Dr. Theresa Williamson, is a biologist, urban planner and founding executive director of Catalytic Communities, an NGO supporting Rio de Janeiro's favela community organizers since 2000. CatComm produces RioOnWatch, an award-winning bilingual local-to-global favela news platform, and facilitates Rio's 1100-member strong Sustainable Favela Network and Favela Community Land Trust program. During the pandemic, CatComm developed the Covid-19 in Favelas Unified Dashboard. Theresa is an outspoken advocate for the recognition of favelas’ heritage status and human rights and has been cited in hundreds of publications and on television.