Our Team

Astrid Puentes Riaño is one of the two Co-Executive Directors of AIDA. She is responsible for AIDA’s legal efforts and organizational management. Originally from Colombia, Astrid has worked for AIDA since 2003. She has significant experience linking environmental protection with human rights, and climate change, highlighting the importance to prioritize climate justice. For over twenty years she has been working on public interest litigation, especially in the field of human rights, the environment, and climate change. Astrid holds an LL.M. in Comparative Law from the University of Florida, a Masters in Environmental Law from the University of the Basque Country, and a J.D. from the Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia. Astrid has also taught several seminars and classes on human rights, the environment and climate change, including at American University Law School in Washington, and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).

Anna Cederstav is one of the two AIDA’s Co-Executive Directors. Having worked for AIDA since 1997, she is responsible for program and organizational development. Anna has significant expertise in the environmental impacts of mining and other extractive activities, as well as marine resource management. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley and a B.S. from Yale University. Anna is based in San Francisco, California, where she also manages the Latin America work of the Earthjustice International Program.

Carlos Lozano Acosta is a Colombian lawyer and our senior attorney for the Freshwater Preservation Program. He works with AIDA out of Bogotá, Colombia. He has an LL.M. in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Oregon, United States, which he attended as a Fulbright Scholar. He has worked as a researcher and consultant for Colombian and international NGOs as well as cooperation agencies on issues of public law. He also has participated on teams providing technical assistance to Colombia’s Ministry of Environment on environmental licensing and hazardous waste management.

Andrés Angél is scientific advisor to the Freshwater Preservation Program. A Colombian, he works with AIDA from Bogotá. He has a Bachelor's degree in geology and a Master's degree in Public Policy with an emphasis on GeoGovernance from the University of Potsdam, Germany; his studies there were carried out through a DAAD scholarship. Andrés has experience as a researcher in diverse socioecological conflicts and territorial defense processes, primarily those related to neo-extractivism. He has also worked in the public sector of Colombia in environmental control. 

Janet Ávila is the Executive Assistant in AIDA's Mexico City Office. She has a degree in graphic design, specializing in advertising and media, from the Universidad de Londres in Mexico City. For 20 years, Janet was the executive assistant for the Mexican Association of Plastic Surgery. She also has experience in corporate identity and event organization. 

Liliana A. Ávila is the Senior Attorney of AIDA's Human Rights and Environment Program. A Colombian, she works from the Bogotá office. Liliana is an attorney from the Universidad Externado de Colombia, a specialist in constitutional law, and holds a Masters in Legal Argumentation from the University of Alicante in Spain. She has experience in international human rights law and international systems for the protection of human rights. She's a professor of international law at the Universidad Externado and has worked as a legal advisor on human rights, international humanitarian law, and public health.  

Emilia Carrara is a development professional based in AIDA’s San Francisco office. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from the National University of Mexico (UNAM). Emilia has experience in environmental research with a focus on Tropical Ecosystems, and has collaborated as a research assistant both in the academic and non-profit sector. She combines her strong scientific background and work experience in the organizational and managerial areas to support environmental protection strategies.

Javier Dávalos González is senior attorney for the Climate Change Program. He works with AIDA from Quito, Ecuador. He has a background in international relations, human rights, international cooperation, and population and development sciences. He has experience managing programs and projects related to climate change, international environmental law and sustainable development in international, national and civil society entities. He has been a university professor and facilitator of participatory processes and learning communities. 

Dena DeBry is a fine artist and web developer. She runs Buttonwillow Six, a small web development company based in Salt Lake City.  To see more, visit http://www.buttonwillowsix.com.

Maria José Gonzalez-Bernat is the scientific advisor for AIDA's Marine Biodiversity and Coastal Protection program. She works from Guatemala City. María José is a biologist with a Masters in Marine Science from the University of Otago, New Zealand, and a Ph.D. in Governnace from the University of Western Australia. She has experience in the conservation and management of marine ecosystems, climate change, marine-coastal governance and policies, as well as the effective management of marine protected areas. She has worked with non-profit organizations and in Guatemala's public sector, primarily in research and issues related to marine protected areas. 

Gladys Martínez is our senior attorney for the Marine Biodiversity and Coastal Protection Program, working out of AIDA’s offices in San Jose, Costa Rica. She has helped bring AIDA victories from protecting endangered turtles and coastal areas through litigation and the development of environmentally sustainable policies. Gladys received her law degree from the Universidad de Costa Rica, and holds a master’s degree in Environment, Security and Peace from the United Nations University-UPEACE. 

Verónica Méndez Villa is a Mexican citizen and an AIDA Climate Change Fellow. She is an attorney from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana of Mexico and has experience in environmental litigation and research with an emphasis on climate change issues. Verónica holds a Master of Law (LL.M.) in environmental law from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and she is currently studying Renewable Energy Engineering at the Universidad Abierta y a Distancia of México.

Anna Miller is a writer and media specialist from Buffalo, New York. She has traveled extensively in Latin America and now counts Colombia as one of her homes. As part of AIDA’s communications team, Anna manages the organization's digital growth strategy and oversees its English language content. She graduated cum laude from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. 

Aída Navarro is based in Ensenada, Mexico and is AIDA's human resources advisor. A native of Mexico, she has extensive experience coordinating conservation projects in the Baja California Peninsula, including international outreach and media campaigns to promote marine conservation since 2002. Aída holds and MSc in Environment and Development from the University of East Anglia and a B. A. in International Trade from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey.

Fernanda Núñez Espinosa is a Colombian graphic designer who works with AIDA from the Bogotá office. She graduated from the National University of Colombia, and has worked for Colombia State entities such as the District Department for Women and the Administrative Department of the Civil Service. She is experienced in design, photography, event organization and social media management.

Florencia Ortúzar works for AIDA from Santiago, Chile. She obtained her Law degree (2006) from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and also completed an MSc in Environmental Politics and Regulation (2011) at the London School of Economics (LSE) in England. She joined our team in 2012 and has contributed to AIDA’s work on climate change issues. She enjoys spending time with her pets as well as cooking, camping and nature trekking.

Rosa Peña Lizarazo is a fellow with AIDA's Human Rights and Environment Program. She is attorney from the Universidad del Rosario, Colombia whose bachelor's degree focused on Constitutional Law and Human Rights. She has experience in community accompaniment and strategic litigation in cases of human rights violations derived from development policies and projects. Rosa is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Development Studies, with an emphasis on Territorial Development Management, at the Universidad de los Andes, in Colombia.

Victor Quintanilla Sangüeza is a Bolivian freelance communications specialist and journalist. He is part of AIDA’s communications team, working from Mexico City. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Communication from the Higher University of San Andrés in La Paz, Bolivia, and a Master in Communication from the Ibero-American University in Mexico City. He has worked in print and television media, as well as in corporate communication in the public and private sectors.

Marcella Ribeiro d’Avila Lins Torres is a Brazilian attorney. She is currently a consultant of the AIDA's Human Rights and the Environment Program, working from Recife, Brazil. Marcella has an LL.M in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame, United States. She is well versed in the practice of human rights law, especially economic, social and cultural rights. She has worked at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Anayantzin Robles Méndez is AIDA's Administrative Manager. She is Mexican and has a degree in International Relations from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Anayantzin collaborates with AIDA from the Mexico City office. She has completed several degrees in areas such as supply chain and business finance, has worked in organizations from different sectors, and has 10 years of experience in the administrative field.

Magie Rodríguez is AIDA's legal advisor with the Marine Biodiversity and Coastal Protection Program from San José, Costa Rica. She has a degree in Law, with a focus on environmental law, from the University of Costa Rica. There she assisted with research on environmental law and agronomy, and developed various extracurricular activities related to marine biology. Through AIDA she contributes to the conservation of the marine and coastal environment of Latin America, especially in the conservation of key ecosystems such as coral reefs. 

Ivette Sanchez has been AIDA's accountant since 2008. She holds a degree in Public Accounting from the University of Veracruz. A Mexican, she works from AIDA's San Francisco office. Ivette has worked in the Bay Area as an accountant for various non-profit organizations, and as a consultant in the construction industry. She also has experience preparing tax returns. 

Camilo Thompson is a Mexican attorney with the Marine Biodiversity and Coastal Protection Program. He works with AIDA from Chiapas, Mexico. He has a Masters of Science in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University and a Professional Master's Degree in Leadership for Conservation through Learning from the Colegio de la Frontera Sur. He has studied international environmental law at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and has taken various international seminars with the US Forest Service and the Conservation Leadership Program. He has worked as a consultant for Mexican and international NGOs, primarily related to the integral management of hydrological basins, public policy initiatives on climate change, and sustainable forest management. 

Claudia Velarde Ponce de León is a Bolivian attorney with AIDA's Freshwater Preservation Program. She works with AIDA from Cochabamba, Bolivia. Claudia has a Masters in Environmental Management from the Universidad de León in Spain, with a speciality in the management and conservation of natural areas. She has worked on public policy development, protected areas management, watershed management, climate change, food sovereignty, agroecology and environmental health.

Eli Wilkins-Malloy is AIDA's Development Director, leading the organization’s fundraising strategy. He works from Tallahassee, Florida. Eli holds a Master's in Public Administration with a specialization in nonprofit management from New York University. He brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit operations, program management, and development to AIDA, having worked to support communities and organizations across the Americas for the protection of environmental, human, and indigenous rights.

Laura Yaniz is a Mexican freelance journalist and social media content editor. As part of AIDA’s communications team, she runs efforts to spread news about the organization’s work on social networks. She has a BA in media and journalism from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) in Monterrey, Mexico, and a diploma in national security from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM). She is interested in social and environmental issues, especially environmental security.