Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Sonja Baustista
The current Director and soul of Casa Sonja. She graduated from Santo Dominico and worked in a hotel group. She was promoted to train a team in San Jose Palacio, 22 years ago. Later, she opened a spa in Santa Teresa. Attending church in Cobano, she was moved by the needs of the children and mothers of the area. She relocated to Cobano to dedicate her resources to feeding over 100 children and single mothers in poverty. Strong and resilient, she dreamt of hosting the abused children in a loving and eco-friendly shelter, bringing them protection and hope. She now lives on site with the children and the mothers.
Canel Frichet
A successful tech entrepreneur with a passion for social impact. As Board President, she brought crucial seed funding ($350K) and land for Casa Sonja. With a background in impact investing and building companies, she guides the project’s strategic direction and fundraising efforts and continues to support the project financially until we reach a sustainable balance. She’s also the co-founder of impact companies (incl. La Ecovilla) via her Family office Capital on a Mission she founded along her spouse Sebastian Lombardo.
Marcelo Valansi
Argentinian by birth but Costarican by heart brings a wealth of experience to the Ecovillage project as a successful developer of sustainable communities. As Secretary, he oversees the masterplan of construction and building delivery, while navigating crucial relationships with local institutions.
Paula Coscolìn
Spanish former business analyst who moved to Costa Rica to run the financial team at La Ecovilla. She leads fiscal, legal, and financial reporting and compliance for the board and brings her enthusiasm to push forward the scaling and structuration of Casa Sonja. As treasurer she leads and coordinates everyting fiscal and legal.
Patrick Rey
Renowned French architect, brings the project a unique perspective to design, inspired by his background in automotive engineering. His projects, like the Marseille Aquarium Park and luxurious private residences, blend artistry with a deep appreciation for nature and the human experience.
Andrea Sequeira Masis
Fiscal Advisor. Certified CPA and MBA in Finance, she has lived in Santa Teresa for over 10 years. She currently works in hospitality and it´s passionate about working with people and supporting the local community. She has over 20 years of experience working on Shared Service centers in finance, planning and cost.
Amelia McLeod
Vocal at Casa Sonja. Amelia McLeod brings over a decade of experience in Costa Rica, blending business skills with a deep connection to the local community. She bridges the work of Tambor Cares—a volunteer group of Canadians and expats—with Casa Sonja’s mission to support vulnerable children and families through events, fundraising, and direct aid.
With a background in Canada’s mortgage industry, Amelia brings strong organizational and financial skills to her service. As a Board member, she is dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments and lasting opportunities for the children of Casa Sonja.
Mikell Lewis
Vocal, works on operations, especially marketing and fundraising. She is a passionate advocate for the Casa Sonja and brings a wealth of experience to the team. With a background in international business and marketing, she previously worked in tech startups and project management. Deeply inspired by the strength and resilience of the children and mothers at the shelter, she now dedicates her time to supporting their well-being. A lover of travel, nature, and yoga, Mikell has embraced the Santa Teresa lifestyle since 2020 and finds immense fulfillment in serving the community.
Adriana Bajarano Torres
Born and raised in Costa Rica helps with the operations and brings a tremendous knowledge of local community challenges to ground our project in the true reality of the local families without overlooking any difficulties that may occur. She’s a true asset for the board to make sure that we keep in mind all the details and local constraints.