WAVES Peru

Click above to meet the team members based in Lobitos, Peru.

WAVES Switzerland

Click above to meet the team members in and around Montreux, Switzerland <coming soon>.

WAVES International Board of Directors | Staff | Volunteers 

David Aabo – Oregon, USA – Executive Director WAVES International | Board Trustee

dave at wavesfordevelopment dot org  

David, a founder of WAVES for Development, has been providing his energy to making WAVES a reality since 2005. His love for adventure, curiosity of new cultures, and commitment to changing the world through social enterprises are contagious.

Since 2000 David Aabo has lived and worked in Africa, South America and the United States. He has spent more than four years in Peru developing small business and conservation initiatives that incorporate tourism in rural communities located in the mountains, coast and jungle of Peru. As a Peace Corps volunteer and coordinator, David researched, wrote and presented feasibility plans for “coffee tourism” and “adventure conservation” adventure service tourism initiatives. David worked with ProNaturaleza, the Peruvian Foundation for the Conservation of Nature, to support the development of community-based voluntourism programs in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, located in the Peruvian jungle.

David earned his Masters of Science in Organizational Management from the School for International Training, 2006. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado State University, 2000.

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Sylvain Gaeng – Montreux, Vaud, Switzerland – President, WAVES Switzerland | Board Trustee WAVES International

sylvain at wavesfordevelopment dot org

Though there are no waves for surfing in Switzerland, Sylvain lives by his soul surfing philosophy: “A sound mind in a sound body.”

After traveling in 43 countries and meeting thousands of people, Sylvain came to an important conclusion: helping others can give his life meaning. Sylvain calculates that if he can help even just 10 people improve their lives, the positive effects will touch thousands of people in centuries to come and make the world a better place.

Sylvain has an extensive background in Finance and Marketing in both international and local companies. He is currently the President of WAVES for Development Switzerland and splits his time between Peru and Switzerland.

Sylvain holds a BA in Economics from the University of Applied Sciences of Lausanne, Switzerland. He is fluent in French, Spanish and English.

Daniela Amico – Lima, Perú – founder WAVES Peru |Board Trustee WAVES International

dani at wavesfordevelopment dot org

Born in Lima but raised in Madrid, Dani has always been attracted to the ocean. After having lived over 500 km away from the ocean for 11 years, moving back to Lima finally allowed Dani to realized one of her childhood dreams: learning how to surf. Now able to practice the sport on a constant basis, surfing is one of her biggest passions.

Having studied Social Anthropology and Development Studies in the University of Sussex, UK, Dani returned to her homeland in the hope of putting in practice what she learned during her studies, while getting to know the Peruvian reality, continuing to learn and experiencing new challenges. For two years she worked for a Peruvian environmental conservation NGO, shaping socially and environmentally sustainable projects, assisting technically in others, and contributing to the organization’s fundraising efforts. She has also worked for a Peruvian non-profit organization that promotes social responsibility and corporative volunteering among large and small businesses in Peru. Dani currently works in strategic development for a public relations firm in Lima.

WAVES for Development combines perfectly Dani’s passion of the sport with her will to help others fend for a better future. She is co-founder and legal representative of WAVES for Development Peru, coordinating and establishing new alliances and relationships with other local organizations.

Ana Blanco – San Francisco, CA – Executive Director, San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival | Board Trustee, WAVES International

Ana Blanco joined the SFIOFF in 2011 for the 8th Annual San Francisco Ocean Film Festival.  Ana brings more than 12 years of extensive experience in executive non-profit management and event planning, with various organizations in the Bay Area. Her perspective is based on a variety of roles; volunteer, board member, staff member and donor.

Prior to joining SFIOFF, Ana served as the V. P. Development Director with The BizWorld Foundation, an educational entrepreneurship curriculum for young students and prior to that she served as the Donor Relations officer for the San Francisco Foundation.

Her passion for the ocean began when she moved to Peru at the age of 11, to meet her large, extended family of her fathers and was introduced to the Pacific Ocean. Ana spent her high school years in Lima, continues to go back annually, and considers Peru as her home. Her passion for the ocean is exemplified in her commitment to the The Bluewater Foundation, a completely volunteer driven non-profit organization founded in 1992, dedicated to introducing at-risk youth to the joys and challenges of sailing on the San Francisco Bay. In 2015 she joined the board of WAVES International.

Ana received her BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has been a resident in the Bay Area since 1987 spending her free time sailing, standup paddle boarding and learning to surf.

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Steve Larosiliere

Steve Larosiliere is the President of STOKED, an award winning youth development program voted to the NY 100 (100 most innovative businesses in NY). Steve has been named Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the National Black MBA, Honored as a Hometown Hero, and given a Community Impact Award. His work has appeared in the New Yorker Magazine, ESPN, Huffington Post, Nylon Magazine, Fuel TV, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, and Transworld Business.

Steve speaks worldwide on the subject of youth empowerment, social entrepreneurship, and closing the opportunity gap, and action sports at places such as Do Lectures, Creative Mornings, Nike, Bloomberg, The United Nations, and various universities. Prior to STOKED, Steve began his career with an independent marketing firm that he cofounded working with clients such as Sony Music, Reader’s Digest, and Rock the Vote.

WAVES International Staff