Meet our team

Lucas Black

Vice President – Head of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accredited Entity (AE) unit

Lucas joined WWF in 2021 as Vice President of Climate Finance, where he leads teams in the design and implementation of innovative financial structures and projects that strive to produce high-quality outcomes for climate, nature, and people in priority WWF landscapes and seascapes. Lucas oversees the WWF network’s engagement as an accredited entity for the GCF. Lucas brings more than twenty-five years of hands-on experience in blended finance in both the public and private sectors, spending the twelve years prior to joining WWF working in various roles for the United Nations Development Program’s Nature, Climate and Energy Team, where he worked on both GEF and GCF projects. He has worked with the GCF since 2015. Prior to working with WWF and the United Nations, Lucas was an associate country director in the Africa group of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and before that an associate in the Latin America investment banking group of Deutsche Bank Securities. Lucas holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. He resides with his family in Portland, Oregon.

Sean Foden

Project Development Manager

Originally from South Africa, Sean joined WWF’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accredited Entity team in 2021. As Project Development Manager, he leads the design and development of large-scale climate finance projects supporting developing countries’ adaptation and mitigation goals across oceans, freshwater, forests, grasslands, and agriculture. He provides strategic and technical guidance to WWF partners and governments on GCF project development, investment planning, and compliance, while identifying high-impact opportunities for climate and conservation action across WWF’s global network. Sean holds a degree in Geography and Environmental Sciences from Stellenbosch University and has a strong interest in climate risk, sustainable finance, and social protection

John-Paul (JP) Jaudel

Director of Project Development

John‑Paul Jaudel is a climate finance professional with 15 years of experience developing complex, high‑impact projects for international climate funds, multilateral institutions, and bilateral agencies. As Director of Project Development in the GCF Accredited Entity Unit, he leads WWF’s work supporting national governments in advancing their climate priorities by designing investment‑ready, high‑impact nature‑based solutions projects for the GCF. He joined WWF in 2018, following project development and implementation roles with the Wildlife Conservation Society, DAI, and the World Bank, working across climate change adaptation, climate finance, marine conservation, climate‑smart agriculture, forestry, and freshwater conservation. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Planning and Climate Change Management from The George Washington University.

Danielle Lien

Director, GCF Relations & Project Implementation Oversight

Originally from Southern California, Danielle has been with WWF since 2018. She has worked in partnership with the GCF since 2015. Danielle has led and participated in several first-of-their-kind initiatives and programs throughout her career and has experience with project management, operations, donor relations, policy tools, climate change, and environmental, and social safeguarding. She holds a Master of Arts in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development with a focus on environmental policy from Hawai’i Pacific University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of San Diego.

Stephanie Guidy

Senior Administrative Assistant

Stephanie is an Ivorian native based in the Washington, DC area with a strong background in climate policy, stakeholder engagement, and social impact initiatives. Since joining World Wildlife Fund in 2023, she has contributed across multiple goal teams within the climate space, focusing on identifying project gaps, strengthening collaboration efforts, and serving as a liaison between external stakeholders and internal teams.

Prior to her work at WWF, Stephanie supported women’s reproductive rights and health policy initiatives, helping advance advocacy and equity-centered programs. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Trinity Washington University, where she developed a foundation in strategic communication and public engagement.

Alisha Alexander

Financial Director

Alisha joined the GCF AE team in 2023. Prior to joining WWF, she worked at the Environmental Defense Fund overseeing the financial operations for its corporate engagement program, and co-founded an electric car share startup aimed at reducing transportation emissions in the Denver metro area. Alisha brings 8 years of program operations, financial management, accounting, and client relations experience to the team, and is responsible for overseeing the financial architecture of the GCF AE and ensuring financial compliance in project design and implementation. She holds an MBA in Sustainability and Social Enterprise from Colorado State University and dual Bachelors degrees in Finance and Accounting from Northern Arizona University.

Shagai Mandakhbayar

Senior Program Officer

Shagai, a native of Mongolia, joined the GCF AE team in 2023. She previously worked at the Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia, a direct access entity of the GCF, on the organization's accreditation application. Shagai has experience in environmental and social risk management and sustainability in the financial sector. Shagai holds a Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Management from the University of Finance and Economics in Mongolia.

Kamilla Zakirova

Program Officer

Originally from Uzbekistan, Kamilla joined the GCF AE team in 2023. Prior to WWF, she worked with the UNDP’s Green Commodities Program and the World Bank’s Agriculture and Food Global Practice, supporting projects on climate smart agriculture and sustainable food systems. Her experience also includes supporting civil society initiatives and combating human trafficking in Central Asia. Kamilla is a co-founder of the American Uzbekistan Association, which focuses on supporting the Uzbek diaspora in the US and fostering collaboration between Uzbekistan and the United States. She received her Master of Science in Global Human Development from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, where she specialized in climate change, agricultural sustainability, and food security.

Maria Helena Stalica Galeano

Senior Program Operations & Finance Specialist

Maria Helena joined WWF in 2026 as Senior Program Operations & Finance Specialist in the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accredited Entity Unit, where she provides financial oversight and operational support for GCF projects in Peru and Colombia. She leads budget monitoring, financial reporting, partner due diligence, risk assessment, and helps develop funding proposals, ensuring compliance with GCF requirements and WWF fiduciary policies. Maria Helena brings nearly a decade of experience in award management, risk and compliance, stakeholder management, and financial monitoring for donor-funded programs. She has managed large-scale, multi-country portfolios of federal and private awards, working with government, institutional, and community partners across Latin America and beyond to deliver complex programs on time and in full compliance. Her background also includes cybersecurity, web development, digital marketing, and design. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, with a specialization in Latin American Affairs, from Temple University, and is based in Washington, D.C.