Aiala is a geographer passionate about the Amazon, holding a doctorate in Socioenvironmental Development Sciences from UFPA. A professor at UEPA, he is dedicated to sharing his extensive knowledge about the region. As president of the Mãe Crioula Institute, he leads innovative initiatives focused on forest conservation and sustainable development.
Belén Páez is an Ecuadorian ecologist and socio-environmental leader, currently serving as the Executive President of the Pachamama Foundation. An expert in climate change and indigenous rights, she serves as the Secretary-General of the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative. Her work encompasses climate finance, bioeconomy, and the legal defense of the rights of nature.
Carolina Suárez Visbal is a leader in philanthropy and impact investment ecosystems in Latin America. A lawyer with an LL.M. in International Trade Law, she has over two decades of experience mobilizing strategic capital and building networks, including Latimpacto, where she serves as CEO, promoting multisectoral collaborations that connect leaders, organizations, and resources to drive social and environmental solutions.
Dr. Claudia Vega is a prominent analytical chemist and wildlife veterinarian dedicated to addressing mercury pollution. As the coordinator of the Mercury Program at CINCIA (Wake Forest University), she conducts pioneering research on the impacts of artisanal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon, bridging laboratory science with public policy solutions.
Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai is an Achuar leader from Ecuador with over 30 years of involvement in the Amazonian indigenous movement. He is president of the Sacred Headwaters Alliance (28 organizations) and co-founder of the Escuela Viva Amazónica (EVA), a leadership program for indigenous youth. He founded the Achuar Nation of Ecuador (NAE) and COBNAEB. He has also driven community tourism projects in Sharamentsa and Kapawi. His leadership in environmental protection has earned him international recognition, including the WIN WIN Award, the Gothenburg Sustainability Award, and the Keeling Curve Prize.
A leader in sustainability and diplomacy, Gustavo Manrique served as Ecuador’s Minister of Environment and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is internationally recognized for leading the world’s largest debt-for-nature swap and for driving significant marine conservation efforts, including the expansion of the Galápagos protection zones.
Maria José Andrade Cerda is a prominent young leader of the Kichwa people of Serena (Ecuador). Representing a new generation of indigenous advocates, she combines ancestral wisdom with political advocacy within CONFENIAE to protect the Amazon biome and ensure the self-determination of indigenous peoples.
Ninawa Inu Huni Kuin is one of the most prominent voices of the Huni Kuin people. As President of FEPHAC, he works on the front lines of defending Indigenous territorial rights, protecting culture and spirituality, and preserving forests, representing the Amazon in major global climate forums and at COPs.
Tasso Azevedo is a Brazilian environmentalist and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and coordinator of MapBiomas, a collaborative land-use monitoring network, and SEEG, which tracks greenhouse gas emissions. He was the first Director-General of the Brazilian Forest Service and one of the primary architects of the Amazon Fund.
Rodrigo V. Cunha is the licensed organizer of TEDxAmazônia, an event that brings together solutions for caring for the planet’s most biodiverse biome, leading a team in Brazil and across the pan-Amazon region. He was the first TED Ambassador in Latin America and is CEO and founder of Profile, a communications agency focused on sustainability and climate transition. In 2020, he launched the book Humanos de Negócios, born from a project started in 2018 that tells stories of leaders seeking to (re)humanize the business world.
Veronica Reed is a specialist in environmental design, energy efficiency, and climate-responsive architecture. She serves as vice president of the Ecuador Green Building Council (CEES) and is a reference in environmental certification systems for buildings. She is founder of VIVA Arquitectura and the Sustainable Design Studio, with expertise in climate-adapted architecture and energy performance. Her work focuses on sustainable architecture, community development, and infrastructure for sustainable tourism. She has also collaborated with communities in the Amazon on the Naku and Kapawi projects. Veronica is a TED Fellow and has organized TEDxQuito since 2011.
Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter is an impact investor and ecosystem builder from Ecuador, as well as co-founder and General Partner of IMPAQTO Capital. She deeply believes in the concept of proximity capital: investments designed by those closest to the realities, opportunities, and futures of a region. Currently, her work is focused on building a fund for the Andean Amazon, with a bioregional approach that reflects the interdependence between communities, economies, and ecosystems. For TEDxAmazônia Ecuador 2026, she serves as Guest Curator.
