Our People

Eduardo Suarez is an economist and investment strategist with over 20 years of experience in macroeconomic analysis, fixed income, and currency strategy across Latin America and global markets. He currently serves as Vice President of LATAM Economics at Scotiabank, where he leads regional economic research and advises tier-1 institutional clients, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and hedge funds.

Eduardo began his career in Mexico’s Ministry of Finance, later holding senior roles at RBC Capital Markets and Scotiabank in Toronto. His expertise includes risk management, investment advisory, and financial modeling. He is also a frequent speaker at global economic forums and has led panels featuring central bank governors and public-private sector leaders.

In addition to his role at TRF, Eduardo serves on the board of Urbano Investments LLC, a U.S.-based real estate fund focused on urban redevelopment, and was a longtime member of the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee.

Eduardo joined the Board of TRF in 2025. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Warwick and an MBA in Financial Engineering and Real Estate from the University of Toronto. He is a citizen of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, and is fluent in Spanish, English, and conversational French.

Earlier in her career, Nathalia worked at the AVINA Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs and building collaborative networks throughout Latin America, and conducted research at the Latin American Center for Sustainable Development at INCAE University in Costa Rica. An economist by training, she is known for combining evidence-based strategy with grassroots innovation.

Her work has been recognized internationally, including her selection as an Ashoka Fellow and recipient of the Jacobs Award for Social Engagement. She is also a Policy Fellow at the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).

Currently, Nathalia is launching Morphy.fun, an edtech initiative designed to support schools and childcare centers lacking dedicated ESL (English as a Second Language) curricula and educators. Morphy.fun uniquely blends technology, play, and community interaction to empower young English learners.

Nathalia joined the Board of TRF in 2025. Originally from Medellín, Colombia, she lives in Miami with her husband and two daughters.

Carla Giovannetti Dodds is the Chief Marketing Officer of Aaron’s, the flagship brand of The Aaron’s Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), where she leads brand strategy, customer experience, and marketing innovation across more than 1,100 stores and a growing e-commerce platform.

A global Latina executive, Carla brings over two decades of experience driving growth and transformation for Fortune 100 companies and global brands including Walmart, MasterCard, and Penske Media. Her career spans the U.S. and Latin America, with a focus on digital strategy, multicultural engagement, and the development of high-performing, purpose-driven teams.

Carla joined the Board of TRF in 2025. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Texas State University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Lilyanna Yang joined TRF in 2022. She is currently the equity research analyst for Latin American for HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., covering the energy, renewables and utilities sectors. Prior to HSBC, Lily held similar positions working for other global banks including UBS, JP Morgan and Bear, Stearns – based in both Sao Paulo and New York. Lily earned her B.S. degree in Economics from University of Sao Paulo. She has traveled extensively through Latin America for the past 20 years, and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.

Lily was introduced to TRF in 2019. Lily recently visited a TRF partner organization in Brazil which works with at-risk children, during which Lily was able to see first hand the impact of TRF’s work.

Pedro is a pharmaceutical and Biotechnology senior executive, having spent 28 years in large Pharma, first at Smith Kline & French, Smith Kline Beecham and the last 12 years at Pfizer Inc, where his final role was as President of Global Primary Care. In this capacity, Pedro had responsibility for $23 billion dollars and close to 70% of the profit of the Corporation. At Pfizer Pedro managed the development pipeline, from proof of concept to loss of exclusivity, including 100- 120 clinical programs per year and a development budget of $800 million. Amongst the drug development programs he was responsible for were Sutent, which became the standard of care for renal cell carcinoma and Lyrica, for fibromyalgia.

As President of Europe Animal Health and Global Health Business at Pfizer, Pedro reported to the CEO of Pfizer Inc, Hank McKinnel and led a Research model change that provided Animal Health representation in all therapeutic human health areas; out of this effort came a new medicine for Atopic Dermatitis and Pfizer’s first canine cancer drug. Pedro led a translational medicine initiative to improve how animal models reflect human conditions.

As President of Europe Pharmaceuticals at Pfizer, Pedro spearheaded an effort to better position products for cost effectiveness. He established a multi-country research initiative in Europe for Alzheimer’s disease and worked with the European Commission to define an improved regulatory path for the disease. During this time, he proposed and helped implement the creation of a business unit that separated the business into (i) primary care, (ii) specialty, (iii) oncology, and (iv) generic products; this resulted in the company’s ability focus on more products while improving outcomes and quality of life and allowed for a 3-4 –fold increase in the company’s growth. With this restructuring, Pedro was the first executive at Pfizer to significantly reduce cost in Europe while reversing an ongoing revenue decline.

In 2010 he transitioned to the Biotechnology Industry and became the CEO of Optimer Pharmaceuticals where he completed the Phase 3 clinical program, obtained an FDA registration as one of the few hospital antibiotics with a superiority claim, and went on to introduce the product to the market; several alliances were successfully completed including licensing the key product to Astelas for Europe, launching a novel co-promotion alliance with Cubist, a leading antibiotic company, and obtaining the first NTAP for an antibiotic from Medicare. Optimer was sold to Cubist, which in turn was sold to Merck with a significant value creation from the time he joined.

In 2014 Pedro became the CEO of Asterias Biotherapeutics, a stem cell-based company that was experiencing significant difficulties resulting in a negative $3.5 million valuation. He recapitalized the company, formed an alliance with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine obtaining non-dilutive funding to conduct the Phase 2 program for the spinal cord injury lead program as well as an alliance with Cancer Research UK to fund a Phase 1 study for an allogeneic dendritic cancer vaccine. He managed an up-listing from the OTC to the New York Stock exchange and left two years later with the company valued at $200 million and both clinical programs ongoing.

Pedro serves on the Boards of Zero Gravity, Inc. and the Brazil Foundation.

Ken Ricci, FAIA, has been a TRF Board member since 1997. He has served on the Executive Committee since 1999 and on the Evergreen Committee since 2015. He has served as a member of the Nominating Committee from 2011 to 2014, as Chair from 2000-2002, Secretary from 2006-2008 and on the Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee in 1999. Ken is a founding member of CGL, the preeminent architecture and planning firm specializing in progressive justice facilities.

Ken was elevated to the Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of his philosophy of humane design. His designs for justice facilities promote human dignity, heal the mind and elevate the spirit. Ken graduated from the Pratt Institute School of Architecture.

Ken was attracted to TRF through his personal relationship with the founder, Loren Finnell, as well as his own personal experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer (architect) during an injury-shortened tour of duty in Cartagena, Colombia in 1965-66. Ken lives with his wife Annalea in Larchmont, NY where he pursues his hobby of annual home winemaking, especially Cabernet Sauvignon.

John H. Welch is currently Executive Director at the Brazilian American Chamber of commerce. He is also the Farrell Family Liberty Fellow in Economics at the King’s College in New York. At chamber, Dr. Welch coordinates a team of six colleagues in creating content driven events, including webinars, seminars, and the Person of the Year awards dinner. Before coming to the Chamber, he was Managing and Chief Economist-LatAm and Brazil for HSBC. Dr. Welch held similar positions at CIBC, Macquarie Capital, Itaú-Unibanco’s International Wealth Management, Banco Itaú S.A, Bear Stearns. Lehman Brothers, West LB AG. Barclays Capital, and BNP Paribas. His primary responsibilities encompassed global sovereign and macroeconomic research with special emphasis on Latin American and Brazil. Before Wall Street, Dr. Welch served as senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and was an assistant professor at University of Texas, Austin, University of North Texas, and Oakland University. He has published extensively in professional journals and edited books in addition to his own book entitled: Capital Markets in the Development Process: The Case of Brazil (University of Pittsburgh Press, 1993). Dr. Welch earned his Ph.D. in economics at the University of Illinois and his AB in economics from Columbia University.

Cristina Pérez has been a TRF Board Member since 2011. She has served as Secretary, Treasurer and Member of the Executive Committee. Cristina is an experienced financial services’ attorney and is currently a Legal and Development Consultant. Prior to that, Cristina worked as an in-house attorney at HSBC Securities (USA), Inc. and Credit Suisse in New York.

Cristina has been involved in pro bono legal work, supporting non-profits and underserved populations, and has volunteered on several non-profit boards.  She is a degree candidate at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School for Public Service and has a law degree from New York University School of Law and from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. She is fluent in Spanish, French and German.

Matias Perel is a transformational executive and industry leader in AI-driven marketing, data intelligence, and business growth. At Zeta Global, Matias leads the U.S. Hispanic Business within the Multicultural division and oversees the Latin America business, ensuring AI-powered marketing solutions effectively reach and engage diverse audiences.

Previously, Matias founded and scaled multiple companies, including Latin3, a pioneering digital marketing agency that evolved into a full-service, performance-driven business, integrating online and offline strategies. Through his work with agencies, he led marketing initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies, including Google, Dell, PepsiCo, Visa, and Unilever, among others.

Matias holds an Owner/President Management (OPM) degree from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University.

Ricardo Martinez has been a TRF Board Member since 2012. He is a partner at Hogan Lovells US LLP . His practice focuses on representing lenders and borrowers in complex, cross-border finance transactions across a broad spectrum of contexts, including project finance, acquisition finance, general working capital facilities as well as trade finance by means of letters of credit, pre-export credit facilities and the purchase and sale of trade receivables.

Ricardo has significant experience advising on doing business in Latin America. He has closed transactions involving every major Latin American country over the course of his career. Ricardo was most recently ranked as a Foreign Expert for Projects by 2012 Chambers & Partners USA, noting his substantial experience handling major energy and infrastructure projects in Latin America.  He was also named one of New York’s Rising Stars for Projects by 2012 Super Lawyers.

Ricardo received his J.D. from Columbia University Law School in 1998, where he was a Harlan Fisk Stone Scholar and earned a Parker School Certificate for Achievement in International and Comparative Law. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard University in 1994 where he obtained a special Certificate of Degree in Latin American and Iberian Studies. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York. In 1992, Ricardo served as a speech writer and translator for Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Oscar Arias. In 1991, he participated as an intern with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington D.C.

Rafael Guardans Cambó has been a TRF Board member since 1994, but has been intimately involved in TRF’s development since virtually day one. Born in Barcelona, Spain, Rafael holds a law degree from Navarra University, and a specialization in International Economics and Development from Madrid’s Complutense University. From 1982 to 1985, Rafael practiced law with the firm of Roman Mas-Calvet, focusing on foreign investments in Spain and international fiscal planning. In 2007 he completed a Senior Management Program at the IE Business School.

Rafael’s formal nonprofit experience began in 1985 when he co-founded Fundación Codespa, a Spanish nonprofit focused on supporting local programs in developing countries which he led for 10 years. It was during this time that Rafael developed a long-standing partnership with TRF, helping to create a formula for co-financing selected projects that functions to this day through the Foundation for Sustained Development, a nonprofit Rafael founded in 1985 with a reach of more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as the immigrant community in Spain. Rafael is Fundeso’s Executive President, which over a 19 year period, has managed projects with a budget in excess 54 million Euros.

Rafael is also President of the Fundación Institucional Española (FIES), and a member of the Board of Directors of the Asociación Española de Fundaciones (the Spanish Foundation Center). Since 1992, Rafael has been involved with the Encuentros Iberoamericanos del Tercer Sector, and is currently a member of its Board. He has published and speaks widely on subjects related to development and responsible social cooperation. In 2008, the Government of Colombia made him an honorary citizen in recognition of his continued commitment and contribution to the county.

Michael Archer has served on The Resource Foundation’s Board of directors since 2003. He was Chairman from 2015 to 2018; a member of the Executive Committee since 2009, led the Ad Hoc Committee for Strategic Planning from 2011 to 2015, and serves on the Nominating and Governance Committee since 2019.

Michael is Managing Partner of Manhattan Innovation Lab, an advisory services provider to business accelerators and incubators as well as early-stage technology and consumer products businesses.  Prior to founding Manhattan Innovation Lab, Michael was a partner in Global Financial Services practice Kurt Salmon’s (part of Accenture Strategy), where he led the firm’s Human Capital Optimization, Regulatory Reform, and Innovation Management solutions helping financial services institutions with their organization, consumer strategy, and new business challenges.

Michael applies three decades of multi-national and cross industry experience to refine, reshape, and reengineer his clients’ business strategy and operating models.  His business and marketing management acumen were developed in leadership positions at Citibank, Colgate-Palmolive, and MasterCard Worldwide.  He has successfully built and launched new products and businesses, consulted to some of the world’s leading financial institutions with extensive experience across the Americas, established and rebuilt sales territories, and forged critical formal and informal partnerships often extending successful strategies and functions across borders and industries to grow businesses.  Michael’s professional track record includes experience creating “businesses within businesses” as an intrepreneur in established companies.

Patrick Amato is a Managing Director and Wealth Partner with J.P. Morgan Wealth Management and founder of The Amato-Waldbauer Group.

He began his career as a Wall Street trader managing corporate, government and municipal bonds for 18 years. During this time, he served as a Director of Municipal Bond Trading at Salomon Smith Barney and Senior Vice President of Municipal Bond Trading at Bear Stearns. In 2001, Patrick transitioned to the wealth management side. He worked with the Private Client Group at Merrill Lynch and as an Advisor at UBS before joining J.P. Morgan in 2018.

A graduate of New York University, Patrick earned a B.A. in Finance. He also has an M.A. in American Business History from the same institution.

Manochere Alamgir has been a TRF Board Member since 2010. He has served on the Executive Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee for Strategic Planning since 2011. Manochere worked with JPMorgan for more than 25 years, until he retired in 2014. He started his career at the Chase Manhattan Bank in Karachi, Pakistan, and has since had assignments in Hong Kong and Indonesia. He moved to the US in 2001 and his current responsibilities include risk management and restructuring for Latin and North America.

Manochere graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Essex, UK. He also has a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Kent, UK. His interest in development issues dates back to the development economics courses that he took as part of both his degrees.  Manochere has worked, on a pro bono basis, with JPMorgan’s Social Sector Finance Group for credit risk approvals. He has represented JPMorgan on several committees and work groups related to social and economic development. The TRF Board position is his first formal involvement in development matters. Manochere, his wife Alia and their two children live in Pleasantville, NY. When he is not at work, Manochere is either playing squash or reading a book.  During the summers, he tries to play golf or some derivative thereof, mostly involving looking for his golf ball in thick forest.