The Fronterra Core Team

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Juan Carlos is the Founder and general manager of Fronterra.

A Peruvian national passionate about development and international cooperation, Juan Carlos has spent the last 14-Years in the European private sector building partnerships in development & climate finance between for-profit/non-profit organisations and governments in Latin-America.  

Juan Carlos started his carrier as junior originator at the Danone Fund for Nature and the Peruvian leading NGO AIDER as Business Development Manager. 

JC is also a former founding-team member and Latam Director for the Althelia Climate Fund (ACF), the pioneer climate & natural capital investment fund success story, today part of Mirova/Natixis Investment Managers.  

Juan Carlos has supported the creation of TotalEnergies Nature-Based Solutions business unit as Senior Project Developer.

Most recently, JC was the co-founder of The Shared Wood Company.

Contact Juan Carlos at juan@fronterra.eco 

Patricia serves as Senior Advisor and Head of Public Affairs at Fronterra.

Patricia is one of the most well-known and accomplished conservation  executives in Peru. A co-founder of Peru's Ministry of Environment, she was part of the group of experts who designed it, and then became Chief of Staff of the first minister Mr. Antonio Brack Egg during all his tenure.

With a vast experience of 30+ years in the sector, she is also a former Executive Director of CIMA, one of the most accomplished Latam conservation NGOs, and is currently a board member. 

Patricia has also a vast experience as former advisor and consultant in sustainable development, nature conservation and international cooperation for USAID, GIZ, HIVOS Netherlands, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), ILO, the Peruvian National Confederation of Private Business Institutions (CONFIEP), the Peruvian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, among others. 

Patricia also served as: 

• President of the Board of Directors of the Fund of the Americas, the Peru - USA Debt for Nature Swap Fund;
• Director of the Peruvian Environmental Network (RAP, in Spanish); 
• Advisory Council of the World Bank Forest Investment Program (FIP) - National Forest Program of Peru.

Patricia is currently Senior advisor and head of public affairs at Fronterra, as well as Vice-President of the Peruvian Institute of Business and Human Rights (IPEDHU), Executive Advisor of WomenCEO Peru, and member of IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas and Education and Communication. 

Patricia is also part of AXA IM Alts’ Natural Capital

Advisory Panel, providing advice on matters related to their natural capital strategy.

Contact Patricia at patricia@fronterra.eco

 Lucio is Fronterra's geoscience & remote sensing chief scientist. 

Lucio has more 11+ years of experience in GIS & Remote Sensing applied to earth and the environment sciences, with deep expertise in environmental and georisk monitoring and the development of avoided deforestation & forest degradation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) projects.

The early years of Lucio's professional career were dedicated to support the environmental monitoring and the impact assessment of projects for Government authorities in Peru. 

Then, Lucio gained experience in  geographic information system  & remote sensing developing, monitoring and implementing REDD+ projects in the Peruvian dry forest and rainforest at leading Peruvian NGO AIDER.  

The last years, as part of the SERVIR Amazonia Programme (NASA/USAID) and Conservacion Amazónica (ACCA), a top tier conservation NGO for the Amazon, based in Peru and the U.S, Lucio served as GIS & Remote Sensing specialist using Cloud-Computing and Machine Learning approaches to develop studies focused on Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) and the monitoring of natural and anthropogenic impacts on the whole Amazon basin.

Lucio leads Fronterra's GIS and remote sensing practice related to the development and operations of REDD+ (forest cover maps, historical analysis of land use and cover change, unplanned deforestation risks maps, jurisdictional forest reference emissions level, projects national baseline quota allocation, etc.) and Afforestation/Reforestation projects using remote sensing and GIS tools and techniques.

Lucio is fluent in French, English and Spanish and holds a Master in Geoenvironment/Georisk from Marne-La-Vallée University and a Master in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Paul Sabatier Toulouse III University. 

Lucio is also a former Professor at Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, in Lima, Peru.

Contact Lucio at lucio@fronterra.eco

Carlos is our Peru Country Chair and head of the Conservation programme.

Carlos is an Engineer in Ecology of Tropical Forests, specialized in management and planning of protected areas and other conservation modalities, especially in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. 

Carlos worked as protected areas management specialist at the Peruvian National Service for Natural Protected Areas (SERNANP), working in protected areas management, forest & wildlife monitoring, control & surveillance of territory, and management of conservation participatory processes with native and farmers' communities and local governments. 

From SERNANP, Carlos also brings a very valuable experience in the monitoring and implementation of financial sustainability mechanisms for natural protected areas, and the development, implementation and evaluation of natural protected areas territorial planning.

Carlos started his career at the Missouri Botanical Garden-Peru in Oxapampa, focusing on monitoring of wild fauna and flora in the territory of the native communities in the buffer zone of the Yanesha Communal Reserve and Yanachaga Chemillén National Park.

Carlos joined Fronterra to lead the Forest Management, Biodiversity and Conservation Programme, which includes national and private conservation areas and others conservation modalities in Peru. 

Carlos is working on a wide portfolio of forest carbon projects (removals and REDD+), orchestrating them through the project development cycle, in close coordination with Fronterra's key local partners. 

Contact Carlos at carlos@fronterra.eco

Alejandra is Fronterra's ESG & Impact value creation Manager.
 

She is an economist from the University of Bordeaux and holds a masters in Social Sciences from the University of Paris - Sorbonne, specialised in local economic analysis and transformation of socio-environmental conflicts.  
 

Before joining Fronterra, Alejandra worked as:

- Project coordinator at Insuco-Peru.

- Social Conflict Analyst at the Secretariat of Social Management and Dialogue at the Prime Minister office of Peru.

- Project officer responsible for the implementation of the CISAL Fund of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities in the mining regions of Peru (Ancash and Cusco regions ) and Colombia (Antioquia and La Guajira regions), for the selection and financing of 160 initiatives of entrepreneurs and local associations to generate shared-value beyond mining activities. 

Alejandra brings in-depth practice in multi-actor dialogue in challenging social contexts, analysis and conflict resolution method, and ESG performance analysis and project management following the IFC sustainability performance standars in the context of large natural resources projects. 

She excels working with communities, government organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector.

Alejandra joins Fronterra as ESG Manager, in charge of the ESG policy and management system for Fronterra operations across its offices and projects, to ensure ESG compliance and excellence, coupled with an evidence-based social & environmental impact framework for target setting, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Contact Ale at alejandra@fronterra.eco 

Valeria serves as an ESG Analyst at Fronterra.

She holds a degree in Anthropology from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Throughout her academic career, Valeria has developed a robust foundation in qualitative research methodologies and the analysis of social dynamics. Her experience primarily focuses on cultural initiatives and public management. She has participated in designing artistic-educational projects and mediating with diverse audiences and has been actively involved in initiatives promoting food security aimed at sustainable and community-focused development.

At Fronterra, Valeria contributes to the social and environmental analysis of projects, bringing a critical and contextual perspective to facilitate responsible decision-making. She also plays a role in strengthening the organisation's ESG framework and supporting impact reporting processes.

Valeria is passionate about generating meaningful impact through applied research and collaborative work, motivated by working within a team that shares the conviction that climate change cannot be effectively addressed without social justice. Beyond her professional life, Valeria enjoys swimming, painting, and engaging in creative processes as alternative ways to experience and connect with the world.

Contact Valeria at valeria@fronterra.eco

Juan joined Fronterra as senior Social Conflict Resolution Specialist.

  Juan De la Cruz is a seasoned social scientist specialized in conflict resolution and social intervention with farmers and native communities in the Andes Amazon region.

With deep experience in natural resources conflicts in Peru, he has worked in development projects for the Peruvian government and private companies (cocoa cooperatives, foreign investors, USAID-funded projects, Ministry of Agriculture, State owned companies in the water, fisheries, and agricultural sectors, etc.) to ensure social conflict prevention and community engagement in support of the interventions. 

Juan demonstrated through his career a true empathy for people and has been able to resolve severe social conflicts, for the benefit of social peace and the realization of development projects for the benefit of communities. 

Contact Juan at cruz@fronterra.eco

Max joined Fronterra as Forest Carbon Investment Analyst.

He holds a Master of Science in Climate Change and Finance from Imperial College London, with previous studies in Business and Economics at McGill University.

Max has worked on Coastal Ecosystem Restoration and Conservation projects in Latin America and has prior experience in Climate-tech Venture Capital Investing. 

He was born in France but lived abroad most of his life, spending extensive time in Latin America. 

From an athletic background (semi-professional tennis player), he now brings his energy to another passion: Nature.

Max joined Fonterra to contribute to the business development efforts for reforestation & conservation projects in Latin America, based in Paris and Lima.

Contact Max at max@fronterra.eco

Rai Fajardo is a Junior Geomatician at Fronterra.

Rai holds a degree in Renewable Natural Resources Engineering from the Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva, where he subsequently specialised in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Programming applied to natural resources.

He has participated in projects focusing on conservation and carbon sequestration, collaborating with the NGO AIDER on initiatives such as NII KANITI and Bosques Vivos para Siempre, meeting the VERRA certification standards. Additionally, he contributed to the CloudSEN 12 v2 project, which allowed him to deepen his knowledge of geospatial analysis and modelling. 

Concurrently, he developed experience as a freelance GIS applications specialist, gaining proficiency in programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, R, HTML, and CSS. Over time, he also refined his skills in data management, thematic map creation, and drone operation.

Outside the professional environment, Rai enjoys staying active by playing basketball, chess, and athletics. He aspires to expand his horizons internationally, either through further studies abroad or by exploring new opportunities in other countries, driven by a continuous desire for personal and professional growth.

In his current role as a Junior Geomatician at Fronterra, Rai’s objective is to provide technical assistance in the collection and analysis of geospatial data, employing mapping techniques, spatial analysis, and remote sensing to support REDD+ projects.

This challenge allows him to merge his passion for technology with his commitment to sustainable natural resource management, collaborating on report preparation, thematic mapping, and updating geodatabases, always aiming for practical and effective environmental solutions.

Contact Rai at rai@fronterra.eco

Benito is a highly respected figure in the field of sustainable agricultural development in Peru, with over a decade of hands-on experience in agroforestry, livestock management, and rural entrepreneurship. He has played a key role in various impactful environmental and community development projects across the country.

With his background as a Technical Agricultural Business Administrator and Zootechnician, Benito has been instrumental in promoting sustainable practices in forestation, guinea pig farming, and pasture cultivation. His work spans several districts in Peru, where he has collaborated with local communities to foster environmental conservation while enhancing their economic development.

In addition, Benito has contributed to numerous projects aimed at environmental restoration and climate change mitigation, including leading the "Más Árboles Bonos de Carbono" (More Trees Carbon Credits) project in 2023.

Benito’s experience extends to agricultural education, having participated in various training programs on topics such as sustainable potato farming, climate change adaptation, and public management. His expertise in rural savings, community entrepreneurship, and sustainable livestock practices makes him a well-rounded expert in the field.

Contact Benito at benito@fronterra.eco

Iris is a Commercial & Administrative Assistant at Fronterra.

Currently completing her final year in Accounting at Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), Iris brings valuable experience from nearly a decade of commercial, accounting, and administrative roles. Before joining Fronterra, she served for over nine years at Importaciones Rubi SA, a prominent Peruvian enterprise specialising in wholesale and retail sales of high-quality home appliances.

In her previous role as Commercial Assistant, Iris was responsible for comprehensive inventory analysis, data-driven reporting, and optimising pricing strategies across various online and physical sales channels. Her proficiency in market analysis and ability to execute competitive promotional strategies effectively enhanced sales performance. Iris also expertly managed procurement processes through SAP Business One, overseeing everything from product creation and inventory management to invoicing and rebate control.

Her earlier role as Accounting Assistant strengthened her meticulous approach to financial document management, operational auditing, and inventory control. Iris combines strong analytical capabilities with a proactive approach to problem-solving and process optimisation.

At Fronterra, Iris contributes her analytical skills and operational expertise, supporting the commercial and administrative functions to ensure streamlined processes and sustainable business practices. Iris is proficient in advanced Excel, SAP, and several accounting platforms, enabling her to maintain high efficiency and accuracy in all her responsibilities.

Contact Iris at iris@fronterra.eco

Flora serves as a Community Management Specialist at Fronterra.

With extensive expertise in education, gender equality, and community leadership, Flora brings more than a decade of professional experience in the implementation and management of social, productive, and environmental projects. Her specialisations include intercultural bilingual education, organisational coaching, human rights, and gender development.

Before joining Fronterra, Flora served as a Gender and Community Organisation Specialist at Cáritas Arquidiocesana del Cusco, coordinating projects aimed at the social and economic empowerment of rural women. Her key responsibilities included promoting community leadership, updating community management tools, and conducting specialised training programmes for local authorities and female community leaders, focusing on emotional literacy and gender equality.

Earlier in her career, Flora excelled as Zonal Coordinator for various development programmes, implementing intergenerational community leadership schools and providing technical assistance to local authorities in community management and social organisation.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education from Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco, complemented by postgraduate studies in Municipal Public Management and Educational Psychology. Additionally, she holds certifications in Governance, Political Management, Organisational Coaching, and Public Policy.

Flora is fluent in Quechua and proficient in educational and organisational technology tools, enabling her to effectively manage culturally sensitive community initiatives. At Fronterra, she continues to promote inclusive and sustainable community development within ARR projects.

Contact Flora at flora@fronterra.eco