received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University. She also studied in Florence, Italy, at NYU, the School of Visual Arts, and at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Amy Hayes

Amy Hayes is a Senior Advisor and Consultant with more than 20 years in public affairs, strategy, and business development. She manages her own consulting practice, AEH Consulting, which commenced operation in 2002.

Amy advises senior business executives, not-for-profit agencies, and specialized businesses on government relations, strategic planning, business development, and fundraising management. She works with clients to formulate and implement a long-term strategy for their commercial, public affairs, and philanthropic goals, with an emphasis on ensuring the highest and most effective profile awareness. Amy is experienced in conducting due diligence across these platforms.

Amy served in the Clinton Administration as a Special Assistant at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She also worked in government relations for Bay Harbour Management Investment Fund for three years prior to founding her own company.

As a Wild Fund Ambassador for Wild Earth Allies, Amy is committed to making a difference for people and the planet.

Christiane Maertens

Christiane Maertens is the founder and CEO of DoGoodery and Valor Bebidas. In 2019, Christiane launched DoGoodery, a consulting agency that works with brands who have an authentic commitment to doing good to ideate, create, and execute initiatives that improve lives and reduce inequity with empathy, joyful collaboration, and a research-based approach. After decades of experience working with corporations of all sizes on their social impact strategies, from Amazon Studios to the Walt Disney Company, Christiane found that to make a true impact it had to be embedded into the business model at the outset. Christiane saw this as an opportunity to prove her theory so she decided to merge her love of tequila and her family history in agriculture with her passion and expertise in social impact strategies. This is how Valor Bebidas was born in 2022 with bottles set to hit the market this summer!

Before DoGoodery, Christiane served as Deputy Director at the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) where her curated team led the largest, most diverse environmental education network in the world. Previously, Christiane led the design of the first corporate social responsibility portfolio at the Walt Disney Company mobilizing millions of young people to take positive action around the world. Christiane is the proud daughter of immigrant parents, a National Geographic Explorer, a respected Board Member of Outdoor Afro, and an honored ambassador for the Wild Fund.

Guillermo Söhnlein

Guillermo Söhnlein is a serial entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, explorer, and independent Board member. He has successfully launched over a dozen ventures and nonprofit organizations, while also serving as a mentor, advisor, consultant, and director with many others.

Guillermo is currently co-founder and CEO of Humans2Venus Holdings, a space-focused venture studio, and founder and Chairman of the Humans2Venus Foundation, a Venus-focused science and education organization. In addition to serving as a Wild Fund Ambassador for Wild Earth Allies, he is the Board Chair of Mamoní Valley Preserve, a Panamanian rainforest conservancy.

An expedition leader, submersible pilot, and scuba diver, during 2009-2013 Guillermo served as co-founder and CEO of OceanGate, where he organized and led six ocean exploration expeditions with crewed submersibles in various locations within US territorial waters. In 2012, he was admitted to The Explorers Club of New York.

Born in Argentina and raised in Silicon Valley, Guillermo has also lived in Panama and Switzerland. He has worked with companies and organizations in several countries, including the Bahamas, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, and Switzerland.

A former officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Guillermo earned his AB in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley and his JD from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.

Lois Morrison

Lois Morrison brings an extensive background in conservation policy and project management to Wild Earth Allies. She has served in a variety of capacities, including Natural Resources Manager for the Clinton Administration’s President’s Council on Sustainable Development, Policy Analyst for the Council of Great Lakes Governors, and Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy’s Great Lakes Program.

While raising her two daughters, Lois served as Executive Director of the Harold M. and Adeline S. Morrison Family Foundation, an organization committed to supporting champions of environmental justice. Still active in the foundation, Lois also manages a portfolio of professional and personal interests aligned around conservation and the many benefits of spending time in nature.

Board service is a meaningful part of Lois’s life. Her current and past board leadership roles include Rare, Blue Sky Funders Forum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Lake Forest Open Lands, Friends of the Chicago River, and Victory Gardens Theater. Lois is also active in Forefront’s Environmental and Family Philanthropy networks and is an engaged supporter of the National Geographic Society.

Lois received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA and Master of Environmental Policy from Yale University. She lives with her husband, Justin Daab, and two college-age daughters in Chicago, where they enjoy walking their dog, Milo, along Lake Michigan.

As a long-time supporter of Wild Earth Allies, Lois is inspired by the organization’s growing impact in communities around the world.

Anita Winsor

Anita Winsor is a philanthropist serving as a Trustee of the William H. Donner Foundation and the Donner Canadian Foundation. She also is a member of the Global Philanthropist Circle and Environment Funders Canada.

Anita has a background in Western Hemisphere affairs, working in the U.S. Agency for International Development and at the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF). She also worked at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and at the Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

Anita holds a BA from Smith College and an MA from Cambridge University. She has two teenagers, three Russian tortoises, and a bearded dragon.

Diane Mahano

Democratic Republic of the Congo Conservation Fellow

Diane Mahano collaborates with Wild Earth Allies’ partner Primate Expertise (PEx), a Congolese NGO. As a Conservation Fellow, Diane supports reforestation projects and researches the human uses of plants consumed by great apes. Her work supports great ape conservation and the health and livelihoods of communities bordering Kahuzi-Biega National Park—home to the critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla. Diane interned with the PEx reforestation team in 2023. She trained as an agricultural engineer at the Catholic University of Bukavu, specializing in water and forestry.

Louis Peña

Belize Conservation Fellow

Louis Peña is a Belizean biologist who collaborates with Wild Earth Allies botanist Steven Brewer to build botanical knowledge and capacity through our Trees of Belize program. Together, they are documenting the country’s 1,309+ tree species in support of a comprehensive digital field guide.

In addition to his Fellowship, Louis is employed by Bull Run Overseas Limited in Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize. His conservation efforts focus on both bird and plant ecology. In his work with birds, Louis volunteers as an eBird reviewer and works alongside a team of biologists from the Peregrine Fund. He attends Galen University and is earning his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies.

Melani Sánchez Flores

El Salvador Conservation Fellow

Melani Sánchez Flores is from a fishing community in Jiquilisco Bay, El Salvador. She has worked with her family in sea turtle conservation for more than 16 years. Exposure to this important field inspired Melani to study biology at the University of El Salvador. As a Conservation Fellow, Melani works with Wild Earth Allies’ partner ProCosta, a Salvadoran NGO. As part of her fellowship, she researches sea turtle-associated ecosystems and contributes to community-based conservation. Melani is excited that her work will enhance the quality of life of her fellow community members and improve the conservation status of sea turtles in Jiquilisco Bay.

Chantha Chroeng

Cambodia Conservation Fellow

Chantha Chroeng is leading surveys to document seagrass diversity and health in Cambodia’s Kampot and Kep provinces. The results of her work will guide marine habitat protection and strengthen the capacity of community fisheries to manage marine resources. Chantha created a Seagrass Identification Booklet for distribution to universities, government, and communities, making her research immediately beneficial to conservation. Chantha is pursuing a master’s degree in biodiversity conservation at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. She is preparing her bachelor’s thesis research—conducted with Wild Earth Allies—for publication.

Florence Mukantabana

Rwanda Conservation Fellow

Florence Mukantabana works closely with our Conservation Advisor Eugène Rutagarama and partner Imbereheza Gahunga, a women-led cooperative, to construct water tanks in communities bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. As part of her Fellowship, Florence interviews each family who receives a water tank, gathering testimonials and key metrics to track the impact of the project on people and endangered mountain gorillas. In July 2023, Florence presented findings from her work at the International Congress for Conservation Biology in Rwanda. She graduated from the University of Rwanda College of Education with an advanced diploma in entrepreneurship.

Hannah Phillips

Digital Communications Manager

With over six years of experience in nonprofit communications, Hannah Phillips specializes in creating strategies that amplify an organization’s mission, elevate its digital presence, and engage diverse audiences. As Digital Communications Manager at Wild Earth Allies, Hannah leverages data-driven insights to plan, execute, and manage all digital communications and marketing in support of our vibrant storytelling efforts.

Hannah earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree in public affairs from American University.

Sarah Stern

Grants Associate

As Grants Associate for Wild Earth Allies, Sarah Stern collaborates across practice areas to grow and manage revenue for strategic organizational priorities. She coordinates all stages of the grant cycle, ensuring seamless design, implementation, and monitoring. Previously, Sarah spent several years at a donor-advised fund. There, she facilitated support to charitable projects globally, building her expertise in strategic giving and grant stewardship.

Sarah earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Mary Washington and is certified in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Ape Trees Project

The Ape Trees™ project reforests degraded habitat in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to benefit wildlife and communities.

Ape Trees™ Project Locations

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Idwji Island

Community Benefits from the Ape Trees™ Project

How the Ape Trees™ Project Works

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