Mauricio de la Maza Benignos (MBA, 1997) tells of his multi-disciplinary international studies and career path which has enabled him to combine all his interests and skills.

"From ostrich farming to environmentalist to filmmaker. I always regarded myself as a combination of an artist, an activist, a scientist, and an entrepreneur which is why, after I obtained my first college degree in agricultural engineering, agronomy and animal science from the Monterrey Tech in Mexico, I felt the need to pursue an International MBA at Lancaster (1997) that would allow me to acquire the necessary international experience and tools to pursue a fruitful multi-disciplinary international career related to what I love most - nature.

In short, after my MBA at Lancaster, with an exchange programme with Emlyon business school in France, where I specialised in Strategic Planning and Marketing, I studied a PhD (summa cum laude) in biological sciences and sustainable development from the UANL and a law degree with honorable mention of excellence at TecMilenio, Mexico. Currently, I am studying a Master's Degree in Cinematographic Art and Multimedia at Ilumina, Mexico.

At the beginning of my career, just after my MBA, I started up a produce company lasting for six years, “AgroLinks de Mexico” which mainly produced papaya, watermelon and tomatoes for export to the US and Canada.

On the conservation side, I was CEO of Pronatura Noreste, a conservation NGO, from 2011 to 2021, and before that, Director of the Binational (U.S. and Mexico) Chihuahuan Desert Program for the WWF for six years.

In 2014 I received the Dr. Jose Alvarez del Villar award from the Mexican Ichthyological Society and a year later I was awarded the UANL research prize for the best research document in the area of the Natural Sciences. From 2015 to 2020 I was also the first environmental member and Alternate President of the Rio Bravo Basin Council.

I am a member of the National System of Researchers (SNI1) and in 2020 I received the Conservation Award from the Arizona Game and Fish, for my professional career in favour of wetlands and wildlife in the transboundary region between the Mexico and the United States. That same year I produced, filmed and directed the feature documentary film ' Ad memoriam rei perpetuam', which was officially selected for exhibition at the International Film Festival, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (WCFF) in 2021.

In addition, I have published scientific papers in various international journals related to zoology, edited books in various academic fields, developed legal analysis and policy work on freshwater, the natural environment and sustainable development, and produced, directed and assisted in filming a significant number of short films, including one with BBC Nature, and an award-winning feature nature documentary film. Currently I own and direct "De la Maza Consulting and Films."