Andrzej Kozlowski

An expert in climate change, forests, and biodiversity conservation, Dr. Nigel Sizer is Director of World Resource Institute’s (WRI) Global Forest Initiative. Nigel previously served as Vice President for Asia at Rare, an international conservation organization. While at Rare, he expanded operations into China, and conceived and developed Community Carbon, a grassroots effort to link […]

Mauricio Vivero is the founding CEO of the Seattle International Foundation, a private institution working to alleviate global poverty through grantmaking and special initiatives. Under his leadership, the foundation has awarded more than $12 million in grants to 126 organizations working in 36 countries, with a strategic focus on Latin America. He has more than

Patricia Benevenia brings a wealth of experience to foundations and nonprofits on all aspects of the grant administration process. With over 15 years working for major nonprofits such as the Orange County Community Foundation, Orange County Bar Foundation, and Girls Incorporated, she has worked in grant identification, selection, administration, management, and planning. She currently provides

Nigel Martin is the founding President of the Montreal International Forum (FIM), an international NGO think-tank and was the founding co-President of the original World Bank/NGO Committee. With over 35 years experience in the NGO community, Nigel has been the Executive Director of several NGOs, including the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC) in Ottawa,

With 16 years of experience in the sector, Susan Kleinman Wallis brings creative passion, powerful communication, and rigorous analysis to her work with foundations and nonprofit organizations. Having worked extensively as both a funder and a fundraiser, Susan is uniquely positioned to work in the space between foundations and grant seekers. A social worker by

Based in Bangkok, Erik Davies brings 25 years of professional experience to Paragon’s team. Erik has worked in 25 countries, including eight countries in Asia. Trained as an Environmental Management and Policy Specialist, he brings expertise in knowledge management, communication, gender, and development planning. Erik has spent the past 10 years of his career with

Based in Chengdu, Ming Zhuang specializes in civic engagement, social equality, and poverty alleviation. He has worked in China for over 10 years in partnership with central and local government, NGOs, and international organizations including the World Bank, UNESCO, UNHABITAT, DIFD, SIDA, Oxfam, ActionAid, World Vision, and Mercy Corps. Ming is the founder and director

Based in Tarija, Bolivia, Monica Ostria has 25 years of professional experience in environmental conservation, institutional development, project development and management, fundraising, forestry, climate change, and public policy, and has worked in over 21 countries. In her current role as an independent consultant, Monica advises non-profit organizations with institutional development needs on topics including donor

Andrew’s expertise and experience is in institutional development, program management and evaluation, and grants management (government and private) in the conservation and development fields, both in Central Africa and South America. Andrew spent the past 15 years with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Bolivia and Ecuador, implementing landscape conservation programs financed by USAID, the

Based in Dakar, Thierno Kane is the founder and leader of a number of grassroots organizations in Senegal, his native country, and has acted as advisor and activist for Civil Society Organizations in Africa and worldwide. He specializes in issues of popular participation and has extensive experience in tripartite dialogue and partnerships between Civil Society