Veronica Arias is a highly experienced consultant in environmental issues, with over 20 years of experience in the environmental, international, and senior management sectors. She holds a master’s degree in International Environmental Law from American University and has a diploma in leadership and political science from the Líderes de Gobernar Institute, IDE, as well as a certificate from the Harvard Bloomberg Cities Leadership Program. Arias is currently a Senior Advisor of Ecuador’s Strategic Infrastructure Council (CEI) and a professor of International Environmental Law at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
Arias was the former Executive Director of the Coalition of Capital Cities of the Americas on Climate Change (CC35), where she led global negotiations for local governments within the United Nations frameworks. She was also the former Secretary of the Environment of the Metropolitan District of Quito for five years, helping plant 1.2 million trees, training 450,000 people in good environmental practices, and declaring and protecting 150,000 hectares of subnational natural areas. In 2020, Arias was recognized as one of the 100 most influential Latina leaders on climate change, and in 2021, as one of the ten most important women leaders in Ecuador. She hosts the digital and TV program #Environmental Perspectives, which aims to raise awareness and educate citizens.