ROWELY YEN PARICO

Yen Parico is currently serving as the Temporary Executive Officer of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). A firm believer in the power of young people to shape a better future for the planet, she previously served as Director of CoalitionWILD—a for-youth, by-youth global program advancing youth leadership in conservation through capacity development, mentorship, and storytelling.

Before joining CoalitionWILD, Yen worked as a consultant with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), supporting farmers in using ICT tools to improve livelihoods, and as a Research and Communications Intern for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focusing on Small Island Developing States. Her upbringing and professional experiences in the Philippines laid a strong foundation for her advocacy in sustainable development. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to supporting small communities and underrepresented groups in addressing the challenges they face,  especially those most affected by the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Yen holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.