André joined LLF in November 2022. He has been working with environmental and social safeguards related to the conservation of indigenous territories for 12 years. For 11 years, he worked at the Brazilian National Indigenous Foundation, supporting the implementation of land management programs and policies in partnership with dozens of indigenous peoples in the Amazon and Cerrado. More recently, André worked for The Nature Conservancy, advancing REDD for Early Movers projects in 12 indigenous lands.

André holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Ecology from the Federal University of Tocantins and the State University of São Paulo, respectively.

“LLF represents a necessary change in the conservation strategy by bringing long-term funding, and a strong social and environmental safeguards approach, to underfunded and the most biodiverse protected areas in the world. It’s an honor to be part of its international team and contribute to a more diverse and equal conservation vision.”

Kahlia joined LLF in August 2022. She has experience in nature conservation in the public and nonprofit sector and has lived and worked in Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Honduras. She previously worked for the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin on their urban wildlife monitoring programs, for a community-based conservation NGO in Honduras on mangrove reforestation and sustainable livelihoods, and as an evolutionary biology research assistant at the University of Manitoba, Canada.

Kahlia holds a dual Master of Science degree in International Nature Conservation with a focus on protected area management from Georg-August University, Germany, and Lincoln University, New Zealand.

“I believe that LLF presents a great opportunity for nature conservation worldwide, not only in terms of the long-term protection of biodiversity, but also the potential to positively impact the communities that are part of the legacy landscapes. I look forward to putting my energy and passion for nature conservation into the success of this project.”

Leah joined LLF in August 2022 as Program Coordinator. Prior to joining LLF, Leah was a trainee at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States in Washington, D.C. Previously, she worked on climate and land use issues at Climate Focus, a Berlin-based consultancy, as an analyst for sustainable development at the French Embassy to Japan, and at the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme in Rabat, Morocco, where she supported the implementation and scaling-up of the Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas Global Support Initiative (ICCA-GSI). She is the co-author of a study on the potential and feasibility of land-based measures to mitigate climate change (Roe et al., 2021) and the author of a piece on the recognition of community-conserved areas in Morocco.

Leah holds a master’s degree in International Development, focused on Environment and Project Management from Sciences Po Paris’ School of International Affairs (PSIA) and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Sciences Po Paris. She also spent one year studying Geography at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

“It’s a privilege to work for an institution that not only strives to effectively and sustainably support the world’s most important protected areas and their buffer zones, but also puts respecting the human rights and needs of local communities at the core of its activity.  I look forward to contributing to the success of LLF-funded projects globally and to welcoming new legacy landscapes!”

Ciannait joined LLF in January 2022 as Communications Coordinator. Ciannait has experience in communications across the nonprofit sector, having previously worked with Médecins sans frontières (MSF) and the Digital Freedom Fund. As a journalist, Ciannait regularly writes about conservation and environmental protection. She has lived and worked in Ireland, Germany, Serbia and the US.

“I’m eager to put my experience to good use in the global battle against biodiversity loss. I humbly acknowledge the many complexities that this work entails, but I believe LLF has immense potential to contribute to conservation efforts around the world, and I hope to make myself an asset to them.”

Dr. Ilka Herbinger began her work at LLF in January 2022. She has been working in conservation for almost 20 years, first building up and directing an international NGO for the protection of wild chimpanzees and their tropical rainforest habitat in West Africa. Over the past 10 years she joined WWF Germany as Program lead for Central and West Africa. More recently she has gained extensive expertise in environmental and social safeguarding which she is eager to apply to her work in the Legacy Landscape Fund.

Following studies in anthropology, biology and intercultural didactics, Ilka obtained her PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology and University of Leipzig. She is member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission/ Primate Specialist group, has served as board member on several African based conservation trust funds and steering committees and is author of various conservation relevant publications.

“With excitement I join the Legacy Landscape Fund to engage in safeguarding conservation actions within the Legacy Landscape Fund. To reverse the loss of biodiversity, I believe it is crucial to drive best practice conservation together and in line with the aspirations of local key stakeholders.”

Lea Helm joined LLF in April 2021. Prior to this, Lea worked as a Program Assistant on realizing efficiency and sustainability gains in international humanitarian aid as part of the MSF Transformational Investment Capacity at Médicins Sáns Frontiers. Previously, she completed several internships around sustainable development, ozone- and climate protection and fair trade at the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in Santiago, Chile, at GIZ in Germany, and at a cooperative in northern Peru.

Lea recently received her master’s degree in International Economics, with focus on socio-ecological transition approaches, from the Berlin School of Economics and Law.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to be part of LLF and look forward to helping this innovative initiative to create long-term global impact and address one of the greatest challenges of our time.”