Maria Mejia is a social ecologist from Colombia specialising in biodiversity conservation and biodiversity governance. She was a conspirator of Urban Nature: Platform of Experiences (2016) , Global Environments Network Fellow (2018), Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow, current volunteer at Fundacion Cerros de Bogota, and regional curator at The Nature Of Cities. Beyond Colombia, Maria has spent time in Germany, the United States, and the Philippines where she has worked with incredible teams including the Asian Development Bank, German Cooperation Agency (GIZ), and the PIK Institute. Now back home, Maria is currently leading the BiodiverCities at the Humboldt Institute of Colombia, an initiative promoted by the National Government in partnership with the World Economic Forum. She holds a double major in Economics and Political Science, which she followed up with personal passions, including studying a Minor in Architecture and City, hosting a radio show, and working in Yosemite National Park. Maria's has an MSc. in global environmental change, and wrote her thesis on the role people play in the production of urban natures, building on theories of environmental justice, and landscape ecology.