Paula Diaz

About Paula Diaz

I am a sustainability strategist helping high-emitting industries transition toward net-zero, nature-positive, and socially responsible models while creating business value. I operate on the conviction that the private sector is a critical engine for solving global sustainability challenges. I am passionate about making sustainability strategic, pragmatic, and embedded in operations.Global Strategy & Risk Management. Across senior roles at The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, I advised Fortune 500 companies in mining, energy, agribusiness, and infrastructure. I built expertise in ESG frameworks, decarbonization, and regenerative supply chains—focusing on de-risking assets and designing programs that strengthen resilience and deliver impact. But for sustainability to scale, it must be embedded in core business decisions. To understand how innovation is funded, how products reach the market, and how tradeoffs shape outcomes, I moved into the private-sector innovation space.Commercial Innovation & Operations. At Princeton Critical Minerals (PureLi in LATAM), a cleantech startup developing technologies for sustainable mineral extraction, I am building the operational infrastructure for deep-tech scaling. I align sustainability with investor expectations and operational reality. This work grounds my perspective in customer buying behavior and the rigor required to convert impact narratives into measurable, investable business outcomes.Value Creation Through Sustainability. I bridge mission-driven technical expertise with business-driven execution. I help companies navigate climate, nature, and supply chain risks with clarity—strengthening competitiveness while delivering real impact. My focus is on embedding sustainability not as a parallel initiative, but as a driver of long-term enterprise value.Core Competencies• Strategic Advisory: Translating technical complexity (global standards, regulatory requirements) into practical business strategy and measurable operational value.• Commercial Perspective: Grounded in operational feasibility, customer buying behavior, and market dynamics—reframing sustainability from narrative to defensible metrics that align with investor priorities.• Sector Expertise: Mining & Metals, Oil & Gas, Agribusiness, Construction Materials, Renewables. Expertise includes ESG strategy, risk management, net-zero/nature-positive transitions, and circularity.• Collaborative Influence: Building trust and alignment across executives, boards, and technical teams to navigate complex challenges.

Experience

1. Senior Corporate Engagement Advisor - Infrastructure and Energy Transition

   The Nature Conservancy

   Nov 2020 — Present

   Spearheaded global strategic and technical efforts for developing TNC\'s strategies to align high-emitting industries (especially mining and construction materials) and renewable energy development with international standards and nature-positive and net-zero transitions. Served as interim team leader for Corporate Engagement Risk Management Unit.• Directed strategic stakeholder engagement with internal and external leaders across companies, industry groups, and NGOs, fostering collaboration, shaping industry standards, and advancing sustainable business practices aligned with global environmental and economic objectives.• Monitored and engaged throughout evolution of net-zero, voluntary carbon markets, and nature-positive standards (e.g, TNFD, SBTi, GHGP, VCMI, ICVCM), and drove thought leadership to research and benchmark corporate sustainability trends, validating TNC’s strategies and advocacy positions.• Built and maintained global partnerships with Fortune 500 companies to drive ESG-aligned programs, advancing nature-positive strategies, regenerative agriculture, decarbonization efforts, and engagement with local communities and Indigenous peoples.• Co-led US and European renewable energy market strategy, encompassing partnership development, demonstration projects, policy technical support, and advising on industry voluntary standards with value chain actors.• Led development of TNC’s Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) Standard, guiding consensus-building process with senior leaders and securing executive approval, followed by organization-wide capacity-building efforts.• Evaluated corporate engagements across TNC for compliance with institutional positions and international standards, providing risk assessment insights to guide committee decisions on feasibility and mitigation measures.

Education

• Universidad de La Salle

  Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.), Environmental and Sanitary Engineering

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Master of Science (M.S.)