We are a cross-disciplinary team of scientists, technologists, and environmental market leaders

Natalia Gonzalez Pestana
Natalia Gonzalez Pestana
GIS Analyst
Natalia Gonzalez Pestana
Natalia Gonzalez Pestana
GIS Analyst
LinkedIn

Natalia, a GIS Analyst specializes in REDD+ carbon projections, land eligibility assessments, and cartography. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography from PUCP in Peru, grounding her experience in both the theoretical and practical aspects of geographical analysis. Before joining our team, she served as a GIS specialist in diverse fields, including mining, meteorology, rural cadaster, and environmental consulting. This varied experience has equipped her with a broad skill set and an adaptable approach to GIS applications, making her a versatile and valuable member of our team. Her expertise is particularly crucial in providing detailed spatial analyses and insights for our REDD+ and ARR projects, contributing significantly to their success and efficiency.

Roberto Cornejo
Roberto Cornejo
Carbon Project Lead and Financial Specialist
Roberto Cornejo
Roberto Cornejo
Carbon Project Lead and Financial Specialist
LinkedIn

Roberto, a Carbon Project Lead and Financial Specialist is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use) carbon projects. Holding an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, he possesses an educational foundation that underpins his expertise. With a background as a former sustainability consultant at WSP Peru, he has honed his skills in strategic planning and financial management. Throughout his ten-year career in conservation and sustainable development projects, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and financial sustainability. His combination of practical experience and academic knowledge makes him an invaluable asset to our team, particularly in developing and implementing strategies for carbon projects in the AFOLU sector, focused on Latin America and Africa.

Ana Maria Cuervo Ramirez
Ana Maria Cuervo Ramirez
Carbon Development Intern
Ana Maria Cuervo Ramirez
Ana Maria Cuervo Ramirez
Carbon Development Intern
LinkedIn

Ana is an experienced forest engineer who has joined Earthshot to develop specific skills in carbon markets, carbon accounting, and project compliance. She possesses extensive field expertise in measuring forests and engaging with communities, having participated in various projects related to payment for environmental services, restoration, and impact analysis. With over five years of experience and a master's degree in conservation, analysis and restoration of habitats, Ana is excited to join the team and delve into what she believes is one of the best solutions for tackling climate change.

Sara Betancur
Sara Betancur
Carbon Compliance Expert
Sara Betancur
Sara Betancur
Carbon Compliance Expert
LinkedIn

Sara is Carbon Compliance Expert with six years of dedicated experience in Nature-based Solutions, specializing in REDD+ projects across both community-based and private-based initiatives. Her in-depth knowledge in this field is further accentuated by her previous engagement with South Pole, where she played a significant role in driving various environmental projects. Sara also brings a strong academic foundation to her practical work, holding a Master's degree in Forest and Environmental Conservation.

Andrea Dennis
Andrea Dennis
Head of People & Culture
Andrea Dennis
Andrea Dennis
Head of People & Culture
LinkedIn

Andrea brings 13 years of leadership experience to her role at Earthshot. Andrea's experience includes senior leadership roles at a global youth exchange nonprofit and working for a nationally recognized equity and environmental watchdog, where she honed her advocacy skills and directed environmental education. Notably, she created an award-winning environmental service learning program that engaged 150,000 exchange students annually. As a trained facilitator, she excels in fostering dialogue and collaboration. She’s worked with renowned international educators, has led retreats since 2009, and most recently supported the first cohort of the Climate Wisdom Fellowship. Andrea's multifaceted background and dedication help ensure our team is united, thriving, and supported as we navigate remote community building and the climate crisis. 

Troy Carter
Troy Carter
CEO & Co-Founder
Troy Carter
Troy Carter
CEO & Co-Founder
LinkedIn

Troy is the CEO and Co-founder at Earthshot, with a background in financing renewable energy and agriculture projects. Passionate about restoring human relationships with nature, he previously co-founded RIZOME to replace wood, steel, and concrete with climate-positive bamboo building materials. His journey was catalyzed by witnessing the devastation of coral reefs in 2015, leading him to pioneer eco-friendly solutions. With a blend of business acumen and environmental stewardship, Troy navigates the complexities of carbon markets to accelerate and fund ecosystem restoration at scale. Outside of work, he finds joy in hiking with his wife and new baby and is fueled by a deep love for wild places and intact ecosystems.

 Cecilia Simon Diaz
Cecilia Simon Diaz
Carbon Technical Expert
 Cecilia Simon Diaz
Cecilia Simon Diaz
Carbon Technical Expert
LinkedIn

With over 15 years in the carbon market sector, Ceci specializes in Nature-based Solutions projects, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the team. Her notable tenure includes serving as the Program Manager of Natural Climate Solutions at Verra. In this role, she was instrumental in leading project accuracy reviews for VCS and CCB, enhancing certification processes, contributing to developing and approving methodologies in the VCS Program, and supporting revisions to the Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ framework. Before joining Verra, Ceci spent a decade with the Climate Action Reserve, where she played a pivotal role in developing and implementing the Mexico Forest Protocol. Additionally, Ceci’s leadership extended to Pronatura, Mexico, where she headed the Climate Change Program, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action. 

Karolina Jimenez Garcia
Karolina Jimenez Garcia
Full Stack Developer
Karolina Jimenez Garcia
Karolina Jimenez Garcia
Full Stack Developer
LinkedIn

Karolina Jiménez is a dynamic software engineer deeply committed to environmental sustainability, with over six years of experience in developing sophisticated web-based applications and implementing innovative solutions. Her career has covered various technical environments, from enhancing large e-commerce platforms to leading technical teams and managing client-facing projects in smaller organizations.

With a Bachelor's degree in Customs Administration and Foreign Trade from the Universidad de Costa Rica, she transitioned into software engineering, driven by her desire to utilize technology for environmental good. At Earthshot, Karolina acts as Full Stack Developer, utilizing data science tools to analyze and visualize critical environmental data.

Jeff King
Jeff King
Senior Frontend Engineer
Jeff King
Jeff King
Senior Frontend Engineer
LinkedIn

Jeff King has passionately followed his interests in both GIS and development throughout his education and career. He graduated from University of Missouri with a dual bachelor's degree in computer and electrical engineering, while earning a GIS certificate as well. In his career he has seen both developer consulting, as well as product development. Starting his professional career at Esri, he worked on a wide variety of projects across different industries, requiring full-stack development and knowledge of Python, React, and several other languages to deliver projects to customers. This often involved a fair amount of application architecture and design. With an itch to try product development, Jeff jumped to Anaconda and joined a team focused on their cloud product. There, he primarily used Angular and contributed as a frontend engineer on their product. In his time there, he helped to pave the path for unification of their on-prem and cloud application offerings, providing value through reduced redundancy. After gaining a fair bit of expertise, Jeff wanted to apply his passions and love for nature to a mission that could let his skills flourish. Earthshot Labs gave him that mission, where he has joined as a senior frontend engineer.

Andrés Hincapié García
Andrés Hincapié García
Carbon Compliance Expert
Andrés Hincapié García
Andrés Hincapié García
Carbon Compliance Expert
LinkedIn

Andres has been instrumental in addressing Climate Solutions and forest loss prevention, alongside tackling various complex community issues. With over seven years of experience in Nature-based Solutions, his expertise particularly shines in the realm of carbon challenges, such as JNR and nested REDD. Andres contributed extensively to the development and certification of REDD+ and ARR projects, serving as the Regional Lead in Latin America for Nature-Based Solutions in the Climate Projects team. 

Anika Staccone
Anika Staccone
Scientist and ARR Carbon Expert
Anika Staccone
Anika Staccone
Scientist and ARR Carbon Expert
LinkedIn

Anika brings over eight years of expertise in statistical modeling for forest dynamics and ecosystem ecology. Her impressive academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Ecology from Columbia University and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering from Harvard University. Anika´s educational background provides a strong foundation for her advanced understanding of ecosystem dynamics and carbon sequestration processes. Additionally, she has a diverse range of experiences that extend beyond academia, including past work in weather modeling and various startup environments. This combination of high-level academic training and practical experience in different settings equips Anika with a unique perspective and skill set, making her a key asset in our team's efforts to predict future carbon sequestration with increased scientific rigor.

Thea Adumitroaie
Thea Adumitroaie
Scientist and ARR Carbon Researcher
Thea Adumitroaie
Thea Adumitroaie
Scientist and ARR Carbon Researcher
LinkedIn

Equipped with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences from UC Berkeley, Théa is driven by a deep-seated passion for exploring ecosystem ecology. Théa´s academic journey culminated in the completion of an Honors Senior Thesis, where she investigated the productivity of terrestrial landscapes, underscoring her commitment to advancing environmental knowledge. With a diverse array of experiences, including positions at NASA’s JPL, the Conservation and Technology Fung Fellowship, and various research laboratories, she has honed her research skills and broadened her expertise. Furthermore, her contributions to research publications, including presentations at the IEEE Aerospace Conference, attest to her dedication to scientific inquiry and innovation.

Cristóbal Seoane Byrne
Cristóbal Seoane Byrne
GIS Analyst
Cristóbal Seoane Byrne
Cristóbal Seoane Byrne
GIS Analyst
LinkedIn

Adept in ARR and REDD+ carbon projections, land eligibility assessments, and cartography, Cristobal boasts a Bachelor's degree in Geography from PUCP, Peru. His professional journey includes a significant stint at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), where he excelled in providing geospatial support for fund allocation in small-scale agriculture projects across South America and the Caribbean. This experience has sharpened his skills in applying geospatial analysis to solve real-world challenges in land management. His proficiency in GIS makes Cristobal a key contributor to our team, particularly in projects that require detailed spatial analysis and cartographic precision.

 Jocelyne Bazalar Obregu
Jocelyne Bazalar Obregu
Legal
 Jocelyne Bazalar Obregu
Jocelyne Bazalar Obregu
Legal
LinkedIn

Jocelyne is an accomplished legal professional with over 10 years of experience advising international companies. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a Master’s degree majoring in Human Rights, Gender, and Conflict Studies from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Jocelyne’s expertise spans corporate, labor, and consumer law, and she has a proven track record of providing strategic legal counsel. Her comprehensive understanding of legal intricacies and proficiency in Public Affairs management equips her to navigate complex regulatory environments effectively. At Earthshot, she supports contracting and leads on regulatory analysis of carbon projects, analyzing how local contexts define carbon ownership and other crucial aspects of projects

Alejandro Gómez Chica
Alejandro Gómez Chica
GIS Carbon Specialist
Alejandro Gómez Chica
Alejandro Gómez Chica
GIS Carbon Specialist
LinkedIn

Alejandro comes with over five years of experience in Nature-based Solutions, focusing particularly on REDD+ and ARR projects. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry Engineering complemented by a Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering, providing him with a foundation in both the environmental and technical aspects of his field. This combination of education and experience equips him with the expertise necessary to effectively contribute to and manage complex environmental projects. Alejandro´s role in our team is crucial for the successful implementation and optimization of REDD and ARR initiatives, thanks to his specialized knowledge and practical skills in GIS and carbon project planning.

Ezra Neale
Ezra Neale
Head of Forestry Projects
Ezra Neale
Ezra Neale
Head of Forestry Projects
LinkedIn

With over 15 years of experience in developing Nature-based Solutions, our VP of Forest Projects is a distinguished expert in REDD+, ARR, and Blue Carbon projects globally. This includes notable work on REDD+ projects in the Congo Basin. Formerly, Ezra served as the Director of Forest Monitoring and Evaluation at Eden Reforestation Projects, where they played a key role in the planting of more than 200 million trees, showcasing a deep commitment to environmental restoration. Additionally, his expertise has been recognized through his past involvement as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Plan Vivo Foundation, highlighting his extensive experience and dedication in the field of forest conservation and sustainability.

Camila Meza-Cuadra
Camila Meza-Cuadra
Carbon Development Team and Project Lead
Camila Meza-Cuadra
Camila Meza-Cuadra
Carbon Development Team and Project Lead
LinkedIn

Camila landed at Earthshot while looking for a sweet spot between the mission-oriented passion of the international cooperation sector and the power and efficiency of the private sector. She has over 7 years of professional experience in management, finance, and research, working at challenging organizations such as McKinsey & Co, the United Nations, and CGIAR Consortium. Holding an MA majoring in Environmental and Agrarian Studies from Erasmus University Rotterdam, she has developed a deep understanding of environmental and agrarian dynamics alongside her financial acumen. Her comprehensive skill set enables her to ensure the smooth and financially sustainable operation of carbon development projects, strategically allocating resources to them. She further supports and leads teams through implementation of projects globally.

Olivia Palma
Olivia Palma
Proposal and Carbon Projects Lead
Olivia Palma
Olivia Palma
Proposal and Carbon Projects Lead
LinkedIn

Olivia, a Proposal and Carbon Project Lead collaborates with both the Partnership Development and Carbon Development teams. With over 10 years of experience in environmentally focused start-ups, she specializes in addressing the critical intersection between environmentalism and the needs of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) residing within threatened ecosystems. Armed with a Bachelor's degree from Lehigh University, she manages projects across Latin America and Southeast Asia and leads on potential new projects forging impactful partnerships that drive positive change.

Abel Marcarini
Abel Marcarini
Carbon Compliance Expert
Abel Marcarini
Abel Marcarini
Carbon Compliance Expert
LinkedIn

Abel brings over a decade of experience in Nature-based Solutions within the carbon market, working extensively with large-scale project developers across Latin America and Africa, including notable roles at South Pole. Specializing in the design and certification of ARR and REDD+ projects, Abel has been instrumental in advancing sustainable forestry practices on a global scale. Previously, at VERRA, he led the development of the new ARR methodology, showcasing his innovative approach and deep understanding of environmental challenges. Abel’s academic background is equally impressive, holding an MSc in Forestry from AgroParisTech and a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Engineering from UFPR, Brazil. 

Trevor Keenan
Trevor Keenan
Chief Scientist
Trevor Keenan
Trevor Keenan
Chief Scientist
LinkedIn

With over 20 years of experience in ecosystem carbon sequestration and long-term ecosystem dynamics, Trevor stands as a leading authority in the field. Trevor is not only highly experienced but also academically distinguished, serving as a Tenured Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley. This role underscores his deep commitment to education and research in environmental science. His academic journey includes a postdoctoral tenure at Harvard University, highlighting a career that combines both high-level research and practical expertise in the study of ecosystems and their response to environmental changes. His extensive experience and academic accolades make him an invaluable leader and mentor in our mission to combat project challenges with pioneering science. 

Joe Hughes
Joe Hughes
Ecologist and Machine Learning Engineer
Joe Hughes
Joe Hughes
Ecologist and Machine Learning Engineer
LinkedIn

With over 15 years of experience in remote sensing, machine learning, and research, Joe is a highly skilled and versatile professional. Joe holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee, equipping him with both in-depth scientific knowledge and advanced technical expertise. His proficiency is especially valuable in environmental project development, where he adeptly navigates different scenarios and challenges. This unique combination of environmental science background and machine learning skills enables Joe to contribute significantly to our projects, offering innovative, data-driven solutions to complex ecological problems.

Isak Diaz
Isak Diaz
Machine Learning Engineer
Isak Diaz
Isak Diaz
Machine Learning Engineer
LinkedIn

Isak Diaz holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida, providing him with a strong foundation in both technical and scientific domains. As the first software development hire at Earthshot Labs, Isak created the initial MVP of an AR application that utilizes neural networks and LIDAR to measure biomass in remote tropical regions, which was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant. He then led a 6-person team in further developing the app to classify trees in places like the Amazon Rainforest and Panama Azuero Region. Prior to joining Earthshot Labs, Isak worked as a Staff Scientist at Raytheon Technologies, where he conducted ML research into the application of neural networks to LIDAR point clouds and worked on a DARPA funded research project for autonomous swarming vehicles.

Polly Thornton
Polly Thornton
Ecologist and ARR Carbon Expert
Polly Thornton
Polly Thornton
Ecologist and ARR Carbon Expert
LinkedIn

With over 30 years of dedicated experience, Polly is an eminent figure in the field of statistical and process-based ecosystem modeling. Holding a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho, she brings a wealth of academic and professional expertise. As a Project Scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, her work has significantly contributed to our understanding of ecosystems and their interaction with the environment. Further highlighting her expertise, she has served as a contributing author and chapter scientist for the IPCC Working Group II Sixth Assessment Report, underscoring her respected status in the scientific community. Her extensive experience, combined with a rich academic background, renders Polly an invaluable asset in our endeavors toward advancing the science of carbon projects.

Our Investors

Ross Lukatsevich
Ross Lukatsevich
Tanzin Capital
Ross Lukatsevich
Ross Lukatsevich
Tanzin Capital
LinkedIn
Derek Chau
Derek Chau
Acorn Pacific Ventures
Derek Chau
Derek Chau
Acorn Pacific Ventures
LinkedIn
Steve Jurvetson
Steve Jurvetson
Future Ventures
Steve Jurvetson
Steve Jurvetson
Future Ventures
LinkedIn
Niraj Mehta
Niraj Mehta
Kilowatt Capital
Niraj Mehta
Niraj Mehta
Kilowatt Capital
LinkedIn
Maryanna Saenko
Maryanna Saenko
Future Ventures
Maryanna Saenko
Maryanna Saenko
Future Ventures
LinkedIn
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Trailhead Capital
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Trailhead Capital
LinkedIn
Doug Romanoff
Doug Romanoff
Parameter Ventures
Doug Romanoff
Doug Romanoff
Parameter Ventures
LinkedIn

Advisors

Jyoti Ma
Jyoti Ma
Paul Hawken
Paul Hawken