Luisa Arnedo

Luisa Arnedo is a primatologist, conservationist, and senior program officer for wildlife at the National Geographic Society. A native of Colombia, she received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in biological anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she specialized in animal behavioral ecology. Her dedication to primate research led her to extensive fieldwork, delving into the intricacies of the behavior and vocal communication of critically endangered species within the neotropics, notably the white-bellied spider monkey in Colombia and the northern muriqui in Brazil.

After finishing her doctorate, Arnedo worked for the Conservation Leadership Program at Conservation International and later became senior manager for the Toyota TogetherGreen Program at the National Audubon Society. In 2014, Arnedo joined the National Geographic Society to oversee the portfolio of grants focused on wildlife research and conservation, and rose through the ranks to Director of Science and Innovation Programs, Wildlife, where she also manages the National Geographic Buffett Award for Leadership Conservation in Africa and Latin America.

Arnedo is dedicated to conservation efforts and providing guidance to young conservationists to improve project design and methodology, furthering the cause of wildlife preservation.