Our Team
Leadership
Carolina Figueroa Arango
Co-Chair
Hoda Gray
Co-Chair
BIOS
Carolina Figueroa Arnago
Carolina Figueroa is a technical manager with over 16 years of experience in the field of biodiversity conservation, climate change and low carbon resilient development. Carolina has coordinated low carbon resilient projects on different levels (national government, municipalities, urban and rural areas) as well as biodiversity projects within different international organizations, governments and civil society organizations. She has worked in international contexts and has a strong experience working in multidisciplinary teams with different nationalities and backgrounds. Currently Carolina is the Director of Nature and Resilience at SELVAR, a thinks and do tank based in Colombia, working on urban nature-based solutions. Carolina is also a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher and has led several yoga workshops to share mindfulness practices in nature. In November 2024, Carolina has been appointed as the Co-chair of IUCN WCPA Urban Conservation Strategies Specialist.
Hoda Gray
Hoda is a policy and stakeholder relations professional with a rich background in park management in Canada, United States, and the UK. Currently serving as Senior Advisor to the Superintendent at Seattle Parks and Recreation, she was previously Executive Director of National Parks England, where she led the strategic initiatives to protect and promote England’s National Parks. Hoda also has extensive experience collaborating and negotiating with Indigenous communities in Canada, highlighting her commitment to inclusive and equitable environmental stewardship practices. She holds a Master of Public Administration and BA Honors from Queen’s University, and a diploma in Women’s Leadership from the University of Oxford. In addition to her professional roles, Hoda is a Board Member for the Pacific Northwest Trails Association and an Independent Reviewer for the National Park City Foundation. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, trying new things, and spending time in the outdoors, hiking with her husband, dog, and toddler.
Members
UCSSG Urban Alliance Representative
Peter Frost
Pete Frost has been working to make towns and cities better places for people and nature since 1993. He is Natural Resources Wales’ Urban Green Infrastructure Advisor, leading their work on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). He introduced Wales’ Accessible Natural Greenspace Standards and developed the assessment toolkit, supports nature‑rich urban planning and pollinator‑friendly practices, founded the Wales Green Infrastructure Forum, and facilitates community engagement in complex environmental decision‑making. Pete is a fellow of the Institute of Welsh Affairs and, as a member of the IUCN WCPA Urban Conservation Strategies Specialist Group, serves as the UCSSG representative to the Urban Alliance.
IUCN WCPA Young Professional
Amie Kusch
Amie holds a B.S. in Fish & Wildlife Ecology and Management and a Master of Marine Affairs. She has worked across advocacy, policy, and governance, including roles with Natural Resources Defense Council and the United States Senate. She supports the IUCN WCPA Urban Conservation Strategies Group as a WCPA Young Professional, advancing efforts to strengthen conservationists’ ability to serve urban communities and institutions. Currently, Amie consults on the human dimensions of ocean and fisheries management, integrating ecological insight to support people‑centered conservation challenges.