Who We Are

Ours is a vibrant, multidisciplinary, and multicultural team modelling a future where power sharing and collective knowledge creates flourishing zero waste cities around the world. Our regional offices coordinate closely with regional members and national or regional boards/advisory committees, and are advised by the GAIA Global Advisory Hub and global membership. Formally, we operate as three registered nonprofit organizations (GAIA Philippines, GAIA USA, and Zero Waste Europe).

Aditi Varshneya

Network Development Manager, US & Canada

Agnes Mampusti

Communications Associate for GAIA Global

Alejandra Parra

Zero Waste and Plastics Advisor for GAIA Latin America & the Caribbean

Ambily Adithyan

Zero Waste Cities Program Officer for GAIA Asia Pacific

Belmiro Soekarno

Digital Communications Associate for GAIA Asia Pacific

Brieshen McKee

Finance & Business Director for GAIA U.S.

Camila Aguilera

Program Advisor for GAIA Latin America

Careen Mwakitalu

GAIA Africa Communications Associate

Carissa Marnce

Communications Officer for GAIA Africa

Cecilia Allen

Global Projects Advisor for GAIA

Celine Santos

Resource Mobilization Office for GAIA Asia Pacific

Chris Flood

Development and Resource Mobilization Manager for GAIA U.S.

Christie Keith

International Coordinator and Executive Director of GAIA U.S.

Claire Arkin

Global Communications Lead

Dan Abril

Communications Associate for GAIA Asia Pacific

Desmond Alugnoa

Member Support Program Coordinator for GAIA Africa

Doun Moon

Policy Researcher

Froilan Grate

Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator and Executive Director of GAIA Philippines

Gemma Estrella

Network Development Coordinator

Janssen Calvelo

Regional Capacity-Building and Training Officer for GAIA Asia Pacific

Jed Alegado

Asia Pacific’s Regional Communications Officer for the #breakfreefromplastic movement

Jenny Tang

Program Operations & Grants Administrator

Jessica Roff

Plastics & Petrochemicals Campaign Manager, US & Canada

Kenza Elazkem

North Africa Outreach Coordinator

Leo Jaminola

Project Monitoring and Grants Administration Officer for GAIA Asia Pacific

Magdalena Donoso

Regional Coordinator for GAIA Latin America and the Caribbean

Marcel Howard

Zero Waste Program Manager for GAIA US & Canada

María Esther Briz

Plastic Campaigner for GAIA Latin America & the Caribbean / BFFP

Mariela Pino

Member Support Program Coordinator for GAIA Latin America & the Caribbean / BFFP

Marisa Gonzales Nordstrom

Events Manager for the Urban Movement Innovation Fund (UMIF)

Merrisa Naidoo

GAIA’s Africa Plastic Campaigner

Miriam Azurin

GAIA Asia Pacific Deputy Director

Monica Wilson

Associate Director of GAIA U.S.

Nautica Welch

Bookkeeper and Office Administrator for GAIA U.S.

Neebha Budhoo

GAIA Africa Admin Assistant

Neil Tangri

Science and Policy Director

Niven Reddy

GAIA Africa Regional Coordinator

Raimiel Dionido

Organizational Development and Human Resources Officer for GAIA Asia Pacific

Rhoda David

Operations and Finance Coordinator for GAIA Asia Pacific

Sherma Benosa

Knowledge Management Officer for GAIA Asia Pacific

Sirine Rached

Plastics Policy Coordinator

Shibu Nair

GAIA India Coordinator

Sonia G. Astudillo

Communications Officer for GAIA Asia Pacific

Patricia Parras

Network Development and Member Engagement Officer for GAIA Asia Pacific

Weyinmi Okotie

Clean Energy Campaigner for GAIA Africa

Yobel Novian Putra

Climate and Clean Energy Campaign Associate for GAIA Asia Pacific

Ana Oliveira

Head of Communications at Zero Waste Europe

Alexandra Clipa

Administration and Events Officer for Zero Waste Europe

Berta Corredor

Press Officer for Zero Waste Europe

Caroline Cullière

New Financing Models Coordinator for Zero Waste Europe

Desi Borisova

Finance Officer for Zero Waste Europe

Dorota Napierska

Policy Officer on Toxic-Free Consumption & Production for Zero Waste Europe

Esra Tat

Executive Director at Zero Waste Europe

Heli Pärna

Grants & Operations Officer for Zero Waste Europe

Jack McQuibban

Head of Local Zero Waste Implementation at Zero Waste Europe

Janek Vähk

Climate, Energy and Air Pollution Program Coordinator of Zero Waste Europe

Joan Marc Simon

Director-Founder of Zero Waste Europe

Kaisa Karjalainen

Coordinator of the Mission Zero Academy

Larissa Copello

Consumption & Production Campaigner for Zero Waste Europe

Lauriane Veillard

Chemical Recycling and Plastic-to-Fuels Policy Officer for Zero Waste Europe

Mariel Vilella

GAIA’s Global Climate Program Director

Nanna Cornelsen

Communications Assistant

Nathan Dufour

Consumption & Production Coordinator for Zero Waste Europe

Kathleen Verhelle

Operations Director

Stephanie Yates

Network Coordinator

Theresa Bonnici

Communications Officer for Zero Waste Europe

Theresa Mörsen

Waste Policy Officer