Team & Board

Executive Director

Soraya Shattuck

Soraya is the Executive Director of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF), a role she has held since the organization's inception. Under her leadership, the ATCF has expanded its grant-giving program to support grassroots conservation efforts around the globe. She also serves on the board of The Conservation Alliance, lending her deep experience in international conservation. Whether she's climbing, skiing, or mountain biking, Soraya lives her belief that travel has the power to protect the planet.

Membership & Engagement Manager

Kerry Newton

Kerry leads efforts to grow and strengthen the organization’s community of members. With a passion for adventure travel and environmental conservation, Kerry cultivates meaningful partnerships, enhances member engagement, and drives initiatives that support the ATCF’s mission to protect the wild places that make adventure travel possible. Her work focuses on fostering collaboration among industry leaders, increasing member involvement, and ensuring sustainable impact through conservation funding. In her spare time, she enjoys mountain biking, hiking in the Green Mountains, and getting ready for the next season (ohhhhh New England).

Administrative Coordinator

Kara Cederquist

With 15 incredible years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry Kara has been able to learn the in’s and outs of the biz from a unique vantage point working in hotels, DMC’s, tour operations, and air. Her love for travel sparked when she realized at a young age she grew up in a town where people vacationed, Pensacola Beach, FL. She has stood in awe during sunrise at the Taj Mahal (while living in India), backpacked all over Europe, Central/South America and Asia, got her scuba diving license in Thailand, and kayaked in Antarctica. She's excited to work alongside ATCF's inspiring mission!

Board of Directors

  • STEVE BARKER

    WILD PLACES

  • CYNTHIA DUNBAR

    REI ADVENTURES

  • NORIE QUITOS

    COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

  • CHRIS NOBLE

    COVERMORE

  • SHANNON STOWELL

    ATTA

  • CHUNNIE WRIGHT

    LAW OFFICE OF CHUN T. WRIGHT

  • AMIT SANKHALA

    ENCOUNTERS ASIA

  • NICOLE ABBOT

    WILDERNESS TRAVEL

  • GORDON SEABURY

    TOAD & CO

  • DEIRDRE CAMPBELL

    TARTANBOND COMMUNICTIONS LTD.

  • MARIA JOSÉ ANDRADE

    TIERRA DEL VOLCÁN

VOLUNTEERS

  • NICOLE MELANCON

    Nicole is a freelance travel writer, content creator, and digital strategist at GLP Films with a passion for sustainable travel and storytelling that began after a life-changing trip to Nepal in 2010. The plight of the people she met compelled her to join a growing movement of dedicated journalists, content creators, and humanitarians striving to raise awareness, funds, and impact change fueled by the collective power of our online presence and voice. For the past 14 years, Nicole has worked with a variety of nonprofits and social impact organizations sharing their stories on her blog which focuses on sustainable, adventure travel and social good. She recently dove into freelance journalism and has been published in National Geographic, BBC, Toronto Star, and more.

  • GIO PALATUCCI

    Gio Palatucci is a seasoned creative marketing strategist with over a decade of experience shaping brand and social media strategy for travel, tourism, and hospitality organizations. During her tenure at Sparkloft Media, she built and led the agency’s Strategy Department, developing insight-driven creative approaches that helped destination marketing organizations and travel brands connect with global audiences. Gio led award-winning work for clients including Brand USA, South African Tourism, and the German National Tourist Office. Her early grounding in sense-of-place storytelling continues to guide her work today—bringing together data, narrative, and digital innovation to create meaningful, immersive brand experiences for travelers around the world.

Become a Volunteer

The ATCF is always looking for good people who share our passion for travel and conservation. Please fill our our Volunteer Opportunities Form if you're interested in joining our team. 

Alumni Board Members & Advisors

  • Josie Norris

    Conservation Alliance

  • Mandip Singh Soin

    Ibex Exeditions

  • Nicky Fitzgerald

    Angama Mara

  • Richard Edwards

    UnTours

  • Praveen Moman

    Volcanoes Safaris

  • Neil Rogers

    Rewilding Europe

  • Roger Spatz

    Eagle Creek

  • John Sterling

    Conservation Alliance

  • Luis Vargas

    Modern Adventures

  • Enrique Umbert

    Mountain Lodges of Peru

  • Charles Altekruse

  • Jonathan Burnham

    Good Pup Food Co.

  • Dr. Amy Brown

    Montana State Univ.