
Team & Board
Executive Director
Soraya Shattuck
Soraya has led the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF) since its founding, growing the organization into a global force for grassroots conservation. Under her leadership, the ATCF has funded dozens of community-led initiatives that protect natural and cultural resources around the world. She also serves on the board of The Conservation Alliance, where she brings her expertise in international conservation and advocacy. Whether climbing, skiing, or mountain biking, Soraya lives her belief that travel must be a driver for protecting the planet.
Membership & Engagement Manager
Kerry Newton
Kerry leads efforts to grow and strengthen the organization’s community of members. With a passion for adventure travel and environmental conservation, Kerry cultivates meaningful partnerships, enhances member engagement, and drives initiatives that support the ATCF’s mission to protect the wild places that make adventure travel possible. Her work focuses on fostering collaboration among industry leaders, increasing member involvement, and ensuring sustainable impact through conservation funding. In her spare time, she enjoys mountain biking, hiking in the Green Mountains, and getting ready for the next season (ohhhhh New England).
Board of Directors
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STEVE BARKER
WILD PLACES
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CYNTHIA DUNBAR
REI ADVENTURES
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NORIE QUITOS
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
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CHRIS NOBLE
COVERMORE
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SHANNON STOWELL
ATTA
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CHUNNIE WRIGHT
LAW OFFICE OF CHUN T. WRIGHT
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AMIT SANKHALA
ENCOUNTERS ASIA
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NICOLE ABBOT
WILDERNESS TRAVEL
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GORDON SEABURY
TOAD & CO
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DEIRDRE CAMPBELL
TARTANBOND COMMUNICTIONS LTD.
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MARIA JOSÉ ANDRADE
TIERRA DEL VOLCÁN
VOLUNTEERS
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NICOLE MELANCON
Nicole is a freelance travel writer, content creator, and digital strategist at GLP Films with a passion for sustainable travel and storytelling that began after a life-changing trip to Nepal in 2010. The plight of the people she met compelled her to join a growing movement of dedicated journalists, content creators, and humanitarians striving to raise awareness, funds, and impact change fueled by the collective power of our online presence and voice. For the past 14 years, Nicole has worked with a variety of nonprofits and social impact organizations sharing their stories on her blog which focuses on sustainable, adventure travel and social good. She recently dove into freelance journalism and has been published in National Geographic, BBC, Toronto Star, and more.
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GIO PALATUCCI
Gio Palatucci is a seasoned creative marketing strategist with over a decade of experience shaping brand and social media strategy for travel, tourism, and hospitality organizations. During her tenure at Sparkloft Media, she built and led the agency’s Strategy Department, developing insight-driven creative approaches that helped destination marketing organizations and travel brands connect with global audiences. Gio led award-winning work for clients including Brand USA, South African Tourism, and the German National Tourist Office. Her early grounding in sense-of-place storytelling continues to guide her work today—bringing together data, narrative, and digital innovation to create meaningful, immersive brand experiences for travelers around the world.
Become a Volunteer
The ATCF is always looking for good people who share our passion for travel and conservation. Please fill our our Volunteer Opportunities Form if you're interested in joining our team.
Alumni Board Members & Advisors
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Josie Norris
Conservation Alliance
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Mandip Singh Soin
Ibex Exeditions
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Nicky Fitzgerald
Angama Mara
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Richard Edwards
UnTours
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Praveen Moman
Volcanoes Safaris
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Neil Rogers
Rewilding Europe
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Roger Spatz
Eagle Creek
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John Sterling
Conservation Alliance
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Luis Vargas
Modern Adventures
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Enrique Umbert
Mountain Lodges of Peru
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Charles Altekruse
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Jonathan Burnham
Good Pup Food Co.
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Dr. Amy Brown
Montana State Univ.