OUR GLOBAL TEAM

Esmond Wisdom Quansah is a development professional with over 10 years experience in the development field. He served in several capacities and spearheaded many interventions for improved wellbeing for marginalized groups and young people. He implemented key programs in livelihoods, gender equality and climate action. Prior to joining Pure Earth, he served as Country Representative/Project Lead for Youth Challenge International, a Canadian INGO in Ghana to support young people in living sustainable livelihoods. Esmond comes with leadership skills in building partnerships, advancing Climate Action issues, engaging stakeholders across government, civil society, and private sectors. He also worked with Ghana Education Service, Right to Play International, and EQUIP HUBs program. He held several other positions which include Training Coordinator, Hub Coordinator/Manager, Project Coordinator, Operations and Finance Manager among others. He holds Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati, India. Esmond is passionate about issues related to marginalized groups, youth empowerment leading to sustainable livelihoods, gender equality and climate action.

Nana leads the communication efforts of Pure Earth Ghana. Bringing his experience in development and corporate communication to raise awareness of Pure Earth’s mission in the country. His strategic approach in media relations, creative writing, and content creation has helped position and mobilize initiative, connecting with diverse stakeholders. Nana is a communication professional with five years of experience in the media and communication sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and majored in development communication from the African University College of Communications.

Blessing joined Pure Earth as a Technical Assistant in 2021 and has since worked as a full-time member of the Ghana Team. She has been working in various roles as Technical Assistant, Junior Investigator, Project Officer, and Technical Project Officer for different periods since she joined Pure Earth Ghana. As the Technical Project Officer for Pure Earth Ghana, Blessing works to implement projects including site assessments, and home-based assessments among others to create awareness and address environmental pollution in Ghana. Before joining Pure Earth, Blessing graduated from the University of Ghana with a BSc (Hons.) degree in Earth Science (Geology Major). She is very passionate about the environment and aims to contribute to the resolution of various global crises.

Experienced and goal-driven Admin/Finance Officer with a strong background in finance and administration.
Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products while maintaining cost-effectiveness, safety, and operational efficiency in Private and Non-profit organizations. Possesses essential professional attributes such as effective communication skills, Strong interpersonal relationships, good time management, self-confidence, and a creative mindset. Hannah holds a BSc. Administration, Accounting from University of Ghana Business School. Student membership (Level 2), Institute of Chartered Accountants-Ghana. Hannah holds a certification in Financial Modelling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA) From Corporate Finance Institute (CFI)

Isaac Owusu Ansah Sackey joined Pure Earth as a Technical Project Assistant in 2023. He has experience in data collection , quality control check and data analysis. Prior to Pure Earth, he was the assistant judge and Lab technician in Brain battle quiz, STEMPLAST and STEMNNOVATION; competitions that enable children solve environmental pollution. Isaac is certified by industry inertia Africa as a data analyst, design thinker and an agile leader. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Science (Geology major) from the university of Ghana. As the Technical Project Assistant, he assists in site assessments, toxic site identification among others to create awareness and address environmental pollution in Ghana. He possesses important professional skills such as graphic designing and documentary creation, predictive analysis and content creation.

Eunice Asieduaa Addo joined Pure Earth in 2023 as a Finance and Administrative Assistant, bringing with her a diverse skill set and experience. With a background in sales and marketing, leadership in environmental initiatives, and proficiency in front desk duties, Eunice is a valuable addition to the team. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), she is well-equipped to handle the multifaceted responsibilities of her role.
As a Finance and Administrative Assistant at Pure Earth, Ghana, Eunice plays a pivotal role in providing comprehensive support. Her responsibilities include budgeting, record-keeping, procurement, data management, and coordination. Additionally, she serves as the initial point of contact for guests, ensuring a positive first impression and facilitating impactful interactions. Eunice’s dedication and expertise contribute significantly to the smooth functioning of Pure Earth’s operations in Ghana.

Starting her duties as the Country Director in 2008, Budi Susilorini led the Pure Earth team in Indonesia to provide support to the Government of Indonesia in mitigating environmental and health impacts due to toxic pollution. This support is provided through partnerships with government and non-government institutions at the central and regional levels with combination of research, technical interventions, capacity building, campaigns and education, as well as policy recommendations.

With an educational background in forest resource conservation and a strong interest in environmental issues, Nickolaus joined Pure Earth in 2014. Until now he has been involved in studies related to heavy metal contamination, toxic site identification program and remediation, capacity building, and multi-stakeholders policy discussions related to mitigating the impact of heavy metals on the environment and health.

With an educational background in oceanography, Vedila has been able to develop herself to provide support to the team in terms of financial planning, cost management and operational effectiveness since joining Pure Earth Indonesia in 2022. Apart from her responsibilities as the Administration and Finance Officer, she also often steps in to assist the field work.

Having a combination of education in public health as well as awareness and passion in promoting health, Sina joined Pure Earth in 2023 and one of her current duties is to be the program coordinator of “Strengthening Health Systems to Reduce Lead Exposure.” Sina’s flexibility in communicating contributes to the organization’s networking, incl. her involvement in stakeholder discussions regarding the management of lead intoxication in children and pregnant women as well as the development of educational materials related to the dangers of lead and efforts to prevent it.

With educational background in English education and global media communication, experience as a journalist and working in NGO, as well as an interest in environmental issues, Lina joined Pure Earth in mid-2024. Lina implements a human-centered approach in her communications work to understand the needs, foster trust, and encourage collaboration with stakeholders. A storyteller at heart, she believes that everyone has stories to tell, knowledge to share, and lessons to inspire, and she works to help them amplify their voice and get their message across.

Larah Ortega Ibañez oversees a variety of projects for Pure Earth in the Philippines, including both research and cleanup. Larah is currently preparing for a large-scale project aimed at reducing heavy metal contamination in fishponds in the river systems surrounding Manila.

Elezabeth “Beth” Ompad has rejoined us officially as Program Officer for Field Operations. She’s been working with PE Philippines in various roles as Junior Investigator, Research Assistant, Senior Investigator, and Project Officer/Coordinator for different periods of time since 2009. She is a Chemical Engineer with backgrounds in Biology, Chemical Engineering and Environmental Science and engagement in research relevant to our advocacy and work.

Danwell P. Esperas, RN is a registered nurse by profession but a development worker by heart. He has passion for serving marginalized sectors including out-of-school-youth, children in conflict with the law, and children with disabilities. He has extensive experience in child poverty, organization development, community empowerment, and youth employment locally and Southeast Asia. In addition, he was the alternate focal person in one of the International Non-government organizations and in charge of the program’s efforts in protecting the rights of beneficiaries against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. He also participated in drafting the ASEAN Road Map for the implementation of the Hanoi Declaration on Strengthening Social Work for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community. He also founded the Rural Improvement Club in San Antonio, Quezon promoting and protecting the rights of the rural farmers.

Sandeep develops and implements advocacy and communication projects and strategies to engage diverse influencers, decision-makers, governments, private sector companies, NGOs, research institutes, media and public in support of awareness-raising and policy development/change to bring attention to lead pollution and its solutions. Sandeep is an environmentalist, scientist, policy expert and a campaigner. Before joining Pure Earth, Sandeep worked at Purpose developing and implementing a wide range of campaigns on air pollution, clean transport and clean energy. He comes with great experience in Government policy/program implementation & coordination. In the past, he has worked on the Clean India Mission with Tata Trust and the Indian Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. He started his career as a researcher at TERI University and contributed to different air quality and climate change-related research projects funded by government, non-governmental and international organizations.

Emershia Sharmine is a Public Health Nutrition professional with 14+ years of experience in the development sector. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership in providing technical support for Child Health and Nutrition programs across India, including a UNICEF partnership project. With a master’s degree in Food Science and Nutrition and an M.Phil in Research and Development, Emershia is well-equipped to design and implement SBCC programs, foster partnerships, strengthen systems, manage programs, and deliver evidence-based reports.

Dr. Shailesh Patil is an accomplished public health professional with over twelve years of experience. An alumnus of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, where he earned his Master of Health Administration, he is known for his strong commitment to public health. Dr. Patil has demonstrated exceptional skill in building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders at both state and national levels, which has been crucial for the successful implementation of health programs.

Before his role at Pure Earth, Dr. Patil served as the National Program Manager at CHAI, where he led the successful implementation of Project Axshya Plus in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. His diverse experience spans across organizations such as CARE, UNICEF, TISS, NHM Maharashtra, and NHM Gujarat. He brings technical and managerial expertise in various areas, including Maternal and Child Health, TB, HIV, and Quality and Patient Safety. Additionally, he supports the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) India as a National External Assessor for NQAS certification, further underscoring his significant contributions to public health.

A Bhaskar Raj works as a program associate at Pure Earth, India. He has over 10 years of working experience in the field of sustainable social development, specifically Nutrition, Education, Rural Development, Migration and Human trafficking. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, a Master of Philosophy in Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. His research in the past mainly focused on Self Help Groups, Farmer, Urban slum dwellers, issues of Migration, Human trafficking and Agriculture. Before joining Pure Earth, he worked with Tata Institute of Social Sciences in the Research department and with TATA TRUSTS on Nutrition in Central Kitchen.

Ved brings over a decade of experience as an admin and finance professional, with expertise in finance, accounts, audit, tax, FCRA, and procurement. His extensive background in the development sector includes collaborations with national and international organizations, as well as private sector companies.

Known for his commitment to excellence and keen attention to detail, Ved is proficient in accounting software such as Sage, Tally, Busy, and ERP systems, which has allowed him to streamline financial processes while ensuring accuracy and compliance.

Mahfuzar Rahman is a physician/epidemiologist by training; He has been with Pure Earth since 2020 after successfully completing tenure with UNICEF, BRAC, Columbia University and ICDDRB. His main research interests over the past 20 years have been occupational, environmental and molecular epidemiology, focused in studying various pollutants on health and pollution in producing acute and chronic diseases. Other interests include health systems performance particularly for the poor; universal health coverage; program evaluation; implementation research for successful delivery of evidence-based interventions to improve the quality of care services; and access to safe water and toxic elements in environment. He also serves as a cost analyst of different projects in Bangladesh. He used to work in International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France. While most of his work has related to low-income settings, Rahman has also been involved in research with the GBD in Seattle and Imperial College, London for many years.

Mitali Das leads the communication efforts of Pure Earth Bangladesh. She is a communications professional with more than 9 years of extensive experience in the development, media and communication sectors. She has played a lead role in successfully designing and implementing hundreds of national and local-level campaigns that have reached millions of people. She has expertise in developing communication and branding strategies, social media and website content, IEC and SBCC materials, creative campaign concepts and documentary and animation scripts. She also has experience in report writing, documenting lessons learned, achievements, and best practices of projects. She has worked closely with many international donor agencies, the government’s multi-sectoral departments, UN organizations, media agencies, and partner NGOs. She has a rights-based approach in her work that promotes inclusiveness, gender-sensitive communication, and non-discrimination. She also volunteers with various local and international charitable organizations to provide education to underprivileged children.

Nihal is the Safety Officer for Pure Earth Bangladesh. He is an engineering graduate and he hopes to serve the team for the best outcome.

Kawsar Rahman joined the Pure Earth Bangladesh team in 2023. He completed his graduate Master of Business Administration in Finance and has an undergraduate honors degree in Business Administration. He is also a qualified chartered certified accountant (ACCA). Prior to Pure Earth Bangladesh, he served as the Accountant & Administration Officer at non-profit Innovations for Poverty Action.

Khatuna holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and Planning and a PhD in Biosciences. She has more than 15 years of professional experience in Agrochemicals management including hazardous waste management in Georgia and abroad. She has worked with FAO, UNEP, UNDP, WB, EBRD. She helped with the preparation and validation of the 2021-2031 Climate Action Plan (CAP) Waste (solid & water) sector chapter and has experience working on normative regulations on solid municipal waste, toxic waste and chemical substances management issues at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. She possesses 5 years of Greenhouse management and 10 years of environmental consultancy work in Georgia. She is a trainer of trainers on pesticides and obsolete pesticide management issues and has been a part of different programs and projects aiming at strengthening the capacities and knowledge of farmers to help increase the production of crops in Georgia.

Lizeth is an Environmental Engineer, with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from the Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. She has worked in the areas of consulting, environmental and project management, teaching and research, and has experience in the administrative and technical coordination of projects of a diverse nature and in the implementation of sustainability strategies.

Angie Tatiana Ortega Ramírez is the Project Coordinator Pure Earth – Colombia. She is a Chemical Engineer a Petroleum Engineer and a specialist in project management. She holds a Masters in Environmental Management for Competitiveness and is a doctoral student in Sustainability. She has been a member of the Pure Earth team since 2018. She is currently coordinator of the CSO project for Colombia, administrator of the TSIP database for Latin America and the Caribbean and assistant for Mercury (Hg) projects. She has 7 years of research and teaching experience, experience in the hydrocarbons sector in the field of reservoirs and HSEQ. She has experience in management of environmental remediation projects due to mining – energy impacts in Colombia has been a leader of social and environmental projects in non-profit organizations. She has published academic research on sustainability, especially in the oil industry. She is the director of her foundation “Sueño de Ángeles” in Colombia, where she works with children in a state of vulnerability.

Daniela is a public health physician with studies in human rights and gender, with extensive experience in research in vulnerable populations and in the implementation of prevention and health promotion programs.

With her outstanding interest in the solution of the country’s social problems, Daniela opens a new research perspective as coordinator of health programs for Colombia.

Claudia leads communications in Colombia and Peru, bringing her experience in social impact and cultural change projects to raise awareness of Pure Earth’s mission in local communities. Her strategic approach contributed to the implementation of positioning and mobilization initiatives, connecting with diverse stakeholders. Prior to her role at Pure Earth, Claudia worked in an NGO related to the promotion and prevention of occupational hazards and environmental protection, contributing with the implementation of communication strategies that inform and generate a positive impact on community perception and participation. Claudia is a Social Communicator and Journalist, with a Master’s Degree in Communication Management and Public Relations.

Carlos is a Certified Public Accountant specializing in tax direction and management. He has been with Pure Earth Colombia since its formal creation in 2020, where he has been responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance in tax and labor matters. With over 12 years of experience, he has provided expert advice on efficient tax risk management, tax planning in Colombia, and regulatory compliance to support decision-making for both international and local companies. Carlos is also currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Tax Direction and Management, further enhancing his expertise in the field.  His meticulous approach, combined with his skills in financial analysis and auditing, enables him to offer innovative solutions tailored to Pure Earth’s needs.

Marcela is responsible for managing and overseeing human and financial resources, as well as strategic and budgetary planning. She is an electronic engineer with expertise in office tools, audit processes, and accounting software. With over 4 years of experience in accounting and finance, Marcela has a solid background in R&D&I (Research, Development, and Innovation) frameworks. She possesses strong skills in recording and analyzing financial transactions, account reconciliation, and resource management. Throughout her career, she has consistently ensured compliance with financial regulations and standards.

Agustín Gama is currently the Country Director of Pure Earth Mexico – his 30 years of professional experience began at American Express and Reader’s Digest; he has held top executive positions as Executive Director of The American Society of Mexico and General Manager for Diario EL PAÍS Mexico LATAM North. He has also worked  in the public sector, where he held several directive positions in the Ministry of Finance and Administration of the Government of the State of Hidalgo. His academic background includes Business Administration and Accounting at the Universidad Anáhuac and Public Administration and Political Science at the Universidad Iberoamericana. He is also an active member of the American Benevolent Society Mexico, American School Foundation Alumni Association, and has participated in international marathons.

Jesús is a Biochemical Engineer from ITESM and has an MBA from IPADE in Mexico. He has held several positions in the Finance and Microfinance Industries, and has had extensive experience in operations and project management, customer service, and strategic planning. Prior to joining Pure Earth, he worked as a consultant for the food industry, designing and implementing several operational re-engineering projects, as well as continuous improvement programs.

Carmina studied International Relations and has spent 7 years dedicating herself to the fundraising and strategic development of different social causes in Mexico. She is passionate about contributing to the social development of the communities and collaborates with Pure Earth in Mexico promoting the Barro Aprobado Program and seeking funds for the development of projects.

Netzy has a degree in Social Anthropology from the Autonomous University of Morelos, a master’s degree in Social Anthropology from the College of Michoacán, and a doctorate from the CUCSH of the University of Guadalajara in Social Sciences. She is a part-time professor at the University of Morelos and has been the Operations Coordinator with Barro Aprobado since 2014. She specializes in local project management and community organizing.

Rodrigo is a biologist and holds a Master’s degree in Social Responsibility and Sustainable Leadership from the University of Barcelona, a Master’s degree in Environmental Health from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, a Diploma in Sustainable Development from the Universidad del Pacífico and is certified in Design Thinking by the Creativity Certification Program.

Rodrigo is passionate about disruptive thinking and the orientation towards innovation and sustainability in the projects he leads. He has experience in academia, government and private sector, highlighting his role as project manager in the Laboratory of Eco-Health and Urban Ecology of the Faculty of Science and Philosophy of the Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia, Policy Manager for The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, Director of Communications and Strategic Relations for Oceana Peru, among others.

Forestry engineer by training, with a master’s degree in environmental management, with more than 14 years of experience in the forestry sector of Peru, working on the problem of alluvial mining in Madre de Dios, Peru, since 2011, investigating issues related to environmental mining management, mercury-free technologies, as well as the restoration of areas degraded by mining in the Amazon.

Bachelor’s in Forestry Engineering from Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, with a diploma in Public Management. Since 2019, Sofía has been working in the Madre de Dios region, focusing on issues related to alluvial gold mining from a restoration perspective, as well as food security in native communities vulnerable to climate change.

Dr. Jack Caravanos is presently Professor at the School of Global Public Health at NYU. He received his Master’s Degree in Environmental Health Engineering and proceeded to earn his DrPH from Columbia University. He is board certified in industrial hygiene (CIH) and prides himself as being a practicing field-based environmental health scientist. Since 2005, Dr. Caravanos has assisted the international NGO, Pure Earth, with its Toxic Site Inventory Program and has traveled to over 20 countries assisting partners in both the private and governmental sector in sampling and assessing environmental health threats from hazardous waste sites and operations. Dr. Caravanos conducted dozens of environmental health assessments of e-waste sites, backyard smelters, gold mining sites and tanneries.

Hanrahan is an expert in water and wastewater planning, environmental engineering, pollution control and soil clean-up; technical director of Pure Earth; former lead environmental specialist, Environment Department, World Bank

Dr. Binkhorst comes to Pure Earth as a contaminant hydrogeologist from the private environmental consulting world. As a Senior Hydrogeologist and Project Manager at ALTA Environmental Corporation in Connecticut since 1998, Gordon was primarily responsible for providing technical oversight and direction on a variety of site investigation and remediation projects, including those under a variety of regulatory programs. Dr. Binkhorst has a comprehensive knowledge of hydrogeologic principles, contaminant fate and transport mechanisms, and assessment and remediation techniques and strategies.  Dr. Binkhorst was an Adjunct Professor to Department of Geosciences at the University of Connecticut (UConn) where he taught an upper-level undergraduate class on completing environmental site assessments and served as a member of UConn’s Geoscience Advisory Board.

At Pure Earth, Gordon worked as a Senior Technical Advisor to Pure Earth since 2011, and served as the Vice President of Global Programs in 2020 and 2021 prior to returning to his role as Senior Technical Advisor.  Gordon has worked extensively investigating and remediating legacy informal used lead acid battery recycling sites in the Philippines, India and Bangladesh, as well as mitigating exposure to residents living near an abandoned lead mine in Kabwe, Zambia. Gordon has contributed to a number of publications regarding the battery recycling industry and has also been instrumental in studies identifying lead adulterated spices in Bangladesh, India and the Republic of Georgia. Gordon has championed inclusion of blood lead monitoring as part of ongoing health and nutrition surveys for children in Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia and Ghana and has provided technical guidance on identifying lead exposure sources in lower and middle-income countries (e.g., aluminum and ceramic cookware, paints, cosmetics, spices, etc.). Gordon was instrumental in developing, implementing and interpreting Pure Earth’s 2022-2023 Rapid Market Survey, which has included collection, XRF screening and laboratory testing of over 6,000 household items from 25 low- and middle-income countries for total lead, as well as spearheading testing of over 100 aluminum pot and pans for leachable lead.

Dr. Lynn Panganiban has served as the National Consultant for Pure Earth Philippines for GiveWell project implementation in the country particularly in the area of Public Health and Toxicology. She is a professor at the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine; one of the pioneers and still is a Toxicology Consultant at the National Poison Management & Control Center, UP College of Medicine-Philippine General Hospital; Member of the Pesticide Expert Panel and Technical Service Consultant of the Center for Cosmetic Regulation and Research of the Food and Drug Administration among others.