Selena Avendaño
We are delighted to announce that Selena Avendaño Leadem will be joining the ACG/GDFCF team as our first Socio-Economic Development Coordinator, beginning January 15. This new position, which is being generously funded by a private donor, is part of an effort to develop partnerships and new types of commercial support for ACG. Selena comes to the position with extensive experience in business and community development via her work with the Monteverde Institute, where she was the Director of the Center for Community Initiatives. She has an MBA from Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED) and an undergraduate degree in photography from Universidad Veritas. Selena has lived most of her life in Costa Rica, but has also lived in Mozambique, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Austria. About the new position, Selena says, "I look forward to contributing to the efforts of ACG and GDFCF, as I admire their partnership for its work in creating models of sustainable conservation and protection of biodiversity."