AGC Appoints Maria Cristina Mosende as Country Manager for the Philippines

The  Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) has appointed Maria Cristina Mosende as its new Country Manager for the Philippines. She succeeds Abigail Ocate, who has played a key role in advancing AGC’s work on responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the country.

In her role as Country Manager, she will oversee the implementation and management of the NAP ASGM Philippines Project (Development of a National Action Plan on the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector in the Philippines) which will run until 2027. She will work closely with government partners, mining communities, and stakeholders to support the development of a coordinated, evidence-based framework for the ASGM sector.

Ms. Mosende is a licensed social worker, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expert, and development manager with more than 20 years of multi-country experience across Asia and the Pacific. Her professional background spans program and grants management, results-based monitoring, risk assurance, and civil society and government engagement, with contributions to initiatives in public health, governance, climate change adaptation, environmental protection, and community development.

She holds a Master’s degree in Development Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of the Philippines. Ms. Mosende brings a strong commitment to inclusive, evidence-driven development, community engagement, and strengthening sustainable systems that empower communities and advance environmental justice.

AGC, founded in 2008, is an international non-profit organization working to improve the environmental, social, and economic conditions of artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities. AGC has implemented projects and provided technical support in more than 35 countries, partnering with governments, mining communities, civil society, and development institutions to advance responsible mining, support formalization, and promote mercury-free gold production. Through evidence-based solutions and community-centered approaches, AGC helps protect livelihoods, public health, and the environment.

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