Meet The Team

  • Macaw Recovery Team
  • Board of Directors
  • Advisors/honorary
  • Graduated Interns

Our dedicated staff run day-to-day operations and ensure that our programs are running smoothly. Throughout the year, they are joined by dozens of volunteers from around the world. In all areas of our work our team are continually expanding their knowledge whether that’s about the birds, their conservation or non-profit management.

  • Pamela Herrera Barquero

    Community Outreach Manager

    Pamela Herrera Barquero

    Community Outreach Manager Pamela Herrera is a Costa Rican biologist trained in the National University of Costa Rica, with a Master’s degree in Biodiversity of Tropical Areas and its Conservation from Univesidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo and CSIC. As a child, she fostered a great passion for conservation as she saw fewer and fewer animals around the farm where she grew up. With a firm conviction that conservation cannot move forward without people and communities, she initially became involved with the Network in June 2019 as a researcher for her Master’s thesis. Following the completion of her research on the social perception of the conservation of the Great Green Macaw in the communities we work in, she’s now our team’s Community Outreach Manager, working hand in hand with the communities surrounding our two sites.
  • Allan Brenes

    Reserve Manager

    Allan Brenes

    Reserve Manager Allan, born in Guápiles de Limón, graduated in Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Engineering from the National Technical University and worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Conservation and Wildlife Management of the National University for five years. Originally from the Osa Peninsula, his passion for flora and fauna has driven him to actively contribute to the conservation and restoration of the great green macaw, reflecting a deep commitment to nature and his native country.
  • Fabio Castrillo

    Program Assistant - Breeding Center

    Fabio Castrillo

    Program Assistant - Breeding Center Fabio worked on his family’s coffee farm in southern Costa Rica before moving to the Guanacaste region in 2005. He worked for 10 years at Hotel Punta Islita, where he assisted with carpentry, maintenance, gardening, construction and forestry. He came to the organization when we were still The Ara Project in 2015, where his diverse skills, experiences and knowledge of the local environment have made him an invaluable team member. To help him in his work he is current learning English and how to drive a car.
  • Alberto Castro

    Platform & Media Facilitator

    Alberto Castro

    Platform & Media Facilitator Alberto is a young Costa Rican communicator following the path of Social Communications or communication for social change. His passion for words and nature brought him to Macaw Recovery Network and has been on board with our team since early 2020. He’s currently finalizing his bachelor’s in Strategic Communications at the University of Costa Rica and exploring his growing interest in Macaws from a whole new perspective, working up close with the birds and their conservation.
  • Amy Clark

    Bird Manager

    Amy Clark

    Bird Manager After volunteering as a Field Biologist, Amy joined the team as Assistant Bird Manager. Amy began volunteering with MRN shortly after she graduated in May 2022 from Purdue University; she studied Animal Sciences, Biology, and Wildlife Sciences. Amy’s lifelong passion for birds began as a child through her hobby of birdwatching in her home state of Indiana. Her love for birds has led her to pursue avian conservation with the goal of preserving declining bird populations for future generations. Along with birdwatching, Amy’s pastimes include hiking, baking, and raising chickens.
  • Carmen Davila

    Administrative Assistant

    Carmen Davila

    Administrative Assistant Carmen was born on May 19, 1999, in Estelí- Nicaragua, the city where her whole family originated. She was studying Banking and Finance at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, and for different reasons, she now resides in Costa Rica and courses her technical studies in Accounting at Mario Quirós Sasso. She joined Macaw Recovery Network in October 2019, occupying the position of Administrative Assistant, aiding in the billing, records, databases, and the inventory sides of the organization.
  • Sarah de Groot

    Development Director

    Sarah de Groot

    Development Director Beginning in 2011, Dutch-born Sarah led the communications and education programs for Echo, a nonprofit working with Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrots in Bonaire. Together with Sam, she relocated to Costa Rica in 2015 to lead overall development and communications for The Ara Project. She later co-founded the Macaw Recovery Network and continues in her role as the Development Director. Sarah is a physical therapist by training who is now building her own self-sustainable home.
  • José Antonio Díaz Luque

    Network Program Coordinator

    José Antonio Díaz Luque

    Network Program Coordinator Originally from Spain, José has a degree in Environmental Science, with fourteen years of hands-on experience in the field management and coordination of international conservation and research programs with endangered wildlife. His work focuses heavily on parrots and macaws, participating in or leading 13 programs in 8 countries mainly in Latin America. His strong interest is in biodiversity conservation based on field research and focus on wildlife species highly threatened by extinction. in 2021 José joined MRN to run the Networking Program as a Coordinator, bringing his passion and commitment to the organization.
  • Ruperto Quirós

    Site Manager

    Ruperto Quirós

    Site Manager Ruperto was born and raised in Costa Rica, living most of his life in Guanacaste. Ruperto has been dedicated to gastronomy, and after living and working in the kitchen in San Jose, he returned to Guanacaste to contribute to the family business in Punta Islita. In September 2020, he joined our team at the Breeding Center as an assistant in the bird program and his work has been crucial in coping with the workload during the pandemic. His love for nature and animals is evident in his great efforts to care for the macaws and have an impact on their populations.
  • Sandy Salas

    Regente Ambiental

    Sandy Salas

    Regente Ambiental Sandy has a Master’s in biology, from Lomonosov University, Moscow, Russia. He developed a research trajectory in “dry forest of Costa Rica”, with the scientist Dr. Daniel Janzen. In the educational field, he has participated in the development and implementation of environmental education programs for rural communities of Costa Rica, including two indigenous communities using interactive tools. For 15 years he has stood out as an “Accredited Consultant and Environmental Regente in Costa Rica”, registering and reporting on wildlife management sites such as zoos, rescue centers, psittacid zoocria and theme parks, under the regulations of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). Sandy recommends and supervises the implementation of protocols for the management of protected wild animals and “candidates” to be released into the wild. In addition, he guides, elaborates certifications and develops regency reports. Since 2018 he is part of the Macaw Recovery Network work team as the legal Regente.
  • Javier Sánchez

    Program Assistant - Breeding Center

    Javier Sánchez

    Program Assistant - Breeding Center Javier’s work on site has been invaluable, working closely together with Fabio in tasks such as making nests for the macaws. He also works around the Islita site, doing maintenance work and making sure things are working smoothly and repairs are being made. With his different skills, he provides a better work environment for everyone. Javier is married and has two children. Some of his pastimes include sports such as soccer.
  • Mario Jiménez Segura

    Bird Program Manager

    Mario Jiménez Segura

    Bird Program Manager

    Mario was born on March 3, 1996, in Limón, Costa Rica; his family was living in a small community called Manzanillo south of Limón and later they moved to the city of Limón. Mario is now a graduate student in the Forest Management and Wildlife Department of the National Technical University (UTN). He currently holds the position of Field Manager of the Research Station of the Great green Macaw with MRN.

  • Mauro Ulloa

    Accountant

    Mauro Ulloa

    Accountant Mauro is an accountant graduated from Universidad Metropolitana Castro Carazo in San Jose, Costa Rica. With 11 years of experience in the financial-accounting field, he has provided different companies and professionals with consulting and tax advisory services. As a Costa Rican, he is passionate about the conservation of the country’s flora and fauna; Mauro did not hesitate to join the organization to contribute from his professional area to the care and preservation of nature.
  • Carey Wentz

    Communications Manger

    Carey Wentz

    Communications Manger After completing her apprenticeship in 2019, Carey joined our team as the bird manager. Since then, she has led the Islita team through two breeding seasons, both in the breeding center and in the field. She has a life-long fascination with animals from her upbringing on a farm in rural Wisconsin, but her interest in conservation was sparked by her time studying at an environmental charter school as a teen. She obtained a BS in Biology from the University of Wisconsin in 2018. While studying, she also worked as a teaching assistant and discovered her love for educating others about science. Currently, she uses this passion in her communications work.
  • Sam Williams, Ph.D.

    Executive Director

    Sam Williams, Ph.D.

    Executive Director Dr. Sam Williams is from Yorkshire, England. Having kept and bred parrots at home he got his first taste of fieldwork at the age of 16 working with Echo Echo Parakeets under Professor Carl Jones at the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation. He completed his undergraduate degree in ecology at The University of Stirling in Scotland and went on to study Lear’s Macaws in Brazil. Supported by the World Parrot Trust Sam went on to Bonaire to help the conservation of the island’s Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrots. Over the next years he completed his doctoral studies on Bonaire and then launched Echo, a non-profit conservation organization. Sam joined The Ara Project as Executive director at the beginning of 2015 and is a founding board member of the Macaw Recovery Network. He brings immense energy, scientific expertise, good humour and a passion for conservation to the fight to save wild Macaws.
  • Brandon Zuñiga

    Volunteer Coordinator

    Brandon Zuñiga

    Volunteer Coordinator Brandon is a nature guide, tour coordinator, and Spanish teacher who has led volunteer groups in Costa Rica for several years. His passion for conservation led him to volunteer with MRN in 2020 & 2021 at both of our sites, and even participated in our Yellow-naped Amazon census. In 2022 he joined the team as the Volunteer Coordinator. He developed a deep love for nature and education as he grew up watching all kinds of birds and insects in the hills of his home village. He strongly believes that our volunteers, their dedication, and hard work are the essential core of our programs and the work we do for the parrots.
  • Volunteers

    Volunteers

    The Macaw Recovery Network is very lucky to have energetic and dedicated people from all over the world donate their time to work with our Macaws. Volunteers stay a minimum of one month, though many stay a lot longer. They are an absolutely vital part of the organization and work very hard! Regular tasks for our volunteers include the day-to-day care and maintenance of our birds and their environments. However, we also have people who work within their specialties, including veterinarians, biologists, builders, landscape gardeners, tour guides and graphic designers. Volunteers live on-site and enjoy not only working up close with our magnificent Macaws but also engaging with people from all over the world in a cultural exchange in rural Costa Rica

    Check out our volunteer opportunities here.

  • Dr. Mhairi McFarlane

    Chair

    Dr. Mhairi McFarlane

    Chair Mhairi McFarlane is the Director of Science and Stewardship for the Ontario Region of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. She spent 6.5 years as the Conservation Biologist for the Southwestern Ontario subregion where she designed, implemented and managed field scale restoration of wetland, meadow and forest in the Southern Norfolk Sand Plain and on Pelee Island, and currently oversees stewardship work throughout Ontario. She holds an Honours Ecology degree from the University of Stirling, and a PhD in Ecology from the University of Exeter in Cornwall. Her thesis was on the behavioural ecology of Cape Sugarbirds in South Africa. She moved to Ontario in 2006, and had short contracts with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Bird Canada before joining the Nature Conservancy of Canada in March 2008. She worked as the Conservation Biologist for southwestern Ontario before becoming the Director of Science and Stewardship for Ontario in September 2014. She has been managing non-native invasive species and conducting field-scale restoration throughout southwestern Ontario both with NCC and as a volunteer with the Thames Talbot Land Trust.
  • Joe Cavallaro

    Joe Cavallaro

    Joe earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Master’s Degree in Space Operations from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He served 10 years in the United States Air Force, before realizing a lifelong dream and working for NASA. Joe supported the Space Shuttle Program in Mission Control as a Payload Officer, responsible for the mission’s cargo operations. He worked on over 25 missions, leading 5. As an executive, Joe had positions of increasing responsibility, eventually serving as the Deputy Division Chief for an organization of 200 people responsible for Space Station mission planning and operations. He is an avid cyclist, scuba diver and sailor.
  • Nathaniel Miller

    Nathaniel Miller

    Nat Miller is the Director of Conservation for National Audubon Societies Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi Flyway. Miller joined Audubon in 2014, leading a conservation and science team that uses birds as indicator species to help inform ecosystem management. Miller works to develop and implement Audubons conservation and science programs across the Great Lakes Region with ambitious goals to restore and protect the waters of the Great Lakes and thousands of acres of coastal areas that provide important habitat for hundreds of species of migratory land birds and breeding marsh birds that have declining populations. Prior to Audubon, Miller was the assistant director for the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance where he worked across six Caribbean islands managing parks and establishing protected area policy. Earlier in his career, Miller was the Protected Areas Manager at Ya’axché Conservation Trust in Southern Belize where he built and led a ranger team to manage over 100,000 acres of relatively pristine rainforest and savanna. Miller currently serves as a board member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Joint Venture Science Team and on the Great Lakes Coastal Assembly. Miller holds a M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Miami University.
  • Dianne Forthman

    Treasurer

    Dianne Forthman

    Treasurer Dianne Forthman has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a major in finance and a deep passion for wildlife and conservation. Dianne is a teacher at heart; certified teacher in Business Education, Industrial Education, and Elementary through High School. Dianne’s interest in animal protection and welfare has led her to participate in animal conservation projects, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Mauritius Wildlife Appeal Fund. While in Mauritius, Dianne met Dr. Sam Williams, and later got involved as a volunteer with Echo. She now resides in Texas, where she is an active member of the Texas Master Naturalists and Audubon Texas, the Texas State Teacher’s Association, and a Board Member for the Macaw Recovery Network.
  • Andrew Meuer

    Andrew Meuer

    Born and raised in Wisconsin, Drew studied a B.A. at the Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He is the current Chief of Staff for Second Harvest Inland Northwest, where he has also previously taken the role of Chief Development Officer. Meuer is also a board member for Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board and Pedals2People, an organization looking to promote alternative transportation through education and activism.
  • Kathy Raffel

    Kathy Raffel

    Kathy began her career as a medical social worker and as a health educator, designing programs based on the needs of local communities. In 1987, she earned an MBA at the University of San Francisco with a focus on small business management. Between 1997 and 2007, Kathy worked as a patient education specialist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN where she created educational materials, led staff development efforts, conducted research on health education, and undertook a number of quality improvement initiatives. In 2008, Kathy earned a graduate certificate in alternative dispute resolution from Capital Law School in Columbus, Ohio. She earned her PhD in social welfare in 2013; her dissertation research explored how hospital ethics committees could better support interdisciplinary team members. Between 2014 and 2019, Kathy served as the Director of the innovative MS in Behavioral Health graduate program in the School of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of San Francisco (USF). As a faculty member, she developed and taught classes on leadership, project management, community-based program development and evaluation, and ethics, and she supervised graduate students doing quality improvement projects in social service organizations. Since 2019, Kathy has taught as an adjunct faculty member at USF. As a volunteer, Kathy has served on the Board of Directors for the Family Caregiver Alliance since 2013 and on the board of a private foundation since 1989. She currently serves as a senior consultant with the Ethos of Engagement.
  • Tom Lewis, MSc

    Tom Lewis, MSc

    After completing his degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton, he travelled to the island of Mauritius to join the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. After working on a number of species recovery projects in the UK and abroad, he completed an MSc in Endangered Species Recovery and Conservation at Nottingham Trent University, UK. Tom has been involved with us since 2015, starting as a release site manager, then growing into the Program’s Manager role in Punta Islita. In 2018, Tom started his PhD on wild Great Green macaws in collaboration with Macaw Recovery Network. He resides with us part time to conduct his studies until 2021.

  • Christian Freitag

    Christian Freitag

    Christian joined the Conservation Law Center in 2019 as its second Executive Director, replacing CLC’s founder and long time Director W. William Weeks. For the previous 18 years, Christian served as Executive Director of Sycamore Land Trust, a nonprofit land conservation organization in southern Indiana. Christian graduated from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law in 1997, and clerked from Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard at the Indiana Supreme Court. Christian received his PhD from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 2010, where his research focused on the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act on public agencies including the US Forest Service. He lives in the beautiful unglaciated hardwood forests of southern Indiana with his wife Paige and two Labrador retrievers.
  • Laura Cruz

    Laura Cruz

    Laura has a master’s degree in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Alcalá de Henares (Centro Internacional de Formación Financiera, Madrid) and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Costa Rica. Since 2011 she has worked as a Sustainability Director for Garnier Corporation (AVON Costa Rica and Garnier & Garnier Real Estate). She has worked previously in Corporate Sustainabiilty and Human Resources for Santander Bank in Madrid, IBM, Hotel Punta Islita and Tabacón Grand Spa & Thermal Resort. Her main focus is on social integration, community empowerment, gender, diversity, responsible marketing, social mobility and sustainable mobility.
  • Matt Kirchhoff

    Matt Kirchhoff

    Matt is a retired biologist and a dedicated conservationist. Throughout his life, he’s held research positions in different government organizations in the United States, like the USDA Forest Service and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He is passionate about birds and wildlife and this has marked his path. Matt has also been a Chair member of the Alaska Conservation Foundation and Audubon Alaska and is a former Trustee of the Alaska Rainforest Defenders. His studies and research experiences reinforce our scientific programs with his expertise in environmental science, forestry, zoology, and scientific analysis.
  • Judith LaBelle

    Judith LaBelle

    Judy has a Law degree from NYU, a Master’s from Rutger’s University and she’s also a graduate from Harvard’s School of Design and a Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies. Judy is a focus area expert in Conservation Law and Policy, backed by years of experience as a member of the New York State Environmental Board, the Agricultural Advisory Committee to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and the environmental section of the NYS Bar Association. Judy serves as a member of the Board of Directors of GRACE (Global Action Center for the Environment) Communications Foundation and of the Advisory Board of the International Land Conservation Network.
  • Steve Milpacher

    Steve Milpacher

    Steve has been a passionate advocate for parrot conservation and welfare for more than 30 years. He has a diverse background in business development, communications, and non-profit management. Steve joined the World Parrot Trust team in 2007 and is the Director of Operations. He also serves as a board member of the Canadian and New Zealand Parrot Trusts. He has traveled extensively to observe wild parrots, has presented at international conferences and has written numerous articles for publication in magazines and journals. In his spare time, Steve is an enthusiastic wildlife photographer whose pictures have been published in magazines, books and calendars.
  • Corey Raffel

    Corey Raffel

    Born in Chicago, Illinois, Corey has dedicated his entire life to science and research. He studied medicine and specialized in Neurosurgery, attaining a Ph.D. in the field. He’s a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgery, the American Academy of Neurological Surgery and the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He is also a board member for the Pediatric Section, AANS and CNS. Corey’s passion for conservation, education and Neotropical parrots tie him closely to the project and our conservation efforts for the Scarlet and Great Green Macaw. His expertise on data analysis, scientific research and strategy are all key points for MRN’s strong scientific development.

The Macaw Recovery Network is supported by a broad team of international experts without whom we would not be where we are today. We are forever grateful for their dedication and willingness to share their expertise in support of parrot conservation in the Neotropics.

  • Sonya Kahlenberg, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor & Grant Writer

    Sonya Kahlenberg, Ph.D.

    Senior Advisor & Grant Writer Sonya is a behavioral biologist and has worked in the wildlife conservation sector for nearly two decades, primarily in Africa. She has a broad skillset, having led both nonprofit organizations and a wide range of programs, including research, animal rescue, anti-poaching, and conservation education. Sonya particularly enjoys working with local communities and helping small nonprofits grow to fulfill their mission. She joined the MRN team in 2022 after living in Costa Rica and falling in love with the country’s birds. She supports the team part-time on strategy and fundraising. Sonya earned a Ph.D. in biological anthropology from Harvard University and currently lives in Maine, USA with her family.
  • Maricela Pizarro-Porter

    Programs Manager Field Work and Reforestation

    Maricela Pizarro-Porter

    Programs Manager Field Work and Reforestation After graduating in 2010 with a biology degree from the University of Costa Rica, Maricela made a point of collaborating with educational and conservation nonprofits. She became a teaching assistant for study-abroad programs with the School for Field Studies and Council in International Educational Exchange, taking the opportunity to teach about the tropical forests, human impact and conservation while traveling throughout Costa Rica. In 2014, she joined The Ara Project to work with the Volunteer Program and bookkeeping department. Currently, she is responsible for financial management and she contributes to the development and maintenance of the sites, providing logistical support when needed.
  • Stuart Goldstein

    Legal Advisor

    Stuart Goldstein

    Legal Advisor Stuart Goldstein is SVP of Business & Legal Affairs at Vice, where he has worked since 2016. He previously worked at NBCUniversal from 2005-2016, where negotiated a wide variety of entertainment-related agreements, including talent deals, production agreements, collective bargaining agreements, and executive contracts. During his years at NBCUniversal, among other responsibilities, Stuart oversaw Legal Affairs for a number of NBCUniversal’s Cable Entertainment networks, such as E! and Bravo. From 2000-2005, Stuart was an Associate at the NYC-based office of Proskauer, in their Labor & Employment department. He graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2000, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the law review, and as an intern to the Honorable Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr., then on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a life-long lover of animals and conservation, and shares his home with Winston, a small dog who helps clean up after Chiku, the African Grey. Stuart’s legal expertise is of crucial help to MRN.
  • Prof. Jim Groombridge

    Technical Advisor

    Prof. Jim Groombridge

    Technical Advisor Jim Groombridge is a Professor of Biodiversity Conservation at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent, UK. Before joining DICE, Jim spent many years with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation in Mauritius, helping to monitor the wild and reintroduced populations of Mauritius kestrel and pink pigeon, and where he first met Sam who was part of the MWF field team monitoring the endangered echo parakeets. Jim’s conservation genetics research group at DICE supports in-country conservation organisations to address key scientific questions in relation to managing endangered species, with recent projects on Mauritius, Seychelles, Hawaii, Aldabra, Mongolia and Bangladesh. Jim is assisting MRN with technical advice on genetic analyses and field monitoring of the wild Great Green Macaw population in Costa Rica.
  • Dr. Nicola Hemmings

    Technical Advisor

    Dr. Nicola Hemmings

    Technical Advisor

    Dr Nicola Hemmings is a research fellow at the Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, UK. She specialises in understanding the causes of reproductive failure in birds, and has developed techniques for examining failed eggs that can be used to diagnose fertility problems. Nicola is currently working with the Macaw Recovery Network to help them identify causes of hatching failure in threatened macaw species, by providing egg examination training and advice on improving hatching success.

  • Dr. Annie Huggins

    Spatial Analysis and GIS Training Advisor

    Dr. Annie Huggins

    Spatial Analysis and GIS Training Advisor Annie works with GIS in wildlife conservation through protected area design and spatial analysis for habitat and species management.  Her specialism involves protected area design incorporating marine, terrestrial and freshwater habitats and their threats into integrated networks that are designed with local stakeholders to facilitate more harmonious and successful protection.  Her protected area work focused in Chile, the Caribbean with The Nature Conservancy and in the Baltic Sea with World Wildlife Fund and partners.     Annie has worked on fish in the English Channel and rhinos in South Africa with the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (University of Kent, UK), marine mammals, reptiles and birds; including parrots, in Mauritius and Rodrigues with the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and ZSL. Also on conservation of wild camels in Mongolia with the Wild Camel Protection Foundation.  She is assisting the Macaw Recovery Network field teams in Costa Rica with spatial analysis and GIS training to assist their monitoring of both the scarlet macaws and great green macaws

  • Prof. Carl Jones

    Scientific Advisor

    Prof. Carl Jones

    Scientific Advisor Carl G. Jones, is a Welsh conservation biologist, who has been employed by Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1985, and a founding member (1984) and current scientific director of Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF). Additionally he is Chief Scientist at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and an honorary professor in ecology and conservation biology at the University of East Anglia. Back in 1993, Carl introduced Sam to his first conservation experience in Mauritius and they have been friends ever since. Carl visited MRN in 2017 and has since advised on a variety of strategies to help direct our conservation efforts.
  • Vally Kovary

    Management consultant and coach

    Vally Kovary

    Management consultant and coach Vally Kovary, is a management consultant specializing in strategic management and organizational development. Vally earned a master’s degree in business (MBA) and a master’s in international studies (MA) at The Wharton School’s Lauder Institute for International Management, at the University of Pennsylvania. She brings to the practice more than 40 years of service to the private and non-profit sectors in the U.S., Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and former Soviet Union. Vally has extensive experience in building new organizations and strengthening established ones. Interested in the interaction of business, community development, and education, Vally served as a consultant in long-range strategic planning. Vally’s commitment to the non-profit sector has included serving on numerous boards of directors, including those of Planned Parenthood, and Project Kesher.
  • Keats Lewis

    Graphic Designer

    Keats Lewis

    Graphic Designer Keats Lewis is currently an Art Director at Curio Brands where she has been since 2017. She received her B.F.A in Graphic Design from Mississippi State University. In addition to her work at Curio, Keats’s freelance work focuses on branding and graphic design. Since childhood, she has been passionate about birds and wildlife. In 2018 she visited Costa Rica and fell in love with the macaws and culture of conservation that thrives in Costa Rica. When she heard there was an opportunity to help the Macaw Recovery Network, she was excited to use her skills to help with macaw conservation. Keats has been working with the MRN team since 2019, designing the Annual Report and other design needs.
  • Nadia Prescott

    Management Consultant and Coach

    Nadia Prescott

    Management Consultant and Coach Nadia Prescott is the Founder of Emerging Executive. As a consultant and executive coach, Nadia has over 25 years of experience working with leading Fortune 500 and small to medium sized companies both in the US and Europe. Her passion and energy come from taking the most appropriate business and organizational skills to work with leaders in nonprofit organizations to develop the capacity to competently deliver and build on their mission. Much of her work is focused on strategic planning, board, and leadership development. Nadia is also a successful grant writer using her strengths in positioning and strategy to generate over $2 million for her clients.  When she is at home, she loves to experiment with recipes collected on her travels, watch tennis and spend time with her two cockatiels.
  • Angela Vachio

    Board chair 2020

    Angela Vachio

    Board chair 2020 Angie was born and raised in New York. She attended the University of New Mexico and lived most of her adult life there working as an educator and administrator in non-profit management, legislative advocacy, social service programs development, and board development. Angie has been part of the New Mexico state advisory council on child abuse and neglect, as well as of the Juvenile justice commission. After retiring to Costa Rica, she has stayed active within charitable and civic organizations like the International Women league for Peace and Freedom and the Costa Rica Peace Center. Angie’s expertise in long-range planning and her keen interest in policy development have come together in her role as a Board Member for the Macaw Recovery Network.
  • Jeffrey Worsham

    Website Administration

    Jeffrey Worsham

    Website Administration Jeff is a self-proclaimed tree hugger, traveler, and champion of wildlife. When not tweaking the Macaw Recovery Network’s website and adding blog posts, Jeff works for Northrop Grumman, an aeronautics and space company, where he leads various engineering efforts. During his free time, Jeff enjoys hiking and camping, tennis and pickleball, and studying psychology and philosophy. Jeff has been with the Macaw Recovery Network since 2019, and can’t wait to visit Costa Rica!

The Macaw Recovery Network’s Internship Program has hosted and trained post-graduate volunteers ever since 2016. It’s curriculum is growing every year and proving to be an excellent stepping stone for post-graduates to then continue in their conservation careers.

  • Thomas Adjetey

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2018-2019

    Thomas Adjetey

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2018-2019
  • James Allcock

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2020-2021

    James Allcock

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2020-2021
  • Polly Brown

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2019-2020

    Polly Brown

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2019-2020
  • Ella Christie

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2019-20120

    Ella Christie

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2019-20120
  • Conleth Conway

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2017-2018

    Conleth Conway

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2017-2018
  • Abigail Cooper

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2018- 2019

    Abigail Cooper

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2018- 2019
  • Brittany Decker

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2017- 2018

    Brittany Decker

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2017- 2018
  • Rachel Dirks

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2019-2020

    Rachel Dirks

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2019-2020
  • Connor Goddard

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2017-2018

    Connor Goddard

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2017-2018
  • Rachel Herron

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2018-2019

    Rachel Herron

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2018-2019
  • Matt Keller

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2020-2021

    Matt Keller

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2020-2021
  • Elliott King

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2016-2017

    Elliott King

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2016-2017
  • Jodie Lemarquand

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2016-2017

    Jodie Lemarquand

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2016-2017
  • Katie Loyd

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2016-2017

    Katie Loyd

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2016-2017
  • Alex Rudge

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2019-2020

    Alex Rudge

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2019-2020
  • Ana Shapiro

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2016-2017

    Ana Shapiro

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2016-2017
  • Mirran Trimble

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2018-2019

    Mirran Trimble

    Great Green Macaw Intern 2018-2019
  • Carey Wentz

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2018- 2019

    Carey Wentz

    Scarlet Macaw Intern 2018- 2019

Become a Volunteer

The Network’s conservation sites could not exist without the dedicated volunteers that join our teams year round. We offer various Volunteering and Apprentice positions which give you an opportunity to get hands-on experience with the conservation of two threatened species of Macaw. .

Learn More