Protecting rainforests at the local and global levels to end deforestation by 2030.

Niyanta founded Rainforest Partnership in 2007 with a clear vision for achieving ground-up and global-scale rainforest conservation that can provide the sweeping and rapid impact we need to protect biodiversity, sustain thriving rainforest communities, support a balanced climate, and ensure a livable planet for all. Prior to founding Rainforest Partnership, she worked at the first lobbying firm in London, led a management consultancy, and worked with Texas environmental agencies as part of a legislative agency.

Luther, now living in Boston, has been working at Rainforest Partnership since the beginning of 2022 as an Executive Assistant to the CEO while also coordinating one of its new Global Initiatives, Rainforest Partnership Publishing, and completed a professional certificate in Geographic Information Systems and Data Communication from the University of Vermont. He has a B.A. from Boston College majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Global Environmental Issues.

Nabeel applies his experience as a former Business Analyst, Quality Assurance Tester, and Structured Query Language (SQL) Developer to contribute to the growth, operational performance, and impact of Rainforest Partnership. He started volunteering with Rainforest Partnership in 2018, and since then has worked to support its mission, staff, and volunteers. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Raina joined the RP team after graduating from Amherst College with degrees in Geology and English. She currently lives in Salinas on the coast of Ecuador. Raina’s background in political ecology, environmental justice, writing, and earth science brings a nuanced perspective to her work and a dedication to the power of language. She feels very lucky to have found an organization in which she believes fully and deeply, and work that involves some of her all-time favorite things: trees, sustainable food systems, monkeys, birds, geology, and environmental justice.

With a keen interest in amphibians and reptiles since the age of four, Pablo grew up in a town on the northern coast of Peru searching for snakes and lizards in the desert after school. Pablo has participated as a herpetologist in several biological assessments and expeditions. So far, he has published more than 60 scientific papers on taxonomy and systematics of amphibians and reptiles, and discovered several new species of frogs and lizards.

Beth works with the CEO and leadership team to design and implement strategies across the organization: from top-level strategies such as vision and mission; to the operational strategies that inform campaigns, partnerships, messaging, and initiatives. A professional analyst and strategist, her 30 + years of experience are rooted in a two-decade career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, before moving to the nonprofit sphere. Beth has been part of Rainforest Partnership since inception, first as a strategic planner, later as strategic advisor.

As a self-described “disillusioned GenZer”, Rainforest Partnership gave Geovanny the gift of hope. “I have learned how to hope in a way that is imperfect — honest, real, and grounded in action. I am humbled and energized by our vision and impact and feel grateful to the RP team for showing me that no matter the challenges and stakes, this work can and should be done with joy.”

Senaida is a Kichwa woman of the Ecuadorian Amazon, a cultural activist and founder of Yuramuyo, a project which empowers Amazonian women to protect ancestral knowledge and to support themselves and their families through sustainable agriculture and traditional artisanship, benefiting from the abundant resources provided by forests, the earth, and pachamama (Mother Earth). She coordinates Rainforest Partnership’s projects in Ecuador, working directly with communities along the Rio Napo.

Elisa was born and raised in rural northwestern Ecuador. As a Biologist – specialized in butterflies, she has been involved for more than 15 years in numerous research and conservation projects, always aiming to properly involve local communities in the conservation efforts. She is also part of OMASNE, a grassroots organization who accompanies communities and territories threatened by mining in northern Ecuador. She truly enjoys sharing with kids about nature as well as the beautiful landscapes and cultures of the middle of the world.

Nia’s work focuses on ensuring that global action for forests matches the urgency of the moment. She leads World Rainforest Day events and programs, including the Global Summit, and manages the partner network, facilitating connections and collaboration to drive resilient rainforest protection. Nia has been part of the World Rainforest Day team since 2020; in 2021, she helped launch the Global Summit. She is from Tbilisi, Georgia.

Andrea leads strategy and implementation of Films for the Forest, RP’s forest-focused annual juried short film competition, and Music for the Forest, a new initiative to inspire and raise awareness about forests and climate change through the power of music. As a professional biologist, she has experience in the field of science communication within museums and the creation and management of strategies for audience engagement in educational and cultural environments.

Linda worked for the State of Texas as a manager and accountant at several state agencies for 21 years. The mission of Rainforest Partnership is dear to her heart, and she began volunteering her skills as the organization’s accountant in 2013. She also works with other non-profits and enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Bill Talbot is the fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Rainforest Partnership (RP), and was most recently the CMO of OpsRamp, which was acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise. He has over 20 years of B-to-B marketing, sales and business development experience. Prior to re-joining RP (he was a board member previously), he was at Splunk where he led marketing for Splunk's Observability portfolio of solutions for IT and DevOps teams. Before Splunk, he worked at BMC Software where he led marketing for the Digital Service & Operations Management business unit, which was comprised of BMC’s IT Operations Management (ITOM) products, IT Service Management (ITSM) offerings, and AIOps solutions. Prior to BMC, he was at CA Technologies for nearly 8 years where he ran marketing for two different business units, as well as cross-portfolio solution marketing. In his spare time Talbot enjoys being outdoors, live music and chasing around his two red-headed, rambunctious boys.

Nick is a recent graduate of App Academy with a passion for technology and education. After working for 2.5 years as a high school math teacher, he decided to pursue a career in tech in order to leverage his skills in designing web applications that make a positive impact in the world. Now equipped with an expertise in designing responsive web applications and also having witnessed firsthand the impact of mining and deforestation on indigenous communities in the Amazon, he is actively engaged in using his skills to support Rainforest Partnership’s mission.

Sunanda's passion for environmental action on a micro and macro level led her to start volunteering with Rainforest Partnership in May of 2022. Understanding the environmental, biological, economical, and spiritual benefits of healthy rainforests is critical in moving towards a better future, and loving frogs and butterflies is a plus! Sunanda holds a dual degree in Biology and Economics from the University of Michigan, and currently works in Management & Operations at Boston Consulting Group.

From Quito, Carolina is a bilingual analyst with her Master's in Business Analytics from Hult University in Boston. She has extensive experience in sales, marketing, and operations. She has successfully managed diverse client portfolios, executed marketing campaigns, optimized sales processes, and driven customer retention and growth. At RP, she supports the growth of strategic corporate partnerships to expand and amplify our on-the-ground impact.

Mariana, a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, double majored in Environmental Science (Biology Track) and Plan II Honors. She lived in Mexico 14 years before moving to the U.S. and studying a semester in Singapore. She joined our team due to her passion for environmental protection and sustainability. In her free time, she volunteers teaching salsa and bachata, performs in ballroom competitions, and enjoys trying new hobbies.

Amanda Biscoe (she/her/hers) is a conservationist and current Master of Public Administration candidate at Columbia University, specializing in environmental policy. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University. She has gained diverse experience as a wildlife research intern in South Africa, an ecological consultant intern in Austin, and an executive assistant at the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development in Washington, D.C. Passionate about empowering Gen Z to take action for environmental change, Amanda is dedicated to advancing the mission of the Gen Z for the Trees initiative to engage young people in tree protection and rainforest conservation efforts worldwide.

Nikala, born and raised in an indigenous village in Guyana, South America. She now lives in New York after graduating from Baruch College with a B.A. in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing. Passionate about climate justice, she actively contributed to the Baruch College Heat Resiliency project, addressing extreme heat issues in NYC. Now a fervent advocate for sustainable practices, Nikala aims to intertwine her business acumen with environmental concerns to combat climate change and foster resilient communities.

Sumit is an entrepreneur, executive and Board leader with deep expertise in building and transforming businesses across genomics & biotechnology, financial services, education and public sectors. Sumit enjoys a unique perspective of leadership and execution from FTSE 100 corporate to being founder of a successful start-up. He has an excellent track record in the C-suite in various roles including Chairman, CEO, Board Member, Advisory Board, Managing Director and on Committees of various enterprises.

Hazel worked for many years at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), where she was the manager of the agency’s Mobile Source Emission Reduction Programs. Hazel supported the founding of Rainforest Partnership to make a difference regarding carbon emissions and climate change. She believes that RP’s model and way of working is one of the keys to saving the rainforests for us all.

Frank is a seasoned entrepreneur, CEO, and growth executive with 20+ years success in founding, building, and growing companies. Frank has made a career out of helping Fortune 1000 companies acquire new customers and create loyalty, and he brings that expertise to the nonprofit industry to empower social and mission-driven organizations to grow and have more impact to make the world a better place.

Beth works with the CEO and leadership team to design and implement strategies across the organization: from top-level strategies such as vision and mission; to the operational strategies that inform campaigns, partnerships, messaging, and initiatives. A professional analyst and strategist, her 30 + years of experience are rooted in a two-decade career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, before moving to the nonprofit sphere. Beth has been part of Rainforest Partnership since inception, first as a strategic planner, later as strategic advisor.

Jason is a passionate Entrepreneur, dedicated Mentor, and seasoned Advisor with a focus towards supporting visionary founders with a goal to make the world a better place.

Niyanta founded Rainforest Partnership in 2007 with a clear vision for achieving ground-up and global-scale rainforest conservation that can provide the sweeping and rapid impact we need to protect biodiversity, sustain thriving rainforest communities, support a balanced climate, and ensure a livable planet for all. Prior to founding Rainforest Partnership, she worked at the first lobbying firm in London, led a management consultancy, and worked with Texas environmental agencies as part of a legislative agency.