For over 15 years I have been working in global policy fora and in the field addressing land use challenges and climate change. I have a particular interest in the interconnection between forests and farmlands, and the people who live there.
I spent a significant part of my career at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, where I have built trusted partnerships with smallholder farmers organisations and indigenous territorial authorities.
I managed a vast range of projects focusing on Nature-Based Solutions, agroecological approaches, and land restoration in over 15 countries; and, worked with an array of stakeholders from local and global NGOs, research organisations and a range of private sector actors from smallholder farmers through to large scale multi-national agriculture commodity companies.
I have nearly 30 years’ experience in leading and developing large scale initiatives that integrate sustainable land management strategies, with a people centred and rights based approach with farmers organisations and Indigenous Peoples groups.
With long and short term work in over 45 countries I have coupled this field experience with engagement in global, regional and national policy fora, with a strong emphasis on mobilising innovative finance that responds to local needs.
Having led multiple teams I have overseen the development and management of a portfolio over $500m in direct programme funding from a range of government and private sector investments. I was also the co-lead of the Nature and Nature Based Solutions themes for the UNFCCC COP26 High Level Champion, and was the co-lead of The Forests Dialogue.
