Steven Panfil
Vice President, GCF Agency
Steve’s professional focus has been on forests and climate change for nearly 15 years. Much of his work has concentrated on REDD+, including the development and application of social and environmental standards, international and domestic policy, project design, and research. Prior to joining CI, Steve directed a conservation organization in Peru, which engaged with local communities to enhance livelihoods and improve the management of conservation areas while building scientific knowledge of Amazonian forests. A US citizen, Steve was a 10-year resident in Latin America and has also worked extensively with teams in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region. Steve holds a PhD in plant ecology from the University of Georgia and Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.
Languages: English, Spanish
Susana Escudero
Senior Director, Grants Management, CI-GCF and CI-GEF Agencies
Susana joined Conservation International in 2012 and serves as the Director of Grants Management for the CI-GCF Agency. She focuses on financial management and operations of the CI-GEF portfolio of projects and manages the relationship with the GEF Trustee. Previously, Susana served as the Senior Manager of Multilateral Relations, managing Conservation International’s portfolio of GEF projects through Multilaterals. Susana has also worked for the Inter-American Development Bank as a consultant and Cargill. Susana holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus on non-profit management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from Tulane University. Susana is a native of Brazil and has spent her adult life in the U.S.
Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish
Ian Kissoon
Senior Director, Environmental and Social Framework, CI-GCF and CI-GEF Agencies
Ian hails from the South American country of Guyana and joined CI in February 2015. He holds two masters degrees from the University of Cape Town, South Africa; an MSc Degree in Conservation Biology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). Prior to joining CI, Ian worked at the UNDP’s Office in Guyana where he served as the country’s National Coordinator for the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). He also worked with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Guyana where he led the work of the Protected Areas Unit, and this included the development of the national protected areas legislation and co-management plans for the Kanuku Mountains and Shell Beach Protected Areas. He developed a passion for ensuring the design and implementation of good conservation projects from having seen the positive impacts such projects can have on the lives of people in communities.
Languages: English
Courtney McCarty
Director, Grants
Courtney joined Conservation International in 2018. Prior to joining CI, Courtney served for more than five years as an International Program Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, managing international development programs aimed at promoting economic growth. Previously, she worked as a contractor at the U.S. Department of State and as a foreign policy researcher with a national media organization. She has also worked at the United Nations and the U.S. Congress.
Courtney holds a Master of Arts in International Relations and International Economics from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.
Languages: English, French
Robert Merritt
Director, Project Development and Oversight
Robert joined the CI-GCF Agency in January 2018 after more than 10 years managing the implementation of development projects in low-income nations. During that time, he lived and worked in West Africa, East Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Since 2013, Robert has focused on climate change resilience programs, with particular emphasis on forest conservation and reducing coastal communities’ vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change.
Robert has extensive experience working closely with a wide range of partners and stakeholders including community leaders, NGOs, local & national governments, regional bodies, and international donors. He has conducted socio-economic and ecological vulnerability assessments, developed practical activities through options analyses, and recognizes the critical importance of local buy-in for climate change interventions.
Robert holds an M.S. in Climate Change from University College London and a B.S. from Bates college in Maine.
Languages: English, French
Javier Mendoza
Director, Project Development
Javier joined the CI-GCF agency in March 2022. He has more than 20 years of professional experience, with a focus on climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation, sustainable development, and land-use planning. In addition, he has extensive experience leading public policy processes, always working with a broad spectrum of partners and stakeholders, in cross-cultural environments and with gender sensitivity.
Before joining CI, Javier worked for Expertise France as Coordinator of the Long-Term Strategy of Colombia -E2050-. Previously, he was the National Coordinator of Colombia's Reporting Mechanisms under the UNFCCC (UNDP). In addition, he was the Coordinator of the Territorial Approach for Climate Change Project in the Capital Region of Colombia (TACC Colombia). He was an advisor in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, leading the formulation process of the Colombian Policy for the Integrated Management of Biodiversity and its Ecosystem Services (PNGIBSE). Javier has been a member of the Colombian negotiating teams under CBD, IPBES, and UNFCCC. He is an IUCN member and lecturer at the master's level.
Javier is a Biologist with an M.Sc. in Biodiversity Management from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala.
Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese
Holman Martinez
Grants Manager
Holman originates from Santa Marta, Colombia. Prior to joining CI in 2024, he was responsible for overseeing, managing, and formulating humanitarian, development, and emergency projects in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela for bilateral, multilateral, and private donors while working with the International Rescue Committee. He previously served as a Young Innovator Fellow at the United Nations Population Fund, where his focus was on strengthening capacities for innovation for youth and local organizations in Colombia. Holman holds a postgraduate degree in International Cooperation and Project Management for Development from the Externado University of Colombia and a degree in Political Science from the University of La Sabana. He will be based in CI's Bogota, Colombia office.Languages: English and Spanish
Silvana Lara
Grants Manager
Silvana has worked for eleven years in The Nature Conservancy in the Grants Service Network, where she managed public donor agreements, including multilateral, federal, and non-federal public funds. Her portfolio of projects includes countries in Latin America, The Caribbean, and Micronesia. Previously, she worked for Chemonics, supporting the implementation of USAID and Chemonics procedures in three projects in Bolivia. She has also worked for a multinational company dedicated to telecommunications in logistics, human resources, and finance. Silvana holds a master’s degree in rural development, two post-graduated diplomas in human resources, and a degree in business administration. She will be based in CI’s office in La Paz, Bolivia.
Languages: English and Spanish