Innovations for Ocean Action Foundation

A quantitative ecologist with over 20 years of experience in fishery stock assessment, Rodrigo held a Ph.D. in Biology and Statistics from the University of St. Andrews and M.Sc. in Fisheries and B.Sc. in Marine Biology from the University of Concepción. He played a key role in establishing the Centre for Applied Ecology and Sustainability at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, advised Chile’s government and global bodies like CCAMLR on stock assessments and authored over 70 studies in peer-reviewed journals. A recipient of the CCAMLR Young Scientist Award, his leadership in projects with the Chilean Fisheries Institute (IFOP) and the Coastal Social-Ecological Millennium Institute (SECOS) bridged ecological modeling and community-driven governance.

Dr. Wiff, who collaborated with I4OA Foundation as an Affiliated Scientist, passed away suddenly on September 21, 2025. We deeply mourn the loss of a friend and exceptional scientist, whose expertise, talent and profound collaborative spirit greatly enriched our work both professionally and personally.

Milagros holds a degree in Tourism Administration from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, graduating first in her class. She has extensive experience in event planning, logistics coordination, and team operations. Currently, she provides logistics support to various organizations, planning budgets, and managing travel arrangements, and events. Previously, she managed administrative duties in a Peruvian restaurant in Chile, coordinated guest services at a major international hotel chain, and assisted in handling selection processes and contract documentation for a medical equipment supplier in Peru. Milagros excels in facilitating effective communication and collaboration.

Viviana Jurado is a biologist with over 18 years of experience in fisheries research and management in Ecuador, specializing in biological and fisheries indicators, population dynamics, and stock assessment. She has led technical and research projects to promote sustainability in both artisanal and industrial fisheries, working closely with fishing communities, NGOs, and government agencies. Viviana holds a degree in Biology from the University of Guayaquil, a Master’s in Climate Change from the Faculty of Maritime Engineering at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), and a diploma in Fisheries Assessment from the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (PUCV), Chile. Her expertise positions her as a technical leader in fisheries evaluation, monitoring, and the strengthening of strategies for climate-resilient and sustainable fisheries management.

David Población is a software architect with over 20 years of experience in backend development, distributed systems, and real-time data processing. He has led the evolution of large-scale platforms, including a fleet management system for over 60,000 vehicles. David now focuses on applying emerging technologies to marine resource governance, designing digital solutions that provide transparent, tamper-proof records to support small-scale fishers, regulatory compliance, and sustainable practices. He combines deep technical expertise with a commitment to scalable, open systems that empower communities and institutions through digital transformation.

With a B.Sc. in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University, Christina has dedicated her career to garnering philanthropic backing of the on-the-ground initiatives of international environmental nonprofit organizations. Her extensive experience of more than three decades in building institutional partnerships, strategy development, relationship management, and grant writing includes roles at Re:wild, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland, and the Surfrider Foundation, among others.

Maria Tae has built her career at the intersection of fisheries governance and international cooperation in Timor-Leste. Holding a BSc in Geology and Environmental Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, she served as institutional focal point for a wide range of regional and global initiatives while working as officer at the Directorate General of Fisheries, including the Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices (RPOA-IUU), the Lusophone Countries Network for Combating IUU Fishing, the GloLitter Partnerships Project, and JICA-supported fisheries programmes. Her work has taken her from MCS training in Nha Trang, Vietnam, to Port State Measures inspection in Lisbon, Portugal, and to international forums where she has presented as a speaker on women, peace, security and maritime environmental crime. At I4OA, Maria serves as Project Specialist, bringing frontline expertise in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance and a deep knowledge of the regulatory and institutional landscape of Timor-Leste.

With nearly four decades of experience across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, José Parajua contributes to I4OA as Senior Adviser through Kail Advisory Center, I4OA's consultancy branch. He began his career as an onboard tuna researcher for the Spanish Institute of Oceanography before leading its Fisheries Office in the Seychelles. From field research he moved into high-level policy work, serving as Chief Technical Adviser for European Commission twinning projects that helped align Poland fisheries sector framework with EU Common Fisheries Policy, and later as General Director of the Cluster of Fishing Companies in Third Countries, supporting 125 companies operating across 30 countries. He subsequently joined the UN FAO as Regional Programme Manager for the RFLP Programme in South and Southeast Asia and later as Chief Technical Adviser in Myanmar and Uganda, and served as Fisheries Director at the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. Throughout his career, José has led teams of over 100 professionals and managed programme budgets exceeding $20 million.

Carlos Riquelme Maripangue is a data scientist and quantitative analyst with a disciplinary foundation that spans veterinary medicine, applied ecology, and climate risk assessment. A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Universidad de Concepción, with an MSc in Applied Ecology from the Universidad Austral de Chile and currently completing a PhD in Biological Sciences at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, he has built a career applying advanced statistical and spatial modelling to complex environmental problems. His extensive knowledge of statistical computing, geospatial analysis, remote sensing, and machine learning has been deployed across climate vulnerability assessment, species distribution modelling, invasive species dynamics, agroecological monitoring, and predictive analytics for the private sector. He is also co-developer of npphen, a published R package for detecting and mapping extreme vegetation anomalies from satellite imagery. At I4OA, Carlos serves as Data Science Specialist, bringing rigorous quantitative methods and cross-disciplinary expertise to support the Foundation's analytical and research needs.

María Núñez Nogueiras is a financial analyst and business management adviser with over a decade of experience supporting organisations in financial planning, cost structure management, budgeting, treasury forecasting and decision-making. Holding a degree in Business Administration and Management with a specialisation in Finance from the Universidad de Vigo, she has worked across a range of sectors, contributing to management committees and leading ERP implementation processes. She currently operates as an independent professional through her own consultancy, Nogueiras Consultoría, and also teaches finance and business management in vocational and professional training programmes. At I4OA, María serves as Financial Analyst and Controller, providing financial oversight and management support to the Foundation.