Celesta studied Languages at the University of Florida and has built a career that spans multiple continents, working across cultures and ecosystems. Her global experience has informed a deep commitment to conservation rooted in collaboration and mutual understanding.

She has volunteered with conservation organizations around the world and contributed to wildlife filmmaking projects that highlight biodiversity and the urgency of environmental protection. Through her work, she connects people, places, and stories in ways that support long-term conservation efforts.

Karina has developed a career dedicated to forest conservation, ecosystem protection, gender equity, and institutional development. She holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, a master’s degree in Procedural Law from Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, and a diploma in Corporate Governance and Senior Management from IDE Business School.

She currently serves as Vice President of FEVE and Liga Deportiva Universitaria, President of LEGGE Cía. Ltda., Executive Director of the Cámara de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa de Pichincha, and General Manager of the Centro de Exposiciones Quito. Across these roles, she promotes initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDGs 5, 8, 15, and 16—focused on equality, sustainable development, and strong institutions.

Heike developed a deep interest in nature from an early age, with a particular focus on birds. She studied Biology in Bonn, Germany, and earned her doctorate (Dr. phil. nat.) in Ornithology in Frankfurt, conducting research in South Africa on nectar-feeding birds.

She later co-directed a scientific station in Colombia’s Anchicayá River Valley, where she led field research for two years. Since arriving in Ecuador in 1993, she has been actively involved in conservation, environmental education, reforestation, and scientific research.

In addition to her work with FEVE and Mindo Lindo, Heike is a highly experienced bird guide, leading specialized tours throughout Ecuador and contributing to long-term monitoring of avian populations.

María José has felt a strong connection to forests since childhood, a relationship that continues to shape her work today. She studied Hotel and Tourism Administration and spent more than a decade working in the administrative operations of lodges and hotels in the Chocó Andino.

In 2017, she joined a nonprofit organization where she discovered a new path in ecosystem restoration. Since then, she has focused on the recovery of degraded landscapes through active reforestation, bringing together her background in tourism and her commitment to conservation.

Her work reflects a practical, long-term approach to restoring forest systems while supporting the communities connected to them.