Santiago Castillo

MSc. (with distinction) in Environmental Sustainability, University of Edinburgh, U.K. BSc. in Biology, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia BSc. in Microbiology, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia

Santiago has over 15 years of experience in biodiversity management, protected areas, and environmental licensing in Colombia. He has provided support to national and subnational governments in shaping conservation priorities, identifying Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and facilitating the creation of protected areas or the recognition of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs). He also emphasizes the critical involvement of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in conservation strategies. His research on the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Target 11 and the 30x30 Target has focused on assessing the effectiveness, representativeness, connectivity, and equity of conservation areas.

Throughout his career, Santiago has successfully led teams and research initiatives, honing strong skills in interinstitutional and cross-sectoral communication, as well as in planning and executing complex projects. In his free time, he enjoys scuba diving, salsa dancing, and long walks.