Andrew Schatz serves as President of the Liberia Conservation Fund and Senior Legal Advisor at Conservation International. He is a leading expert in conservation finance and international environmental law, with more than fifteen years of experience structuring innovative financing mechanisms to protect ecosystems around the world.​

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As President of the Liberia Conservation Fund, Andrew provides governance leadership and strategic oversight to Liberia’s first independent national conservation fund. He supports the development of sustainable financing mechanisms to protect Liberia’s protected areas and ensure that conservation investments deliver long term benefits for communities and ecosystems.

Andrew holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown Law and a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Environmental and Resource Economics from Cornell University. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of International Environmental Law at The George Washington University Law School.

Benedictus (Ben) Freeman is a distinguished Conservation Biologist and Lecturer at the
University of Liberia who joins the LCF Board of Directors with a decade of expertise in conservation research, policy, and capacity building. Currently serving as the Coordinator for U.S. Forest Service International Programs and Trade in Liberia, Ben specializes in using biodiversity informatics to drive environmental and conservation decision-making. Ben has worked and collaborated with organizations such as Fauna & Flora International, Winrock International, the University of Kansas, and many more. Ben is a passionate mentor dedicated to training the next generation of conservationists in Liberia.

An avid birdwatcher and gardener, Ben holds a B.S. in General Forestry from the University of Liberia, an M.S. in Conservation Biology from the University of Jos, and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Kansas.

Hon. Rudolph J. Merab, Sr. serves as Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority of Liberia and as a Director of the Liberia Conservation Fund. With more than four decades of experience in Liberia’s forestry and timber sector, he is one of the country’s most seasoned leaders in natural resource management and forest governance.

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As Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority, he oversees the stewardship of Liberia’s forest resources and advances policies that balance conservation, responsible commercial use, and community benefit. Through his role on the Board of the Liberia Conservation Fund, he supports the development of sustainable financing mechanisms to protect Liberia’s protected areas and promote long term environmental and economic resilience.

Dr. Eduard “Eddy” Niesten joined the Liberia Conservation Fund Board in 2024 and has served as Treasurer since February 2025. He is an economist specializing in natural resources, agriculture, and international development, with more than 25 years of experience advancing conservation finance and sustainable economic policy.

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Dr. Niesten has extensive expertise in community based conservation, terrestrial and marine conservation design, and the development of innovative financing mechanisms. His work spans funding strategy formulation at project, program, and policy levels, as well as economic analysis of protected areas, sustainable livelihoods, logging, agroforestry, and other conservation related sectors. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Economics, a Master’s degree in International Development Policy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Economics from Stanford University.

Jessica Donovan joined the Liberia Conservation Fund Board and serves as its Secretary. She is a conservation leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and environmental governance across Africa.​ Jessica brings deep executive and board level experience in conservation finance, institutional strengthening, and strategic oversight in complex operating environments. As former Country Director of Conservation International Liberia, she played a foundational role in supporting the establishment of the Liberia Conservation Fund, helping shape its early strategic vision, governance structure, and long term financing approach.

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Jessica is the Founder of Resilient Future Advisors, a Kenya based leadership and organizational development firm that partners with individuals and institutions across Africa, Europe, and North America to strengthen governance, performance, and long term impact. She brings to the Board a strong commitment to building resilient institutions and ensuring that conservation finance delivers sustainable results for Liberia.

Honorable Nora G. Bowier serves as Deputy Managing Director for Community, Conservation, and Carbon at the Forestry Development Authority of Liberia and as Alternate Director to the Liberia Conservation Fund Board. Appointed in March 2024, she oversees the integration of community engagement, conservation management, and carbon initiatives within Liberia’s forestry sector. ​

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Hon. Bowier holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cuttington University and a Master of Science in Development Studies from Kimmage Development Studies Centre in Ireland.  Her work centers on ensuring that forest conservation policies advance community rights, equitable carbon governance, and sustainable livelihoods for forest fringe communities across Liberia.