Design for Environmental Conservation A Toolkit that Enables Sustainable, Participatory and Distributed Innovation

Gabriela Nuri Baron is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Auckland, specialising in participatory methodologies for sustainability, conservation, and social innovation. With over 18 years of experience across design, research, and consultancy, she is known for her strategic and collaborative approach. Her work bridges people and the environment, often in partnership with Indigenous and local communities, and is grounded in a decolonial and place-based perspective. Gabriela has studied and worked across continents, holding a degree in Industrial Design (Argentina), a Master’s from Politécnico di Milano, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering. She is also a mother of two and a DiveMaster, deeply connected to the ocean and nature. Her Design for Conservation methodology has won multiple international awards.