Who’s Involved
The individuals below work above and beyond their already demanding conservation roles to advance the goals of the Quick Response Fund for Nature.
OUR TEAM AND ADVISORS
QRFN Team

Carly Vynne, Ph.D.
Director, Quick Response Fund for Nature
Carly works with the QRFN Staff, Executive Committee, Expert Advisory Panel, funders, and grantees to ensure strong operations and governance. She brings a background in conservation biology and experience in assembling diverse partnerships to design, fund, and implement successful conservation programs. Carly is the Chief Program Officer at RESOLVE and Director of its Conservation Solutions program. Prior to joining RESOLVE, Carly was the Director of Wildlife and Habitat Conservation at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Sanjiv Fernando
Manager Quick Response Fund for Nature
Sanjiv manages proposal reviews, new project development, and administration for QRFN. He collaborates with the Expert Advisory Panel to vet applications, supports prospective partners in developing new projects in priority areas, and oversees contracts and reporting with grantees. Additionally, Sanjiv manages reporting to QRFN's funders and works alongside the Executive Committee on fundraising efforts. With a background in Environmental Science & Policy, he brings expertise in protecting critical habitats for threatened species and has experience working with communities to reduce human-wildlife conflict and poaching.

Andy Lee
Senior Research Associate, RESOLVE

Steve D'Esposito
President & CEO, RESOLVE
ADVISORS

Dave Loew
Executive Creative Director
Carly works with the QRFN Staff, Executive Committee, Expert Advisory Panel, funders, and grantees to ensure strong operations and governance. She brings a background in conservation biology and experience in assembling diverse partnerships to design, fund, and implement successful conservation programs. Carly is the Chief Program Officer at RESOLVE and Director of its Conservation Solutions program. Prior to joining RESOLVE, Carly was the Director of Wildlife and Habitat Conservation at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Karla Brollier
Founder & Managing Director, Saghani Capital & Strategy
Sanjiv manages proposal reviews, new project development, and administration for QRFN. He collaborates with the Expert Advisory Panel to vet applications, supports prospective partners in developing new projects in priority areas, and oversees contracts and reporting with grantees. Additionally, Sanjiv manages reporting to QRFN's funders and works alongside the Executive Committee on fundraising efforts. With a background in Environmental Science & Policy, he brings expertise in protecting critical habitats for threatened species and has experience working with communities to reduce human-wildlife conflict and poaching.

Justin Winters
Executive Director, One Earth

Steve Olson
Director of Conservation, Rewild Safaris
Expert Review Panel
The QRFN Expert Review Panel members review project proposals that align with their geographic and species areas of expertise. These advisors – who are world-renowned conservation biologists, taxonomic specialists, and conservation leaders – volunteer their time and commit to reviewing proposals in a timely manner. They are crucial to QRFN’s ability to select and fund the most deserving projects.
Dr. Dave Augeri
Director and Senior Scientist, Biodiversity Unlimited Research and Consulting Group
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SCIENCE
Dr. Dave Augeri has 35 years of expertise in endangered and rare species, biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystems around the world, along with the design and designation of protected areas. He is a member and advisor to the World Commission on Protected Areas, IUCN, UNESCO, and various SSC Specialist Groups and Expert Teams, among other entities.

Dr. Bruce Beehler
Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution
Dr. Neil Burgess
Head of Science, UNEP-WCMC; Professor, University of Copenhagen
Dr. Stuart Butchart
Chief Scientist, BirdLife International
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SCIENCE
Dr. Dave Augeri has 35 years of expertise in endangered and rare species, biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystems around the world, along with the design and designation of protected areas. He is a member and advisor to the World Commission on Protected Areas, IUCN, UNESCO, and various SSC Specialist Groups and Expert Teams, among other entities.

Dr. Carlos Carroll
Ecologist, Klamath Center for Conservation Research
Dr. Gerardo Ceballos
Instituto de Ecologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Dr. Lynn Clayton
Founder, Yayasan Adudu Nantu Internasional (YANI)
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SCIENCE
Dr. Dave Augeri has 35 years of expertise in endangered and rare species, biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystems around the world, along with the design and designation of protected areas. He is a member and advisor to the World Commission on Protected Areas, IUCN, UNESCO, and various SSC Specialist Groups and Expert Teams, among other entities.

Dr. Richard Cowling
Emeritus Distinguished Professor, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Dr. Peter Cutter
The Regional Community Forestry Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC)

Dr. Dominick DellaSala
Chief Scientist Wild Heritage/Earth Island Institute

Dr. Rodolfo Dirzo
Professor Stanford University
Rodolfo Dirzo, a Professor at Stanford University, teaches Ecology, Conservation Science, and Bio-Cultural Diversity. His research includes evolution of plant defenses, plant and animal extinction, and how this affects ecosystem services and human wellbeing. His work is conducted in Latin America, the Central Pacific, East Africa, and Northern California. His research involves local indigenous and rural communities from the countries where he works.

Dr. Maureen Donnelly
Professor, Florida International University
Erica’s research focuses on ecological responses to changes in land use, land cover, and climate in the western United States. She also contributes to conservation planning for threatened species on public and private lands.
Dr. Stephanie Dolrenry
Co-Founder and Director, Lion Guardians

Dr. Néstor Fernández
Senior Researcher, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)
Dr.Jhala is the Senior Professor and Dean at the Wildlife Institute of India, Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. His primary research has focused in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and some in Sri Lanka (all kinds of ecoregions in these areas). Primarily his research has been on carnivores and ungulates and covers aspects of conservation biology, behavior, conservation genetics, demography, landscape status surveys, and eco-physiology.

Dr. Erica Fleishman
Director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, Oregon State University
Erica’s research focuses on ecological responses to changes in land use, land cover, and climate in the western United States. She also contributes to conservation planning for threatened species on public and private lands.

Dr. Adrian Forsyth
Founder & Executive Director, Andes Amazon Fund
Adrian began his career as a tropical field conservationist active since 1971. He earned his PhD with EO Wilson, and is the founder of three Conservation NG0s and the Andes Amazon Initiative at Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. He is founder and a strategic advisor at Andes Amazon Fund.
Dr. Brian Gratwicke
Head of Amphibian Conservation Programs, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Dr. Kathleen Gobush
Professor, University of Washington

Dr. José F. González-Maya
Scientific Director, ProCAT
Adrian began his career as a tropical field conservationist active since 1971. He earned his PhD with EO Wilson, and is the founder of three Conservation NG0s and the Andes Amazon Initiative at Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. He is founder and a strategic advisor at Andes Amazon Fund.
Dr. Martha Groom
University of Washington Bothell & Seattle

Dr. Craig Guyer
Professor, Auburn University and Curator Emeritus of Amphibians and Reptiles, Auburn University Museum of Natural History

Dr. David Inouye
Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland
Adrian began his career as a tropical field conservationist active since 1971. He earned his PhD with EO Wilson, and is the founder of three Conservation NG0s and the Andes Amazon Initiative at Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. He is founder and a strategic advisor at Andes Amazon Fund.
Dr. Rodney Jackson
Founder & Board President, Snow Leopard Conservancy

Dr. Clinton Jenkins
Professor, Florida International University and Vice President, Saving Nature

Dr. Yadvendradev Jhala
Senior Professor and Dean Wildlife Institute of India
Dr.Jhala is the Senior Professor and Dean at the Wildlife Institute of India, Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. His primary research has focused in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and some in Sri Lanka (all kinds of ecoregions in these areas). Primarily his research has been on carnivores and ungulates and covers aspects of conservation biology, behavior, conservation genetics, demography, landscape status surveys, and eco-physiology.

Dr. Marcella Kelly
Professor Virginia Tech University
DEPARTAMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Marcella Kelly studies predator demography and is interested in co-existence ecology, especially of wild felids. She uses a variety of techniques including remote cameras, genetic sampling, and GPS collars.
Dr. John Kress
Research Botanist Emertius, Smithsonian Institution

Dr. Gary Krupnick
Head of the Plant Conservation Unit Smithsonian Institution
DEPARTAMENT OF BOTANY
Dr. Gary Krupnick is a research scientist studying plant conservation biology and plant-pollinator interactions. He has conducted conservation assessments of plants of Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Dr. Enoka Kudavidanage
Professor, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Dr. Kyran Kunkel
Director, Conservation Science Collaborative
INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY
Rodrigo is a Senior Professor at UNAM´s Institute of Ecology, working on mammal conservation in Mexico and 16 other countries. He has produced over 250 publications, presided various societies and represented Mexico before CITES and other MEAs. BBC, National Geographic, etc. have covered his work.
Dr. John Lamoreux
Director of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Dr. Bette Loiselle
Professor, University of Florida

Dr. John (Jack) Longino
Professor, University of Utah

Dr. Pete Lowry
Director of the Africa and Madagascar Program, Missouri Botanical Garden

Dr. Laurie Marker
Cheetah Conservation Fund
Dr. Binbin Li is the IUCN Species Survival Commission expert and associate editor of Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution. She serves on the editorial board of Conservation Biology, Global Ecology and Conservation and Biodiversity Science. Her research focuses on identifying pathways and synergy between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, including priority setting and management of protected areas, how human disturbances and climate change influence endangered and endemic species and vertebrate community composition.

Dr. Binbin Li
Professor, Duke Kunshan University
Dr. Binbin Li is the IUCN Species Survival Commission expert and associate editor of Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution. She serves on the editorial board of Conservation Biology, Global Ecology and Conservation and Biodiversity Science. Her research focuses on identifying pathways and synergy between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, including priority setting and management of protected areas, how human disturbances and climate change influence endangered and endemic species and vertebrate community composition.

Dr. Karen Lips
Professor of Biology University of Maryland
Dr. Karen Lips is Professor of Biology at the University of Maryland. She is an ecologist, specializing on causes and impacts of global change, and impacts on natural ecosystems and human well-being.

Dr. Peter Marra
Director Georgetown Environmental Initiative (GEI) at Georgetown University

Dr. Rodrigo Medellín
Senior Professor National Autonomous University of Mexico
INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY
Rodrigo is a Senior Professor at UNAM´s Institute of Ecology, working on mammal conservation in Mexico and 16 other countries. He has produced over 250 publications, presided various societies and represented Mexico before CITES and other MEAs. BBC, National Geographic, etc. have covered his work.

Dr. Reed Noss
President Florida Institute for Conservation Science

Mr. Roderic Mast
President and CEO, Oceanic Society

Dr. Robin Moore
Re:wild
INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY
Rodrigo is a Senior Professor at UNAM´s Institute of Ecology, working on mammal conservation in Mexico and 16 other countries. He has produced over 250 publications, presided various societies and represented Mexico before CITES and other MEAs. BBC, National Geographic, etc. have covered his work.
Dr. David Olson
Conservation Earth Consulting

Dr. Michael Parr
President American Bird Conservancy

Dr. Carlos Peres
Professor, University of East Anglia; and Founder and Science Director, Instituto Juruá
INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY
Rodrigo is a Senior Professor at UNAM´s Institute of Ecology, working on mammal conservation in Mexico and 16 other countries. He has produced over 250 publications, presided various societies and represented Mexico before CITES and other MEAs. BBC, National Geographic, etc. have covered his work.
Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya
Former Director General of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka

Dr. Stuart Pimm
Doris Duke Chair of Conservation Ecology, Duke University and President, Saving Nature
Dr. Lilian Pintea
Vice President of Conservation Science, Jane Goodall Institute

Dr. Michael Proctor
Canadian bear research ecologist; IUCN SCSC Bear Specialist Group

Dr. John (Junaidi) Payne
CEO, Borneo Rhino Alliance
INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY
Rodrigo is a Senior Professor at UNAM´s Institute of Ecology, working on mammal conservation in Mexico and 16 other countries. He has produced over 250 publications, presided various societies and represented Mexico before CITES and other MEAs. BBC, National Geographic, etc. have covered his work.
Dr. Tony Rebelo
Scientist, South African National Biodiversity Institute

Dr. William Ripple
Professor, Oregon State University

Dr. Lina Maria Sanchez-Clavijo
Principal Researcher, Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute
INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY
Rodrigo is a Senior Professor at UNAM´s Institute of Ecology, working on mammal conservation in Mexico and 16 other countries. He has produced over 250 publications, presided various societies and represented Mexico before CITES and other MEAs. BBC, National Geographic, etc. have covered his work.
Dr. Jan Schipper
Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, Phoenix Zoo
Dr. Çağan H. Şekercioğlu
Professor, University of Utah
Dr. Luis Anibal Solorzano
Tompkins Conservation; Princeton University
Dr. Jens-Christian Svenning
Professor, Aarhus University
Dr. Maria Tapia
Faculty Member, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
Dr. Patricia Townsend
Washington State University
Dr. Steve Trombulak
Professor Emeritus, Middlebury College

Dr. Ursula Valdez
Avian ecologist University of Washington Bothell
Dr. Oscar Venter
Professor, University of Northern British Columbia
Dr. Alan Weakley
Director, University of North Carolina Herbarium
Dr. Eric Wikramanayake
Environment Foundation Ltd, Sri Lanka
Dr. George Wittemyer
Colorado State University
Dr. Patricia Wright
Stony Brook University
EMERITUS TEAM MEMBERS

Dr. Eric Dinerstein
Co-Founder, Quick Response Fund for Nature
Eric brings more than four decades of hands-on experience saving endangered large mammals and tropical rainforest habitat to the QRFN. He is currently CEO of Nightjar and a Senior Expert on RESOLVE’s Conservation Solutions team.

Don Weeden
Co-Founder, Quick Response Fund for Nature
Stuart Pimm holds the Doris Duke Chair of Conservation at Duke University and is a leading authority on species extinctions and how to prevent them. His honours included the Tyler, Heineken, and Cosmos Prizes.

