Natasha Udu-gama

Natasha Udu-gama serves as Program Manager, International and Community Engagement at the Thriving Earth Exchange, helping scientists, community leaders, and sponsors work together to solve local challenges related to natural resources, climate change, and natural hazards. She is responsible for recruiting, vetting, onboarding, and coaching communities to succeed within community science projects and leading Thriving Earth Exchange’s international operations. As part of the team, she has helped to develop Thriving Earth’s community science approach and successfully launched both domestic and international community science projects.

Prior to joining the Thriving Earth Exchange in 2014, Natasha had more than 10 years of experience in the fields of community engagement, disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, and climate change adaptation. She has extensive experience in community engagement, partnership, and development at the local, national, and international levels. She holds a Ph.D. in Environment and Geography, specializing in multi-sector partnerships for effective and sustainable community-owned early warning systems, from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. She also holds an M.Sc. in Disaster Management from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom and a B.A. in International Affairs with a focus on International Development Studies from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.