Meet the Team

Fiorella is a Chilean environmental biologist with a Masters in Ecology Restoration from the University of Chile. She has significant experience working on conservation issues and conducting research in Torres del Paine National Park and the Magallanes region. Over the last 12 years, she has implemented dozens of projects related to the region’s biodiversity, conservation of the endangered huemul, and tourism in protected areas. Her experience spans sectors and she prides herself on advancing public-private partnerships to achieve conservation goals.

Prior to her time with Legacy Fund, Fiorella worked with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Kauyeken in the southern cone region. She has also implemented park management and planning projects with CONAF and is a part of SCAC-Magallanes, a local civil-society organization.

Fiorella’s connection with nature began at an early age. She was a scout in grade school and participated in numerous volunteer programs, even reforesting lenga in Torres del Paine. As the Local Director, Fiorella hopes to generate greater public awareness surrounding biodiversity conservation, and contribute to improved planning in protected areas by bridging local communities to their environment.

Wes is the Director of the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund. He leads project development, management, and reporting, as well as marketing, fundraising, and international engagement. 

Wes is a UC Berkeley graduate from Atlanta, Georgia. Following several years as a Tour & Event Director in the U.S, Wes moved to Quito, Ecuador where he worked as the Latin America Development Lead for Asylum Access, a nonprofit that provided legal services to refugees. Here, he honed his nonprofit skills in fundraising, program implementation, and international development that led to his role as the Partnership Development Manager at Sustainable Travel International. He eventually found his way down to Chile as the Field Director for the Legacy Fund.

Beyond helping Torres del Paine National Park build sustainable trails and improve ecological restoration efforts, he is passionate about creating opportunities for local residents and tourists to give back and conserve Chile's incredible protected areas. While he is not on-the-ground in Chile full-time, his passion lies in helping the Legacy Fund find new donors, partners, and stewards to promote a more sustainable regional tourism.

Bárbara is Chilean, studied law at the Universidad Central de Chile. Specialized in Project Management, she has been dedicated to managing initiatives that have an impact on our society and/or comply with public policies for cultural and environmental conservation and promotion, developed mostly by nonprofit institutions.

In recent times, she has been closely involved with responsible and contemplative tourism, seeking experiences of high cultural value, a field that has allowed her to enhance her passion for traveling around the world and living close to nature.

She enjoys her yoga practice, meditation, forest walks, and cooking at home.

Francisco, a human being, has dedicated himself mainly to Art and sustainable Tourism, he is a protector of wild areas, a former Torres del Paine Park Ranger. Artist and cultural manager with various participations in Film, TV, Theater and Graphic Arts.

Based in Magallanes for 7 years in the wonderful commune of Puerto Natales, he loves life outdoors which leads him to share knowledge and good practices. Leave no Trace Monitor and cook most of the time, always willing to guide in the Mountain and enjoy nature.

Love, respect, education and conservation.

Jorge is a native of the Magallanes region, he lived since he was a child inside the Torres del Paine National Park, so he has a very strong bond with its landscapes, biodiversity and the people who inhabit this protected area. Marine Biologist, he has a Doctorate in Environmental Sciences with a specialty in continental aquatic ecosystems (rivers, lakes and wetlands).

He has more than 20 years of experience in different areas of scientific research, environmental education and nature conservation. In recent years, his work has been directly linked to the management of protected areas, developing different tasks in planning processes (preparation of Management Plans), with the use of Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation, and in conservation initiatives. monitoring of ecosystems, especially some with marine components. Within his recent training, the international course stands out: “Towards a more participatory and equitable management of marine protected areas; understanding the challenges of good governance”, which highlights the importance of bringing communities closer to protected areas and including them in their management.

Currently, Jorge works as a support consultant in the Huemul Conservation Project in the Torres del Paine National Park, mainly in the design and application of strategies to control threats such as the presence of livestock inside the park.

Andrés, a Tourism professional, currently serves as the volunteer coordinator in the Legacy Fund programs within Torres del Paine National Park. Originally from Santiago, Chile, he thoroughly enjoys trekking in wild areas and actively engages in sharing and teaching responsible practices for nature exploration with minimal impact on the ecosystem.

His professional background is strongly influenced by the principles of 'Leave No Trace' from Nols, and he consistently strives to care for natural environments. Since joining TDP Legacy Fund, he has contributed his expertise and motivation to maintenance, rehabilitation, and trail construction projects in the national park.

It has been a significant personal challenge in which he continues to learn new techniques daily to preserve trails and lead the group of volunteers, who play a crucial role in the conservation efforts undertaken by TDP Legacy Fund.

Daniela is an environmental activist from Pereira, Colombia currently living in Boulder, CO. Over the past decade, Daniela has worked at the intersection of social issues and environmental challenges via nonprofits, philanthropy, consulting, and business, including as the cofounder of the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund.

The Legacy Fund was born during  a year-long journey through Patagonia with her husband Drew. During this time, they not only fell in love with Torres del Paine's majestic peaks and valleys, but also deeply understood the need to cultivate more sustainable and reciprocal tourism models in the world's most beloved destinations. She has been an enthusiastic fan and supporter of the Legacy Fund as it has grown and evolved to reflect local needs and opportunities.

Daniela earned a BA from Stanford University, a Certificate in Tropical Forest Conservation from Yale School of the Environment, and a Masters in Environmental and Natural Resources Policy from CU Boulder. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Nature and Culture International, an organization working to protect places of exceptional human and biological diversity in Latin America. 

Emily is the former Director of the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund. While currently serving as an advisor to the Legacy Fund’s leadership, she worked in her tenure to secure investments that preserve and celebrate this spectacular destination. She has extensive experience with protected area tourism and international development programs, spending the previous ten years working with communities, NGOs, governments and businesses to enhance the economic and environmental vitality of rural areas in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Emily previously served as a senior advisor with Sustainable Travel International and Programs Director for Green Empowerment, an NGO dedicated to expanding access to renewable energy and potable water. She holds a BA from Pomona College in international relations and an MA in international policy studies from Stanford University, where she was also a researcher at the Center for Democracy, Development and Rule of Law.

Emily loves fly-fishing, hiking, and camping with her family and dog Wilson. When not off exploring Patagonia’s rivers and mountains, she is most likely watching her beloved hometown sports teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers or Penguins.