Francisco “Paco” Ollervides, PhD

Director Member Engagement

Caledonia

Dr. Ollervides is the Director of Membership Engagement to Green Leadership Trust. This national network builds the power of the environmental movement by recruiting and training BIPOC leaders to serve on boards of environmental non profits throughout the USA. He serves as a member of the Equity Advisory and Action Committee within the Healing our Waters Coalition. He has been an advisor to the Ohio Environmental Leaders Initiative for the 2022 cohort.

Dr. Ollervides is better known as “Paco,” a common nickname in Mexico where he was born and raised. For over 22 years, Paco has worked in the nonprofit world, specifically developing leadership, and building capacity of individuals in environmental and conservation organizations in USA and throughout Latin America. He served as the first Executive Director for Green Leadership Trust. This is a network of people of color and Indigenous people who serve on environmental boards and proactively build the environmental movement’s power. Prior he worked for River Network as Leadership Development Manager helping leaders in the Great Lakes region think and act strategically, equitably, and inclusively by improving their efficiency and efficacy.  Paco served as Senior Latin America and Canada Field Coordinator with the Waterkeeper Alliance advising numerous nonprofit advocacy groups throughout the region. He has also served as Field Director at the Center for Coastal Studies in San Carlos, Mexico. He has been a resident lecturer and adviser in the areas of Economic and Ethical Issues in Sustainable Development, Coastal Ecology, and Resource Ecology and Management (Boston University).

Paco’s main interest is marine conservation, equity, and strengthening individuals to ensure organizations’ continuity and success in the areas of strategic planning, fundraising, board development, and succession planning. He has participated in and presented at numerous professional and academic conferences, both in the U.S. and internationally. Paco is a biochemical engineer and marine bio-acoustician by training. He has conducted field work assessing the impacts of boat noise on gray whale behavior. Paco holds both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Department at Texas A&M University. Paco lives outside Marion, Ohio. In his free time, he likes to go on long walks in the woods with his entire family, travel, and savor local cuisine and history.