Fiorella rendon
Conservation Programs Manager, Galapagos
Why IOI:
As someone who grew up in the Galapagos surrounded by nature, I didn’t truly understand the magnitude of the rich environment we have here until I left home, and then I realized that Isabela is an island that needs help to be properly protected and understood.
I believe that IOI is doing great work in sharing ecological consciousness with the Isabela community, as well as with the international participants that join IOI on volunteer projects and faculty-led programs, which greatly influenced my desire to join the team.
For me, as a local Galapagueña, I believe working with IOI offers me the opportunity to continue to learn while doing something with a positive impact to my island.
My IOI role:
I am the Conservation Programs Manager. I began working with IOI as an intern in 2025. I had such a great experience and really enjoyed working with the team so it was easy to accept their proposal to join in a full time capacity in 2026.
The area my role focuses on are the Marine Turtle Nesting, Ecotourism, and Giant Tortoise Breeding Center volunteer and internship projects, as well as incorporating these conservation themes into the service learning activities for the international faculty-led university groups that join us on Isabela Island.
In my capacity, I work with local community stakeholders as well as volunteers, interns, students, and faculty from around the world with the goal of protecting the amazing species and environments that encompass the Galapagos Islands.
I believe that we all have something to give each other and my role within IOI lets me learn and give back each and every day.
Life prior to IOI:
I spent my childhood on Isabela Island surrounded by nature and exploring the beach with my friends. Then I moved to Santa Cruz where I went to high school and started a photography club.
After that I moved to Buenos Aires (Argentina) where I studied a Bachelor in Tourism Management and lived there for 4 years. During that period of time I traveled some in South America and Europe. I also lived in Jose Ignacio (Uruguay) as part of my university internship.
At one point I took part in a 3-month internship with the Galapagos National Park and I started a small beach clean project.
After COVID, I moved to Malaga (Spain) where I studied a Masters in Technology Applied in Tourism and won an award for research - but I was unsure that I wanted to be a researcher for my career so I came back to Galapagos for a period of time.
I decided to move to Bangkok (Thailand) where I lived for 6 months and worked in marketing for a small hotel chain. When I finished this project, I pursued my dream of traveling solo and I travelled to 10 different countries between Asia and the North of Africa.
Most recently, I returned to Galapagos to work as the manager of a hostel and beach bar, finally joining IOI as an intern and eventually taking on the Conservation Programs Manager role.
Just me:
As you may have noticed, I love traveling and I hope to be able to visit all of the places on my wishlist!
In my free time I enjoy walking my dogs, swimming and painting; I also love dancing (I’m not very good but I try).
I’m also constantly learning about editing videos and photography as this is a big hobby of mine.
Fun fact about me: I have lived in 5 countries and 8 different cities!
