Latin America
and the Caribbean
Regional Community Convenor (RCC)
Latin American-Caribbean Centre of The University of the West Indies
The UWI has taken a leading role in the fight against climate change. Given that the Caribbean is most vulnerable to climate change, with low-lying coastal land, limited adaptive capacity, and millions of people who depend on this same land for their livelihood, food, and security. The UWI has seven main pillars in the fight against climate change 1) From Advocacy to Action; 2) Robust Research and Global Relevance; 3) Saving the World with Science; 4) Regional Partnerships; 5) Protecting Lives and Livelihoods in the Caribbean; 6) Drive sustainable growth and development; and 7) Global collaboration.
Gillian Bristol, LACC Director & Team Leader
Gillian is a Barrister-at-Law by profession and has been a diplomat and multilateral negotiator and strategist in practice for 27 years. She brings to this global project her experience in multilateral inter-governmental negotiations and strategic planning for complex international issues, together with her understanding of Latin American and Caribbean national and regional priorities, relations and challenges.
Sandeep Maharaj, Lead Researcher
At an academic level, Sandeep serves as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, and administratively, he serves as the Associate Dean for Distance Education and Planning and Director of the Entrepreneurship and Business Transformation Office for the Faculty of Medical Science at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.
In the realm of public service, he has been the Deputy Chairman of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and Chairman of the Nation Health Service Company Limited in his native country of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2005 and 2006 he won the Ministry of Health Quality award and in 2007 was nominated for the Ministry of Health Individual of the Year.
Planetary health is his passion, and he strongly believes that the concepts must be well integrated into daily societal operations so that the future generation can thrive and not be placed in a significant disadvantage. He is also the Senior Global Outreach Fellow at the PHA.
Natalie Greaves, Technical Advisor
Natalie Greaves (MBBS, PhD) is a Lecturer in Public Health and Coordinator of the MPhil/ PhD programme in Public Health and Epidemiology at The UWI’s Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. Natalie merges her clinical passion for primary care with academic applied public health, providing expertise in using qualitative methods to explore complex issues such as climate and health. https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/fms/staff/academic/dr-natalie-s-greaves.aspx
Lina Torres, Communications Officer
She is graduated from Tecnológico de Monterrey with a Masters of Business Administration, majoring in Human Resources. She also holds a B.A. in International Business Administration and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Marketing. Lina’s leadership skills, fluency in Spanish and English, and computer software proficiency have made her an asset for this project. She has experience in research assistance, event management and project coordination.
Jacinta Seemungal, Project Assistant
Jacinta Seemungal started her work career at a regional institution, The Caribbean Conference of Churches; it was here that her love for the Caribbean only intensified. She has lived and worked in Jamaica (USAID project) and the UK (psychiatric hospital) She is a graduate of The UWI, BSc. (Government). She is passionate about her Alma Mater, St. Francois Girls’ College, her University, animals, mental health and palliative care
Chandika Ganesh, Project Coordinator
I am a responsible Pharmacist with eleven years experience between public and private institutions. I am a team player and a people person who is success-oriented and performance-driven. I have developed the dexterity; and the interpersonal and communication skills required at the workplace. I strongly believe in yeoman service and “Service to man is service to God.” I am ambitious and keen on the acquisition and application of the necessary skills and knowledge base required for the success of this climate change and mental health project.
Co-Convenors
World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)
WONCA is an unusual, yet convenient acronym comprising the first five initials of the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians. WONCA's short name is World Organization of Family Doctors.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação em Ciências (PPGECI) at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS
The general objective of the PPGECI is to investigate the functioning of educational social practices and their productions (knowledge, procedures, behaviors, subjects) in spaces and instances where science is taught, practiced and evaluated (schools, universities, laboratories, non-school environments, information and communication technologies, media) and also where research is encouraged to understand how to interfere, modify, intensify or create new ways of understanding, producing and disseminating science as a way of educating for a better society.
Brazilian Planetary Health Hub at universidade de sao paulo
Planetary Health is, therefore, a new effort to address the issue of sustainability and human life on the planet from an increasingly integrative, transdisciplinary and global perspective, since the problems of this planetary crisis cross geopolitical borders, academic delimitations and affect humanity. as a whole.
Professor Enrique Da Barrios, Director of WONCA
Family Doctor in Brazil. Professor at Universidade Feevale. PhD candidate in Science Education. Past-Chair of the Working Party on the Environment of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), current Equity and Innovations Manager. Member of the planetary health group at Instituto de Estudos Avançados at the Universidade de São Paulo. Coordinated The Lancet Countdown Policy Briefs for Brazil.
Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense, abbreviated URACCAN
The University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (Spanish: Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense, abbreviated URACCAN), is a university founded in 1994 and is located in the Caribbean region of NicaraguaI. It is described as an "intercultural university community for indigenous peoples and ethnic communities.
Mr. Marcos Williamson, Educational Investigator and Director of the of the environmental Information Centre in the URACCAN
With more than 24 years of professional experience, Master Marcos WIlliamson has extensive knowledge in Geographic Information System technology, Global Positioning system, remote analyst, designer and information sustem developer applied to evironmental managment. He has extensive experience in the evaluation and execution of environmental impact studies in Nicaragua.
FLASCO
The Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), created in 1957, is an international, regional, autonomous, academic and pluralistic organisation, constituted by 18 Member States, to promote teaching and research in the field of Social Sciences. It carries out academic activities in 13 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since its inception it has been conceived as an autonomous regional space for the production of new knowledge; as a meeting point, dialogue and cooperation between academia and the world of public policy and as a privileged space for the contribution to the integration and development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Healthy Brains Global Initiative (HBGI)
The Healthy Brains Global Initiative (HBGI) was established with the support of WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank. We are a not-for-profit registered in the United States, with a global team. We are using clever contracting to create a sea change in the scale and impact of mental health and related services - either contracting and funding directly ourselves or as technical partners with governments. In all cases, we pay for results, not waste.
Tatiana Camargo, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Biologist. Associate Professor at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Member of Planetary Health (PH) Brazil, IEA/USP. She coordenated the Brazilian PH Ambassadors Program. She is Co-coordinator of the Latin American HUB for PH. Integrates the Lancet Countdown South America and The Lancet Countdown Policy Briefs for Brazil teams. Senior Education Fellow at PH Alliance, Harvard University.
Raquel Santiago, Planetary Health (PH) Brazil, IEA/USP
Nutricionist and Gastronome. Associate Professor at Federal University of Goiás. Member of Planetary Health (PH) Brazil, IEA/USP, where she participated as Co-coordinator of the Planetary Health Ambassadors Program. She coordinates the Latin American HUB for Planetary Health. Integrates the team of the Lancet Countdown South America and The Lancet Countdown Policy Briefs for Brazil.
Dr. Martha Rosa Munoz, Director of FLACSO Cuba
Director of the FLACSO-Cuba Programme since 2017. Professor at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO-Cuba Programme). Master in Social Development by the FLACSO-Cuba Programme, 1996. PhD in Educational Sciences (Sociology of Education) from the University of Havana, 2004. University of Havana, 2004. Postdoctoral Fellowship, David Rockefeller Center, Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University, September- October 2015.
Tecnologico de Monterrey (TEC)
The Tecnológico de Monterrey, founded in 1943, is a private, non-profit institution committed to the quality of higher education in the country. The work of Tecnológico de Monterrey and all its campuses is supported by civil associations made up of a numerous group of outstanding leaders from all over the country who are committed to quality in higher education
Dr. Fresia Hernandez, National Director of the Clinical and Health Psychology Programme at the Tecnologico de Monterrey (TEC)
Psychology by profession with a Master of Science with a concentration in Health Psychology. She also holds a PhD in Psychology. She is participating in several research projects in Mexico. She is the National Director of the Clinical and Health Psychology Programme at the Tecnologico de Monterrey (TEC) since 2021.
EarthMedic and EarthNurse
EarthMedic and EarthNurse seek to partner with individuals and organisations of like mind to address planetary health issues, which are the health of human civilisations and the state of the underlying natural systems that support it. The current COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call; a push for the world to start anew. The most hopeful sign seen thus far is that most people are willing to work for the planet’s benefit on a massive scale, even as we face the loss of lives and livelihoods from COVID. EarthMedic and EarthNurse are not-for-profits with global scope, with special focus on climate-vulnerable regions, anchored in the Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS), and based in Trinidad and Tobago and England, UK.
Dr. Dassaëve Brice, Medical Doctor and Public health Professional
She is is from Haiti, she’s a Medical Doctor with more than 7 years as a Public health Professional. She began her career as a clinician in the Private/Public, then was quickly recruited by international organizations like PAHO/WHO, and Management Sciences for Health after her master’s as a consultant dedicated to strengthening health systems and services in several areas: Blood Safety, Healthcare Technologies, drug regulation, Infection Prevention, and control and as a focal point for rehabilitation. She is particularly active in capacity building
Dr. Clemencia Ramirez, Consultant, Independent Co-Convenors
Doctor in clinical and health psychology from the University of Granada (PhD), Master in psychology and philosophy, researcher and evaluator in social issues, such as migratory phenomena, forced migration, humanitarian emergencies due to natural disasters, including those caused by climate change, human trafficking and sexual exploitation and their relationship with mental health and psychosocial care.
Professor Jonathan Sherin, Medical Doctor and Researcher
Founder and CEO at the Eudaemonia Group, Chairman, Board of Advisors at Vanna Health, Inc, Chief Medical Advisor at Healthy Brains Global Initiative Member, Board of Directors, Treatment Advocacy Center and Volunteer Clinical Professor at UCLA and USC. Dr. Jonathan Sherin is a longtime health and wellbeing activist who has worked “Heart Forward” and spoken truth to power on behalf of vulnerable populations throughout his career at local, state and national levels. He has worked as a clinician, teacher, researcher and administrative leader to help others connect to a brighter future and stays busy as a father, writer, cook and surfer to stay connected himself.
Youth Ambassadors
Vijay Sharma
Hailing initially from Guyana, Vijay is a first year Medical Student at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine. Additionally, Vijay is a Planetary Health Campus Ambassador with the Planetary Health Alliance, and maintains strong interests in climate change and its effects on the human condition globally and throughout the region.
Ana Gabriela Mejia
Ana Gabriela Mejia is a psychologist from Quito-Ecuador. She is member of the Youth Advisory Group on Climate from the IFRC Climate Centre and volunteer at the Ecuadorian Red Cross. She is passionate about increasing awareness on the importance of Mental Health, explore the impact of climate change in wellbeing and promote significant youth participation .
Lived Experience Advisory Group
Vashti Burrows
As a Bahamian, experiencing a hurricane is very normal. The first hurricanes I remember living through were Frances and Jean in 2004. After those hurricanes, there was serious damage to my home and the country, however, within a few months, things seemed to go back to business as usual. Unfortunately, this was not the case with Dorian in 2019. Dorian ravaged my island, stole the livelihoods and lives of many, and it is something that I don't think my country will ever truly get over.
Gloria Blaise
Born in Haiti, with its complex and fascinating culture and history, my roots reflect the combination of Caribbean, African, Latin, and European cultures found on that island. Currently, I am a Ph.D. candidate and Gates Millennium Scholar in Cornell University's Department of Natural Resources and the Environment where my team and I focus on building the case for Planetary Health investments in risky contexts as a means to build climate resilience and peace
Raquel Tupinamba
Leadership and coordinator of the Tupinamba Indigenous Council of Baixo Tapajos/Amazon -CITUPI. PhD candidate in Social Anthropology at the University of Brasilia
Norton Chavarria
As a Nicaraguan and part of Karata community has experienced two Hurricanes (ETA and IOTA categories 4 and 5 respectively in the year 2020). Climate change is present in the world and its impacts are more pronounced in the those communities that is located in the coastal line of the country on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. These events caused visible impacts on the community due to the loss of their production systems, the scarcity of resources, which results in an increase in violence and crime among its inhabitants.