OUR TEAM
Hector Antonio Lizarraga-Cubedo
DIRECTOR
Hector was born in Mexico City, but raised in Baja California where he earned his university degree in oceanology. His past work experience had him focused in aquaculture, seafood processing and research on ecology and taxonomy of marine algae with the Oceanographic Research Institute. In 1998, he pursued his postgraduate studies at the University of Aberdeen to obtain his master's in Marine and Fisheries Sciences and PhD on lobster fisheries.
Since then he has contributed to various scientific publications, participated in several workshops and symposia, and worked for both the state and federal governments.
Softball is his main hobby as well as working out at a local gym in Playa del Carmen where he lives happily with his wife and comic Chihuahua, Woody.
Baruch Figueroa-Zavala
COORDINATOR, PROGRAM COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS
In the summer of 2012, Baruch joined CEA as the program coordinator of the Coastal Ecosystems Program bringing with him over eight years’ experience in a variety of conservation projects in Quintana Roo, ranging from monitoring and evaluation of reef communities and seagrass and rehabilitation of coral reefs to conducting research on turtles and management of lionfish.
Baruch is a divemaster with over 600 dives and has always had a great interest in the marine and coastal environment. He holds a degree in marine biology from Universidad del Mar in Oaxaca and continued his graduate studies at National University of Costa Rica and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal.
Mauricio Acevez
CEA ADMINISTRATOR
Born in Mexico City, Mauricio relocated to Quintana Roo in 1999. Since then he has been involved with NGOs, including the creation of the nonprofit organization Eco-Bahia which implemented several conservation programs for the communities and hotel complex, Bahia Principe. In 2000, he began his activities with sea turtles on the Playa Aventuras DIF beach and later with the association Flora, Fauna y Cultura.
Mauricio can be found playing soccer, swimming or spending time with his family, including his two rescued street dogs.
Ivan Penie
COORDINATOR, ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM
Before joining CEA, Ivan worked as a researcher with UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). His passion for coastal ecosystems led him to CEA nearly four years ago to contribute to marine research. Currently, Ivan coordinates the environmental research activities at CEA, including the recently declared fish refuge in Akumal (the first of its kind to exist outside a protected area) as part of an integrated approach to coastal management.
Ivan has collaborated on various research projects with academic groups resulting in various scientific publications and events, as well as advised university students on technical aspects of their research. When he’s not developing his Ph.D. thesis or immersed in a good book, you can find Ivan on the baseball field, doing martial arts or spending time with his family, especially his daughters.
Claudia Leon García
SEA TURTLE CAMP COORDINATOR
Claudia is graduate in Hidrobiologist, at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, she was born and raised in Mexico City. However, her love for working in communities led her to taking part in diverse projects in localities in the northern highlands of Oaxaca and Guerrero.
Her true passion always been sea turtles, that´s the reason that she traveled to Costa Rica where she collaborated in the research and protection of different species.
In 2021 she joined the CEA team as coordinator of the sea turtle conservation and protection program.
During her free time she can usually spent with her family, walks on the beach or enjoying a good meal.
Angie was born in Chetumal, Quintana Roo but studied her degree in Communications at the Model University of Merida, Yucatan. He joined the CEA team in July 2019, since then he has been given the task of coordinating the area of communications and volunteering. He is passionate about his work since he always wanted to apply his knowledge in a company with the values that CEA has.
Among her hobbies are swimming, walking along the beach, walking with his rescued dog and discovering new places / people.
Elizabeth Bautista
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Elizabeth is from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, but has lived most of her life in the state of Sonora. In 2002 she moved to the Yucatan Peninsula. She has studies of Professional Technician in Food and Engineering in Environmental Technology.
In the past 10 years she has worked in general consulting. In 2018, Elizabeth joined the CEA staff as the coordinator of the Environmental Education and Akumal Cero projects.
She loves her job, always has a smile on her face and likes to interact with people. She is convinced that her work can make a change to improve the environment, and people's quality of life.
In her free time, she likes to read, do snorkel, and enjoy a delicious dinner with her friends and family.