Rowena Soriaga has over 30 years of experience in sustainable development research, project development, policy analysis. She works on ecosystem-based adaptation and disaster risk reduction in rural contexts of Southeast Asia, by fostering social cohesion and participatory governance of natural resources. Through engaging in program management, knowledge facilitation, and development of networks, she advocates for inclusive, participatory approaches to climate resilience, emphasizing the integration of community knowledge into policy frameworks. Her work highlights the importance of collaboration and enabling environments to empower communities in effectively addressing climate challenges.

Rowena has a Master in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management and a background in Business Economics. Currently, she serves as the Director for Programs at the Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC) and the Asia-Pacific Representative to the board of two global networks - the International Society of Tropical Foresters and the Assisted Natural Regeneration Alliance.