Most recently, Dr. Gil-Agudelo served as Continental Coordinator for the Americas at SERVIR, a joint initiative between NASA, USAID, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he helped communities across Latin America use geospatial technologies to monitor environmental change, strengthen local resilience, and inform policy. His work built bridges between science, technology, and the people most impacted by environmental challenges.

"The current environmental and biodiversity crisis is impacting the well-being of our communities, but solutions are in our hands,” said Dr. Gil-Agudelo. “Being the new Director of Conservation at Hispanic Access Foundation will allow me to work alongside Latino communities across the U.S. to co-develop solutions tailored to our needs and contribute to the improvement of life in our country." 

Dr. Gil-Agudelo earned his B.Sc. in Marine Biology from Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano and a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences from the University of South Carolina. Throughout his career, he has advised governments, NGOs, and academic institutions on the design of sustainable conservation strategies rooted in community engagement and scientific innovation.

“We are thrilled to welcome Diego to our team,” said Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “His expertise in marine science and international conservation will be instrumental as we continue expanding our efforts to protect coastal and ocean ecosystems while elevating Latino leadership in environmental advocacy.”

Through his leadership, Hispanic Access Foundation will continue to expand its network of partners and community leaders advancing stewardship of coastal, marine, and public lands—creating pathways for Latinos to play a central role in shaping the future of conservation and climate resilience.