Selena Avendaño Leadem is the ACG/GDFCF Socio-Economic Development Coordinator. She is working to develop partnerships and new types of commercial support for ACG. Selena comes to the position with extensive experience in business and community development via her work with the Monteverde Institute, where she was the Director of the Center for Community Initiatives. She has an MBA from Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED) and an undergraduate degree in photography from Universidad Veritas. Selena has lived most of her life in Costa Rica, but has also lived in Mozambique, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Austria. About her position, Selena says, "I look forward to contributing to the efforts of ACG and GDFCF, as I admire their partnership for its work in creating models of sustainable conservation and protection of biodiversity."