Sara Inés Lara, Founder & President, Women for Conservation
Sara will share the story behind her NGO, Women for Conservation, which helps rural women living near Colombia’s biodiversity hotspots access family planning, participate in conservation initiatives, and learn eco-friendly livelihoods.
Before founding Women for Conservation, Sara was the Executive Director of Fundación ProAves, a leading conservation organization in Colombia. Under her leadership, the organization established and managed 17 nature reserves to save endangered species. In 2004, Sara combined her love of nature with her drive to empower women and founded Women for Conservation.
Sara’s principal interests include empowering women, preventing species extinction, safeguarding tropical habitats, and alleviating poverty. It is her life mission to protect the natural world so that we all may have the opportunity to heal through nature. Sara has been recognized as One in a Hundred Great Latin American Women by Billiken Magazine.
Bill Ryerson, Founder & President Emeritus, Population Media Center
Bill is the founder of Population Media Center (PMC), an organization that uses storytelling and mass media to promote social and cultural change in countries around the world by addressing the interconnected issues of gender equity, population trends, and the environment. Bill has a half-century history of working in the field of reproductive health, including three decades of experience adapting the Sabido methodology of social change communications to various cultural settings worldwide.
Bill received a B.A. in Biology (Magna Cum Laude) from Amherst College and an M.Phil. in Biology from Yale University (with specialization in Ecology and Evolution). He served as Director of the Population Institute’s Youth and Student Division, Development Director of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, Associate Director of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Executive Vice President of Population Communications International before founding Population Media Center in 1998.
Natalia Cereser, Vice President of International Program, Population Media Center
Natalia is a visionary in entertainment education who drives innovative media solutions for social impact. With over two decades of experience in advertising and marketing, Naty has shaped major TV projects in Latin America and radio dramas worldwide, crafting stories that foster real change. Since 2018, she’s been with Population Media Center, bringing expertise in social and behavior change communication (SBCC) to collaborations with World Vision, Rainforest Alliance and UNICEF, among others. Based in Guatemala, Naty’s expertise and vision continue to push PMC’s entertainment-education programs to new heights, empowering communities worldwide through the power of media.
Her approach is people-centric, rooted in skill-building, measurable results, and a deep respect for diverse cultures. Naty bridges the digital and analog worlds with ease, delivering strategies that resonate across multiple media formats. A passionate advocate for the power of media for social good, she tailors each project to its unique context, ensuring it creates impact.