Atossa Soltani

Atossa Soltani is the founder and Board President of Amazon Watch and served as the organization's Executive Director for 18 years. Working in partnership with indigenous peoples in the Amazon basin, Atossa has been leading successful global campaigns for indigenous rights, corporate accountability, and rainforest protection. Soltani was named the 2013 Hillary Laureate for Leadership in Climate Equity by the New Zealand-based Sir Edmund Hillary Institute. She is the chair of the board of the Christensen Fund, board member of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, and on the advisory board of the Inter-American Clean Energy Institute. Prior to founding Amazon Watch, Atossa directed campaigns at the Rainforest Action Network. She began her career in the 1980's as the Conservation Director for the City of Santa Monica. A native of Iran, Atossa graduated from the University of Akron in Public Policy Management. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, English and Farsi.