About Michelle's Work
I'm a remote sensing scientist and geospatial data analyst with over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of land-use change, environmental sustainability, and Earth observation. Throughout my career, I’ve collaborated with leading research institutions, NGOs, and international organizations such as INPE, UCLouvain, WeForest, FAO, and IFAD contributing to projects across Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
My work focuses on mapping and monitoring land-use and land-cover dynamics using satellite image time series (optical and SAR), statistical modelling, and machine learning. I specialize in translating large-scale remote sensing data into actionable insights for deforestation monitoring, forest restoration, smallholder agriculture, and greenhouse gas emissions reporting.
More recently, my role has expanded to integrating geospatial data and analysis into country strategies, project design, and implementation, with a strong focus on geospatial data management for Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E).
I’m passionate about building open, reproducible methodologies and have contributed to initiatives like Brazil Data Cube and the ERC MIDLAND project. I enjoy mentoring, teaching, and fostering collaboration across disciplines and institutions to address complex environmental challenges.
Currently, I’m based in Rome, working with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), where I develop and strengthen geospatial frameworks, support institutional decision-making, and promote the strategic use of Earth observation data across projects and programs.