Lina Barrera
Senior Vice President of Global Policy & Government Affairs
She leads Conservation International’s work to influence the design and implementation of public policies — both international and domestic — that catalyze large scale transformation to address the global climate, sustainability and biodiversity crises. Lina also oversees the organization’s efforts to advance policies within the United States that support conservation globally. Lina’s team works across the institution to develop science-based policy recommendations to ensure that nature and the critical benefits that it provides to humanity are built into public policies and funding priorities.
Lina completed undergraduate studies in environmental science and policy, with a focus on international relations at the University of Florida and a master's degree in geography with a focus on the connections between the environment and development at the University of Cambridge. She is a native of Colombia, where her love of nature and her awareness of the challenges of development were both nurtured. She is fascinated by the relationship between human society and the environment that sustains us. Prior to her current role, Lina led Conservation International’s International Policy team, and before that she provided strategic planning advice to the Latin America programs. Lina has also lived and conducted field work on Costa Rica's Pacific coast and worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Coastal America program.
She leads Conservation International’s work to influence the design and implementation of public policies — both international and domestic — that catalyze large scale transformation to address the global climate, sustainability and biodiversity crises. Lina also oversees the organization’s efforts to advance policies within the United States that support conservation globally. Lina’s team works across the institution to develop science-based policy recommendations to ensure that nature and the critical benefits that it provides to humanity are built into public policies and funding priorities.
Lina completed undergraduate studies in environmental science and policy, with a focus on international relations at the University of Florida and a master's degree in geography with a focus on the connections between the environment and development at the University of Cambridge. She is a native of Colombia, where her love of nature and her awareness of the challenges of development were both nurtured. She is fascinated by the relationship between human society and the environment that sustains us. Prior to her current role, Lina led Conservation International’s International Policy team, and before that she provided strategic planning advice to the Latin America programs. Lina has also lived and conducted field work on Costa Rica's Pacific coast and worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Coastal America program.