Portrait of David Houghton, CEO of WildLandscapes
David Houghton, Director
While working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Trust for Public Land, and as president of the National Wildlife Refuge Association, David has contributed to expanding the National Wildlife Refuge System by millions of acres. In addition, David has partnered with diverse stakeholders across the world to conserve an array of globally important landscapes. Now, David is using his extensive experience in raising public and private capital to continue his conservation efforts with a smaller and more efficient team at WildLandscapes International. David is the proud recipient of the Wilburforce Foundation's Conservation Leadership Award for 2017.
Elodie Sampéré, Deputy Director
Elodie Sampéré is an accomplished non-profit management professional with over 20 years of progressive experience in fundraising, communications, PR, and media. With a track record of expanding the support bases of global and national non-profit organizations, Elodie has become a recognized expert in the field of wildlife conservation, community development, health development, and education. Elodie has worked with organizations around the world, including in the United States, France, and Kenya, and has been a member of several senior leadership teams. As the Deputy Director for WildLandscapes, Elodie leads our fundraising and communications efforts, as well as providing strategic leadership. She is driven by a passion for creating positive change through effective communication, strategic planning, and successful fundraising initiatives.
Sam Baraoidan, Senior Conservation Ecologist
Sam is a wildlife biologist who has worked with plants, predators, and just about everything in between. She is especially interested in landscape ecology, habitat connectivity, and community-based natural resource management. At WildLandscapes, Sam provides scientific support in project planning and uses GIS software to create informative maps. Sam earned a BSc in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida, where her undergraduate thesis examined habitat preferences of small mammals in southern African savannahs, and is working on completing an MSc in the same department.
Wilna Lebrun, Operations Manager
Wilna is an accomplished professional with a proven track record in operations management, project leadership, and HR optimization. With a strong background in accounting, she offers a unique blend of skills and expertise. In her previous roles, Wilna spearheaded cross-functional initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, resulting in significant cost savings and improved organizational performance. She adeptly manages multiple projects concurrently, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget constraints. Additionally, her streamlined HR processes have led to reduced turnover rates and increased employee satisfaction. With a strategic mindset and hands-on approach, Wilna excels in financial analysis and budgeting, contributing to informed decision-making and organizational growth. She thrives in high-pressure environments, leveraging exceptional leadership and problem-solving skills to achieve successful outcomes. Wilna is eager to leverage her expertise as the Operations Manager at WildLandscapes, where she is committed to delivering measurable results and contributing to the organization's success.
Mini Nagendran, Director of Asia Programs
Meenakshi (Mini) Nagendran is a wildlife conservation biologist with over 30 years of experience in academia, government and the private sector. During her time at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Mini managed the grants process for several conservation funds in Asia and collaborated with international partners on wildlife law enforcement projects. She has also carried out field research and conservation activities in several countries and collaborated with colleagues from around the world on satellite tracking of wild and endangered cranes, storks, and waterfowl.
Mini recently retired from the FWS and joined WildLandscapes as our Director of Asia Programs. She also teaches at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo County, California and enjoys various hobbies, including reading, hiking, birding, and spending time with family and friends.
Kelly McDowell, Senior Project Manager
Kelly McDowell worked as a wildlife biologist and refuge manager for more than 30 years with the National Wildlife Refuge System. Over his career Kelly has sought to protect special wild places through land protection, restoration, and management. He has worked with a wide variety of species including waterfowl, shorebirds, rails, American alligators, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, forest songbirds and endangered species like whooping cranes, ocelots, aplomado falcon and golden-cheeked warblers. He has been at the forefront of restoration of many habitats including, bottomland hardwood, oak-juniper and thorn scrub forests, prairies, prairie wetlands and coastal marshes. Kelly has secured over $700 million in funding and grants for wildlife conservation and helped to expand the National Wildlife Refuge System by almost 100,000 acres.
Audrey Wilson, Conservation Ecologist
Audrey Wilson is an ecologist with experience in invasive species, wildland fire, and landcover change. She has worked with a number of species, including cane toads, salamanders, and rhesus macaques, and studied the effects of wildland fires in a variety of ecosystems. Audrey is particularly interested in the use of GIS and satellite data to monitor large-scale landcover changes. She holds a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in wildlife ecology and conservation from the University of Florida, where she focused on introduced herpetofauna.
WildLandscapes International contracts the best talent in conservation biology, GIS mapping, and government affairs.
WildLandscapes International
113 South Monroe Street, 1st Floor
Tallahassee, FL 32301, United States
+ 1 603 831 0920