Consultants

PHILIP ROGERS BSC (HONS) PHD MCIEEM CBIOL MRSB
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT / DIRECTOR / OWNER

Phil is a Professional Ecologist and Project Manager/Director with over 20 years of experience which has covered a wide range of industries and sectors. He has academic qualifications in environmental science and a PhD focusing on aquatic ecology. His professional and academic experiences have covered freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments across arid, temperate, tropical to coastal, and marine zones. He has considerable experience in conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs), and Ecosystem Services Assessments; his work is often aligned to Equator Principle Standards, IFC (specifically Performance Standard 6), European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Phil is experienced at Species Assessments and Critical Habitat Assessments and specialises in developing Corporate or Project Biodiversity Strategy Plans and Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs). As a project ecology lead, Phil regularly organises staff and specialist contractors to undertake field surveys, review methodologies, and analyse and interpret results.

TANJA WÖRDEHOFF-ROGERS BA (HONS) LLM (DISTINCTION)
SENIOR CONSULTANT / DIRECTOR / OWNER

Tanja has been with IBC since its launch in 2019 and has been integral in defining our mission and the direction that the business is taking. In addition to running day-to-day processes, she has worked closely with our Clients in areas such as stakeholder mapping and engagement planning, provided technical guidance and support in defining their biodiversity-related goals and objectives, as well as their target setting and progress monitoring through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

She has further developed tools that capture and visualise ecological, conservation, habitat, and quantified GIS mapping data, and numerous conceptual and data-driven infographics. Tanja is also is experienced in delivering technical reports including Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans to our Clients, and as a qualified Environmental Law and Policy Specialist she has reviewed national and international biodiversity legislation and regulations.

RAFAEL RAMIREZ ALVAREZ BSC (BIOLOGY), MSC (BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION)
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Rafael Ramírez is a experienced ecologist with a PhD candidacy in Conservation Ecology and Environmental Biology from Manchester Metropolitan University, a Master of Science in Biodiversity Conservation from Macquarie University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

With over a decade of expertise in biodiversity conservation, species risk assessments, sustainable development, nature-based solutions, climate change policy, and the voluntary carbon market, Rafael has held key roles across government, non-profit, and private sectors. He has contributed to national (Mexico) and international environmental initiatives and strategies through institutions such as the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), and the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT; GEF-funded). In Mexico, he has collaborated with leading civil society organizations, including Política y Legislación Ambiental AC and Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos AC in topics like capacity building for decision-makers, deputies and officials and assessments of the conservation status of natural ecosystems based on indicator species, respectively.

Rafael’s private-sector experience includes strategic roles at South Pole and Produce Pay, where he developed sustainability-driven solutions. His work focuses on integrating science-based approaches into policy and market mechanisms, driving impactful environmental strategies across multiple sectors.

CLAIRE BEVERLEY BSC (HONS) MSC (DISTINCTION) PHD
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Claire is a qualified PRINCE2 project manager with a PhD in biological control and is an expert in digital project delivery. As a programme manager, she gained considerable experience of leading global teams to deliver complex plant health projects in Africa, Latin America, SE Asia and the UK.

She has been responsible for defining and implementing the strategic direction of numerous international projects focused on agricultural and environmental issues. She has also designed and delivered workshops on plant health management and tools to enhance data autonomy for stakeholders in several countries including Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

In addition, Claire has been appointed as an Expert Facilitator for a post-doctorate programme co-facilitated by the British Society for Plant Pathology and has been a keynote speaker at the International Conference on Plant Protection in Horticulture.

Chiara Bortoluzzi (PhD)
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Chiara Bortoluzzi is a computational biologist with over 7 years of experience working at the intersection of DNA sequencing technologies and biodiversity conservation. Throughout her career, she has cultivated an extensive international network, fostering collaborations with leading academic institutions across Europe. She holds a PhD degree from Wageningen University (The Netherlands) in conservation genomics and has worked as a research associate at the University of Cambridge (UK) and Wellcome Sanger Institute. Here, she worked for the Darwin Tree of Life Project, a monumental endeavor dedicated to sequencing the genomes of 70,000 species of eukaryotic organisms in Britain and Ireland.

Chiara is a committed advocate for citizen science, recognizing its transformative potential in engaging communities and democratizing scientific research. Her commitment to citizen science initiatives is evident in her role as steering member of the citizen science committee of the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA), a pan-European scientific response to current threats to biodiversity. Since 2023, she has been elected to the ERGA Executive Board as Dissemination Officer.

PAKHI DAS BMS/B.COM, MSC
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Pakhi is a wildlife conservation researcher and project manager based near Mumbai, India. She has experience in managing several complex projects ranging from species-specific projects such as snow leopard conservation in the Himalayas and tiger radio telemetry in the Bay of Bengal to more diverse, community-oriented projects including community conservation and human-wildlife conflict mitigation in India’s priority landscapes. With a Master degree in Sustainability and Environmental Studies from the University of Strathclyde and Bachelor degree in Environmental Management and Economics, Pakhi has worked with organisations such as WWF India, Technology for Wildlife and Network for Conserving Central India.

Currently, she is leading the research on the legal frameworks, environmental safeguards, and realities on the ground in Nepal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Vietnam to identify threats and opportunities for safeguarding biodiversity from linear infrastructure development at various levers of influence, across scales and countries, to ensure biodiversity, climate resilience, and balanced development. Pakhi also leads partnerships for the Global Youth Biodiversity Network – India chapter on a voluntary basis and is currently involved in the CBD post-2020 targets youth representation and National Biodiversity Strategic Action Planning.

ARPIT DEOMURARI B.E., MSC, PHD
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Dr. Arpit Deomurari is a Conservation Biologist and Spatial Ecologist with two decades of experience in the Conservation and Development sectors. He holds a B.E. in Computer Engineering, an M.Sc in Ecology, and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Sciences. His expertise covers ecology, data science, and advanced conservation technologies, enabling effective assessment and advancement of conservation initiatives. He has held key positions with renowned organizations such as WWF, Roundglass, WTI, FES, USAID, WRI, and IBC.

Dr. Deomurari's approach combines innovative scientific and technological methods to improve natural resource management, conservation practices, and sustainable development. His research interests include Conservation Planning, Biogeography, Evolutionary Ecology, Citizen Science, High-Performance Computing, the History of Natural History, and the application of Artificial Intelligence in Conservation Science.

He has received prestigious awards for his contributions to conservation, including the Hasmukh Shah Memorial Award 2023 for Ecology and Environment Research and the Carl Zeiss Wildlife Conservation Award 2012.

MICHIEL GROBLER BSC (HONS) CONSENT MSC (BIOSCI)
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Michiel is an Ecological Entomologist and Restoration Ecologist with nearly a decade of experience in ecological conservation and restoration across southern Africa. His work spans diverse ecosystems — from the wetlands of Botswana to the Afro-montane forests of South Africa and the mountains of Saudi Arabia — where he has contributed to projects on biodiversity monitoring, long-term ecological restoration, and provincial conservation initiatives.

His research, including pioneering species inventories of invertebrates in the Okavango Delta, has informed biodiversity assessments, while his role in managing the monitoring and evaluation of over 20 forest restoration sites across two countries has advanced best practices for ecosystem restoration. Michiel's expertise assists him to develop management protocols in collaboration with international EIA companies to refine and standardise global invertebrate sampling protocols, develop novel mitigation strategies for renewable energy developments and advocate the large-scale use of invertebrates as bio-indicators.

Committed to knowledge sharing, Michiel has trained conservation rangers, facilitated large-scale citizen restoration events, and engaged in community-focused social impact projects. By integrating science with community involvement, he strives to develop holistic, sustainable solutions to complex environmental challenges.

DIEGO TOSCANO MEDINA BSC MSC
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Diego Toscano Medina is an Environmental Project Manager with over 8 years of experience covering a wide range of industries and sectors. His academic qualifications are in Environmental Science, Environmental and Ecosystem Management, and a Science Master focusing on region-wide socio-ecological systems and sensitive dynamics.

Diego has worked in the fields of conservation ecology, sustainable and renewable energy, industrial compliance to governmental institutions, and international organizations’ regulatory procedures such as IFC EP4 and BBS, CITES I & II, and GEF-8. He has gained considerable experience in project management, policy design, spatial modelling and analysis, and he applies various Project Management methodologies.

Diego’s favourite experience is the integrated sustainable development plans on both local and regional scope. Working with considerations for sensitive species while promoting regional economic and social evolution has been his most challenging yet most rewarding approach towards meeting the SDG’s and generating positive impacts on communities.

ENYI EMMANUEL NFOR BSC MSC (Biology) MSC (Water Sustainability)
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Emmanuel is a professional and academic with experience in managing projects for biodiversity conservation, restoration ecology, protected area management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, water resources and integrated water management, data statistics and natural resource management within government institutions and NGOs across Africa and Europe (Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Belgium).

Emmanuel has undertaken environmental field work on diverse projects that interfaces between science and policy. He has gained skills in biodiversity baseline assessment, monitoring and evaluation, ecological risk assessment, ecosystem services assessment, spatial analysis, modelling and forecasting, carbon offsetting and stakeholder engagement. He is experienced in delivering technical and scientific reporting including Biodiversity Action Plans. He has also developed and lead workshops on mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into policy development with the incorporation of smart-agricultural practices for sustainable development.

SAMUEL KELLY REES (MSC)
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Samuel Rees is an ethnobiologist and ecologist. Having gained an MSc in Ethnobotany from the University of Kent, he has continued his work as a research associate with grassroots organisations in Cameroon, developing research projects and community-based initiatives to enhance indigenous livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. He has a particular interest in the intersections of human culture and biodiversity, undertaking research in sacred forests, non-timber forest products, medicinal plants and the documentation of traditional ecological knowledge. He believes in utilising a creative approach by using visual mediums and unique methodologies to deliver projects driven to support biocultural conservation.

Sam has worked in delivering biodiversity based research for developments of national significance in the Netherlands and the UK. He has further experience in producing technical reports for biological baselines and enhancement strategies, along with developing database tools to enhance future planning decisions in large-scale developments. He is a trained IUCN conservation assessor and has helped to deliver ecological monitoring and management plans across various species and habitat types. Having worked closely with Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Sam is also a trained horticulturalist and continues to strategise future conservation initiatives for botanical and biocultural diversity.

Lavinia Warnars (MSc)
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Lavinia Warnars is an ecopreneur and consultant in areas of sustainable and biodiversity inclusive analysis, solutions and finance.

She gained her knowledge and experience from a broad and in-depth educational background regarding sustainability, development, business, and finance from a Dutch university, Cambridge University, and recently, the Frankfurt School Sustainable World Academy (Certified Expert courses in Sustainable and Biodiversity Finance).

Throughout the years, she has developed the Ego to Eco-Service Leadership model, writings, and training.

Since 2008, she has participated on transforming Ecuador into a post-oil country and towards a sustainable and regenerative one. Indeed, biodiversity regeneration and protection projects are the focus of her work; a combination of analysis of risks and impact, while stimulating positive results and opportunities. In other words, the aim is to reduce one’s footprint (negative impact), while enhancing the hand-print (positive impact).

Lavinia's main driver is: Put nature first, then we all win.

NATALIE WEBER DIPL.-BIOL.
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT

Natalie is a bat expert and works as an independent ecologist and research consultant. She has substantial (field) work experience in Africa and SE Asia for more than 15 years. Her work covers a diverse range of projects in the environmental consulting sector, and for research institutions and NGOs, providing case-specific solutions at the interface of science and practical application.

Natalie has also gained extensive experience in project coordination and management. Her expertise includes, but is not limited to, lead of rare species surveys, assessment of bats and their habitats for environmental studies in different sectors (e.g., EIAs), biodiversity conservation and monitoring, and state-of-the-art GPS tracking. She has further trained numerous students and technicians, and organises workshops. Natalie is also active in Germany, where she is experienced in faunistic ecological assessments, including implementation and monitoring of Continuous Ecological Functionality (CEF) and Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) measures, and qualified as an ecologist for BREEAM DE.