Dr. Diego L. Gil-Agudelo is a marine biologist and conservation leader with nearly 30 years of experience leading research and conservation programs across the Americas. A Fulbright Scholar with a PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of South Carolina, he has held leadership roles at INVEMAR, Colombia’s national marine research institute; Ecopetrol; Texas A&M University at Galveston; LightHawk; SERVIR (a USAID and NASA partnership); and the Hispanic Access Foundation. His work spans marine research, mangrove monitoring, and community-led conservation, including efforts to support the co-management of mangroves along Colombia’s Pacific coast. This work earned him the Alejandro Ángel Escobar Award, one of Colombia’s highest conservation honors. As CEO of Mangrove Action Project, Diego brings his scientific expertise and international leadership experience to advancing community-led mangrove conservation and restoration worldwide.