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Team Members

Stephen Donofrio

Managing DirectorEcosystem Marketplace

Stephen Donofrio is Managing Director of Ecosystem Marketplace, the world’s first and only globally recognized and standardized Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) end-to-end transparency platform providing exclusive carbon trade pricing data, insights, and news. Over the past two decades, he’s held key roles at prominent environmental markets and climate action organizations, including Forest Trends, and the Chicago Climate Exchange, and CDP (formerly, Carbon Disclosure Project). He’s also served as a Consultant to the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and Educator with the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and Arizona State University. Working to shape the climate and sustainability landscape towards pragmatic and science-focused goals, he’s a creative strategist and experienced leader with a strong sustainability/ESG track record in building programs, products, and teams, developing partnerships, and capital raising through fundraising and sales. He is the author of dozens of publications, articles, and reports, and an active participant in specialist working groups.

Laura Weatherer

Senior AssociateSupply Change

Laura is an Associate with the Supply Change initiative. She was formerly an intern with World Resources Institute and has worked on a diverse range of environmental issues, including land tenure rights, climate equity, and sustainable agriculture. Laura holds a Master of Arts in International Environmental Policy from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of St Andrews.

Kate Brandaw Ellis

Budget & Project ManagerEcosystem Marketplace

Kate works as the Project and Budget Manager with the Ecosystem Marketplace initiative, overseeing financial management of the department, aiding new business development opportunities, and designing project work plans to achieve organizational goals. She previously worked as a Senior Associate and Research Assistant with the Supply Change initiative, investigating commodity based corporate commitments which reduce or eliminate deforestation. Prior to joining Forest Trends, she interned with the office of United States Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, assisting legislative staff on issues pertaining to the environment and public works. She also has experience researching corporate sustainability practices with Nike’s Innovation Department. Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Redlands.