Category: Speakers

Dr. Marc Valitutto is a Wildlife Veterinary Medical Officer for the Global Health Program, where he focuses on coordinating and implementing wildlife health studies and training in Asia. Dr. Valitutto’s research focuses on One Health related topics, specifically evaluating the transmission of zoonotic diseases from wildlife to humans in Myanmar. Since 2016, he has been evaluating the health status of pangolins in the wild, a rapidly declining population as a direct result of poaching and a high regional demand for their products. Dr. Valitutto received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and completed a four-year residency in zoological medicine and surgery at the Wildlife Conservation Society and Cornell University.

Krista is both an ecologist and a veterinarian who works on a variety of health and conservation issues in threatened and endangered wildlife. She is passionate about understanding how disturbances (like habitat loss) impact movement, behavior, and disease in wildlife. She has lived and worked with wildlife on six continents, but her current position with the Smithsonian’s Global Health Program focuses on programs in Kenya.

Brian grew up with an unhealthy love of film, working summers at Blockbuster Video and taking film classes at The Potomac School and Connecticut College. He graduated with a BA in Film Studies from Connecticut College and jumped into the world of documentary television post-production shortly thereafter. After making the rounds as a freelancer editing shows for History, Discovery, Travel Channel, PBS, and others, he joined the National Geographic Pristine Seas team as an editor and producer, where he has worked for the past two years writing and editing documentary films and shorts about ocean conservation.

Dan Myers is the international policy manager for National Geographic Pristine Seas. In this role, Myers works in tandem with governments and civil society to ensure that conservation is appropriately considered in the development of national and regional policy. Myers has an extensive background in environmental policy and communications. Prior to National Geographic, he served as assistant director of communications for former Vice President Al Gore in support of his efforts to build awareness and promote solutions to the global climate crisis. In addition to providing strategic communications support, Myers served as a primary researcher for Vice President Gore and assisted in coordinating numerous international climate events. Myers graduated from Dickinson College with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies.

Valerie has strategic and operational oversight for the series of flagship programs and projects that are helping to achieve the Society’s ambitious targets to deliver on the vision. She previously worked on ocean and freshwater issues for National Geographic’s Impact Initiatives and Explorer Programs and oversaw the Lindblad-National Geographic Fund. Prior to joining NGS in May 2011, Valerie led TRAFFIC North America’s marine fisheries trade work, focusing on issues of legality and traceability in the seafood supply chain. Valerie earned a Master’s of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and has a Bachelor’s in International Relations.

Maritza Arizaga joined the Maryland/DC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy in March of 2017. As Conservation-Operations Coordinator she supports the conservation and philanthropy teams to drive effective conservation priorities in clean water and climate resilience.  Most recently her work focuses on supporting projects and handling operations and finance requests in the Maryland/DC Chapter. As part of her current administrative role, she is currently co-developing a Green Office Initiative focused on driving sustainability outcomes and best practices to reduce carbon emissions at an organizational level.

Prior to joining TNC, Maritza worked for Colorado State University as Logistics Coordinator for the Center for Protected Area Management. Key components of her role included supporting and facilitating capacity-building and leadership trainings for international conservationists and practitioners. While in this role, she had the opportunity to travel throughout western U.S and visit some of the most iconic national parks such as Yellowstone, Tetons, and Rocky Mountain National Park.  Based on the nature of her travels, she was able attain experience in different conservation management methodologies and Leave No Trace practices in rural and wilderness environments.  Among the most notable techniques include leading backcountry trips with llamas in Colorado.