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Boris Arevalo, PhD
Assistant Country Director Terrestrial
Boris Miguel Arevalo is a Belizean wildlife biologist, with many years of experience in applied natural resource management and conservation research. In 2021, he joined WCS Belize as the Assistant Country Director-Terrestrial. Prior to joining WCS, Mr. Arevalo worked for over 10 years in the Chiquibul Forest with Friends for Conservation and Developing spearing heading the Biodiversity Research and Monitoring program. He has a Master of Science degree in management and conservation of tropical forests and biodiversity from The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Costa Rica and a PhD in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. During his PhD, he studied factors affecting nest success, resource use, and habitat suitability of the endangered northern sub-species of scarlet macaws in Belize and the broader Selva Maya region. Mr. Arevalo work interest range from protected areas management, landscape ecology, GIS for natural resource management, conservation and management of species, and agricultural practices to enhance biodiversity conservation in a human dominated matrix.
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Bryla Arzu, BS.
Accountant
Bryla Arzu holds the post of Accountant at WCS Belize, she completed an Associate Degree in Tourism Studies and a Bachelors in Business Management with concentration in Finance. She is fortunate to have worked in both fields which has equipped her with a variety of skills, the ability to adapt, work under pressure and strive in most environments. She is looks forward to years of learning, working, new and fun experiences.
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Deedra Westby, BA.
Administrative Assistant
Deedra Westby joined the WCS team in February, 2017 as Administrative Assistant.
She is a graduate of the University of London (UOL) with a Bachelor of Business in Marketing. Deedra more than 10 years experience in the secretarial field with a background in reception, and administrative duties.
She is the friendly voice that will most likely greet you when you call the WCS office.
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Deseree Cain-Arzu, MSc.
Communications Coordinator
Since joining the team at WCS in March 2016, Deseree has been working tirelessly to achieve one of the organizations strategic goals of raising its public profile, not just in Belize, but also regionally and internationally. Important achievements, activities, marine and terrestrial research work have been highlighted via social media, and traditional media outlets, locally, regionally and internationally.
Deseree has also written several newspaper articles on WCS’s work, which have been published in The Reporter, Guardian, and San Pedro Sun both print and online; and online in Ambergris Today and Breaking Belize News. Her most recent research article on conch was published online via Earth Journalism Network; and blog on the Fisheries Resurces Bill on medium.com. She has participated in numerous outreach and educational events to showcase the work of WCS; as well as hosted a number of events in which WCS has participated, including Earth Hour, Commemoration of Belize being Removed from WHS Danger List; and the Green Globe Panel Discussion.
In her capacity as WCS’s Communications Coordinator, Deseree has also been instrumental in supporting the launch of Seasons 2 and 3 of the 2-time Award-Winning Punta Fuego Radio Drama, which is the communications component to WCS’s Replenishment Zones Initiative. She also previously served as the communications focal point for the Fish Right Eat Right Initiative, and secretary for the Belize World Heritage Advisory Committed, commissioned in January 2018.
Before joining the dynamic team at WCS Belize Global Program, Deseree Arzu spent close to two decades working in the media as News Director, Radio Personality, Remote Broadcast Manager, and Journalist at the now defunct Broadcasting Corporation of Belize, and more recently, Krem Radio, where she spent a total of 12 years. She later moved on to the Public Utilities Commission where her role focused on consumer affairs and public relations.
She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Belize; and a Master of Science in Communications and Media Technologies from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Deseree’s main desire is for Belizeans to see conservation, not as a job for NGO’s and/or government, but, as a collective initiative that involves and requires each and every one’s interest and participation.
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Eden Cruz, AS.
Communications Assistant
Eden Cruz joined the Wildlife Conservation Society in 2023 as the Communication Assistant. She came on board with experience in the business field concentrating in Graphic Design, Digital Marketing and Public Relations. She has worked in the private sector for over 18 years within the insurance, tourism, marketing and the media industry. Her experience will help assist with promoting the WCS Belize programs and initiatives both regionally and internationally. She completed her Associates Degree in Business Management at the University of Belize (currently pursuing her Bachelors in Marketing) and has certificates in graphic design as well as in Nature Conservation from Japan Association Cooperation Agency (JICA).
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Gianelie Cuellar, BSc.
Finance Manager
Gianelie Cuellar-Mai received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Belize in 2006. Since then she has served in both private sector and in international organization for the productive sector development of Belize.
She has been onboard WCS's Belize Program since 2014 as the Finance Manager and has brought her experience and positive can do attitude to the Belize field office.
Her role has allowed her to work with various donors and budgets allowing her to expand her 14 years of technical experience along with introducing new ideas to the Finance department.
She fervently believes in proper procedures and fairness to all her colleagues. As time has elapsed Gianelie has grown within the organization as has her responsibilities.
Gianelie appreciates the importance in the work that WCS has accomplished and is proud to be a part of the change.
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Haleam Nicholas
Groundskeeper, Glover's Reef Research Station
Haleam Nicholas has been working as WCS Belize as a first aid trained certified groundskeeper since 2012. He is the friendly and outgoing personality you will meet at the Glover’s Reef Research Station on Middle Caye in Southern Belize.
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Henry Brown Jr., AS.
Technical Coordinator Assistant- Marine
Henry Brown Jr. joined the Wildlife Conservation Society in 2022. His broad experience is rooted in a decade-long tenure as a Fisheries Biologist and Protected Areas Manager for the Belize Fisheries Department. He completed an Associates Degree in Marine Science at the University of Belize in 2009, and has received extensive specialist training in marine monitoring methodologies, scientific diving and enforcement of conservation areas. Henry has special interest in coral disease, sea turtle conservation and coral restoration, and is an accomplished boat captain and underwater photographer. Henry is the secondary lead for WCS’s marine fieldwork, including monitoring of benthic communities, key fishery resources and fish spawning aggregations at Glovers Reef Marine Reserve, and leads liaison with fishery resource users for collection of fishery dependent data. He is a long-time contributor to the work of the Healthy Reefs Initiative, serving as a trainer in reef survey methodologies and the treatment of stony coral tissue loss disease. His experience as an active participant in the monitoring and management of multiple protected areas has made him a well rounded asset to several ongoing projects across the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.
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Julio R. Maaz, A.S.
Technical Coordinator Sustainable Fisheries
Julio Maaz is the Community Fisheries Coordinator. He works closely with local fishers to promote responsible fisheries management concepts and is a very active member of the technical team supervising the managed access program. Prior to joining WCS, Julio worked for six years with the Belize Fisheries Department, where he supervised the enforcement branch, which extended to prosecutionof fisheries offences. He is leading WCS's innovative program on the use of technology to improve national enforcement at sea. Julio has an associates's degree in biology and chemistry.
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Kenneth Gale, A.S.
Operations Manager, Glover's Reef Research Station
Kenneth graduated from the Belize College of Agriculture in 1997 with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science. He worked for a number of Government and Non-Governmental organizations in various capacities. He was employed by the Belize Fisheries Department as reserve manager for the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, and the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve. Kenneth also served as the Turneffe Islands Spawning Aggregation Marine Reserve project manager for the World Wildlife Fund, as park director at Blue Hole and Halfmoon Caye Monument for the Belize Audubon Society, and most recently as station manager for the University of Belize's Calabash Caye Field Station.
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