About

Our expert, multilingual team delivers innovative, best-in-class solutions that foster lasting environmental and social change.

Christopher Sacco, founder and principal of Aegis Conservation, has over 25 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable agriculture. He has provided technical consulting, monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, and other critical support to some of the world’s largest conservation and sustainability-driven NGOs. Known for his ability to lead collaborative processes with diverse stakeholders, Christopher excels in developing effective systems and addressing implementation and operational challenges to ensure organizations meet their objectives. In 2009, he co-founded Groundswell International, a global partnership of civil society organizations and NGOs dedicated to accelerating the transition from unsustainable conventional agriculture to ecologically sound farming practices that regenerate natural resources and revitalize local economies. Christopher holds a Master’s in Natural Resources Management from Oregon State University and a BA in International Relations from Franklin & Marshall College. He speaks English, Spanish and Italian.

Vance Russell has nearly 40 years of experience working in forest science and management, biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and natural resources management. He is a conservation consultant and works for various non-profit, state/federal agencies, and private businesses. Vance was the California Director of Programs for the National Forest Foundation, where he managed, led, and funded community forestry projects. Before joining the National Forest Foundation, he was director of Audubon California’s Landowner Stewardship Program, working with farmers and ranchers to restore habitat compatible with existing agricultural operations. He managed the 7,800-acre Bobcat Ranch and 3,000-acre Mayacamas Mountains Reserve in Yolo and Sonoma Counties, California. Vance is the former Board Chair of Groundswell International, is a trustee for the South Downs National Park Trust, and serves on the Rewilding Leadership Council for the Rewilding Institute. Vance received his M.S. degree in Forest Science and Natural Resources Management from Cornell University and a B.A. in Biology from the College of Wooster. He speaks English, French and Spanish.

Jamie Nicholson is a seasoned Emerging Markets (“EM”) finance professional with multiple decades of experience in structuring and executing EM financings primarily in Latin America and Africa. Most recently she was Managing Director and Head of EM Sector Strategy at Credit Suisse. Her expertise spans transactions such as sustainability-linked bonds, debt-for-equity and debt-for-nature swaps, privatizations and restructurings for both sovereigns and corporate issuers. She has sector expertise in agriculture, water resources, timber, and power generation, among others. Her current interests lie in the areas of conservation, renewable power, and sustainable development, and she is active in volunteer and professional projects in these areas. Jamie serves on the Boards of the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and the Yale Alumni Service Corps. Jamie received her BA degree in Economics & Philosophy from Yale University and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She studied Development Economics at the Universite de Dakar in Senegal, West Africa under the auspices of a Rotary Foundation Graduate Fellowship. She speaks English, French and Spanish.

Julian Bertini is a highly skilled professional with extensive expertise in data analysis. He holds an M.S. in Physics from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Physics and Computer Science from Davidson College. Julian’s research experience includes positions as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Chicago, a Research Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and a Physics Research Fellow at Stanford University. Currently serving as a Senior Analyst at The Craddock Group, Julian leads data analytics projects, develops predictive models, and creates geospatial datasets using ArcGIS and Python to enhance resource allocation. Previously, as a Machine Learning Engineer at Two Six Technologies, he developed NLP algorithms for entity extraction, demonstrating his expertise in integrating complex software solutions into large-scale large projects. He speaks English and Spanish.