Patricia Zurita
Chief Strategy Officer
Zurita first joined Conservation International in 2003, working for seven years on projects related to policy and economics in the Andes region and the organization’s Conservation Stewards program. She returned to Conservation International in 2023 to serve in this new strategic leadership position.
During her hiatus from Conservation International, Zurita was director of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (a joint program with Conservation International) and then served as the Chief Executive Officer for BirdLife International, helming the organization for eight years.
Zurita earned her master’s degree in environmental management and natural resource economics from Duke University and her bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
A native Ecuadorian, Zurita is now based in Conservation International’s Arlington, VA office.
Zurita first joined Conservation International in 2003, working for seven years on projects related to policy and economics in the Andes region and the organization’s Conservation Stewards program. She returned to Conservation International in 2023 to serve in this new strategic leadership position.
During her hiatus from Conservation International, Zurita was director of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (a joint program with Conservation International) and then served as the Chief Executive Officer for BirdLife International, helming the organization for eight years.
Zurita earned her master’s degree in environmental management and natural resource economics from Duke University and her bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
A native Ecuadorian, Zurita is now based in Conservation International’s Arlington, VA office.