Atossa Soltani

Atossa Soltani "is the founder and executive director of Amazon Watch. Founded in 1996, Amazon Watch is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending the rights and the territories of indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin (www.amazonwatch.org). Since 1991, Atossa has been working to support indigenous peoples in their efforts to protect their rights to self-determination, territories, natural resources, culture, and way of life. Prior to founding Amazon Watch, Atossa directed campaigns at the Rainforest Action Network (1991-1996).   Atossa has worked on documenting and publicizing human rights abuses and environmental disasters caused by extractive industries and large scale infrastructure projects throughout the Amazon. She has led successful campaigns challenging oil companies and international financial institutions to adopt stronger environmental and social standards globally. Atossa is a skilled media strategist, photographer and filmmaker and has produced a number of short educational films about this subject. Atossa serves on the board of directors of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, on the Steering Council of the Amazon Alliance and is an Advisor to the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP). She also served as the Energy and Water Conservation Program Director for the City of Santa Monica from (1988-91). In her free time, she serves as a photographer for Project Bandaloop, a non-profit aerial dance company. Atossa holds a B.S. in Public Policy Management from the University of Akron, Ohio. She is fluent in Spanish and Farsi."


 * National Advisory Committee, Brazil Strategy Network
 * Director, Christensen Fund