Minnie Degawan

Ms. Minnie Degawan is the Managing Director of the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), bringing over three decades of experience advocating for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and advancing inclusive conservation. A proud member of the Kankanaey-Igorot people of the Cordillera region in the Philippines, Minnie has worked extensively with global organizations to integrate Indigenous knowledge and leadership into forest stewardship and climate action.

Her distinguished career includes roles with World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Conservation International, and Re:Wild where she led initiatives on Indigenous partnerships, global policy engagement and forest carbon finance. Prior to that, she was an Indigenous rights activist working with local, national, and global Indigenous Peoples’ organizations. As Managing Director, Ms. Minnie is guiding the Foundation to deepen its impact as a credible Indigenous-led organization, strengthening global collaborations that elevate Indigenous Peoples as leaders in sustainable forest management.