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Michelle Johnson: New Appointed Director of Development for The Nature Conservancy in Latin America

The Nature Conservancy in Latin America announces Michelle Johnson as the new Director of Development.

Aerial view of a large reservoir amidst sweeping green hills.
Aerial view of Jaguari Reservoir which is part of Brazil's Cantareira system (the largest system of public water supplies in Latin America) which provides fifty percent of Sao Paulo's drinking water. Aerial view of Jaguari Reservoir which is part of Brazil's Cantareira system (the largest system of public water supplies in Latin America) which provides fifty percent of Sao Paulo's drinking water. © Scott Warren

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Michelle Johnson headshot.
Michelle Johnson Michelle is Director of Development for TNC Latin America. © Courtesy of Michelle Johnson

TNC is happy to announce that Michelle Johnson joined the Latin America Region as the new Director of Development starting January 16, 2024.

In this role Michelle will lead the regional Development team in the design and implementation of TNC’s fundraising strategy to unlock conservation and sustainable development at a scale that has a significant impact on our 2030 goals.

Michelle held several leadership positions prior to joining TNC and comes with a distinguished career in designing and leading transformative fundraising initiatives for higher education and nonprofit organizations. Most recently she served as the executive director of development for the University of Miami School of Law, where under her leadership they are on track to surpass their Ever Brighter Campaign goal. From 2004 to 2022 she worked at INCAE Business School (Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas), most recently as their director of strategic partnerships. At INCAE, Michelle was also instrumental in creating the conditions for successful strategies and campaigns working with both international and local partners. In 2022, Leads Mujer, a multi-country initiative that Michelle helped conceptualize, was highlighted by U.S. Vice President Harris and the Partnership for Central America at the Summit of the Americas.

Michelle holds a Master of Arts in political economy from the University of Essex and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and international business from DePauw University.

Michelle’s arrival as director of development marks an important chapter in our organization. “This is a pivotal role, where Michelle will be working with a dynamic team and collaborating with visionary minds to drive our 2030 goals forward. Unlocking financial resources that will fuel the transformation of communities across Latin America and foster a harmonious coexistence between people and nature is paramount for us,” reassures Paula Caballero, executive director, TNC in Latin America.

Michelle resides in Miami with her family.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 77 countries and territories (41 by direct conservation impact and 36 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.