NICOLE AUIL-GOMEZ

For over 25 years, Nicole has dedicated her career to species and ecosystem research, protected area management, policy reform, and public outreach in Belize. Since 2016, she has served as Country Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Belize, leading efforts in sustainable fisheries policy, biodiversity assessments, marine protected area expansion, wildlife trafficking prevention, and nature-based climate adaptation that integrates gender and cultural perspectives. Nicole began her career in 1996 advancing Antillean Manatee protection with the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, and later served as Executive Director of the Southern Environmental Association (2013–2015). She is Co-Chair for the IUCN SSC Sirenian Specialist Group (Mesoamerica), Belize’s first Whitley Award winner (2005), and a WWF/Russell E. Train Education for Nature and OAS Fellow. Nicole holds an M.Sc. in Wildlife and Fisheries Management from Texas A&M University.