Juan Diego Saavedra

M.S. Environmental Science, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Born in the bustling capital of Lima, Peru, Juan Diego always felt the need to escape the city to explore nature, which is what led him to study environmental engineering in university. After completing his studies, Juan Diego wanted to continue to expand his academic and personal horizons, which led him to pursue his Masters in Environmental Science at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Living in Europe opened the world of travel to Juan Diego and helped expand his first-hand experiences of different people and places well beyond Peru. Juan Diego would go on to volunteer with an NGO in Cambodia, work in an eco-village in Costa Rica, and later return to work with indigenous communities in the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes, all experiences that shaped the wonderfully open-minded and curious person that Juan Diego is today.

Passionate about taking care of the environment and living sustainably, Juan Diego loves to share what he has learned through his studies and many travels within and outside of South America. He is also always eager to continue learning about ways to better protect the environment whether that be through permaculture, renewable energy, or environmental education. In addition to his environmental advocacy, Juan Diego is passionate about protecting and celebrating the ancestral traditions of Andean communities, many of which place a strong emphasis on maintaining a harmonious balance with their environment.

Thanks to his experience as a volunteer firefighter in Peru, Juan Diego has also received extensive emergency training. As a true Latino, Juan Diego loves to dance salsa, often in unusual places like around a campfire under the night sky.