Irina Barba is Minister of the Foreign Service and currently serves as Director of Environment and Sustainable Development at Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility. She is the political focal point for several multilateral environmental agreements.

Her diplomatic career includes postings in Japan, Turkey, Paraguay, and most recently at Ecuador’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where she led on legal issues, ocean and maritime law, sustainable development, environmental matters, peacebuilding, and African dossiers on the Security Council agenda. From April to December 2025, she was Ecuador’s Political Coordinator during the country’s non-permanent membership on the UN Security Council (2023–2024).

She also represented Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) in 2020–2021 on the Facilitative Working Group of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform under the UNFCCC.

Since 1999, she has held various positions at the Ministry in Quito, including in Passport Services, Protocol, Multilateral Policy, Human Resources, Asia and Oceania, and Environment and Sustainable Development.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Multilingual International Business from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and a master’s in Diplomacy and European and International Relations from the University of Auvergne in France.

Andrew Balfour is an entrepreneur and business manager from the Galapagos Islands, with over 15 years of experience in the luxury hospitality sector. As the General Manager of Pikaia Lodge, he has assembled a dedicated team focused on delivering exceptional guest experiences while prioritizing sustainable practices to minimize environmental impact. Under his leadership, Pikaia Lodge has garnered recognition for its unwavering commitment to sustainability and excellence in hospitality.

In addition to his role at Pikaia Lodge, Andrew is the founder of Galadis Del Ecuador, where he oversees a diverse portfolio of small businesses in hospitality, retail, and yachting operations, showcasing the unique natural wonders of the Galapagos to visitors. Andrew also serves as the President of the Galapagos Chamber of Tourism, collaborating closely with local government entities to foster a tourism model that enhances service quality while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. Furthermore, he holds the position of Honorary British Consul for the Galapagos Islands.

Having spent the majority of his life in the Galapagos, Andrew is deeply passionate about developing a balanced approach that harmonizes conservation, sustainable business practices, and community well-being.

Dr. Mary C. Pearl is an internationally recognized scientist, conservationist, and educator with a distinguished career in environmental and academic leadership. A Yale graduate with a Ph.D. in physical anthropology and evolutionary biology, Mary began her career at the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society, laying the foundation for her lifelong commitment to conservation. She later served as President of Wildlife Trust (now EcoHealth Alliance), where she developed conservation programs across 20 biodiverse countries. As the Founding Dean of Stony Brook Southampton, a campus dedicated to sustainability, and later as Dean of Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, Mary pioneered innovative environmental programs and secured major funding to expand educational opportunities. Currently, she coordinates the International Biodiversity Network, linking conservation scientists globally, and chairs the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. Widely regarded as a pioneer in conservation medicine, Mary’s work bridges environmental, health, and social sciences to address complex global challenges. Her career reflects a profound dedication to biodiversity protection and conservation education.

Our Ambassadors are passionate advocates that volunteer their time to enact lasting change for Galapagos and the world. Like us, they are united in their vision that if we can protect Galapagos, we can impact the world – inspiring others around the world to protect our planet’s fragile biodiversity, and ultimately protect our home. They do so by raising awareness and rallying support for our mission, while tailoring their involvement to their unique passions and skillsets.

Pelayo is a biologist, explorer, and underwater photographer committed to ocean protection and shark conservation. He has been a senior marine ecologist with CDF since 2012, and from 2016 to 2021 he was part of National Geographic Pristine Seas, contributing to its mission of helping to protect our ocean’s last wild places. He is currently combining his role as Principal Investigator of CDF’s shark ecology project with his work with several international foundations.
Pelayo earned a Master's degree inhttps://ec.linkedin.com/in/pelayo-salinas-de-le%C3%B3n-884b9512 environmental management in 2007 and a Doctorate in marine biology in 2010 from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Before fulfilling his dream of working in the Galapagos, he worked in Indonesia, New Zealand, and Cuba.
Author of over 70 scientific publications, Pelayo explores the biodiversity and beauty of some of the most remote places on the planet during his international expeditions, contributing to their protection. Some of his recent expeditions include the Ogasawara Islands and the Marshall Islands.
Pelayo is a passionate advocate for ocean conservation and science communicator. His scientific work has been featured in documentaries and articles in international magazines, including ‘NatGeo Wild Galápagos’, ‘BBC Galápagos’, or ‘The Shark Side of the Moon’.

Come work for the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos! Explore our current vacancies and find your place in protecting this extraordinary archipelago.

Every year since 1971 we have welcomed and trained volunteers from all over the world who are committed to the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. Volunteers are a vital part of what makes the Charles Darwin Foundation such a special place to be.

Since its inception in 1971, our Scholarship Program has enabled over 250 students from Galapagos to complete their education and pursue careers in conservation.

Whether you're a scientist seeking to collaborate , a student aspiring to complete your graduate degree under our guidance, or a university looking to establish a semester abroad program in the Galapagos, the Charles Darwin Foundation is here to provide support.

Inaugurated in 1964 as a base for scientists conducting their research on Galapagos, the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island welcomes all visitors to discover how our scientific research and conservation actions ensure we safeguard one of the world’s most important natural treasures for future generations.

The Charles Darwin Foundation is home to the largest Natural History Collections of endemic, native and introduced species of Galapagos in Ecuador, with more than 135,000 specimens and 7,500 species across four Collections: Marine, Vertebrate, Terrestrial Invertebrate and a Herbarium.

Your conference center at the edge of the Pacific. Don't miss the opportunity to make your next event truly memorable. Contact us today.

The Charles Darwin Research Station is open Monday-Sunday, from 08:00 to 18:00 (including public holidays). Come visit us in the heart of Galapagos!

Not just your average library, the CDF Library, Archive and Museum at our campus features three unique spaces dedicated to the management of knowledge and memory: written and audiovisual documents, archival materials, and archaeological and historical artifacts. There is something for everyone - from scientific to fictional, for the scientist or a student.

Discover the Charles Darwin Foundation, established in 1959 to protect the Galapagos Islands' fragile ecosystem. As the oldest and largest science and conservation organization in the archipelago, our Research Station leads efforts to preserve this unique environment through groundbreaking research and conservation milestones.

For more than 60 years, the research undertaken at the Charles Darwin Foundation has focused on furthering our understanding of the natural systems, their relationship with those living in the archipelago, and the intricate and relationship with those living in the archipelago, and the intricate and delicate balance between climate, mankind, and nature. Major research efforts have also focused on the prevention, control, and eradication of invasive species to maintain Galapagos as one of the best-conserved archipelagos in the world.