Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg Joins the Charles Darwin Foundation’s Board of Directors
Renowned leader in global health, science philanthropy, and environmental stewardship joins CDF’s governing body
Galapagos, Ecuador | 5 January 2026 — The Board of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg to its Board of Directors, effective 1 January 2026.
Dr. Fineberg, former president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, brings decades of experience at the highest levels of academia, health policy, and philanthropy. His distinguished career includes service as president of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, provost of Harvard University, and dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Throughout his professional life, he has been a prominent voice in global health, scientific advancement, and the strategic development of mission-driven institutions.
During his tenure at the Moore Foundation, Dr. Fineberg championed a range of innovative research and conservation initiatives at CDF at the intersection of natural history, science, and sustainability. Under his guidance and strategic leadership, support was directed toward addressing critical challenges such as combating illegal fishing, promoting sustainable practices across terrestrial and marine ecosystems, strengthening scientific knowledge-sharing through the development of open-access platforms, alongside the advancement of deep-ocean exploration. He also helped CDF deepen donor engagement as a strategic partner—attracting significant additional funding to broaden the reach and impact of these important initiatives.
“Harvey Fineberg’s insight, integrity, and strategic vision make him an extraordinary addition to our Board,” said Yolanda Kakabadse, President of the Board of the Charles Darwin Foundation. “His lifelong dedication to science, coupled with a deep appreciation for the Galapagos ecosystem, and knowledge of our Foundation will strengthen our ability to safeguard one of the planet’s most iconic biodiversity hotspots.”
Dr. Fineberg has long been recognized for his commitment to evidence-based decision-making, scientific collaboration, and the protection of fragile environments. His leadership is expected to bolster CDF’s governance, expand its global partnerships, and enhance its capacity to address emerging conservation challenges.
“I am honored to join the Board of the Charles Darwin Foundation,” said Dr. Fineberg. “The Galapagos Islands are a living laboratory of evolution and a global treasure—an extraordinary indicator of our planet’s health and of what we should aspire to protect. I look forward to supporting the Foundation’s vital work to advance science and to secure a thriving future for these remarkable islands and the broader region on which they depend—and which they in turn profoundly influence.”
For more than six decades, the Charles Darwin Foundation has been at the forefront of conservation science in Galápagos, carrying out more than 20 research and conservation programs across land and sea, in close collaboration with local communities. Through rigorous science and trusted technical guidance to the Government of Ecuador and global partners, CDF works to safeguard the unique biodiversity of Galápagos and ensure a resilient future for the ecosystems and people who depend on them.
—ENDS—
For media enquires please contact:
Charles Darwin Foundation
Ambre Tanty-Lamothe, Daniela Ibarra
comunicacion@fcdarwin.org.ec
About the Charles Darwin Foundation
The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands (CDF) is an international non-profit organization that has operated in Galapagos since 1959 under a special agreement with the Government of Ecuador. Its mission, and that of its Research Station, is to address the greatest threats and challenges facing Galapagos through scientific research and conservation actions, to protect one of the world’s most important natural treasures. Today CDF supports more than 25 research, conservation, and education projects across land and sea, and is the custodian of over 137,000 specimens in its Natural History Collections. Its diverse team of more than 140 scientists, educators, and support staff is composed primarily of Ecuadorian citizens, with over 60% from Galápagos. For more information, please visit: www.darwinfoundation.org