ABOUT US
"We are people who care about nature conservation"
Our story
Those who today are the founders of Great Leaf have been direct witnesses of the environmental damage caused by the overexploitation of natural resources and that is why joined forces to generate concrete changes, where ideas are translated into actions in favor of conservation for sustainable development. This is how Great Leaf seeks to be an agent of change in Ecuador, being an institution that generates projects that contribute to society and the conservation of nature.
Great Leaf was founded by people committed to the conservation of ecosystems of Ecuador, whose interest stems from his professions and his passion for nature. Thus, the Foundation is headed by a interdisciplinary team with experience in different fields that converge in the same interest, the nature preservation.
Meet our team
Liliana Jaramillo
Reconectar Project Director
Co-founder
Biologist, Master in Environment, granted by University of Melbourne – Australia, with specialization in conservation and sustainable cities. Liliana has worked in research of native plants for their propagation and use in various restoration projects and generation of new ecosystems. She was recognized in 2017 by UN Environment in the “Young Champions of the Earth” contest. In the same year she won the “Urban Entrepreneurship Challenge” in Quito, promoted by IMPAQTO and the IDB. In 2018, Liliana obtained the “Women4Climate” recognition, organized by the C40, for her work with native plants in the city of Quito. Currently, Liliana actively develops research and environmental education to encourage conservation in the country.
Andres Herrera
Financial Director
Co-founder
Economist by profession, Andrés completed a Master's in Taxation at the IAEN-Ecuador. Likewise, he obtained the title of master’s in management at La Trobe University - Australia. He has extensive experience in tax, financial and project management. Also, he has participated in different circular economy ventures as co-founder and he has won entrepreneurship competitions such as StarupWeekend Quito 2019.
Andrea Narváez
La Esperanza Forest Project Director
Co-founder
Biologist, PhD in Zoology and Behavioral Ecology graduated at La Trobe University-Australia. Andrea’s research focus in Ecology, Behavior, Diversity and Evolution. She has developed studies to estimate the anthropogenic impact on amphibian and reptile communities in tropical and subtropical forests of the coast and Amazonian regions of Ecuador. Additionally, Andrea collaborates in social management projects, studding the impact of livestock agriculture in local fauna, working with several communities in the province of Guayas.
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James Doe
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Gabriela Gomez
Communication Direct
Gabriela has a degree in Communication and Music. She practices both professions, motivated by her love for nature and art. Gabriela supports the Foundation's conservation initiatives by strengthening communication strategies and dissemination of environmental education.
Anelio Loor
Coordinador del Bosque La Esperanza
Botanical Parabiologist. Anelio is the field administrator of Bosque La Esperanza, a member of the El Zapote community and an honorary member of the Great Leaf Foundation. Anelio was trained as a plant parataxonomist within the Yasuní Dynamic Forest Plot project in the Ecuadorian Amazon, directed by the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE) and for 23 years Anelio has been protecting a remnant forest “La Esperanza”.
Alex Santillan
Researcher - Colaborator
Biologist-Researcher, he has a Master's degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Calabria and a PhD in Ecotoxicology from the University of Plymouth (UK). Alex has carried out studies in the field of molecular ecology and ecophysiology of foundation species such as pines and seagrasses. He is currently a lecturer at the National Polytechnic School and is interested in developing molecular methods to monitor biodiversity, the effects of climate change and pollution in vulnerable ecosystems on the Ecuadorian coast. Additionally, he is interested in quantifying the medium and long-term effects of ecological restoration on agroecosystems and urban ecosystems.
Mauricio Rivadenira
Environmental advisor
Biologist, with a Master's degree in Environment and Climate Change from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Mauricio has extensive professional experience in the area of environmental and biodiversity information management, obtained during his work on research and consulting projects carried out by academic institutions, NGOs and private companies (PUCE, CONDESAN, OMS, Ecuambiente, GeoBigData ). His work experience includes public sector institutions: Senplades and the Ministry of the Environment, in which he held positions as Information Analyst, Information Evaluation and Monitoring Specialist, and Biophysical and Environmental Evaluation Coordinator.
Paola Ayala U.
Landscape architect
Architect, graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. During her undergraduate studies, while working on her final project, she developed an interest in open space architecture. In 2021, she graduated from Leibniz University Hannover in Germany with an MSc in Landscape Architecture. Her interest heavily leans towards the recovery and revitalization of public spaces, contributing to the creation of spaces that enhance the quality of life in the city.
Luis Cardenas
Environmental geographic information advisor
Biologist by profession with a master's degree in Geographic Information Systems and diplomas in E-Learning and Remote Sensing. Luis has 20 years of experience in the field of scientific and applied research, Geographic Information Systems, environmental, territorial, tourist areas and health sciences and is a person who is passionate about nature, its natural environments and territorial interpretation using sensors. remote. Professor and researcher at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, International University of Ecuador, South American Technological Institute. He is also a consultant for international cooperation organizations and institutions of the Ecuadorian state.
Thomas Couvreur
Research advisor
He is a researcher and botanist at the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD). His main interest lies in understanding the evolution, resilience and diversity of tropical biodiversity, and rain forests in particular, one of the most complex and diverse ecosystems on the planet.
Daniela Cordova
Circular Economy advisor
Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences and Circular Economy, and master’s degree in Sustainable Development. Daniela has expertise in evaluation and assessment of circularity in product value chain and services, as well as, to improve sustainable practices to recover secondary raw materials through reverse logistics. Additionally, she is implementing circular economy models in cities to optimize the use and reuse of resources based on sustainable indicators to achieve the SDGs 2030.
María Teresa López
Environmental educator
Maria Teresa is a graduate of the Biology program at the University of Guayaquil, with a focus on nature conservation and environmental education. She is a volunteer in the Bat Conservation Program (PCME) coastal division, where she actively works. She is also an environmental interpreter at the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest. In 2021, she completed her professional internship at the La Esperanza Forest, which inspired her to contribute through her work to the protection of the environment and biodiversity. Currently, Maria Teresa collaborates with the Great Leaf Foundation in the area of environmental education on projects such as the Ecoclub "Guardians of La Esperanza" in the Sapote community, El Carmen, Manabí.
Marjorie Castro
Co-founder
Environmental Engineer, master’s in quality management, Environment and Occupational Risk Prevention graduated at Politécnica de Madrid. Marjorie has been Regional Manager of Quality, Safety, Health, Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. She has developed management systems for large and small businesses, helping organizations improve their overall performance and providing a solid foundation for sustainable development initiatives. Nature lover, she has created and managed projects focused on environmental conservation and forest protection.
Juan Carlos Triana
Co-founder
Mechanical Engineer by profession, Juan Carlos specializes in management, project evaluation, risk management and feasibility, with 25 years of experience in the Latin American industrial sector. For the past 8 years, he has been a manager in a multinational company dedicated to business management in areas such as safety, health, environment, sustainable development, research and development of products and projects, quality and social development.
With an outstanding trajectory in the execution of ecotourism projects in the Ecuadorian Amazon, he currently leads initiatives focused on the preservation of the protective forest, the integration of indigenous communities and the stimulation of alternative economies for the well-being of the Ecuadorian Amazon.