Executive Director

After almost two decades of service with Trees, Water & People, Sebastian Africano is proud to lead the organization as Executive Director. He has worked first-hand in almost every aspect of TWP's programs, and brings deep perspective and dedication to advancing the aspirations of the communities TWP serves. While Sebastian travels less these days than he did during his first ten years with the organization, he is excited to raise his two young kids among the extended TWP family, and to continue building bridges to connect our unique global community. Sebastian holds an MBA from Colorado State University.

Indigenous Lands Program Director

Born and raised in New Mexico, James comes with direct experience working with Tribes and understanding the traditional knowledge as it pertains to their unique values. After working with the government sector, James realized his heart belongs to the nonprofit world.

As TWP’s Indigenous Lands Program Director, James provides much needed insight and experience on working with Tribal governments that uphold traditional ethics of governance and leadership. His deep rooted experiences and cultural values strengthens our program by building trust with Tribes, promoting traditional landscape conservation values and over-seeing the development of community-based projects.

Central America Program Director

Gemara joined TWP in 2015 as an intern for the International Program after she finished her Master's work at Cornell University. She served as our Development Director in 2016 and in 2017 became our International Director. Gem has dedicated her career to showing that conservation and community development can work hand-in-hand across the Americas, especially in the most fragmented landscapes like Central America. Gem’s vision is to work closely with our local partners to co-design holistic programs that emphasize reforestation, improved cookstoves, sustainable agriculture, water security, biodiversity monitoring, and women's leadership in rural Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Gem is a Denver-native, and received her M.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University in 2015 as a Gates Millennium Scholar, and her B.S. in Zoology at Colorado State University in 2012 as a First Generation Student Scholar. When Gem isn’t traveling, she enjoys the Colorado sunshine, her two kitties, and spending time with her family.