Meet The Team

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.

• Laura Alfaro

  Reserve Manager

  Laura Alfaro

  Reserve Manager Laura is a dedicated biologist and passionate educator with extensive experience in wildlife management and environmental education. Her work spans both children and adults, where she excels in delivering engaging environmental classes and scientific dissemination. With a deep belief that people are integral to conservation efforts, Laura is committed to empowering communities through education. She believes that by fostering environmental awareness and understanding, we can create a significant and lasting positive impact on wildlife and their habitats.

• Álvaro Castillo

  Finance Manager

  Álvaro Castillo

  Finance Manager Álvaro has a degree in accounting and is a member of the College of Public Accountants of Costa Rica. He has worked in the financial and accounting field in different public and private companies, as well as in the food products industry in free trade zones. Committed to environmental conservation, belonging to the Macaw Recovery Network team and playing his part for this important cause is a highlight of his career.

• 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.

• 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

  Database Management

  Carmen Davila

  Database Management 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.

• José Antonio Díaz Luque

  Conservation Strategy & Support Manager

  José Antonio Díaz Luque

  Conservation Strategy & Support Manager 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.

• Pamela Herrera Barquero

  People Program Director

  Pamela Herrera Barquero

  People Program Director 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.

• Mario Jiménez Segura

  Bird Program Director

  Mario Jiménez Segura

  Bird Program Director

  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.

• Ricardo Jiménez

  Veterinarian

  Ricardo Jiménez

  Veterinarian Ricardo is a wildlife and conservation veterinarian with over 15 years of experience in projects that integrate wildlife and sustainable development in areas of high biodiversity. He holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, as well as a Master’s in Conservation Medicine. He has also completed clinical internships in Ecuador and Mexico. He has worked as a veterinarian and advisor in wildlife reintroduction programs, regenerative real estate development, and conservation consulting. He applies approaches such as Ecosystem Health, Holistic Management, and Systems Thinking to promote ecological regeneration and foster harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

• Yade Montiel Masís

  Communications Assistant

  Yade Montiel Masís

  Communications Assistant Yade is a young communicator from Guanacaste, Costa Rica. She holds a degree in Social Communication from the University of Costa Rica, where she is also pursuing a specialization in Communication and Gender. Yade has developed professionally in the fields of conservation communication and the performing arts, combining creativity and purpose to amplify messages that inspire social and environmental awareness.

• Stephanie Mora

  Director of Operations

  Stephanie Mora

  Director of Operations Stephanie Mora has a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on international trade. She has nine years of experience in administrative and international trade positions in which she has carried out strategic planning by formulating a business plan, establishing objectives, formulating a marketing plan and analyzing the environment, budgets, sales coordination, preparation of contracts, management of consultants, event logistics, etc. In addition, she has experience in institutional payments, the preparation of quotes and invoices, collection management, and support in hiring personnel, among other things. She is delighted to work to help conserve the biodiversity of our planet.

• Nisha Moreno-Hill

  Assistant Bird Manager

  Nisha Moreno-Hill

  Assistant Bird Manager After working as a conservation volunteer, Nisha joined the team as the Assistant Bird Manager at the end of 2023. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Conservation from Bangor University and a Master’s in Endangered Species Recovery and Conservation from Nottingham Trent University. Prior to joining the Macaw Recovery Network, Nisha worked in recruitment in Manchester but felt drawn to conservation. She has volunteered with organizations like the Wildlife Trust, Snowdonia Society, and the Atlantic Whale and Dolphin Foundation (AWDF). In her free time, she enjoys hiking, scuba diving, and wildlife photography. Nisha’s passion for wildlife, coupled with her academic background and volunteer experience, makes her a dedicated advocate for conservation efforts.

• Maria Elena Munguía Jiménez

  Woman Ranger

  Maria Elena Munguía Jiménez

  Woman Ranger Maria Elena is a proud Woman Ranger and a resident of Boca Tapada, home to our native tree nursery. As a mother to her 4-year-old daughter, she carries the responsibility of shaping the future with care. Known for her empathy and strong work ethic, her passion for environmental education shines through her role at MRN, where she is committed to protecting biodiversity and ensuring that future generations grow up understanding the importance of preserving nature.

• Sugey Palma

  Human Resources Manager

  Sugey Palma

  Human Resources Manager Sugey Palma has a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources, she has ten years of experience in the area of ​​Banking and Finance and six years of experience in the field of Human Resources and Labor Legislation. Since childhood, she has been passionate about nature and wildlife. When she discovered an opportunity to contribute to the Macaw Recovery Network, she did not hesitate to put her skills and knowledge to work to conserve our planet’s biodiversity.

• Mariela Porras

  People Program Field Officer

  Mariela Porras

  People Program Field Officer Mariela is a biologist who is passionate about wildlife. Since she was a child, she has had great curiosity and admiration for the natural world. Feeling so connected to nature since a young age, she always knew her purpose on Earth was to take care of each of its wonders. She joined MRN for this purpose, and because she desires to be the change she wants to see in the world.

• 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.

• Giovanni Rodriguez

  Bird Field Officer

  Giovanni Rodriguez

  Bird Field Officer Giovanni is a passionate bird watcher, rock climber and naturalist. He forged his love for nature as a child, accompanied by the boys of his town while he explored the rivers and from the treetops they sought to understand the songs of the birds. Thanks to his parents and friends, he was very clear that his direction would be to work with nature. In 2010 he became a Forest and Wildlife Manager. He joined the MRN team to be part of the solution and give his efforts to preserve what he loves so much.

• 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.

• Antonia Sánchez

  Bird Care Cook

  Antonia Sánchez

  Bird Care Cook Antonia is a local resident of Islita, the village where our Wild Macaw Reserve and Breeding Center is located. She has always had a deep passion for her work and for helping others. As our cook at the Reserve, she finds joy in preparing meals with care and playing a part in the well-being of the macaws.

• 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.

• Johanna Serrano

  Administrative Assistant

  Johanna Serrano

  Administrative Assistant Johanna Serrano has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Accounting. She has extensive experience in different administrative processes such as writing letters and emails, correspondence control, preparing invoices, collection management, among others. She is a nature lover, so working for MRN fills her with excitement and she sees it as a great opportunity to contribute to the conservation of the planet’s biodiversity.

• Yendri Siles

  Woman Ranger

  Yendri Siles

  Woman Ranger Yendri brings her hardworking, helpful, and kind spirit to her conservation work with MRN and Woman Rangers. She finds joy and peace in exploring the mountains, where the air is fresh, and the landscape tranquil. For Yendri, working in conservation is an adventure that teaches her something new every day. She takes pride in knowing that the forests they plant today will thrive and provide habitats for wildlife long after she’s gone — a reflection of her love for nature.

• Carey Wentz

  Communications Manager

  Carey Wentz

  Communications Manager 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.

• 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.

• Mhairi McFarlane, Ph.D.

  Chair

  Mhairi McFarlane, Ph.D.

  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

  Chair MRN-USA

  Joe Cavallaro

  Chair MRN-USA 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.

• Tom Lewis, Ph.D.

  Vice Chair

  Tom Lewis, Ph.D.

  Vice Chair

  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. His research has been essential to MRN’s conservation strategy. Currently, he is the Conservation and Research Manager at Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in Wiltshire, England.

• Sophie Nazeri

  Treasurer MRN-USA

  Sophie Nazeri

  Treasurer MRN-USA Sophie’s interests lie at the intersection of policy, science, advocacy, and strategy to drive collective action in conservation. She is currently Manager of Planning & Facilitation at Impact by Design, where she supports environmental and conservation organizations in achieving strategic goals and amplifying their impact. She is also a fellow with the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program. Previously, Sophie led campaigns at Humane World for Animals, focusing on combating wildlife trade and reducing harmful human-wildlife interactions. She also served as a CITES policy advisor, providing policy analysis and conservation advocacy. Sophie has been involved with the Macaw Recovery Network since 2016, starting as an intern supporting scarlet macaw wild breeding efforts. In 2020, she helped develop a conservation plan for yellow-naped amazons and led a successful effort to reassess the great green macaw on the IUCN Red List. Sophie is also a member of the IUCN SSC Wild Parrot Specialist Group. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University and a M.Sc. in Environmental Policy & Management from UC Davis. Sophie is based in Los Angeles.

• Mónica Gutiérrez Ortiz

  Board member

  Mónica Gutiérrez Ortiz

  Board member Mónica brings 25 years of experience in sustainability management, working across both private and nonprofit sectors. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Costa Rica Institute of Technology and a Master’s in Sustainability Management from Leuphana University in Germany. She also completed a specialization in Sustainable Management at INCAE Business School. Throughout her career, she has led Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability efforts at companies such as Holcim Costa Rica, Península Papagayo, and Las Catalinas. Her work spans various organizations, including Cedarena, Cegesti, WWF, and Raising Coral Costa Rica. She also volunteers her time with initiatives like Impacto Colectivo and Raising Coral Costa Rica.Mónica has been part of the Faculty of the Sustainability Program Master at the National University of Costa Rica since 2018. In 2023, she joined the Board of the San José Social Protection Board, and most recently, she was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors at The Macaw Recovery Network, where she continues to support conservation and sustainability efforts.

• Brooks Bonner

  Board member

  Brooks Bonner

  Board member Brooks Bonner is passionate about community-based conservation that supports local livelihoods, build human capital and preserves our environment. He has been fortunate to work on many projects in Latin America, most notably Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica, as well as in Africa in Mozambique and South Africa – experiences that shape his global perspective and reinforce the importance of inclusive conservation. He previously spent eight years at the Organization for Tropical Studies which owns and operates three field stations in Costa Rica. Earlier in his career, he worked with Nature & Culture International in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto), contributing to the creation of the first co-managed regional conservation network in Peru. Currently, Brooks is the Program Director at the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation where he collaborates with scientists, scholars, and communities around the world to advance biodiversity science, focusing on expanding the impact and application of the Half-Earth Project Map. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Brooks spent countless days exploring national parks throughout the western United States-experiences that sparked a deep reverence for nature and laid the foundation for the values that guide his professional life today. He holds an M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a B.A. in Intercultural Speech Communication from San Francisco State University. He lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife and daughter.

• Sonya Kahlenberg, Ph.D.

  Treasurer MRN-CR

  Sonya Kahlenberg, Ph.D.

  Treasurer MRN-CR 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.

• Kathy Raffel

  Secretary MRN-USA

  Kathy Raffel

  Secretary MRN-USA 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.

• Ligia Fernández Molina

  Ligia Fernández Molina

  Ligia is a Costa Rican Marine Biologist with an MBA from INCAE Business School in Costa Rica. She started working as a Naturalist Guide and then in management with one of the pioneering tour operators of the country; moving on to work on an IUCN-European Union project in the area of Tortuguero and later, contributed to set up the operation of the first Rainforest Aerial Tram in Costa Rica. In Malaysia, she worked for several years as instructor and later as manager of Ecofieldtrips, a company that offers educational nature trips. Together with her husband, Ligia spent six years sailing between New Zealand and Turkey, fulfilling their dream of exploring the oceans and countries along the way. Currently, she works as an examiner for IB Environmental Systems and Societies and has been a volunteer facilitator for the last ten years, with a group of Senior Citizens teaching them about Nature with an emphasis on birds and their ecology.

• Mark Golan

  Mark Golan

  Mark has extensive experience managing portfolios and driving innovation, having worked with leading tech companies to guide operations and lead large teams. An entrepreneur at heart, he’s supported three startups through senior leadership roles and has eight years of investment banking expertise in deal structuring. Passionate about conservation, Mark enjoys his second home in Playa Grande, Costa Rica, and has traveled to over 50 countries across all seven continents.

• 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.

• Marge Anders Limbert

  Marge Anders Limbert

  Marge Anders Limbert is a career nonprofit leader with extensive experience in fundraising, board development, and organizational capacity building, including more than ten years at The Nature Conservancy. She currently works for the Petaluma River Park Foundation building an equitable place for people, art, and nature in the Bay Area of California. Marge has her Masters in Public Administration with a focus on environmental policy and nonprofit management. Her personal interests include writing, painting, gardening, music, cooking, and hiking.

• 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.

• Tim Wright, Ph.D.

  Tim Wright, Ph.D.

  Dr. Timothy Wright is a Professor for the Biology Department at New Mexico State University, whose work explores the evolution of vocal learning and communication in birds. His research focuses on parrots, and by studying their behavior, ecology, and life histories, Dr. Wright helps us better understand the complexity and diversity of their communication. Tim has been involved in conservation across the Neotropics, with a special focus on Costa Rica. His insights contribute to our understanding of parrot populations and support evidence-based strategies for protecting these charismatic birds and their forest homes.

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.

• Sarah de Groot

  Co-founder

  Sarah de Groot

  Co-founder 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.

• Nathaniel Miller

  Former Board Member

  Nathaniel Miller

  Former Board Member 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.

• Andrew Meuer

  Former Board Member

  Andrew Meuer

  Former Board Member 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.

• Dianne Forthman

  Former Board Member

  Dianne Forthman

  Former Board Member 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.

• Steve Milpacher

  Former Board Member

  Steve Milpacher

  Former Board Member 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.

• 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.

• Matt Kirchhoff

  Former Board Member

  Matt Kirchhoff

  Former Board Member 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. He also served formerly on the Macaw Recovery Network’s Board of Directors.

• 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.

• William Molina Álvarez

  Habitat Support

  William Molina Álvarez

  Habitat Support William is a General Agronomy Engineer who graduated from the Universidad Nacional of Costa Rica. He has over 10 years of experience working with crops in the northern and Atlantic regions of Costa Rica. He greatly enjoys life in the field and nature and believes that the work of MRN and its team is vital for promoting the conservation of flora and fauna in our region.

• Maricela Pizarro-Porter

  Former Programs Manager Field Work and Reforestation

  Maricela Pizarro-Porter

  Former 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.

• 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