Maria Fernandez-Garcia

As Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Maria develops and supervises programs that empower people across the region through access to trusted and quality information. These programs include investigative and community journalism, work to protect a free and open internet, and support to increase access to information, especially among at-risk communities. Maria’s portfolio covers the entire region from Mexico and Central America to the Caribbean, the Andes and Brazil.

Prior to joining Internews in 2017, Maria was Program Director and Advisor on Strategy and Innovation at the International Republican Institute (IRI) where, since 2011, she managed programs focused on digital democracy and human rights in LAC. Previously, Maria worked in the Office of the Political Counsel for LAC at the Spanish Embassy in Washington, DC. From 2006 to 2009 and while living in China, Maria specialized in international media and digital communications while working for several media agencies. Prior to that, she worked for the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai on areas of communications and policy. She received her law degree from the Universidad de Oviedo (Spain) and a Masters in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.