the team

Justus serves as TNC’s program lead to the Nature for Water. He began his TNC career as a deal lead in its impact investment unit, NatureVest, where he was responsible for developing and structuring transactions in new product areas. Following this, he served as a conservation finance lead to the Resilient Watersheds Strategy with a focus on driving sources of long-term sustainable funding into sourcewater protection programs, including the network of 40+ water funds TNC is involved with. Prior to TNC Justus spent half a decade in the private finance sector, principally conducting private and public equity investing in the hedge fund space. Justus received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto in economics and international relations.

Michael serves as Pegasys’ program lead to the Nature for Water Facility. At Pegasys, Michael leads the Innovative Finance Practice. His team comprises multi-disciplinary professionals who create bespoke funds and facilities that aim to address critical livelihoods and ecosystem challenges across the Global South. Michael’s work includes the development of resource mobilization strategies and investment plans to help capitalize these funds and facility, with a distinct focus on using innovating approaches to attract private sector capital. Prior to joining Pegasys, Michael was a Sustainability Engineer at JG Afrika, conducting designs and construction supervision of sustainable infrastructure including solar PV, rainwater harvesting and waste-to-energy. He is a registered Professional Engineer, with a Masters of Engineering from the University of Cape Town in Sustainability and Systems Thinking. Michael was also part of the inaugural cohort for the Impact Finance Innovations Programme at the University of Oxford’s Saїd Business School, and has a Certificate in ESG Investing from the CFA Institute.

Emaan is an Engagement Manager for the Nature for Water Facility. She has extensive experience using strategic thinking, quantitative methods, economics and political analysis to solve environmental and development problems. Emaan is passionate about designing robust programs and putting communities at the center of her work. Prior to TNC, she spent 5 years as a management consultant, working primarily with financial sector and public sector clients in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Emaan holds a Master in Public Administration in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from New York University Abu Dhabi.

Stefania is an environmental social scientist. Her key interest is in finding collaborative solutions to water issues through strong partnerships with local communities, the private sector, and government agencies. She has training and experience in economics, behavioral science, governance and power, and socio-ecological systems. Stefania has worked in a variety of environmental sustainability projects using qualitative and quantitative research methods such as surveys, behavioral experiments, econometrics, and semi-structured interviews. Stefania holds a PhD in Resource Policy and Behavior (University of Michigan), a MS in Environmental  Policy and Planning (University of Michigan), and a BA in Economics (Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México).

Jack is a hydrologist with expertise in nature-based solutions, climate change and water resources. His key interest is exploring how water resources challenges interface with ecology, climate and society. Jack is a consultant at FutureWater, a Dutch research and consultancy organisation, and recently moved to the UK to work with TNC on the Norfolk Water Strategy. Outside of work, he loves getting out into nature—whether that be hiking, climbing, cycling or swimming.

Carolina has joined as a Portfolio Management Associate at the Facility, bringing over 7 years of diverse experience across various industries. She has managed cross-functional projects in dynamic, fast-paced environments and has directed effective marketing strategies for brands and services, with emphasis on market analysis and research. Carolina holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidad San Francisco de Quito and is a certified SCRUM Master from scrum.org. 

She has always been passionate about environmental and sustainable issues, but she found her admiration for nature even more, once she obtained her Open Water Diver License. Carolina loves to travel, she has lived in 4 different countries including Ecuador, Denmark, Brazil and Perú.

Kasuna serves as a Program Coordinator on the Facility, mainly focusing on the Operational aspects and coordination of engagements on the Facility. She has professional experience in Financial Management, Project Governance as well as Programme & Project Management. She has worked in the Telecommunications industry with complex and multiple projects varying from the deployment of Telecommunications infrastructure, Revenue Assurance, and ensuring the Operational Compliance and Operational efficiencies in line with industry Frameworks.

Environmental Scientist specializing in water and soil conservation, experienced in research for development and innovation. As a biologist with a Ph.D. in Agronomy (Soil Science) and a Master’s in Aquaculture (Aquatic Biology) from Sao Paulo State University - Brazil, my expertise lies in applying GIS modeling to watershed-integrated management, enhancing hydro-climatological surveys and sustainable land use within agroecosystems, including assessing land use drivers and carbon footprint. Beyond spatial data science, I’m passionate about driving science and nature-based solutions to support ecological restoration and promote regenerative agricultural practices that safeguard both people and nature.

Sabelo is a Management and GIS Consultant currently responsible for research, strategy and data analytics around livelihood vulnerability, environmental sustainability and disaster risk (i.e., climate change) in emerging economies, and various river basins within Africa. His technical background is extensive where he has implemented climate vulnerability analyses, that focuses on hazard/disaster-based simulation exercises to support varied projects and studies in the environmental and remediation space. He has a keen interest in the implementation of strategy over large spatial scales and how location-based/GIS information, together with how environmental profiling can be used in many ways to solve problems and make well-founded decisions, particularly in climate change /disaster risk adaptation and mitigation strategy.

Juan is a Water Resources Engineer with more than 10 years of experience in water-related environmental projects, including technical and policy development, as well as project management and coordination of interdisciplinary teams. He is a civil engineer and holds a master`s degree in water resources engineering (Universidad Nacional de Colombia). Juan has worked in several water-related projects in water sector consultancies and government agencies, involving hydrologic and hydraulic modelling of watersheds and aquatic ecosystems, and advised the development of technical documents, guidelines, and regulations in Colombia, related to integrated water resource management, including water quality, environmental flows, riparian zones, and sediment management. Until 2021, Juan worked with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development in Colombia, where he was in charge of the development and advisory on the application of technical standards and regulations related to sustainable watershed management. Juan also has experience as a trainer to diverse background audiences, including government agencies, non-government experts and communities, on sustainable water management.

Lola is an Engagement Consultant at the Facility, with 5 years of experience in fast-paced client delivery and research across the private sector, NGOs, and impact investing. Lola holds an M.A. in Sustainable Development from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial. Passionate about water, regenerative land use, and nature-based solutions, much of her work focuses on agriculture, biodiversity, and catchment management. Prior to joining Pegasys, Lola was working as a consultant for the Nature Conservancy, where she worked on Water Funds, and later she consulted for an early-stage impact investment fund, focused on ocean conservation. Previously, Lola has also led client engagements with FT500 companies and has experience leading multi-cultural teams in business development and research.

Peta-Gay is a Freshwater Science Associate with a passion for sustainable water solutions. Her expertise lies in water resource management, geology, GIS and hydrological modelling, Peta-Gay brings experience in research, environmental projects, and disaster management, with a focus on the Caribbean region.

Tamryn is an Environmental Scientist with a background in environmental and sustainability consulting. She has worked in a wide range of sectors and environments and joins the Nature for Water Facility as a consultant to assist in bridging the gap between all the role players.

With a commitment to environmental sustainability, Andrew has dedicated his professional journey in South Africa to tackling the pressing issues of climate change, particularly in developing nations. He's been involved in numerous projects that embrace a comprehensive strategy, blending community involvement, innovative solutions, and a focus on both socio-economic well-being and ecological resilience. 

Diana is an Environmental Manager and MSc. in Integrated Water Management from The University of Queensland. She is passionate about environmental, social, and sustainable development issues. Before joining the Nature for Water Facility, Diana worked as an analyst in the Water and Sanitation Division of a multilateral development bank overseeing large-scale water and sanitation infrastructure and solid waste projects. She is also the founder of an NGO that helps to empower and break poverty cycles among young people living in communities at high social risk in Costa Rica.

Débora Miranda serves as an Engagement Manager for the Water Facility, based in Brazil, overseeing N4W projects in the Americas. With 10 years of professional experience in Portfolio Management, Investments, and Governance, Debora has worked in the private equity sector, as well as in development finance and engineering. She also has experiences on structuring ESG and Diversity & Inclusion strategic plans. She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of São Paulo (Brazil) and participated in exchange programs in the USA and France.

Maria Camila is an Engagement Consultant for the Nature Water Facility. She has experience working with local governments in formulating, managing, and implementing Climate Change, adaptation, and nature-based solutions projects for various Colombian local governments. She has a specific interest in contributing to local solutions that are community-compatible. That helps identify and ideally reduce existing inequities, particularly with a focus on intersectional gender considerations. Maria Camila received a bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Medellín.

Luke is a multi-faceted practitioner whose experience spans environmental economics, project management, governance, strategy and policy development. He adopts an interdisciplinary approach to sustainable development problems and is passionate about creating synergies between environmental protection and socio-economic development. Luke has experience providing strategic advice related to Ecosystem-based Adaptation, natural capital, ecosystem services, and assessing and establishing market-based mechanisms for environmental protection. This includes conducting in-field research and facilitating stakeholder workshops related to these topics. Luke’s environmental economics expertise involves performing economic analyses on projects including cost-benefit analyses and valuation of non-market benefits. Luke also has experience advising on governance and regulatory structures for public and private sector clients – particularly with funds and programmes specialising in watershed investment and climate adaptation. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Law from the University of Cape Town and an MPhil in Environmental Policy from the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, Luke spends his time emersed in nature; he is an avid trail runner and rock climber. 

Douglas is a land and water resources specialist/engineer with a wealth of experience in the agriculture, water and environment sectors covering field practice, project management and research for development. He has successfully supported efforts aimed at improved agricultural productivity and sustainable land and water management in agricultural landscapes for improved food and water security systems. As a trainer/facilitator, he has provided numerous capacity building trainings to farmers/local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations and academic personnel on agricultural land and water management and the application of ICT based decision support tools (GIS, Remote Sensing and IoT) for sustainable management and development of land and water resources, especially in agricultural landscapes. Douglas holds a PhD (Doctor of engineering sciences) in Hydrology and Water Resources Management (Vrije Universiteit Brussel -VUB, Belgium), a Master of Science in Water Resources Engineering (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - KUL, Belgium) and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Biosystems Engineering (University of Nairobi - UoN, Kenya).

Guy is a Professionally Registered Engineer working as a water specialist and Consulting Manager within Pegasys. His 13 years of experience covers a broad range including water resource management, hydrological and hydraulic modelling, dam and hydraulic structures design, construction management, people management and project management. Additionally, this experience has been gained across all spheres of the project life cycle from strategic planning, concept development and design, and feasibility studies through to detailed design, implementation and monitoring. Guy has worked on projects across most of the SADC region, as well as further abroad in Saudi Arabia. Guy holds a BSc (Civil Eng.) with Honours from the University of Cape Town and a MSc (Civil Eng.) from Stellenbosch University and is also a member of the South African National Committee on Large Dams (SANCOLD) Management Committee.

Carlos is a Civil Engineer with a Masters in Hydraulic Resources. He leverages his extensive knowledge of hydrological and hydraulic mathematical modeling to develop successful nature-based solutions programs in Colombia that sustainably manage water resources for the benefit of people and nature. He specializes in providing thoughtful consultation for projects related to the analysis of hydrographic basins, hydraulic studies of rivers, management of geographic information systems, and generation of software and applications that analyze and compile large quantities of information.

Bruce is an experienced hydrologist with a passion for sustainable land-use management. Bruce has had a long career at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he refined various hydrological models to improve their accuracy in climatically variable catchments in South Africa. More recently he has been an independent consultant working on flood and catchment models in Africa. Bruce loves all sports and is keen on exploring new landscapes, preferably with his dogs.

Thomas is passionate about environmental and sustainable development issues and uses his financial and project management skills to design and implement innovative solutions that benefit both nature and people. Thomas has 15 years of blended experience in project finance, development finance, renewable energies, and nature-based solutions. This allows him to bring different perspectives on how to effectively engage stakeholders in conservation programmes. For the past 3 years, Thomas has led the Blue Energy Mechanism initiative, a joint Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy effort to set up Payment for Ecosystem Services schemes with the hydropower sector. Outside of work, nature is also very much a central part of his life, as he enjoys mountain biking and hiking whenever he can.

Caroline has worked in the climate change and natural resource management sectors for the past ten years, and brings both technical and managerial expertise in the planning, design and delivery programmes across the African continent. Caroline’s core technical competencies lie in the fields of climate adaptation, gender equality and social inclusion, and transboundary water management, where she is passionate about conducting research, writing strategies and funding proposals, and engaging stakeholders from local through to regional scales.

Erik is an Engagement Manager for the Facility. He has experience in broad-based strategy, financial & market modelling, and enterprise growth experience consulting for investment funds and businesses in Europe. He has since pivoted to climate and development, working with organizations such as the African Development Bank and the Gates Foundation. His NbS experience includes costing and funding analyses, and portfolio design.

Muriel is currently an Engagement Manager at Pegasys, particularly interested in building sustainable solutions for climate adaptation in the global South. Muriel is very excited to work with N4W and TNC leveraging NbS to improve sustainable access to water across the world. Previously, Muriel was a Senior Consultant at the Ipsos Strategy3 team across the New York and London offices, working on building innovation and growth strategies for private sector players, with a particular focus on healthcare (Pharma and Consumer Healthcare). Muriel holds a Master's of Public Administration in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School, a program focused on leveraging technical macroeconomic and microeconomic tools to solve some of the biggest challenges countries face to build more equitable societies. Muriel graduated from Georgetown's Walsh School of Foreign Service, with an Honors degree in International Economics and an Honors Certificate in International Business Diplomacy. In her free time, Muriel is an avid reader and loves being outside as much as she can (pending on London's weather). 

Anne-Louise is the Knowledge and Impact Manager for the Facility. Based in London, she has a strong background in natural resource management and climate change adaptation. She has supported the pre-feasibility assessment of several Water Funds and co-authored the How-to Guide for preparing Watershed Investment Programs alongside TNC. Anne-Louise has a background in institutional and policy analysis and has experience in designing stakeholder mapping and engagement tools. Additionally, she has been involved in the design of multiple M&E frameworks for large scale projects and has led the knowledge management of the UK’s flagship forestry program. She holds a Master’s of Public Administration in Development Practice from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).

Amber is an Engagement Manager with over 7 years of experience working in consulting, sustainability, international development, and data. Before joining the Nature for Water Facility, Amber was a Managing Consultant leading Guidehouse’s NGOs account and working on sustainability and data solutions for the U.S. General Services Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation. She has also worked on international development projects for Goodwill Industries International and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Amber holds an MS of Sustainability Management and BA of International Studies from American University.