Meet the Orgcas

We are a multidisciplinary collective of women bringing diverse perspectives and skill-sets to creating empathic and practical solutions for marine ecosystems alongside local communities.

Fernanda Gómez

General Director
Known as Porfiria, she grew up surrounded by the natural wealth of her country and following her father’s heritage in conservation. She studied Art and Design in London, followed by a bachelor's degree in Photography, it was then in 2018 that the connection between art and nature was made to her and so her formal jump-start in conservation began. Since then, she’s worked in Beta Diversidad, Mexican conservation NGO, while spending her time on the field she realized the need and opportunity to work for conservation with communities through communication and science and so she set forth Orgcas.
Frida Lara

Science Coordinator
She was born in Xalapa, Veracruz. Since she was little, she remembers being in the sea, she studied Marine Biology in Yucatan and then a Master's degree in London. She always enjoyed traveling, getting to know new cultures and her career has been a way of doing it.
Specialized in shark migration and connectivity. She currently leads the scientific area of Orgcas, she is the acoustic data manager of Migramar. Diving instructor and certified guide
Frida Sánchez

Environmental Education Coordinator
Frida is a biologist from Mexico City with a master’s in marine biodiversity from the Erasmus Mundus IMBRSea program. Her academic and field experience includes diving and coral reef monitoring, driven by her lifelong curiosity for the natural world and a desire to reconnect people with marine ecosystems.
At ORGCAS, she leads the environmental education program, developing materials and facilitating participatory learning processes. Her work centers on collective action and rebuilding the human-nature relationship through exploration, education, and meaningful experiences in marine environments.
Vianney Barajas

Management Assistance
Ney is a marine biologist and PhD student at CICIMAR-IPN, where she researches the genetic diversity of the Laysan albatross. Her scientific path began with shark ecology studies along the coast of Jalisco, but her true passion lies in seabirds. Originally from Tepatitlán, she now considers La Paz her personal and professional home.
At ORGCAS, she supports marine conservation project management as Assistant to the Director. Beyond her research, she’s a science illustrator, communicator, and advocate for citizen science and environmental education. She is committed to community-centered science and collaborative conservation efforts.
Gaby Coronel

Administration
Gabriela is a public accountant with a master’s in strategic management and over 15 years of experience supporting social and environmental initiatives in Baja California Sur. Though her career began in finance, she found her purpose in community-based work, bridging technical knowledge with human needs to promote sustainable solutions.
She is currently pursuing a PhD in Sustainable Development and Globalization, focused on evaluating social impact in rural communities. At ORGCAS, she applies her knowledge of nonprofit management and territorial understanding with a strong emphasis on equity, inclusion, and long-term sustainability.
Maru Brito

Videography and Drone
She was born on November 20, 1988, in Mexico City. Professional cinematographer who has contributed Disney+, BBC, and more. In 2016 he took his first open water diving course. Fascinated by the sea where she discovered her passion. She took all the recreational and technical diving courses and later became a diving instructor. In 2018 she bought his first camera. He found his home in La Paz, Baja California Sur.

About Our Name

Our name is inspired by orcas and their matrilineal culture. These marine mammals are extremely social animals that live in tight-knit units called pods, which are headed by the oldest female. Biologists are learning that orcas have complex rituals, traditions and even social norms that are passed down by mothers and grandmothers. Like orcas, our organization’s dynamics are strongly influenced by female kinship.