I am an unorthodox economist working in the interplay between sustainability, innovation, and wildlife conservation, particularly in the Global South. After more than thirty years’ professional trajectory in academia conducting research, capacity building, and consulting on innovative solutions for sustainable development and nature conservation, I decided it was time to change. I moved to Costa Rica in January 2022, enrolled in Harvard Extension School to pursue a Certificate in “Natural Resource Management and Healthy Ecosystems” and started to work as an independent consultant.  

I have extensive experience in the effective management of large-scale interdisciplinary and international projects, communication of science to various audiences, design and implementation of courses and programs, fundraising, and primary data collection and analysis.

I am a member of the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy CEESP. 

Experience 

LUND UNIVERSITY, SWEDEN • FULL PROFESSOR •2004-CURRENT (Part-time ON LEAVE since june 2022)

Lund University is one of the world’s top 100 universities and the School of Economics and Business (LUSEM), where I work, is among the worlds 1% of all business schools that are triple accredited | Director of the Master in Innovation and Global Sustainable Development (2016-2022) | Coordination of international research projects on sustainable regional transformations in the global south | Currently involved in a project on Small Island Development States (SIDS) where I am working on Blue Transformations.

WWF INTERNATIONAL • LUC HOFFMANN INSTITUTE • CONSULTANT • 2022

Leading a study on Scaling-up Conservation innovation | Design of the instruments for primary data collection from relevant stakeholders (Incubators, Accelerators, Innovators in the conservation ecosystem) | Data analysis and draft of the report.

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL, COSTA RICA • CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT • VISITING PROFESSOR  • 2020-CURRENT

Since 2020, I am a visiting professor at the National University of Costa Rica. I organize a course on Innovative practices for sustainable development where I take students to different parts of the country to learn about innovative practices integrating conservation, social welfare and economic development. The students have the opportunity to conduct their own fielwork with a local community. Research on not-for profit development and conservation initiatives in different localities in Costa Rica 

CONSORTIUM NATional GEOgraphic PRISTINE SEAS • ASOCIACIÓN VELLMARÍ • IBIZA PRESERVATION • FUNDACIÓN MARILLES • CONSULTANT • 2021-2022

Transformation towards a Sustainable blue economy in the Balearic Islands | Assisting with the economic analysis of blue economy sectors.  

OSA CONSERVATION • marine program • 2020

Analysis of the socioeconomic impact of marine protected areas and | Design of the instruments for primary data collection from relevant stakeholders (artisanal and sport fishing, tourism) | Data analysis and draft of the report. The report was a key technical document for the creation of a marine protected area in the South of Costa Rica. 

Education

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS • 2023 (EXPECTED) • Harvard university EXTENSION SCHOOL

The certificate includes courses on Ecology, Land and Water conservation, Socio-ecological systems thinking for a regenerative future and Regenerative economics among others. The end aim is to “learn to develop policies, use tools, and apply models that ensure stewardship of natural resources and ecosystems for future generations”.

PHD ECONOMICS • 1998 • AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF MADRID

Specialization in Economics of Innovation | Awarded best thesis in Economics | Two years at University of Sao Paulo and University of Passo Fundo (Brazil). The degree has been officially recognised in Costa Rica, and made equivalent to the PhD in Economic Policy by the Universidad Nacional.

BACHELOR IN ECONOMICS • 1992 • AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF MADRID

Graduated with honors | Major in Development Economics.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

  • Circular Economy and the Agenda 2030, UNSSC, 2022
  • Ecosystem services, Univ. of Geneva, 2021
  • Valuation of protected areas, IUCN-PAPACO. 2019.
  • Sustainability Science, Master course. Stockholm University. 2017
  • Ecological Economics, Oxford, Environment Europe. August 2016|

Drivers

My current work is driven by the conviction that a sustainable and inclusive world is possible but that achieving that goal will require radical changes in current systems of production and consumption. In my research, I look for innovative practices all over the world, which combine novel ways to acquire income, with social equity and nature conservation.

I am quite concerned about the slow speed in which transformations unfold, given the urgency of current world challenges like climate change or biodiversity loss. In this sense, my latest work centers on analyzing if and how can sustainability transformations be accelerated.

More info

Interested in knowing more? You can download:

  1. My 2-page resumé in english
  2. Mi curriculum de una página en español aquí

Here the links to my Google scholar profile and Linkedin

Cristina chaminade