About Protea
Weaving sustainability
We are a collaborative organization that brings together professionals and academics with multidisciplinary and cross-sector expertise to design and implement tailored strategies to guide your sustainability journey.
We foster sustainability across the creative, cultural, live entertainment, and tourism industries, as well as in projects committed to integrating environmental and social pillars at their core.
About the founder
PROTEA was founded by Camila López, a sustainability advocate who firmly believes in the power of storytelling, culture, and creative collaboration as catalysts for a socially just and environmentally safe present and future.
With over 10 years of experience in the sustainability sector, Camila has been at the forefront of introducing the vision and practices of sustainability, within and beyond the creative and cultural sectors, in Mexico, her home country.
Working at the intersection of creativity, culture and sustainability; Camila connects individual and collective activism with organisational and social change. As a travel enthusiast, Camila brings cultural diversity understanding and appreciation, as well as an open and global-mindedness, to the table.
Sustainability Manager for Waking Life festival in Portugal, and Partner Member to DEMO, a Mexican non-profit that serves as a bridge of opportunity, connectivity and impact for cultural and creative industries.
She holds a BA in Business Administration from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and an MPhil in Society, Environment, and Sustainability from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Additionally, her professional development includes specialised training in Sustainable Production, Sustainable Finance, and courses on Circular Culture and Climate Resilience within the Cultural and Creative industries.
PROTEA, our story
It was in Cape Town, where Camila came across the proteas, the iconic flowers of South Africa. Living in the so-called Mother City was a transformative experience that reconnected her deeply with nature and made her even more sensitive to humanity and its many current challenges.
PROTEA as the collaborative organization name, is a way to conceptualise and honour the importance of weaving networks and communities for a successful transition to sustainability.
Symbolism of the Protea flower
Diversity and resilience
Proteas are among the most ancient and diverse flowering plant genera on Earth, with over 1,000 species and a lineage stretching back million years. They are believed to have coexisted with dinosaurs for at least 20 million years. With root systems adapted to thrive in diverse soils and withstand drought, proteas are built for survival. After forest fires, their seeds often endure and are among the first to bloom again; symbols of resilience and renewal in the natural world.
Ecological significance
Beyond their beauty, proteas are vital to the ecosystems they inhabit. They support biodiversity by providing food for a wide array of insects, birds, and mammals. In doing so, they help maintain ecological balance and contribute to the health and vitality of their natural environments.
Sacred geometry
The geometrical pattern of the Protea seed reflects forms commonly found throughout nature, a symbol of balance, harmony, and the deep interconnectedness of all life. This sacred geometry speaks to the profound order underlying natural systems and the unity that binds all living beings.
Our allies
