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Sebastián Rodriguez

Sebastian is an AIDA intern who worked with the Communications team from San José, Costa Rica. He studies Communications Sciences at the University of Costa Rica. Sebastian has worked as a journalist at Semanario Universidad, a local newspaper. He is most interested in writing about climate change and environmental issues. 

Scott Squires

Scott Squires assisted the AIDA communications team with blogging, media outreach, and other tasks to further AIDA’s projects. He is currently a graduate student pursuing Masters' Degrees in Global Policy Studies and Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.

Cecilia Vásquez

Cecilia Vásquez collaborates with the AIDA communications team from the Mexico City office. She studied Social Communication at the Central American University José Simeón Cañas in El Salvador. She has worked in advertising and as a journalist. She is interested in the intersection of communication and human rights.

Andrés Ángel

Andrés Ángel collaborated with AIDA as a scientific advisor. 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. 

Tomás González Astorga

Daniel Camilo Thompson Poo

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

Claudia Velarde Ponce de León is a Bolivian attorney and Director of AIDA's Territories 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.

Alynne Velázquez Guedea

Alynne Velázquez Guedea works as AIDA’s Executive Assistant from our Mexico City Office. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad de las Américas, A.C., as well as various diplomas in history from Mexico’s National Autonomous University. She has volunteered for various organizations that help vulnerable communities. Alynne joined our team in 2016 and works on administrative, operational and human resources issues. She enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, spending time with her family and pets, and reading.

Marcella Ribeiro d'Ávila Lins Torres

Marcella Ribeiro d’Ávila Lins Torres is Brazilian and a senior attorney with AIDA's Human Rights and Environment Program, as well as Coordinator of the Communities and Defenders Area, working from Brazil. She holds an LL.B. in Law from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba, a LL.M in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame, and a diploma in Advocacy for NGOs from the Advocacy Hub. She specialized in economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights, international human rights systems, and climate justice. She is well-versed in the practice of human rights law through litigation, advocacy, and campaigning, and is responsible for the coordination of several cases and projects with traditional communities, indigenous people, and HRE defenders at AIDA. She coordinates the Brazilian team, being responsible for identifying opportunities for expanding AIDA’s work in the country. Marcella is AIDA’s focal point on work with defenders and the link between the Human Rights and Climate programs.

Magie Rodríguez

Magie Rodriguez is Costa Rican and AIDA's attorney with the Ecosystems Program, working from San Jose. 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.