Avina Americas announces the appointment of Paula Ellinger as Executive Director and welcomes Giovanni Cruz and Ivana Fertziger to its Board of Directors.

These leadership appointments come at a moment of organizational consolidation, as Avina Americas deepens its role as a bridge between U.S.-based philanthropic partners and the communities and organizations driving lasting change across Latin America and the Global South.

“Paula is exactly the right leader for this moment,” said Valeria Scorza, Board Chair of Avina Americas and CEO of Fundación Avina. “Her years of experience building Avina’s programmatic and climate strategy from within, combined with her deep relationships across the region, make her uniquely positioned to strengthen Avina Americas as a trusted partner for philanthropic collaboration.”

“Giovanni and Ivana bring the strategic insight, philanthropic experience, and regional perspective that will be invaluable as we continue strengthening our role as a bridge for collaboration and impact,” Scorza added.

Ellinger brings 15 years of experience at Fundación Avina, where she most recently served as Director of Social Innovation, overseeing the organization’s full programmatic portfolio. Prior to that role, she led Fundación Avina’s climate strategy, mobilizing philanthropic and public resources for climate action across Latin America, including through the Green Climate Fund. Her work has consistently pushed boundaries: she pioneered cooperation projects between Latin America and Africa to close critical gaps in South-South collaboration and drove the mainstreaming of climate across Avina’s work, positioning it as a cross-cutting priority rather than a standalone agenda.

“I am honored to step into this role at such an exciting moment for Avina Americas,” said Ellinger. “There is extraordinary work happening across Latin America, led by communities and organizations with the knowledge and vision to drive real, lasting change. My focus will be on strengthening Avina Americas as a bridge between transformational work in Latin America and the resources and partnerships it deserves.”

Giovanni Cruz is a Senior Manager at The Bridgespan Group in New York, where he advises nonprofits, philanthropists, and impact investors on strategy and organizational effectiveness across environment, youth development, democracy, and gender equity. Ivana Fertziger is a Senior Program Officer for Environment at Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, where she leads grantmaking and strategy focused on environmental justice, climate resilience, and community-based natural resource management in Latin America.

“These board appointments reflect the kind of collaborative, values-driven leadership that Avina Americas is built on,” said Ellinger. “Giovanni and Ivana’s expertise will be a tremendous asset as we work to deepen our partnerships and expand our impact across Latin America.”

About Avina Americas

Avina Americas is the U.S.-based strategic ally of Fundación Avina, mobilizing philanthropic resources and partnerships in support of climate action, just and regenerative economies, and democratic innovation across Latin America and the Global South.