Board of Directors

Melina was founding director of the Amazon Alliance for Indigenous Peoples and Their Environment in WDC, a coalition of 80 organizations – including International Rivers. Recently she was a program officer at the Goldman Environmental Prize. She has consulted with dozens of organizations in the areas of strategic program development and indigenous rights. She has a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University and teaches Latin American politics. Widely published, Melina is the author of Ethnopolitics in Ecuador: Indigenous Rights and the Strengthening of Democracy. Board member since 2019. 

Chance Cutrano is the Director of Programs at the Marin-based Resource Renewal Institute (RRI). Chance’s work centers around large landscape conservation—from the preservation of wildlife in National Parks to the restoration of biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems. Most recently, Chance has been developing Fish in the Fields, a regenerative aquaculture program, reintroducing native fish to rice fields in the United States. Prior to his time at RRI, Chance researched food, water, and energy policy in Vietnam, Morocco, and Bolivia. For his various environmental pursuits, Chance has been honored with the Sierra Club California’s 2018 Emerging Leader award and Acterra’s 2021 Champion of Promise award in food sustainability. In addition to his work at RRI, Chance serves as Vice-Chair of the Sierra Club’s San Francisco Bay Chapter and holds elected office on the Town Council in Fairfax, California. Chance received a Bachelors in Political Science and Philosophy from Saint Xavier University and a Masters of Public Administration in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School. Board member since 2021.

Lisa Craig Gautier, co-founder of the environmental public charity Matter of Trust (MofT), brings over 25 years of experience in developing innovative ecological solutions to our Board of Directors. With a background spanning international business and environmental studies, Lisa has dedicated her career to promoting renewable resources, recycling, reuse, and repair. As the driving force behind MofT, she designs and implements large-scale, inclusive systems that are both convenient and replicable. Lisa’s expertise includes orchestrating international networks for green innovations and creating transformational programs that engage diverse communities. Her leadership has resulted in the establishment of two flagship locations: the Eco-Industrial Hub and the immersive Eco-Home, both serving as educational models for sustainable living and manufacturing. Prior to MofT, Lisa held positions at Valeo in Paris and FedEx Logistics, complementing her practical experience with studies in French Culture at the Sorbonne and Zoo Management at Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. She was previously Chair of Drawdown.org and recently finished serving 2 terms each on the boards of Biomimicry.org and RandallMuseum.org, currently Vice Chair for matteroftrust.org and on the advisory board for thehumsum.org – bringing a wealth of knowledge in environmental stewardship and public engagement to our organization. Board member since 2024.

Evelyn Arce-Erickson, a descendant of the Muisca people of Colombia, is a dedicated champion of Indigenous self-determination and Indigenous-led philanthropy. As the founder of Indigenous Resilience Consulting (IRC), Evelyn works to build Native-led capacity and serves as a strategic advisor to both donors and Indigenous communities. As co-founder and Executive Director of the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) for over 15 years, Evelyn led the organization’s evolution into a self-standing not-for-profit entity. IFIP remains the sole global donor affinity group exclusively dedicated to Indigenous peoples, pioneering the first organized effort to direct hundreds of millions directly into Indigenous communities. Evenly currently serves on the Board for Biomimicry Institute, Fortunate Farms, Earth Code, and Love Wild Horses. Additionally, Evelyn founded Coastside Friendship Organic Garden (c-FOG), fostering healthy soils, food, and community on the San Mateo coast. With Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Cornell University, she is a Goldman Environmental Prize nominator and a Donella Meadows Leadership Fellow. She enjoys exploring Mendocino trails and beaches with her three children and husband. Board member since 2023.

Surichai Wun’Gaeo is a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Chulalongkorn University since 2009. Following his post-graduate studies at the University of Tokyo, he held various academic posts, including Director of Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute and the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. He has been a visiting professor at universities including Hitotsubashi (Japan), University of Illinois-UC (USA), and Humboldt (Germany). His research interests span sociology of development, environmentalism, sustainable development, social movements, endogenous social theory, and Japanese studies. Surichai serves as an advisor for Thailand’s Working Group on Legal, Economic and Social Measures for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a Commissioner on the National Health Commission, and Chair of Thailand’s UNESCO-MOST Committee. He is also Vice-President for the Intergovernmental Council of MOST for Asia and the Pacific Region. Surichai has been active in civil society movements and democratization issues for decades. Board member since 2020. 

Hannarong was raised in a farming household and witnessed community displacement by large dam projects while at university. After graduating with a law degree, he assisted communities affected by dam projects through policy monitoring. In 1995, Hannarong became involved in wetland conservation after he resolved a conflict between two villages over a public construction project in a peat swamp forest in Surat Thani, near his hometown. In 2011, he was elected president of the coordinating committee of NGOs on the Protection of Natural Resources and the Environment, working with over 100 organizations on wetland protection legislation. Following severe flooding in Thailand in 2011, Hannarong was invited by the Thai Royal family to present on wetland protection as a sustainable water management solution. His work focuses on community empowerment, environmental conservation, and sustainable development practices. Board member since 2016.

Niwat Roykaew, known as “Kru Thi” (teacher in Thai), was born and raised in Chiang Khong on the banks of the Mekong River. As a schoolteacher in remote locations on the Thai-Laotian border, he witnessed firsthand the environmental impacts of Mekong development projects on rural farmers. In 1995, Kru Thi founded the Chiang Kong Conservation Group, a network of 30 Thai villages seeking to address environmental and social issues caused by large-scale river development projects. His advocacy led to the termination of the China-led Upper Mekong River rapids blasting project, which would have impacted 248 miles of the Mekong. For his efforts, Niwat was awarded the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize, recognizing his significant contributions to river conservation and community rights. Board member since 2016.

Sor.Rattanamanee Polkla is a human rights and environmental lawyer with over two decades of experience. As a co-founder and executive coordinator of the Community Resource Centre (CRC), she has tirelessly advocated for marginalized communities impacted by industrialization and development projects. Her law degree from Thammasat University and experience equips her with a deep understanding of legal frameworks, allowing her to effectively challenge harmful practices and set legal precedents in public interest cases throughout Thailand and the Mekong region. Board member since 2016.