Paula Navarro, Administrative Coordinator

Growing up in Madrid’s warm, Mediterranean-influenced climate, Paula spent every summer at her grandparents’ beach house. Her grandfather was a passionate conservation advocate and instilled in her from an early age the importance of protecting the land and its delicate ecosystems. Alongside this, her mother’s knowledge of Mediterranean trees nurtured Paula’s deep appreciation for nature from childhood. Paula’s mother would identify the species and explain the ecology of each tree, often weaving in a lighthearted anecdote, which helped foster Paula’s curiosity for and deepen her connection to the natural world.

Paula first arrived in Canada in 2012 to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce at Carleton University. She became fascinated with Canada’s climate and ecosystems, appreciating how vastly different they were from those she had known in Madrid. This sparked a growing interest in exploring hiking trails and learning about Canada’s diverse natural landscapes, particularly old-growth forests in B.C. 

After years of working in finance in the for-profit sector, Paula felt something was missing from her career and realized she wanted to deepen her understanding of sustainability, gaining the skills needed to pursue more meaningful work. She subsequently enrolled in a Master of Finance and a Certificate in Sustainability at Harvard University, where she focused on sustainability-related coursework to align her career with her passion for environmental stewardship. During this time, she also discovered her love for nature conservation and quickly began volunteering with the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance, supporting their efforts to safeguard endangered ecosystems through public education and engaging with non-traditional allies across Canada.

Paula is excited to embark on the next chapter as an Administrator at the Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF). She aims to bring excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and a collaborative approach to ensure efficient and effective operations.  Her goal is to help sustain and optimize a solid administrative foundation that enables NBSF’s impactful conservation initiatives to flourish. 

When she isn’t working on budgets or other administrative tasks, Paula can often be found exploring the Gatineau Hills near the capital, hiking the trails through diverse mixed-deciduous forests with friends and her dog.