Kristen Walker Painemilla

Senior Vice President of the Community-led Solution Partnership (CLSP), a new direct access financing partnership with our IP and LC partners that will mobilize $500M in direct public finance by 2030. While implementing several programs on direct access to finance, CLSP is in a co-design, consultation, and resource mobilization phase.

• Lead the newly formed Community-led Solutions Partnership (CLSP) team that expands on CI's work with Direct Access Financing for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
• The current portfolio includes the GEF-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative ($US 25M and $US 100M in co-finance) and the Climate Investment Funds Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities ($US 9M).
• Leading discussions and dialogues with public and private donors on harmonizing public funding for IPs and LCs.
• Staff of 13.

Senior Vice President of the Center for Communities and Conservation. Led the strategic development of a people-centered conservation approach in support of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and women. Advised the Board, CEO, and CI leadership on social and international policies, tools, and program design related to rights and communities while directing a team of 15 staff.

• Led the endorsement of the $25M GEF-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative, with $100M in co-finance mobilization.
• Established CI's work on environmental peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity.
• Led CI's strategy to reimagine conservation, reflecting the approach to practice regarding how we protect the planet.
• Streamlined tracking of, and requirement for, IPLC to access CI finance through restructuring contracts, incorporation of TK, etc.
• Served as the Global Executing Agency for the Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
• Leveraged USD 2 million from the Government of France for the Amazon Emergency Fund, supporting Indigenous Peoples during COVID.
• Catalyzed the establishment of CI's environmental and social safeguards system.
• Founder and current host of the Conservation Initiative on Human Rights (CIHR).
• Engage directly with Indigenous peoples networks globally supporting both policy and capacity building efforts.
• Serve as spokesperson and provide oversight for CI on issues related to Human Rights, Conservation and Indigenous Peoples.

Senior Vice President/Managing Director of CI's Policy Center for Environment and Peace. Managed the strategic, programmatic, and financial operations of the Policy Center with a $50 million budget and 44 staff. Identified, developed, and implemented policy, standards, and best practices that effectively marshaled the organization’s resources to achieve results on a global basis that amplified CI’s mission.

• Led CI's policy efforts with UNFCCC and UNCBD, effectively positioning CI's science efforts and supporting governments in negotiations.
• Supported engagement and participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in policy engagement and development.
• Revitalized CI's Europe office and strategy by contracting new leadership and developing partnerships with key governments (Germany, Norway, France, the UK, and the EU).
• Raised $100 million from public donors for the CI program and priorities.
• Developed partnerships with major development NGOs, such as Catholic Relief Services, World Vision, and Mercy Corps, and a major initiative on freshwater and WASH.
• Convened CI field programs and partners to update and evaluate CI's RBA framework.
• Provided strategic guidance to the CI Board, CEO, and leadership team on policy issues, public funding, and Indigenous peoples.

Vice President Social Policy and Strategic Engagement. A member of the Senior Leadership team for CI's Policy Center for Environment and Peace, led social policy strategy and strategic engagement, supporting the implementation of CI’s mission and the objectives of the Policy Center.

• Supported the conceptualization and design for the Policy Center for Environment and Peace.
• Led CI's Social Policy and Strategic engagement unit consisting of 8 programs and 20 staff.
• Designed and developed CI's new program on Environmental Peacebuilding.
• Facilitated and organized CI's engagement in key events such as the IUCN Conservation Congress.
• Served as a spokesperson and ambassador for CI's work with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
• Raised USD $10 million

Vice President, Social Policy and Practice. A member senior management team for the Center for Conservation and Government, responsible for expanding, and integrating social policy, guidance and social standards, including metrics related to human well-being and conservation across CI’s divisions and institutional strategies.

• Expanded CI's Indigenous and Traditional Peoples Program to a larger Social Policy and Practice Unit broadening CI's social agenda around conservation.
• Fundraised USD $5 million per year for the Social Policy and Practice program.
• Established and launched CI's Indigenous Fellows Program
• Provided strategic guidance and technical assistance to CI field programs and global staff on indigenous peoples, rights and social policy.
• Created CI's Gender Program.
• Collaborated with the CI Policy team to ensure indigenous rights, gender and safeguards were incorporated in CBD, UNFCC and at the national level.

Vice President, Indigenous & Traditional Peoples Program

A member of the senior management team for the Center for Conservation and Government led CI's strategy and efforts with indigenous peoples and local communities.

• Established CI's Indigenous Advisory Group to provide guidance to CI programs on work with indigenous peoples.
• Championed and obtained, Indigenous representation on CI's Board of Directors.
• Founding member of the Conservation Initiative on Human Rights.
• Achieved the incorporation of human rights in CI's conservation efforts through the adoption of CI's Rights Based Approach.
• Expanded partnerships with Indigenous networks globally.
• Provided technical and policy support to the CEO, President and Executive leadership on Indigenous Peoples issues.