MARIA PAMELA CASTILLO

Pamela Castillo is a global leader in environmental policy, biodiversity conservation, and gender equity, with over 20 years of experience designing nature-positive, inclusive, and impact-driven solutions. As Global Director of 30x30 Marine at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), she leads a global strategy to contribute to protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 across 26 countries—ensuring communities are at the forefront. She also spearheads the Women Ocean Guardians initiative, a global coalition advancing women’s marine leadership with partners including GEF and Conservation International.

Previously, she served as Deputy Minister of Environment of Costa Rica, where she led the biodiversity portfolio, including the national protected areas system and issued the country’s first gender equity directive in the environmental sector. She has co-founded transformative programs and advised major international funders on sustainable finance solutions with a gender lens.