Our Team
1 United Nations Plaza, DC1-860, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA
[email protected]
Tel: +1 (212) 963 6036
Ms Angélica Jácome holds a Master of Arts in Law from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, as well as a Master of Science in International Development and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Tulane University in the United States of America.
She is the Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Liaison Office to the United Nations in New York.
Prior to assuming her current role, she held the position of FAO Director of the Office of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) from 2020-2025, during which time she was the Executive Chief for both the FAO Women’s and Youth Committees.
Before joining FAO, she held the position of Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) from 2015 to 2019. She also served in other foreign missions of Panama and worked for various international organizations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Ms Angélica Jácome started her career in 1999 at the Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations in New York, where she returned in 2007 as part of the team representing Panama to the United Nations Security Council on issues such as Sudan; Children and Armed Conflict; Women, Peace and Security; and Counterterrorism.
A Senior Officer with almost 30 years of professional experience in positions of progressively increasing responsibility at national and international levels, including many years in advising FAO Executives (Office of the Director-General and Deputy Director-General). Ms Otto is a German national that has worked as an international civil servant for non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies. She holds a Master’s degree in Soil Sciences and Agro-chemistry from the Timiryasev Academy in Moscow.
Ms Otto started her career in Central Asia where she worked for German Agroaction, and subsequently became the FAO Head of Office in Tajikistan. In October 2004, she moved to the FAO Headquarters in Rome where she managed technical cooperation portfolios for Asia, Europe, and Central Asia and Pacific. From 2006 onwards, she served in positions with increasing seniority, advising two consecutive Directors-General. In October 2013, she was appointed Senior Advisor to the Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources, advising on effective leadership, management and coordination (strategic/political) for the technical arm of the organization.
After 14 years of experience in the FAO Headquarters, in 2019 Ms Otto moved to the FAO Liaison Office to the United Nations in New York as a Senior Liaison Officer.
Through her work, she has acquired excellent knowledge in FAO technical fields related to topics like natural resources management in the agriculture sectors (agriculture, fisheries, forestry, biodiversity, genetic resources), sustainable development, climate change, rural development, food and nutrition security, 2030 Agenda, UN Reform, Rome-based Agencies, and Small Island Development States, among others. She feels strongly committed to teamwork, transparency, and the value-for-money concept.
Lucas Tavares is a sustainable development specialist and journalist with over 25 years of experience. He joined FAO in 2007, in Chile, as communications consultant at the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, later transferred to Rome as adviser to former Director-General José Graziano da Silva and currently serves as Senior Liaison Officer at the Liaison Office to the United Nations in New York.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, Lucas organized national FAO communication teams into an informal regional network, partnered with media organizations to showcase FAO’s work, and led the development of a food safety campaign targeting indigenous communities in their own languages.
In Rome, Lucas was the Director-General’s speechwriter, contributed to the implementation of and reporting on FAO’s programme of work and supported high-level engagements with UN and other partners.
At FAO New York, Lucas is part of a small team contributing to positioning food and agriculture in the UN agenda, supporting Member States as they debate and negotiate issues on the global agenda, and working with other members of the UN family to increase coordination and delivery.
Before joining FAO, Lucas worked in public and private print and online media, TV, and radio, as a producer, reporter, editor, live events coordinator, and foreign correspondent.
Lucas has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a master’s degree in Policy and Government.
Katherine holds over twelve years of experience at the UN in programme development and implementation, and information and knowledge management on matters related to agriculture, forestry, land use and climate change.
She works with the FAO Liaison Office team on issues of climate change, biodiversity, forestry and the environment and in particular the connection to food security, poverty reduction, sustainable production and consumption, and environmental sustainability.
Previously, she worked as a programme specialist for the UN-REDD Programme, which works to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in 65 countries. She has carried out research and analysis, contributed to project formulation, programme coordination, and information and knowledge management.
She has also contributed to the organization of a number of international conferences and events. In 2019 she was part of the facilitation team of the UN Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit nature-based solutions track. Most recently she has led FAO’s outreach and knowledge management for the XV World Forestry Congress.
She holds an MSc in Managing Rural Development from the Center of Environment, Development and Policy, SOAS, University of London.
In January 2024, Florencia joined the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York as Communications Officer. She has almost 12 years of experience working in the field of international communications, over 9 of which she spent at FAO in various capacities.
Florencia has a wealth of experience in communicating on a wide range of topics to technical and non-technical audiences of varying ages and backgrounds. She is well-versed in managing social media accounts and coordinating digital campaigns, curating exhibits, content production in multiple languages, coordinating High-Level events and outreach activities, and producing content for a wide range of platforms in a wide range of formats and multiple languages.
Prior to joining the Liaison Office in New York, Florencia was part of the Social Media team, managing FAO’s main English-language corporate accounts, as well as major International campaigns and FAO-led observances.
A Uruguayan national born in Zimbabwe, Florencia holds a Masters of Science in Science Communication from the University of the West of England and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Related Literature from the University of York.
She was previously a UN Volunteer in Strategic Planning with UN Women in New York. She holds a first-level degree in Social Sciences and an M.A. in International Studies.
Doris Ngirwa-Mpesha joined the FAO Liaison Office in New York in 2017 as a focal point for issues related to human rights, humanitarian affairs, indigenous peoples, youth and international migration. Doris started her career at FAO headquarters in Rome. She is a lawyer with past experience in the court and judicial systems of Tanzania and the United States.
Doris closely monitors the Third Committee of the General Assembly on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Issues in the context of the UN General Assembly and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Doris’ other areas of focus are Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), UN Reform, United Nations Sustainable Development Group matters, Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, Financing for Development, Gender and Africa Affairs including the Interdepartmental Task Force on African Affairs.
Doris holds a Master’s degree in Public International Law from the University College London, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Concordia University in Wisconsin, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa, and a Project Management Certificate from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Natalie Wright joined the FAO Liaison Office in New York in April 2024 as a Sustainable Development Specialist.
Natalie brings a robust background in food, climate, and health issues from her prior work at the New York City Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Natalie holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations: Global Environment, Health, and Natural Resources from University of California, Davis and a Master’s degree in Education Policy & Social Analysis: History and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Additionally, she has an academic certificate in Environmental Policy & Food Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Alexa Sofia Cannarella joined the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York in August 2025.
She previously interned at FAO Headquarters in the Office of Corporate Communications, where she worked with the Social Media team to write, edit, and produce videos and scripts for corporate accounts while also managing content clearances and coordination for UN International Days. A highlight of hers was interviewing FAO Food Heroes at World Food Day and creating videos increasing engagement across corporate accounts.
Alexa also has field research experience in São Paulo, Brazil and has previous experience in the advocacy, electoral campaign and NGO sectors.
An Italian and American national, Alexa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam and a Master’s degree in International Development Studies from Utrecht University.
In June 2025, Emmanuella Kondo joined the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York as a Communications Intern. She previously worked at the United Nations Department of Global Communications as a Communications and Social Media Assistant.
A Togolese-Canadian, Emmanuella holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Journalism) from Mount Royal University.
Before joining international organizations, Emmanuella worked in Canada as a web and radio journalist in the public sector, working in both French and English. She is fluent in both languages.
She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in International and Intercultural Communication at Royal Roads University.
Hui He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Maryland, a Master of Arts in English Translation from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Hunan University of Technology and Business.
She is an Intern at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Liaison Office to the United Nations (LON) in New York. At LON, she supports FAO’s engagement with UNGA, ECOSOC and Second Committee processes, follows meetings and negotiations, drafts briefs and summaries, and helps deliver LON briefings, observances and missions.
Prior to joining FAO, she served at UNDP’s Nature Hub in New York as a Knowledge Management & Learning Fellow, contributing to flagship knowledge products and high-level UN events; she also worked with American Rivers on policy research and data analysis for dam removal, and supported projects at the Financial Center for South-South Cooperation and the School of International Governance Innovation.
Carina Yiu joined the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York in October 2025 as a Sustainable Development Intern, where she supports the FAO’s engagement with United Nations processes.
Her work focuses on the intersection of food systems, planetary health, nutritional security, and global governance. Yiu’s prior experience spans environmental policy, international development, nutrition research, food loss and waste management, and climate-smart agriculture solutions. At Columbia University, she was recognized as a SIPA International Fellow (IFP) and a Mailman Food Fellow.
Yiu holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, specializing in Environmental Health Sciences and Sustainable Food Systems, and a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan.
Elisa Noetinger joined the FAO Liaison Office in New York in August 2016, as an Assistant to the Director. Prior to joining FAO, she worked as a translator for the Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations in New York, as well as for the Embassies of Peru and Spain in London. A graduate in Translation and Intercultural Communication from Birkbeck College University of London, Elisa comes from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Panagiotis Mitoglou joined the FAO Liaison Office in New York in June 2015. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Aegean University in Greece, and a Master’s degree in Political Science and Government from the Long Island University. Prior to joining FAO, Panagiotis worked with various property management businesses in New York City. He has extensive experience in contract administration, budgetary and finance planning, as well as recruitment processes.
Prior to joining Food and Agriculture Organization Liaison Office in New York, Bota worked as Operations Associate for the UNDP BERA Communications Group, and as Programme Associate at the UNDP Executive Office. She was an Administrative Associate as a part of the Human Development Report Office team and started her UN career with United Nations Publications. She had also supported UNDP project on “Conservation of Mountain in-situ Agro Biodiversity in Kazakhstan” and held a position of research consultant at the Centre for Marketing and Analytical Research under Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning of Kazakhstan.
She holds Masters Degrees in Public Administration from the State University of New York, Albany and in Public Administration from the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research. She also has a Diploma on International Economic Relations from K.A Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Kazakhstan.
Bota is the proud mother of a 11-year old son, and loves tennis, badminton and travelling.