about ximena

Ximena Diaz Lopez (she/her) is a first-generation Mexican settler born in Mexico City from mixed and largely unknown ancestry. She grew up and currently lives on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Peoples.

As the Development Manager for Sacred Earth, Ximena advances donor stewardship. Her vision is to support Indigenous sovereignty, climate action and a just transition through relationship building that enables meaningful partnerships and access to resources.

Ximena's educational background is in community planning and business. She is pursuing her Masters in Indigenous Community Planning from the School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP) at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Her studies and community practicum work are transforming her worldview towards decolonial ways that prioritize relationality and healing. Ximena also holds a Bachelors in Commerce specializing in marketing from Sauder School of Business at UBC.

Her career began by supporting outdoor recreation in British Columbia. She researched sustainable funding models for trails and the impacts of outdoor recreation in rural BC communities. Most recently, she set up the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC—a $10 million endowment fund which provides annual grants for outdoor recreation projects—for the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. The establishment of the fund and advocacy for its creation was based on Ximena's research and recommendations. Ximena managed the first grant intake, awarding grants to 30 community-based groups.

Ximena is passionate about building good futures for communities that are centered on people and their well-being. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, swimming, cycling, and running, and listening to or reading stories.