Meet Our Team

Barbara Arizaga joined the Galápagos Conservancy in June 2022 with the intention of contributing to the global awareness of the distinctive ecological and social circumstances of the Galápagos Archipelago and of involving the general public and donors in the work of the Conservancy itself through written and visual storytelling on the Conservancy’s website and various social media platforms. Barbara came to us from Ecuador where she worked in the academic, political and non-profit sectors by producing a wide range of digital and printed communications. Barbara has a degree in Intercultural Communications, a Minor in Nonprofit Administration, and a passion for introducing people to the wonders of nature. Barbara’s ultimate goal is to keep spreading her enthusiasm and love for conservation to anyone who will listen in the hopes that she can assist in safeguarding this green planet for a very long time.

Willians Castro brought with him 30 years of operations and logistics experience when he joined Galápagos Conservancy in 2017. We benefit from his experience gained in 12 years with Ecuadorian civil aviation in Guayaquil before being recruited as head of maintenance for the Charles Darwin Foundation, a post he held for 12 years, later managing the largest Galápagos taxi cooperative for four years as well as his own small scale enterprises in catering, equipment sales and as a qualified electrician. If it needs fixing or sorting out, there is only one person to call: Willians Castro. Between Willians, his wife and their adult children in professional posts in Galápagos, the support network available to Galápagos Conservancy in the Islands and mainland Ecuador is incomparable.

Walter Chimborazo has worked as a field assistant since 2015. His primary responsibility is to collaborate in the management of the Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Center on Santa Cruz Island with the Galápagos National Park Directorate. A native galapagueño, Walter has demonstrated great dedication and patience in working with giant tortoises over the years. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Alfredo Chimborazo, who worked in the Santa Cruz tortoise center for more than a decade in the 1980s and 1990s.

Cristian Gil Jaramillo, born in the Galápagos, graduated in Environmental Science from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. As part of his thesis, Cristian studied the terrestrial invertebrate collection at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Then in May 2022 Cristian joined Galápagos Conservancy with the goal of helping manage giant tortoises at the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center on Isabela Island. He strongly believes that fostering an island culture is the key to achieving harmony between the environment and the people of Galápagos.

Alexa Goldstein joined Galápagos Conservancy in September 2022. After having a varied career path in the arts and communications, she decided to switch careers to the non-profit sector to contribute to the conservation of Galápagos and the natural world. She hopes to raise awareness about socio-cultural and environmental issues through visual storytelling and social media. Alexa holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Fordham University and a master’s degree in Creative Business Leadership from Savannah College of Arts and Design. Her passion for nature and storytelling weave together seamlessly to push Galápagos Conservancy’s mission forward. 

Estefanía Játiva Espinosa was born in Quito, Ecuador and studied International Relations and Law. She has gained professional experience from working in several public and private institutions in Quito.

In October 2022, Estefanía moved to the Galápagos Islands, which gave her a unique opportunity to appreciate the importance of the archipelago’s biodiversity for Ecuador and the world. This experience has inspired her to use her knowledge and skills to support the conservation and protection of the Enchanted Islands.

As a member of Galápagos Conservancy team, Estefanía is dedicated to preserving the fragile ecosystems of the islands. She is honored to be part of this organization and to work towards creating a sustainable future for the Galápagos. Estefanía is excited to contribute her expertise to this vital mission and to make a positive impact on the conservation of this natural wonder.

Jenny is an experienced educator with a master’s degree in psycho-pedagogy, specializing in early childhood and primary education with a focus on psycho-pedagogical intervention. She also has extensive knowledge and expertise in inclusive practices for children with autism spectrum disorders. In her role as a consultant and designer, she has provided invaluable guidance to teacher training institutes in the Galapagos Islands. Her contributions to education also include authoring a comprehensive methodological guide for the contextualization of the curriculum for the Initial and Preparatory Sub-levels for the Galapagos Islands. Previously, she worked as an English teacher at the Tomás de Berlanga Educational Unit for children in the initial level. Since 2010, she has been serving as the director and coordinator of the Acuarela Child Center, where she oversees the education and care of young children aged 2 to 4 years.

Roger McDonough joined Galápagos Conservancy in November of 2022 after more than a decade in public radio journalism. Previously, he worked as a communications and fundraising specialist for organizations focused on the conservation of tropical ecosystems. He holds a BA from the University of Utah and an MA in policy and development studies from both Georgetown University and the Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Argentina. He brings with him an enduring passion for protecting wild spaces and the systems that sustain our rich and complex web of life. In his free time, you can find Roger hiking, kayaking, and photographing the birds in his neighborhood — and in the wild.

Judith Moreira has a degree in Commerce and Administration Sciences and has worked for the Galápagos National Park as Financial Assistant and later with the Charles Darwin Foundation in the Accounting department and support in the Archive and itineraries area. She firmly believes that Galápagos is a paradise, that it is a privilege and responsibility to live on the islands, and that it is critical to take care of them and keep them unique. She is now part of the staff of the Galápagos Conservancy to support administrative activities that allow scientists to carry out their conservation work on the unique species of the Islands.

Joins Galápagos Conservancy in June 2023 to complement the organization’s communication team, focusing primarily on the technology area. With his extensive background and experience as a webmaster, his professional goal within the organization is to effectively position, promote, and highlight all of the organization’s actions on the web, ensuring they are properly disseminated to the world. Mauricio works diligently every day on his personal growth, driven by his passion for life, balance, and the never-ending nature of continuous learning. He always seeks to acquire the best knowledge, particularly in the field of technology. As a professional, he has led and managed various projects in both the private and public sectors. Currently, he is thrilled to be part of a team of wonderful individuals with incredible initiatives and talents, sharing his experience and contributing to collective success.

Liza Saracina’s love of the Galápagos Islands started as a young child when she was introduced to the Galápagos Tortoise. Her career in fundraising began at her alma mater, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and she is excited to now bring her expertise to Galápagos Conservancy. In her work with the conservancy, she hopes to be the voice of the voiceless by bringing awareness to the unique animals on the Galápagos Islands that greatly need our support. In addition to her passion for conservation, Liza is also an accomplished oboist who has received a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and artist diploma in music performance. In her free time, she plays with several orchestras in the Midwest, spends time with her wife, dog, Hermann’s tortoise, and pea pufferfish, and loves to make homemade gnocchi to celebrate her Italian heritage.

Jana Stotler joined Galápagos Conservancy in 2023 and is responsible for all financial aspects of the organization. She has over thirty years of experience directing financial and administrative operations for numerous nonprofit and public higher education organizations. In 2022, Jana moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, after living eleven years in the Costa Rican rain forest. While in Costa Rica she catalogued hundreds of birds in her yard, slothfully watched sloths, and protected iguanas, agoutis, and monkeys in her yard from her six rescued street dogs. She also volunteered with animal rescue organizations and was particularly involved in saving street animals and working with vets in the area to get them medical care. Jana lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico with her husband and five dogs.

Gabriela is an economist and joined the Galápagos Conservancy team in November 2021 as the Operations Manager, directly supporting the coordination of local activities in Galápagos. She worked for the Galápagos National Park Directorate from 2013 to 2018, serving as Administrative Financial Manager (2013-2015) and Director of the Isabela Technical Operational Unit (2016-2018); and for Island Conservation in the execution of the GEF Project “Safeguarding Biosecurity in the Galápagos Islands” (2019-October 2021), a project that developed support activities for the Ecological Restoration Project on Floreana Island prior to its implementation. In the GEF project, she started as a Technical-Financial Assistant and later became a Restoration Specialist, which allowed her to acquire knowledge in the development of projects related to conservation and become more involved in the work of Galápagos Conservancy in the Galápagos Islands as a co-executor of the GEF project.