Meet the Team

Claus settled in Latin America, in 1997, starting with a six-year stint in the Amazon engaging indigenous people in environmental monitoring, sustainable economic development, including ecotourism; and establishing innovative protected areas management regimes. Some of Latin America’s most renowned lawyers then trained him in legal matters and human rights based development strategies. Claus managed, for seven years, intercultural governance and poverty eradication programs in Central America, served as director to a World Bank infrastructure project and managed a land titling process in culturally complex territories in collaboration with national environment authorities. He spent two years as a consultant evaluating natural resource management programs and most recently he was the regional representative of the environment organization, Forests of the World. Before Google Earth existed, Claus was conducting expeditions to the Earth’s most remote and indigenous territories. He co-owned the Danish travel agency “Seven C’s Adventure Group” which financed his studies and was eventually sold after five years.

Education: Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor / MSc International Development Studies from Aalborg University and Roskilde University, Denmark.

Mark is an educator, wilderness guide, and conservationist who arrived in Mamoní, Panama in 2013 to volunteer with Geoversity for leadership training and conservation efforts. Over the last decade, he has been leading the team in building out Geoversity’s rainforest campus’ facilities with practicality and sustainable closed-loop systems in mind, developed a deep understanding of the local biodiversity and culture, while creating and leading programs for local and international groups throughout the Mamoní Valley and Panama. As co-founder and CEO of Experience Mamoní, Mark in 2019 merged the company with Geoversity to create the Life Changer program experiences as part of the Geoversity’s School programs, where he now manages. He is trained in emergency response and jungle survival, and, while living in Canada, specialized in landscape construction and machinery operation. Being raised in Aruba, Mark is a true waterman and speaks four languages. 

Educational background: Accounting and business administration, graduating cum laude from Laurentian University Canada, and is a Certified Wilderness Guide from the PAWGI system. His passions; surfing, diving, permaculture, nature, life long pursuit of learning and discovery, and continuing to explore the natural world and its diverse cultures.

Esmeralda is in charge of Hospitality at Geoversity Foundation’s main campus in Panama. Esmeralda prioritizes the importance of health and searches for the nutrition that will make people vibrant and healthy during their stay. She specializes in the culinary experiences that will expand visitors pallets’ to the varieties of food that are available within the rainforest. She has a passion for sharing her extensive knowledge and appreciation of the rainforest with visitors. In her words, “What you have is gold if you pay attention”. In her spare time, you can find her experimenting with natural remedies, medicine, and products. Esmeralda is also a mother to three beautiful children.

BA in Accounting with a Minor in English.

Rolando’s background and skills are thoroughly multidisciplinary. His experience includes working with law firms, nonprofits, businesses, and local government, ranging from legal advice to qualitative research. In 2016, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship for graduate studies in Washington, DC, where he worked for the DOEE and consulted for local nonprofits. He later joined UNLEASH, a community of young leaders tackling global issues, as the first and only Panamanian at the time. Since 2018, he contributes his interdisciplinary training and experiences to advance Geoversity’s mission at Mamoní. Rolando speaks three languages and is a certified interpreter. He is also a bassist and an avid boulderer.

Educational background: M.A. in Environmental Policy from GWU; Master of Environmental Management from UIP; Bachelor of Laws from UP.

Delia is a Panamanian with over 18 years of experience running her own financial management company. She is the staff in our organization with the longest history and has been in charge of our finances since 2007.

Educational background: Certified Public Accountant, Panama.

Surub is Guna and a specialist in indigenous peoples issues, human rights, international cooperation and collective land titling processes. He is working with Geoversity as community facilitator in our EUROCLIMA+ project related to non carbon benefits and Global Climate Change processes, in the Mamoní Valley and Emberá communities.

Educational background: Degree in philosophy from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana de Medellín, Colombia and Postgraduate in Conflict Mediation.

Andrea’s passions lie at the interface where science and environmental outreach meets education for a better tomorrow. Science, nature, and the environment have always been an endless source of wonder and amazement for her, and she believes in its power to inspire students, and people, of all ages. Before coming to Panama, Andrea worked with The National Audubon Society and The National Science Foundation in the US, and later continued her research in Panama when she arrived in 2013 working for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. However, as her science career progressed, it naturally evolved towards education as well. After working with the Smithsonian, she transitioned into nature-based teaching, using her passion and love for the natural world, to help inspire and empower young learners. After several years working in international schools, she set off on her own to develop true nature-based educational programs utilizing Panama’s amazing natural and cultural history as a basis for learning. Andrea joined Geoversity to facilitate the shared dreams and visions of biocultural leadership.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and a minor in Geology from Unity College. Certificate of Forest School Principals. Certificate of Integrating Literacy and Scientific Inquires into K-6 Classrooms.

Juan Carlos is the vice chair for the implementation of the UN Climate Convention for 2022. He is the founder of Climate Resilient, a policy think tank based in the Dominican Republic, and has vast experience on climate transparency, carbon markets and nature-based solutions. He previously served as lead climate negotiator for Panama, chair of the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC) and co-coordinator of the ambition agenda for AILAC and the Cartagena Dialogue. At COP26, he led the youngest delegation in history to represent a country at the UN Climate Negotiations. His work is informed by his upbringing in El Pájaro de Pesé, a rural community in Panama’s Dry Corridor.
Monterrey co-authored the executive decrees that established the national carbon market of Panama and the national low-emissions development and climate transparency program. He was a core member of the teams tasked with the development of the 2016 Panamanian Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and its 2020 update. Juan Carlos was the youngest deputy head of a country delegation in 2015 during negotiations of the Paris Agreement. He is a member of the inaugural class of Obama Foundation Scholars and currently coordinates a World Bank technical assistance to support the implementation of the national carbon market in Panama.

Educational background: B.A. in Economics from Tulane University and M.A. in International Development Policy from the University of Chicago.

Rodolfo is a Certified Public Accountant. He is currently studying for a Specialization in Taxation and a Master’s Degree in Tax Management at the Specialized University of the Authorized Public Accountant (UNESCPA). He began his work experience as an accounting assistant in several companies. He joined Geoversity in 2019 as an external accountant. Since 2018, he has been in charge of the accounting department at Cevaxin. And additionally he brings external accounting to natural and legal clients.

Educational Background: Graduated from the Interamerican University of Panama (UIP) in 2018 with a degree in Accounting.