Giuliana Furci is foundress and Founding Director of the Fungi Foundation. She is a Harvard University associate, National Geographic Explorer, Dame of the Order of the Star of Italy, deputy chair of the IUCN Fungal Conservation Committee, and author of several titles including a series of field guides to Chilean fungi and co-author of titles such as the 1st State of the World's Fungi (Kew, 2018) and the publication delimiting the term “funga” and the 3F Proposal - Fauna, Flora & Funga. Giuliana has held consulting positions in U.S. philanthropic foundations as well as full-time positions in international and Chilean marine conservation non-profits. She sits on the Board of Fundación Acción Fauna, and on the Advisory Board of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), and other organizations. Giuliana has received several distinctions including the 2022 Buffett/National Geographic Leadership in Conservation in Latin America Award, 2022 Gordon and Tina Wasson Award from the Mycological Society of America, and the 2013 Presidents Award from the International Society for Fungal Conservation.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

HIGHLIGHTED APPOINTMENTS

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

2025 Library of the National Congress of the Republic of Chile, Periodic Table of Women Scientists

2024 Fellow, International Mycology Association

2022 National Geographic Society/Buffet Leadership in Conservation Award

2022 McKenna Academy Biodiversity Steward Award

2022 Gordon & Tina Wasson Award, Mycological Society of America

2021 Chilena Sustentable del Año, Premios Chilenos del Año - Natida

2018 Salzman Award, Telluride Mushroom Festival

2015 Dame, Order of the Star of Italy

2013 President’s Award for outstanding contribution to fungal conservation, International Society for Fungal Conservation

HIGHLIGHTED PRESS

HIGHLIGHTED APPOINTMENTS

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

TIME: No, You Shouldn't Be Afraid of Fungi

02/19/2023

The Oxford Scientist: Fungi: the worldwide web beneath our feet

01/30/2023

MOFAD: Fruiting Bodies: The Interconnectedness of Fungi

11/21/2022

Popular Science: Let’s talk about the “F” word

10/14/2022

NYT: Why Fungi Might Really Be Magic (When It Comes to Climate Change)

07/28/2022

BBC 4: Fungi - The New Frontier 01/17/2022

The Guardian - Opinion: The earth’s secret miracle worker is not a plant or an animal: it’s fungi 11/11/2021

The Atlantic - ‘Flora and Fauna’ Is So Outdated 08/15/2021

BBC Travel - The Chilean mycologist celebrating fungi’s “hidden kingdom” 08/12/2021

The Tim Ferriss Show - 07/29/2021

Science - Include all fungi in biodiversity goals 07/23/2021

HIGHLIGHTED APPOINTMENTS

HIGHLIGHTED APPOINTMENTS

HIGHLIGHTED APPOINTMENTS

2024-current Los Cedros Fund, Vice Chair of the Board

2024-current Associate Researcher at the National Institute of Biodiversity, Ecuador

2022-current National Geographic Explorer

2021-current Advisory Board, Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)

2020-current Co-Chair Fungal Conservation Committee SSC, IUCN

2020-current Fundación Acción Fauna, Treasurer

2020-current Board Member, Fundación Acción Fauna, Chile

2020-current Scientific Advisory Board, MycoMedica Life Sciences

2018-2020 Board Member, Fundación Tierra Austral, Chile

2017-current Fundación Cientíifica Fungi, Chair

2016-current Consultant, Chile Oceans Initiative - The Walton Family Foundation

2015-current Harvard University Associate

2013-current Member, Mushrooms, Brackets & Puffballs Species Survival Committee, IUCN

2012-current Executive Director, Fungi Foundation & Fundación Fungi

2010-2012 Researcher, Oceana Chile

2005-2010 Steering Committee Member, WWF Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue, U.S.A.

2005-2010 Coordinator, Salmon-Farming Program, Fundación Terram

2003-2005 Manager, Fungi Australe Inc. – Reishi cultivation facility in Chile