PRESIDENT

Carlos Araya is a development finance strategist and impact investment specialist with over 29 years of experience mobilizing capital for sustainable development across Latin America and the Caribbean. Throughout his career, Carlos has worked with international organizations, foundations, governments, and private sector partners to design blended finance mechanisms, fundraising strategies, and innovative financial architectures that accelerate environmental and social impact. His expertise spans climate finance, agricultural transformation, venture capital, and philanthropic partnerships, combining strategic vision with hands-on execution to bridge capital with purpose-driven initiatives.

VICEPRESIDENT

A successful entrepreneur, corporate team member and organizational leader, Greg has a passion for “making a difference” and building organizational and corporate value. He is a team builder, known for assembling world class talent and like minded individuals committed to excellence, professionalism, and delivering results.

DIRECTOR

Dr. Luis Pocasangre is an internationally recognized agricultural scientist and Director General of CATIE, with extensive experience in tropical agriculture research, innovation, and capacity building across Latin America and the Caribbean. He holds a Master’s degree in Plant Breeding from CATIE (1992) and a PhD from the University of Bonn, Germany (2000), bringing a strong academic and scientific foundation to his leadership. Throughout his career, Dr. Pocasangre has held prominent positions in leading international research organizations and universities, including serving as Principal Scientist at Bioversity International for Latin America and the Caribbean and Director of Research at EARTH University. Based in Costa Rica, he continues to promote science-driven solutions for sustainable agriculture and rural development as Director General of CATIE.

DIRECTOR

A former diplomat credited with catalyzing public-private partnerships, building networks and coalitions, and driving strategic initiatives at state, national and global levels. Global experience spans Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Personal mission is to build awareness and drive collective action toward a sustainable economy that protects people, wildlife and nature.

In addition to running Corridgeree Belize, an integrated vanilla, cacao and hydroponic greenhouse operation in southern Belize that is transitioning to regenerative agriculture principles, Ruth has worked all along the cocoa supply chain including being a strategic cocoa buyer for Nestle USA, monitoring trading and sustainability for Armajaro, and working on the production side after running two large coconut/citrus operations in Belize. While at Armajaro she set up St Vincent Cocoa Company and was one of the key architects of the USAID funded Peru Cacao Alliance. Ruth started her career in soft commodities at CSR Ltd, Australia’s largest sugar company managing a futures and fx book. Australian by birth, she has a Degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Queensland and a Masters of Commerce from the University of New South Wales. In addition to serving on th Tropics Foundation board, Ruth sits on the board of Swisscontact North AmericaSenior.

DIRECTOR

Allen Terhaar is president and CEO of Terhaar Global Advisors based in Hedgesville, West Virginia, USA. Terhaar spent his career in international agriculture and trade, particularly grains and cotton. His has extensive exposure to temperate and tropical agriculture, including working with small-scale coffee and livestock production in South America. A native of Minnesota, Terhaar holds a B.A. in International Development/Economics from the University of Minnesota and an M.A. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin. Terhaar was a University of Minnesota scholar to Hungary and a Fulbright scholar to Poland.

DIRECTOR