Francisco Ollervides was Ocean Conservancy’s Former Director of Ocean Climate Justice. He is better known as “Paco,” a common nickname in Mexico where he was born and raised. Paco’s portfolio focuses on the justice aspects of Ocean Conservancy’s climate and plastics-climate nexus work, as well as on our nascent Shipping & Ports Justice efforts.

For more than 22 years, Paco has worked in the nonprofit world, specifically developing leadership and building capacity of individuals in environmental and conservation organizations in the United States and throughout Latin America. He served as the first Executive Director for Green Leadership Trust. This is a network of people of color and Indigenous people who serve on environmental boards and proactively build the environmental movement’s power. Prior to this, he worked for River Network as leadership development manager helping leaders in the Great Lakes region think and act strategically, equitably and inclusively by improving their efficiency and efficacy. Paco served as Senior Field Coordinator with the Waterkeeper Alliance advising numerous nonprofit advocacy groups throughout Latin America. He has also served as Director of the School for Field Studies (Center for Coastal Studies) in San Carlos, Mexico. Paco has been a resident lecturer and adviser in the areas of Economic and Ethical Issues in Sustainable Development, Coastal Ecology, and Resource Ecology and Management (Boston University).

Paco’s main interest is marine conservation and strengthening individuals to ensure organizations’ continuity and success in the areas of strategic planning, fundraising, board development and succession planning. He has participated in and presented at numerous professional and academic conferences, both in the United States and internationally. Paco is a biochemical engineer and marine bio-acoustician by training. He has conducted field work assessing the impacts of boat noise on gray whale behavior. Paco holds both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Department at Texas A&M University. Paco is based near Columbus, Ohio. In his free time, he likes to go on long walks in the woods with his entire family, travel and savor local cuisine and history.