Violeta BARRIOS AQUINO

Violeta Barrios is Chief Operating Officer at Sahara Conservation, based in France. In this role, she oversees the organization’s programs across countries, ensuring effective project delivery, financial oversight, and coordination with government authorities, donors, and international partners. She also plays a key role in strategic development, team management, and strengthening conservation initiatives in some of the most challenging regions of Africa.

A conservation biologist with over 15 years of experience, Violeta has worked extensively in Mediterranean and arid ecosystems. Before joining Sahara Conservation, she spent nearly a decade at the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in Spain, leading projects on threatened species and spearheading the development of conservation strategies for iconic North African fauna.

A dual citizen of Paraguay and Spain, Violeta brings an international perspective and a strong commitment to inclusive, collaborative conservation work. She holds a degree in Biology and a master’s degree in Ecology from the University of Montpellier, France, and is currently based near Paris.