Karena is the Managing Director of Sandstone Strategies, where she spearheads the firm’s initiatives in organizational design, strategy, and management with a focus on conservation, climate change, and sustainable development in the Caribbean. She provides expert guidance to a broad range of clients, including public, private, philanthropic, and non-profit organizations, aiming to mobilize and deploy funding in service of their missions. Her experience includes organizational and program assessments, the design and facilitation of strategic planning processes, and assistance in fund and program design and incubation, all gained through a career in management consulting with an international firm.

Her previous experience includes engagements that have delivered strategic guidance to entities such as The Community Land Rights, Conservation and Climate Finance Initiative, the Ford Foundation, Wellspring Philanthropies, The Christensen Fund, the  International Land and Forest Tenure Facility, The Nature Conservancy and various key stakeholders in Belize including the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, and Belize’s Ministry of Economic Development. Karena holds a Master’s in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Environment. She continues to apply her deep local knowledge and international experience from her base in Punta Gorda, Belize, ensuring that Sandstone provides impactful, culturally coherent strategies tailored to meet the needs of clients focused on environmental and community resilience.

Sheila brings a strong foundation in project management, conservation, and humanitarian assistance, with experience spanning NGO, government, and private sectors. At Sandstone, she supports multi-sectoral consulting projects for civil society, Indigenous-led organizations, and conservation entities across Belize. Sheila leads the drafting of technical documents including business plans, human resource policies, and anti-corruption frameworks, while facilitating stakeholder consultations and capacity building workshops. She combines rigorous research with local insights to deliver actionable recommendations aligned with national legislation and donor standards. Sheila holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Belize and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Project Management at Universidad Católica de Murcia.