BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
DR. DENI RAMIREZ MACIAS
Director of Whale Shark México, Dr. Dení Ramírez Macías is a marine scientist and conservationist dedicated to protecting the ocean. She pioneered whale shark research in the Gulf of California and co-founded a regional network to promote their conservation. Her work focuses on migratory patterns and international collaborations, including studies in Peru to connect populations and develop regional plans. In Mexico, her research has supported management programs and led to the creation of three protected areas. Featured by Nat Geo and international media, she believes knowledge is essential for conservation and that protecting whale sharks helps safeguard the ocean.
Alberto García Baciero (Beto)
Executive Director of Whale Shark México, Beto is a marine biologist from Madrid, Spain, whose passion for sharks began in childhood. Since graduating in 2014, he has worked on marine conservation projects in Costa Rica and Malaysia, focusing on sea turtle protection, photo-identification programs, and coral reef monitoring. In 2021, he moved to La Paz to pursue a master’s in marine resources management and began collaborating with Whale Shark México, returning to frontline conservation. Today, Beto fulfills his dream of protecting sharks, overseeing research projects, fieldwork, and the volunteer program. He is also an experienced SCUBA diver and divemaster.
Michelle Gaytán
Michelle is a Research Associate at Whale Shark Mexico, where she supports monitoring, conservation, and education programs to protect whale sharks and their habitat. Originally from San Luis Potosí, she moved to La Paz to study Marine Biology, where she first encountered the whale shark and instantly fell in love with this gentle giant. Her passion is to connect science with community engagement to ensure healthy oceans for future generations.
KATIA TORRES
Katia Torres