Itaca

Our Team

Laura canevari ITACA CEO Founder 2

Accomplished climate change adaptation academic and consultant with 10+ years’ experience in climate adaptation and resilience building in Small Island Developing States. Laura is the CEO and Founder of ITACA Solutions. Over the past years, Laura has supported the design and provision of climate services for the public and private sector, including the development of vulnerability, climate risk assessments and adaptation plans, decision support tools for financial institutions, analysis of climate resilience in value chains, and the design and delivery of training and capacity building programs.

Laura Canevari

CEO and Founder

Accomplished climate change adaptation academic and consultant with 10+ years’ experience in climate adaptation and resilience building in Small Island Developing States. Laura is the CEO and Founder of ITACA Solutions. Over the past years, Laura has supported the design and provision of climate services for the public and private sector, including the development of vulnerability, climate risk assessments and adaptation plans, decision support tools for financial institutions, analysis of climate resilience in value chains, and the design and delivery of training and capacity building programs.

Anaitee Mills COO and Co Founder

Anaitée is an international development expert with over 12+ years of experience consulting in topics related to sustainable energy, climate change adaptation, climate finance, disaster risk financing, climate risk, and climate transparency. Anaitée has a keen eye for operational detail, project management and stakeholder engagement having collaborated with highly reputable organizations such as the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Resources Institute, USAID, and the World Resources Institute, as well as for public and private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Anaitée Mills

Co-Founder

Anaitée is an international development expert with over 12+ years of experience consulting in topics related to sustainable energy, climate change adaptation, climate finance, disaster risk financing, climate risk, and climate transparency. Anaitée has a keen eye for operational detail, project management and stakeholder engagement having collaborated with highly reputable organizations such as the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Resources Institute, USAID, and the World Resources Institute, as well as for public and private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Sara Valero Blue Economy Expert ITACA team

Sara is an accomplished climate change expert with 12+ years of experience in resilience building, disaster & environmental management, climate finance and in the implementation of innovative climate mitigation/adaptation technologies and strategies. Sara is effective in identifying opportunities to finance low carbon and resilient solutions, green/nature-based infrastructure, disaster risk mitigation and environmental conservation. She has extensive experience designing and implementing projects in a wide variety of sectors such as water and wastewater, coastal zone management, energy, tourism, health, blue and circular economy, amongst others.

Sara Valero

Blue Economy Expert

Sara is an accomplished climate change expert with 12+ years of experience in resilience building, disaster & environmental management, climate finance and in the implementation of innovative climate mitigation/adaptation technologies and strategies. Sara is effective in identifying opportunities to finance low carbon and resilient solutions, green/nature-based infrastructure, disaster risk mitigation and environmental conservation. She has extensive experience designing and implementing projects in a wide variety of sectors such as water and wastewater, coastal zone management, energy, tourism, health, blue and circular economy, amongst others.

Lucas mira ITACA Jr associate white

Lucas is an advanced fisheries engineering postgraduate student, with a strong formation in aquaculture and seafood processing, including storage, quality control, packaging, logistics, and everything behind the layout and design of a seafood processing plant. Lucas has solid knowledge in the engineering behind the fishing industry and has joined ITACA to identify and design proposals to access finance placing focus on community engagement, and capacity building. Lucas is specially interested in the convergence between ocean tech, innovation and climate change.

Lucas Mira

Junior Associate

Lucas is an advanced fisheries engineering postgraduate student, with a strong formation in aquaculture and seafood processing, including storage, quality control, packaging, logistics, and everything behind the layout and design of a seafood processing plant. Lucas has solid knowledge in the engineering behind the fishing industry and has joined ITACA to identify and design proposals to access finance placing focus on community engagement, and capacity building. Lucas is specially interested in the convergence between ocean tech, innovation and climate change.

Ardith grant Associate ITACA team

Ardith is an urban planner with experience in land use, planning policy, social housing planning and infrastructure risk assessment. Ardith joined ITACA to support the management of our growing network of Caribbean experts and conduct specialized research. She is a multi-faceted professional with hands-on experience in technical research, data collection and analysis, event planning, communications, stakeholder mapping and engagement. Having worked in various branches of the Government of Jamaica, she has developed an interest in geospatial analysis for infrastructure risk assessment and resilient investment prioritization.

Ardith Grant

Intern

Ardith is an urban planner with experience in land use, planning policy, social housing planning and infrastructure risk assessment. Ardith joined ITACA to support the management of our growing network of Caribbean experts and conduct specialized research. She is a multi-faceted professional with hands-on experience in technical research, data collection and analysis, event planning, communications, stakeholder mapping and engagement. Having worked in various branches of the Government of Jamaica, she has developed an interest in geospatial analysis for infrastructure risk assessment and resilient investment prioritization.

Laura canevari ITACA CEO Founder 2

Accomplished climate change adaptation academic and consultant with 10+ years’ experience in climate adaptation and resilience building in Small Island Developing States. Laura is the CEO and Founder of ITACA Solutions. Over the past years, Laura has supported the design and provision of climate services for the public and private sector, including the development of vulnerability, climate risk assessments and adaptation plans, decision support tools for financial institutions, analysis of climate resilience in value chains, and the design and delivery of training and capacity building programs.

Laura Canevari

CEO and Founder

Accomplished climate change adaptation academic and consultant with 10+ years’ experience in climate adaptation and resilience building in Small Island Developing States. Laura is the CEO and Founder of ITACA Solutions. Over the past years, Laura has supported the design and provision of climate services for the public and private sector, including the development of vulnerability, climate risk assessments and adaptation plans, decision support tools for financial institutions, analysis of climate resilience in value chains, and the design and delivery of training and capacity building programs.

Lucas mira ITACA Jr associate white

Lucas is an advanced fisheries engineering student, with a strong formation in aquaculture and seafood processing, including storage, quality control, packaging, logistics, and everything behind the layout and design of a seafood processing plant. Lucas has solid knowledge in the engineering behind the fishing industry and has joined ITACA to identify and design proposals to access finance placing focus on community engagement, and capacity building. Lucas is specially interested in the convergence between ocean tech, innovation and climate change.

Lucas Mira

Junior Associate

Lucas is an advanced fisheries engineering student, with a strong formation in aquaculture and seafood processing, including storage, quality control, packaging, logistics, and everything behind the layout and design of a seafood processing plant. Lucas has solid knowledge in the engineering behind the fishing industry and has joined ITACA to identify and design proposals to access finance placing focus on community engagement, and capacity building. Lucas is specially interested in the convergence between ocean tech, innovation and climate change.

Anaitee Mills COO and Co Founder

Anaitée is an international development expert with over 12+ years of experience consulting in topics related to sustainable energy, climate change adaptation, climate finance, disaster risk financing, climate risk, and climate transparency. Anaitée has a keen eye for operational detail, project management and stakeholder engagement having collaborated with highly reputable organizations such as the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Resources Institute, USAID, and the World Resources Institute, as well as for public and private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Anaitée Mills

Co-Founder

Anaitée is an international development expert with over 12+ years of experience consulting in topics related to sustainable energy, climate change adaptation, climate finance, disaster risk financing, climate risk, and climate transparency. Anaitée has a keen eye for operational detail, project management and stakeholder engagement having collaborated with highly reputable organizations such as the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Resources Institute, USAID, and the World Resources Institute, as well as for public and private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ardith grant Associate ITACA team

Ardith is an urban planner with experience in land use, planning policy, social housing planning and infrastructure risk assessment. Ardith joined ITACA to support the management of our growing network of Caribbean experts and conduct specialized research. She is a multi-faceted professional with hands-on experience in technical research, data collection and analysis, event planning, communications, stakeholder mapping and engagement. Having worked in various branches of the Government of Jamaica, she has developed an interest in geospatial analysis for infrastructure risk assessment and resilient investment prioritization.

Ardith Grant

Intern

Ardith is an urban planner with experience in land use, planning policy, social housing planning and infrastructure risk assessment. Ardith joined ITACA to support the management of our growing network of Caribbean experts and conduct specialized research. She is a multi-faceted professional with hands-on experience in technical research, data collection and analysis, event planning, communications, stakeholder mapping and engagement. Having worked in various branches of the Government of Jamaica, she has developed an interest in geospatial analysis for infrastructure risk assessment and resilient investment prioritization.

Sara Valero Blue Economy Expert ITACA team

Sara is an accomplished climate change expert with 12+ years of experience in resilience building, disaster & environmental management, climate finance and in the implementation of innovative climate mitigation/adaptation technologies and strategies. Sara is effective in identifying opportunities to finance low carbon and resilient solutions, green/nature-based infrastructure, disaster risk mitigation and environmental conservation. She has extensive experience designing and implementing projects in a wide variety of sectors such as water and wastewater, coastal zone management, energy, tourism, health, blue and circular economy, amongst others.

Sara Valero

Blue Economy Expert

Sara is an accomplished climate change expert with 12+ years of experience in resilience building, disaster & environmental management, climate finance and in the implementation of innovative climate mitigation/adaptation technologies and strategies. Sara is effective in identifying opportunities to finance low carbon and resilient solutions, green/nature-based infrastructure, disaster risk mitigation and environmental conservation. She has extensive experience designing and implementing projects in a wide variety of sectors such as water and wastewater, coastal zone management, energy, tourism, health, blue and circular economy, amongst others.

Key Subject Matter Experts

GianLuigi Negroni – Fisheries and aquaculture

Gigi has over 30 years of experience working in aquaculture and the fishing industry and has worked in over 80 countries. With an M.Sc in Animal Science, specialised in aquaculture, and a Master of International Economy and Finance, Gigi has an extensive experience in multilateral trade assistance projects and in the design of fisheries/aquaculture programme strategies and Action Plans for ACP and developing countries. His work covers the whole fisheries value chains for the development of sustainable fishery/aquaculture policies, poverty reduction and livelihood strategies, as well as considerations on sustainable approaches for integrated fishery and aquaculture resources.

GianLuigi Negroni

Fisheries and Aquaculture Expert

Gigi has over 30 years of experience working in aquaculture and the fishing industry and has worked in over 80 countries. With an M.Sc in Animal Science, specialised in aquaculture, and a Master of International Economy and Finance, Gigi has an extensive experience in multilateral trade assistance projects and in the design of fisheries/aquaculture programme strategies and Action Plans for ACP and developing countries. His work covers the whole fisheries value chains for the development of sustainable fishery/aquaculture policies, poverty reduction and livelihood strategies, as well as considerations on sustainable approaches for integrated fishery and aquaculture resources.

Claudia guitierrez ITACA GIS Expert

Claudia is a biologist and geographer specialised in modelling and mapping biodiversity and ecosystems services. Her interests include biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation, wildlife-human interactions and global spatial patterns of biodiversity. She has a bachelor's degree in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a Master’s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Southampton and a PhD in Geography from King’s College London. Her research projects are focused on modelling and mapping species and ecosystem services of temperate and tropical ecosystems to address different conservation issues.

Claudia Gutierrez

GIS Expert

Claudia is a biologist and geographer specialised in modelling and mapping biodiversity and ecosystems services. Her interests include biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation, wildlife-human interactions and global spatial patterns of biodiversity. She has a bachelor's degree in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a Master’s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Southampton and a PhD in Geography from King’s College London. Her research projects are focused on modelling and mapping species and ecosystem services of temperate and tropical ecosystems to address different conservation issues.

David Neil itacas team

David holds a PhD in Applied Geomorphology from the Australian National University and a Masters of Social Science from the University of Queensland. He taught and researched in the field of coastal processes and management and human - environment interactions at the coast and was Director of the Geography & Environmental Management Program at UQ (2003-2011). He has authored or co-authored about 75 refereed publications and has over 190 other contributions (conference papers, reports, etc.) and conducted research and/or delivered field courses in Antarctica, Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, Southwest Pacific, Cambodia and Vietnam.

David Neil

Coastal Management Expert

David holds a PhD in Applied Geomorphology from the Australian National University and a Masters of Social Science from the University of Queensland. He taught and researched in the field of coastal processes and management and human - environment interactions at the coast and was Director of the Geography & Environmental Management Program at UQ (2003-2011). He has authored or co-authored about 75 refereed publications and has over 190 other contributions (conference papers, reports, etc.) and conducted research and/or delivered field courses in Antarctica, Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, Southwest Pacific, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Rodolfo Silva Fotos Equipo

Rodolfo has a Ph.D. in Coastal and Port Engineering and is a Senior Researcher and Professor of Civil Engineering at the Institute of Engineering of the National University of Mexico. Since 1995 Rodolfo has been the Head of the Coastal and Oceanographic Group at UNAM and at the Mexican Centre for Ocean Renewable Energies. He has been the Mexican delegate and the Latin American Regional Coordinator in the Excellence Center for Development Cooperation and the Mexican Delegate in the Ocean Energy System. As an author or co-author, he has participated in over 650 publications and more than 100 technical reports.

Rodolfo Silva Casarín

Nature-based Solutions Expert

Rodolfo has a Ph.D. in Coastal and Port Engineering and is a Senior Researcher and Professor of Civil Engineering at the Institute of Engineering of the National University of Mexico. Since 1995 Rodolfo has been the Head of the Coastal and Oceanographic Group at UNAM and at the Mexican Centre for Ocean Renewable Energies. He has been the Mexican delegate and the Latin American Regional Coordinator in the Excellence Center for Development Cooperation and the Mexican Delegate in the Ocean Energy System. As an author or co-author, he has participated in over 650 publications and more than 100 technical reports.

Our NETWORK

With over 70 experts located in nearly 25 countries, mostly within the Caribbean, our growing network of subject matter experts allows us to provide technical and local expertise on a wide variety of fields, including:

  • Agri-business
  • Aquaculture
  • Circular economy
  • Climate finance
  • Climate resilience
  • Coastal conservation
  • Coastal planning
  • Coastal restoration
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Gender issues
  • Mariculture
  • Policy development
  • Project management
  • Renewable energy
  • Sustainable tourism
  • Sustainable architecture
  • value chain development
  • Water management

We build the capacity of Caribbean communities to plan and finance their transition to a low carbon and climate resilient future.

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