CI-GCF Agency

Steven Panfil

Vice President, GCF Agency

Steve’s professional focus has been on forests and climate change for nearly 15 years. Much of his work has concentrated on REDD+, including the development and application of social and environmental standards, international and domestic policy, project design, and research. Prior to joining CI, Steve directed a conservation organization in Peru, which engaged with local communities to enhance livelihoods and improve the management of conservation areas while building scientific knowledge of Amazonian forests. A US citizen, Steve was a 10-year resident in Latin America and has also worked extensively with teams in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region. Steve holds a PhD in plant ecology from the University of Georgia and Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.

Languages: English, Spanish

Susana Escudero

Senior Director, Grants Management, CI-GCF and CI-GEF Agencies

Susana joined Conservation International in 2012 and serves as the Director of Grants Management for the CI-GCF Agency. She focuses on financial management and operations of the CI-GEF portfolio of projects and manages the relationship with the GEF Trustee. Previously, Susana served as the Senior Manager of Multilateral Relations, managing Conservation International’s portfolio of GEF projects through Multilaterals. Susana has also worked for the Inter-American Development Bank as a consultant and Cargill. Susana holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus on non-profit management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from Tulane University. Susana is a native of Brazil and has spent her adult life in the U.S.

Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish

Robert Merritt

Senior Director, Project Development

Robert joined the CI-GCF Agency in January 2018 after more than 10 years managing the implementation of development projects in low-income nations. During that time, he lived and worked in West Africa, East Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Since 2013, Robert has focused on climate change resilience programs, with particular emphasis on forest conservation and reducing coastal communities’ vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change. 

Robert has extensive experience working closely with a wide range of partners and stakeholders including community leaders, NGOs, local & national governments, regional bodies, and international donors. He has conducted socio-economic and ecological vulnerability assessments, developed practical activities through options analyses, and recognizes the critical importance of local buy-in for climate change interventions.

Robert holds an M.S. in Climate Change from University College London and a B.S. from Bates college in Maine.

Languages: English, French

Ian Kissoon

Senior Director, Environmental and Social Framework, CI-GCF and CI-GEF Agencies

Ian hails from the South American country of Guyana and joined CI in February 2015. He holds two masters degrees from the University of Cape Town, South Africa; an MSc Degree in Conservation Biology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). Prior to joining CI, Ian worked at the UNDP’s Office in Guyana where he served as the country’s National Coordinator for the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). He also worked with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Guyana where he led the work of the Protected Areas Unit, and this included the development of the national protected areas legislation and co-management plans for the Kanuku Mountains and Shell Beach Protected Areas. He developed a passion for ensuring the design and implementation of good conservation projects from having seen the positive impacts such projects can have on the lives of people in communities.

Languages: English

Courtney McCarty

Director, Grants

Courtney joined Conservation International in 2018. Prior to joining CI, Courtney served for more than five years as an International Program Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, managing international development programs aimed at promoting economic growth. Previously, she worked as a contractor at the U.S. Department of State and as a foreign policy researcher with a national media organization. She has also worked at the United Nations and the U.S. Congress.

Courtney holds a Master of Arts in International Relations and International Economics from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Languages: English, French

Lilian Nyaega

Senior Manager, GCF Project Oversight

Lilian joins Conservation International with 15 years of experience in the Environment and Conservation space. Before joining, she worked in the Eastern Africa region with Wetlands International, Community Action for Nature Conservation and the East African Wild Life Society where she played a key role in designing and managing initiatives focused on natural resources governance and management and stakeholder engagement. A Kenyan native, Lilian holds a graduate degree in Environment Development and Policy from the University of Sussex, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and Community Development from Kenyatta University.

Languages: English and Swahili

Silvana Lara

Grants Manager

Silvana has worked for eleven years in The Nature Conservancy in the Grants Service Network, where she managed public donor agreements, including multilateral, federal, and non-federal public funds. Her portfolio of projects includes countries in Latin America, The Caribbean, and Micronesia.  Previously, she worked for Chemonics, supporting the implementation of USAID and Chemonics procedures in three projects in Bolivia.  She has also worked for a multinational company dedicated to telecommunications in logistics, human resources, and finance. Silvana holds a master’s degree in rural development, two post-graduated diplomas in human resources, and a degree in business administration. She will be based in CI’s office in La Paz, Bolivia.

Languages: English and Spanish

Holman Martinez

Grants Manager

Languages: English and Spanish