Every associate on the KEMA team has at least ten years of experience designing and implementing public and private sector projects focused on economic growth in Mexico.

We have worked on initiatives financed by bilateral and multilateral aid donors, as well as companies, NGOs and philanthropic foundations.

Meet the Team

  • Founder & General Director

    Timothy Kessler holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from UC Berkeley and brings over 25 years of international development experience. He has led flagship technical assistance programs for USAID, the World Bank, IDB, and UNDP, specializing in economic governance, regulatory reform, anti-corruption, and environmental sustainability. As Chief of Party on four USAID governance projects, he has built partnerships across the public and private sectors in Latin America and beyond, including work on semiconductor supply chains and institutional integrity programs for major energy companies. His clients also include the World Justice Project and the Commonwealth Foundation.

Governance & Anti-corruption

  • Compliance Specialist

    Nicole Velandia is a senior compliance and governance specialist with 15 years of experience leading the design and implementation of integrity frameworks aligned with global standards. She holds a Master's degree in Governance and Public Management and a Bachelor's degree in Law, both from ITAM. Her clients include USAID and Pemex. She co-developed a board-approved compliance and ethics training program for over 30,000 employees at Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) and led the establishment of the company's first Ethics Hotline. She has also supported numerous private corporations through risk assessments, investigations, and the development of bespoke governance and corporate integrity programs.

  • Stakeholder Management

    Nicole Wolf is a project leader and strategic advisor with 30 years of experience in stakeholder management, cross-sector collaboration, and civil society empowerment. She holds a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology with Honors in Latin American Studies from Stanford University and an M.A. in Political and Social Studies from UNAM. Her clients include Iniciativa Climática de México, Centro Médico ABC, the Center for Private Enterprise, and Global Communities. She secured MXN $30 million in donations for a capital campaign in under a year, founded Mexico's first female-owned technology distributor with annual sales of USD $6 million, and co-founded Mexico's second Internet Service Provider.

Communications & Digital Strategy

  • Digital Strategy Specialist

    Natalia Jardón is a communication specialist with 18 years of experience translating complex institutional goals into actionable digital strategies. She holds an M.Sc. in Science Media Production from Imperial College London and professional certifications in Data Science, UX Design, and Storytelling for Influence. Her clients include USAID, the United Nations, the European Union, Pemex, and federal and state governments in Mexico. She has designed digital strategies for 80+ organizations promoting transparency, anti-corruption, and rule of law, and developed a data platform for the EU displaying disaggregated survey data on democracy and governance at the subnational level. She has also lectured on Digital Media and UX at Universidad de las Américas.

  • AV & Content

    María Chavarría is a communication specialist with 12 years of experience in audiovisual production, field communications, and content strategy for humanitarian and social justice organizations. She holds an M.A. in Documentary Filmmaking from Universidad de la Comunicación and a B.A. in Communication Studies from Universidad del Valle de México. Her clients include Doctors Without Borders, the World Justice Project, and Scripps News. A documentary filmmaker and podcast producer, her work has earned Official Selection at the DocsMX Festival 2024. She created the Voces del Camino podcast for MSF and developed technical production guides for the World Justice Forum.

  • Visual & Design

    Rafael Gamboa-Cardeña holds a Master's in Design and Visual Communication from UNAM. His career spans editorial design, branding, and corporate communications across social impact organizations, the luxury sector, and digital marketing. He began his career in 2011 in non-governmental organizations working on social innovation, later joining design firms in the Yucatan Peninsula and the luxury sector before transitioning to digital marketing and visual identity development. Since 2023, he has focused on environmental communications, managing corporate identity and information design for biochar and climate technology startups. He brings a multidisciplinary 360° approach — from brand strategy and visual identity to digital content and event production — to organizations working at the frontier of climate solutions.

Technology & Industry

  • Technology Specialist

    Eugenio Marín is Executive Director of the U.S.–Mexico Foundation for Science (FUMEC) and a technology and operations executive with over 20 years of experience in organizational leadership and entrepreneurship. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics) from UNAM and Executive MBAs from McGill University and IESE Business School. He has advised over 1,000 North American technology companies and worked with clients including the World Bank, IDB, U.S. federal agencies, and the Canadian and U.S. Embassies. He specializes in nearshoring, supply chain development, and regional business acceleration across aerospace, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Hispanic Global Faculty of Global Leaders in 2023.

  • Industry 4.0

    Carlos Alberto Meneses Rosales is an electronics engineer with over 30 years of experience in advanced manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and semiconductor and automotive value chain development. He holds a B.Sc. in Electronics Engineering from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. He co-authored Mexico's Nearshoring Semiconductor Roadmap and led digital maturity assessments for 50+ manufacturing SMEs. He co-designed two Industrial Productivity and Innovation Centers (CEPRODI) and supported the technological upgrading of 100+ companies in the automotive supply chain. Earlier in his career, he designed data acquisition and control systems for the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant and major energy infrastructure facilities.

  • Business Development

    Carlos Deveaux González is a business development and strategic planning professional with over 10 years of experience supporting the growth and internationalization of technology companies. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from UNAM and specializes in innovation ecosystems, technology commercialization, and supply chain development in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors. Through the TechBA program, he supported international expansion for over 300 tech companies. He has contributed to Mexico's National Innovation Agendas and developed aerospace supply chain initiatives for state governments and global firms including Baker Hughes and GE Aviation.

  • José de Jesús Morales García is an aerospace and industrial supply chain advisor with 10 years of experience evaluating manufacturing capabilities and implementing strategies that help companies accelerate growth across productive sectors. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UNAM and a certification as Industrial Extensionist from UTEQ. His clients include FUMEC, INDUMET, IMESA, and INNOVAUNAM. He has led capability mapping and auditing of aerospace companies for Mexico's National Program for the Development of Suppliers for the Aerospace Industry, and defined business models and commercial strategies for 12 technology startups in the State of Mexico in collaboration with the government-backed Propatenta program.

  • Fintech & B2B

    Yves Colin Renfer Engel is a business development professional with over 10 years of experience in the real estate, financial, and sustainability sectors. He holds a degree in Economics and a Diploma in Fintech and Digital Transformation. Specializing in identifying strategic partners, detecting new business opportunities, and leading B2B negotiations, he has closed transactions exceeding USD $130 million. His expertise spans institutional relationship-building, financial modeling and projections, and the use of CRM and sales engagement platforms. He brings a strong commercial track record to complex, high-value deals across multiple industries.

  • Trade Economist

    Alejandro Rojas is an international trade economist with 19 years of experience and a distinguished career as a member of Mexico's negotiating team for North American and Latin American trade agreements. He holds an M.A. and B.A. in Economics from Universidad de las Américas Puebla and is a recipient of the National Prize in Economics and Finance (Banamex, 1995). He has directed Mexico's NAFTA trade office in Canada and advised the World Bank and IDB on supply chain development and export promotion programs. His clients include Mexico's Ministry of Economy, FUMEC, the Inter-American Development Bank, and industrial associations in the automotive, aerospace, and medical devices sectors.

Environmental Sustainability

  • Carbon & MMRV Specialist

    María del Carmen Mejía Alba is a biologist and environmental sustainability consultant with 15 years of experience in carbon markets, biochar, MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification), and public and private environmental management. She holds a B.S. in Biology from the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes and is completing a Master's in Environmental Sustainability at Universidad Iberoamericana León. She led Mexico's first MRV and biochar production verification process for the voluntary carbon market, conducting technical due diligence for Shell and Microsoft. She served as Director General of Environmental Affairs for the municipalities of León and Salamanca, and is co-founder and director of Sekla, an initiative focused on sustainable landscaping and ecosystem services recovery.

  • Senior Advisor

    José Antonio Cano is a marketing and business strategy executive with over 31 years of experience across telecommunications, finance, media, and consulting sectors. He holds a B.S. in Electronics and Communications Engineering from ITESM, an MBA from Manchester Business School, and diplomas in Marketing, Telecommunications, and Consulting. He has led digital marketing and strategy initiatives at Grupo Financiero Banorte and served as Director of Strategy at KLAP Digital, overseeing social listening and content management for major financial clients. As Managing Partner at Alkuatech ESG, he manages technology partnerships in France, Japan, and Singapore. He has also taught at ITESM and co-developed an online course through Coursera reaching over 50,000 students worldwide.

  • Senior Advisor, Climate Finance & Energy Transitions

    Santiago Enríquez Soltero is a public policy and sustainable development expert with 25 years of experience leading research and project implementation at the intersection of climate finance, energy transitions, and environmental governance. He holds an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard University, a B.A. in International Relations from ITAM, and a Certified Expert designation in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. His clients include the Green Climate Fund, USAID, the World Bank, IDB, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and federal and state governments in Mexico. Key achievements include facilitating a US$54 million partial credit guarantee to expand clean energy financing in El Salvador — later replicated in Guatemala and Honduras — and directing Mexico's first monitoring system for tracking climate change program implementation. He has also conducted feasibility studies for a US$50 million anaerobic digester project in Naucalpan and designed clean energy finance training for over 1,200 banking professionals across Central America.

  • Carbon Engineering

    Tomás Gallegos is a Biotechnology Engineer (IBT) specializing in biomass management, research, and valorization for the development of climate mitigation technologies. His work focuses on the design, analysis, and technical feasibility assessment of carbon capture projects and biochar production systems. He brings rigorous scientific methodology to the evaluation of biomass feedstocks and carbon sequestration pathways, contributing technical precision to the development of scalable, verifiable carbon solutions.

Operations & Project Development

  • Operations Specialist

    Luisa Marín is a biochar and carbon removal practitioner with more than two decades of experience bridging environmental science, circular economy systems, and on-the-ground operational practice. She currently serves as Executive Director of the International Biochar Initiative (IBI), where she leads efforts to align the global biochar community around evidence-based standards, verification frameworks, and capacity building. Prior to IBI, she served as Country Director for General Biochar Systems in Mexico, overseeing the country's first industrial-scale biochar facility across feedstock logistics, production, quality testing, and third-party verification. Earlier in her career, she held roles at The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International. Her work translates technical complexity into actionable frameworks for producers, buyers, and policymakers worldwide.

  • Programs Management Specialist

    Valeria Araico Cordero is an operations and programs professional with over 10 years of experience in international organizations and NGOs, managing projects, operations, and programs in multicultural contexts. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Universidad Anáhuac, and has completed coursework in Accounting at ITAM and HR Management and Analytics at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves as Operations and Programs Senior Manager at the International Biochar Initiative (IBI), where she coordinates global programs, international partnerships, and operational systems. She has led the implementation of governance and financial reporting structures that enhance institutional decision-making and efficiency, and has managed program budgets exceeding USD $200,000.

  • Grants Specialist

    Sergio Villanueva is an institutional strengthening and social project management specialist with 15 years of experience. He holds a B.A. in Administration from UNAM and a Master's in Social Responsibility from Universidad Anáhuac. He has led the design and implementation of collaborative methodologies for over 90 civil society organizations in Mexico and managed grants for more than 20 projects funded by USAID, the European Union, AECID, INL, OSF, and other international donors. He specializes in the full project cycle with multilateral organizations, integrating expertise in evaluation, institutional development, finance, and technical support. He has also advised over 20 organizations in Mexico and Central America on emergency management, human capital, and financial administration.

  • MEL Specialist

    José María Cisneros is a strategic advisor with 12 years of experience designing and implementing Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems for social, environmental, and humanitarian impact projects. He holds an M.S. in Environment and Development from King's College London and a B.S. in Economics from the Catholic University of Ecuador. His clients include USAID, UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, GIZ, and MSF UK, as well as local governments in Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico. Notable work includes the Equality Fund's 5-year impact evaluation, the Spotlight Initiative Sustainability Report (2025), and the MEL Plan for ProIntegridad (2023). He specializes in gender-inclusive, data-driven frameworks.