Maria is the Manager of the FABLE (Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land Use and Energy) Consortium, a global network of research institutions working towards sustainable land use and food systems. Maria supports FABLE's mission through policy outreach, global engagement, strategic communications and partnership building in the science-policy interface. Maria is also a member of the Food, Environment, Land, and Development (FELD) Action Tracker, where she provides policy analysis and insights on food and land-use policies. 

Maria has long experience in mobilizing diverse stakeholders towards sustainable development. Before joining SDSN, Maria worked as Project Manager for the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation at the International Chamber of Commerce, where she fostered public-private partnerships to support the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in developing and least developed countries. Maria provided communications and public affairs services to the agri-food sector at the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) as part of her role at Emerging Ag. At the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), Maria analyzed private sector involvement in global governance on food security and nutrition.

Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Central University of Venezuela and a master’s in international development from Sciences Po's Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA). Maria speaks Spanish, English, and French.