Board & Staff

Paige is the program director for the Climate and Energy Funders Group, where she works with funders to facilitate collaboration and expand the field of climate and energy philanthropy. Paige most recently served as the senior program manager for the Corporation for Enterprise Development, focusing on environmental stewardship and economic development. She served as the climate change program director at Redefining Progress and worked on incentives for biodiversity protection at the World Resources Institute. Paige served as a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report for the role of forests and land use in climate change, leading to her receiving a share of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Albert holds a BA in business administration, a master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has in-depth experience in financial management, project management, organizational development, and communications strategies through multiple mediums. As an international relations practitioner, Albert aims to synthesize and advance the understanding of international politics, economics, human rights, and environment, to have a better-informed public and shape good policymaking and resource allocation.

Dubán has 15 years of experience in public, private, and international organizations, building and leading initiatives that contribute to the transformation of society and the benefit of ecosystems and their communities, especially in Colombia. Prior joining BFG, he contributed to establishing and implementing the CLUA Initiative in Colombia and Peru as a program officer. Before CLUA, Dubán contributed to advancing the study of plant biodiversity in Colombia for conservation and sustainable use purposes at the country’s two largest botanical gardens.

Dubán holds a PhD degree in Natural Sciences from the Freie University of Berlin in Germany, a master’s degree in Natural Sciences from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the Universidad Distrital in Bogotá, Colombia. He is Colombian and based in Bogotá.

Cristina holds a master’s degree in international relations from San Francisco State University, where she studied the intrinsic connection of environmental issues as they relate to economic development, with a focus on conflict in Colombia and the Middle East. Cristina also holds a bachelor of the arts in languages and literature from the University of Milan and is proficient in Italian and Spanish. She is interested in animal welfare and  exploring connections between environmental issues and our global economic system.

A Los Angeles resident with Afro-Caribbean roots, Monica was born and raised in San Francisco and holds degrees in broadcast and communications from San Francisco State University. Monica gained experience in membership, customer service, and community organizing while working in public and nonprofit sectors. Prior to BFG, Monica worked for Los Angeles County as a public assistance eligibility worker and a small claims court advisor.

Judy has over four decades of experience in grassroots movements and social justice philanthropy and led grantmaking programs at the Crossroads Fund, the Funding Exchange, and the Environmental Support Center. She authored or co-authored reports on philanthropy, organizing, and environmental justice. Judy served on several national boards of directors, most recently for Coming Clean, Inc., Tides Advocacy, and Peace At Any Pace. Judy worked for People’s Action, Amnesty International USA, Community Change, and the Pesticide Action Network. A graduate of Northwestern University, Judy earned certificates from Naropa University, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and Rockwood Leadership Institute, among others.

Dio Jakubow is a project specialist working across civic, cultural, and creative industries. She has contributed to projects in hospitality, tech, healthcare, and entertainment, most recently partnering with various organizations in the Bay Area to produce events. Dio holds a degree from NYU and is based in San Francisco.

Lisa has held many leadership roles across the conservation community. For more than ten years, she served as CEO of Campion Foundation, creating the Campion Advocacy Fund, a 501(c)(4) to protect public lands and foster Indigenous-led campaigns. She recently transitioned Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center to promoting climate-resilient practices through regenerative agriculture and environmental stewardship. Lisa was also deputy director for People For Puget Sound, where she helped protect 1,000 miles of shoreline. Lisa serves on the board of the Western Conservation Foundation and the Endangered Species Coalition, and holds a BA from Trinity College and an Executive MBA Certificate from Stanford University.

Kianna is Diné, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, with years of non-profit experience working alongside Indigenous organizations and professionals to promote self-determination and educational equity. Guided by Diné teachings, Kianna addresses socio-political issues impacting Indigenous communities through writing, climate justice curriculum development, and advocacy for Rights of Nature and MMIWG2S+. She holds a BA in Political Science and Ethnicity & Race Studies at Columbia University and is completing her MA in Politics & Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Eliza has close to a decade of nonprofit experience. At Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, she helped open the Environmental Education Center to foster environmental stewardship for all ages, and also served as program officer for the Marine Conservation team at Wildlife Conservation Society, where she honed skills in event planning and conservation. Eliza holds a BA from Colby College in environmental science with a concentration in marine science. She is passionate about protecting the environment and making positive changes in local and global communities.

Gerald previously served as facility manager/webmaster with the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and webmaster for the Oakland Museum of California, along with various similar roles with the City of Oakland. Before working in IT, Gerald had a long career in theater, holds a BA in theater/film production from Columbia College Chicago, and also has completed extensive graduate work in media studies. He earned Webmaster Certification from the University of Delaware along with tech classes at San Francisco State University and the College of Alameda. He has recently been active in local politics, focusing on affordable housing and mass transportation.

Originally from Mexico, Minerva has over a decade of experience in natural resource conservation in collaboration with local communities, with a vision of solving environmental challenges at the national, regional, and local scale. She has worked to design and apply public policies and initiatives, including territorial management instruments and coastal resource management and conservation. Minerva has worked in environmental impact, land use planning, geographic information systems, climate change adaptation, Indigenous and rural community development, and focused on blue carbon as an adaptation and mitigation strategy. She has coordinated impact platforms and facilitated strategic planning processes.

Megan has extensive experience working with a range of global and domestic NGOs in both policy-oriented and philanthropic roles focusing on strategic partnerships, programmatic preparedness, and fund development. With a strong knowledge of environmental policy and international frameworks, Megan holds a master’s in environment and development from the University of Edinburgh as well as a bachelor’s in communication studies from the University of San Francisco. Through her work, she continues to explore the inter-dependencies between environmental concerns and development pressures, especially as they relate to climate change and energy demand.