Dima Reda is the President and Founder of Nataij. She has over 15 years of experience working in the international development field focusing on results and knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and institutional capacity building. Her work in these areas has been centered on the environment sector, specifically climate change and natural resource management. Prior to launching Nataij, Dima managed the Adaptation Fund’s accreditation process and developed its M&E system. As part of her work on accreditation she provided support to national and regional organizations interested in applying for accreditation as implementing entities of the Adaptation Fund.

Previously, she led the development and implementation of the Global Environment Facilities’ (GEF) results management system to track and report on the GEF’s $5 billion portfolio of more than 600 projects. Prior to joining the GEF, Dima worked for the United Nations in Lebanon and Japan. At the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), she was in charge of capacity building and training to support the sustainable management and restoration of the Iraqi Marshlands. The project provided water, sanitation, and wetland management options to villages in the Marshlands.

Dima holds a Master in Environmental Management and an MBA from Yale University and a BA in biology from Brown University.

Lily Hale is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Nataij. She is an economist and financial specialist with over 30 years of experience in portfolio management of industrial and environmental projects, as well as developing and implementing policies to drive organizations forward. She is fluent in English and Chinese, and she has moderate fluency in Spanish and German.

Prior to joining Nataij, Lily was at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) where she served as the Senior Operations Adviser. At the GEF, she led the development of all key policy procedures and operational guidelines and was lead author of board papers on project cycle, programmatic approach modality, agency fees, cancellation policy, and project amendments procedures. Lily was also an economist with the World Bank, where she managed a portfolio of industrial technology, energy efficiency, and environmental projects in China, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Lily received her PhD in Economics from George Washington University and BSc in Commerce & Financial Accounting from St. Scholastica's College, Philippines. Lily also holds a Certificate in Economics from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Accredited Financial Management Specialist, Financial Sector Board of the World Bank.

Erica Slowik is a research analyst at Nataij, where she produces content for strategic growth, collaborates on baseline studies, and supports projects that assist clients in meeting international environmental and social performance standards. Erica has multiple years of experience leading diverse teams and engaging in projects related to international development, climate change, and water resources management. She has moderate fluency in Spanish.

Erica holds a master’s degree from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Andy Bilich has several years of experience as a research analyst working on a variety of projects related to international development, energy access, climate and energy policy, renewable energy, low income energy efficiency, and local initiatives for climate adaptation. As a research analyst at Nataij, he provides research, data analysis, and communications support for a number of projects related to institutional capacity building, gender mainstreaming, monitoring and evaluation, and urban sustainability.

Andy holds a master’s degree from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California Santa Barbara and a B.S. in Natural Resources and Resource Economics from the University of Connecticut. He is passionate about working with communities to develop opportunities for sustainable energy and socioeconomic development.

AJ Hinojosa is an IT Specialist with extensive experience adapting and managing a wide-range of technical environments, including small offices and large complex organizational systems. At Nataij, AJ supports projects by advancing technology-driven solutions for clients. For example, AJ develops interactive tools to assist organizational capacity and optimize internal workflow, and he produces video training modules.

AJ holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.