Who we are

Governance

The FSC-IF is an Indigenous-led global organization, governed by a Council with Indigenous representatives from around the world who is responsible to provide the strategic guidance of the Foundation and ensure that it operates in line with its mission, values, and principles.

FSC Indigenous Foundation Council

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim Chair of FSC-IF Council, Coordinator of the Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad (AFPAT) and Coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC)

Peggy Smith Professor Emerita in Lakehead University’s Faculty of Natural Resources Management

Gregorio Mirabal Climate Change and Biodiversity Coordinator of COICA

Nicholas Mujah Ason General Secretary of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)

Kim Carstensen Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Forest Stewardship Council Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee

The Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC) is a global advisory committee of Indigenous representatives from all regions of the planet to advise the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International Board on the FSC certification system, safeguard Indigenous Peoples’ rights, enhance forest management, and support Indigenous Peoples in building FSC certified forest stewardship, increasing their market share and value.

FSC Indigenous Foundation Staff

Sarah Banda-Genchev Interim Managing Director

Carlos Blandon IPARD Program Director and Program Lead – Political Incidence, Rights and Social Participation

Dan Sosa Director of Finance and Administration

Salina Sanou IPARD Program Deputy Director and Regional Director for Africa and Asia

Laurence Portal IPARD Program Lead – Capacity Development and Inclusion

Fredy Duque IPARD Program Lead – Business Opportunities & Private Sector Engagement

Maatal Pérez Conguache Interim Program Lead, Indigenous Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative (I-WEE)

Katherine Coronado Mejia Partnership and Program Manager

Giovanna Monteverde Monitoring, Evaluation, and Social Learning Lead

Portrait of Patricia Rojas IPARD Finance And Administration Manager.

Patricia Rojas IPARD Senior Finance and Administration Manager

Satnam Manhas Senior Manager, Indigenous Capacity Support Canada

Selina Baños Manager of Indigenous Engagement

Ursula Araya Private Sector Engagement Specialist

Portrait of Mary Donovan IPARD Program And Communication Officer.

Mary Donovan Communication Specialist

Leila Reyes ‪Indigenous Peoples Affairs Officer – Honduras

Yeshing Juliana Upún Yos IDAMS Program Officer

Luis Hurtado Yau IPARD Procurement and Sub-Awards Officer

Darwin Gudiel Velásquez Joachín I-WEE Finance and Administration Officer

Betsy Itzel Nelson Valdés Program Assistant Political Incidence, Rights and Social Participation

Yaily Castillo I-WEE Program Assistant, Youth Engagement Focal Point

Cindy Kobei IPARD Program Assistant Africa, Youth Engagement Focal Point

Juan Samaniego IPARD Program Finance Assistant

Judith Arias Youth Program Assistant

Donors and supporters

In August 2020, FSC-IF signed the agreement to launch its first major undertaking: a Global Development Alliance (GDA) with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC Global Development GmbH).
If you are interested in partnering to support the IPARD program, please visit

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