Mara Mendes
Manager, VCS Program Methodologies, Technological and Industrial Solutions
As Manager, VCS Program Methodologies, Technological & Industrial Solutions, Mara supports developing new and reviewing existing methodologies. In this role, she aims to ensure that VCS methodologies are innovative and have high impact and integrity.
Mara comes to Verra with 20 years of experience in climate action, covering research, project development, monitoring, validation, reporting, technology assessment, capacity building, and policy recommendation.
Prior to joining Verra, Mara was the climate coordinator of the external monitoring team of the EU LIFE fund. Previously, she worked at the climate finance team of Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities developing CDM projects in Latin America, and later, at a validation/verification body, LRQA. She was also an external advisor for the UNFCCC Secretariat.
She has experience with energy, biomass, energy efficiency, waste management, and manufacturing industries.
Mara holds a Ph.D. in urban environmental engineering from the University of Tokyo. Mara is Brazilian and is based in Belgium. Outside of her professional life, she has a keen interest in natural solutions for health and wellbeing and in exploring new places through hiking and travel.