Marielena Octavio

Marielena (“Lena”) Octavio is a student at Duke University’s Fuqua (few-kwa) School of Business (Class of 2024) and Meridian Affiliate. She is a Fuqua Impact Scholar, focused on sustainability, with the Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE), as well as a Forté Fellowship recipient, an award designated for women who demonstrate exemplary leadership and commitment to women’s initiatives. While at Fuqua, she hopes to explore ways for the private sector to catalyze positive change for greater equity, justice, and sustainability (and maybe launch her own company – stay tuned!).

Marielena works closely with Meridian Institute on an effort to address the implications of digital sequence information on the governance of plant and genetic resources. She is also part of the Coordinating Team for the Initiative for Mexico’s Oceans and Coasts, an effort working with state governments and coastal communities in Mexico to implement activities that protect and restore oceans and coasts in ways that balance social, environmental, and economic needs.

Prior to Duke, Marielena worked at Meridian for almost six years leading and supporting projects focusing on sustainable fisheries, ocean policy, deforestation, climate action, water resources, and agriculture. She also supported the World Bank in documenting their extensive work on transboundary water issues and launching an initiative in the Middle East. She assisted in cutting-edge research on food security and nutrition in Latin America for Georgetown University’s Center for Latin American Studies. Originally from Venezuela, Lena now lives in Durham, NC with her three-legged dog. She enjoys gardening, reading, cooking, and painting.