Our Collaborators
Change is not a solo act. Our work is powered by a diverse network of passionate professionals, dedicated organizations, and visionary funders. We believe that by combining global expertise with local leadership, we can co-create solutions that are both innovative and sustainable.
People
We engage with experts and institutions to co-develop evidence-based solutions, fostering innovation through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Organizations
Strategic alliances with organizations enable scalable interventions and knowledge exchange, reinforcing our shared development objectives.
Funders
Funding partnerships drive high-impact initiatives grounded in research, measurable outcomes, and long-term sustainability.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
– African Proverb
Our Team of Professionals
We are a collective of researchers, specialists, and community leaders with decades of experience and a shared commitment to creating lasting impact. Our team’s multidisciplinary expertise is the engine behind our innovative and effective development solutions.
Dr. Sean Irwin
Principal Investigator
An award-winning, action-oriented researcher from Royal Roads University. Dr. Irwin’s expertise is focused on using mixed methods, including value chain analysis, to empirically investigate pathways to socioeconomic development in the global South through innovation adoption, food security, and women’s empowerment. He has been the Principal Investigator on several major international development projects and has worked in Bolivian aquaculture for over a decade.
Dr. Roxana Dulón
Project Manager (Bolivia)
With a PhD in Economic Geography and an MBA, Dr. Dulón is a leader in development program management. She has directed Bolivian NGOs and has served as the Project Manager in Fish for Life: Empowerment & Sustainability and currently manages the Made by Women project. Her expertise is centered on gender, development, poverty reduction, and designing resilient, equitable, and sustainable strategies.
Dr. Nancy Gilbert
Project Manager (Malawi)
As Program Director at Transform International Canada, Dr. Gilbert brings extensive expertise in sustainable sanitation systems and rural economic development, with a strong focus on advancing women’s livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. With a background in both research and implementation, she provides strategic leadership and technical guidance across our WASH initiatives in Malawi.
Alvaro Céspedes
Aquaculture Specialist
An Agricultural Engineer with over 30 years of experience in fisheries and aquaculture. As a former Principal Investigator for the Fish for Life projects, Alvaro is a leading expert in tropical aquaculture in Bolivia. He specializes in designing and implementing participatory development projects, strengthening value chains, and providing technical leadership to generate change from the ground up. Now working on the Made by Women project
Luis Enrique Badani
Marketing Specialist
An Industrial Engineer and founder of IMG Consulting with an MBA and over 25 years of experience. Luis has led more than 80 projects in business strategy, marketing, and value chain development. As a former Principal Investigator for Fish for Life, he now applies his deep expertise in marketing and e-commerce to create and expand markets for the fish powder developed in the Made by Women project.
Luciano Badani
Digital Communications Specialist
Luciano is a Corporate Communicator specializing in Communications for Development and Digital Media. He has experience planning and managing impactful communication strategies for social change, implementing new technologies and implementing narrative storytelling to share the content. His work includes campaigns in Fish for Life: Empowerment & Sustainability and Made by Women.
Dr. Laura Parisi
Gender & Research Advisor
An Associate Professor in the Department of Gender Studies at the University of Victoria, Dr. Parisi is one of Canada’s most notable specialists on human rights, development, and women’s empowerment. She serves as the Canadian gender and research advisor for the Fish for Life project. She provides critical input on improving development practice and policy for women, ensuring our research and actions are grounded in gender transformative principles.
Dr. Joachim Carolsfeld
International Projects Director
A world-leading aquatic biologist, Dr. Carolsfeld brings over 25 years of experience in fisheries and aquaculture to our team, including extensive prior project work in Brazil. As the International Projects Director for World Fisheries Trust, he provides crucial advisory on fish biology, sustainable processing techniques, and overall aquaculture system health for the Fish for Life and Made by Women projects, drawing from his extensive and highly published career.
Our Network of Organizations
Our work is only possible through deep, collaborative partnerships. We are proud to work with a diverse network of organizations. From local women’s producer associations to national agencies and Canadian universities.
Our Funders
Our innovative work is made possible by the generous support and visionary investment of our funding partners. Their commitment allows us to conduct critical research, test new ideas, scale successful solutions, and create sustainable change in the communities we serve.
