A native of Colombia, Natalia studied biology in her homeland, Medellin, and holds a masters degree in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge. Her interests range from strategic planning to co-management of protected areas and conservation programmes, community-based conservation, shared governance, leadership skills with an emphasis in participative processes, sustainable livelihoods, gender and community empowerment, post-conflict and environment in Colombia, environmental economics, sustainable technologies, and alliances for conservation.