Get to Know Us: Q&A with Victor Quiroga

Read on for more with Victor!

You’re a recent addition to our growing staff at Seattle Parks Foundation! What brought you to the region and initially drew you to the organization?
I always like to say that I came to the U.S. for love. We were in the middle of the pandemic, and Chile was under a very strict lockdown. Because of that, the job market was extremely slow, and my partner (now my wife) told me she was planning to apply for jobs in the United States. I thought to myself, “That will never work!” I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I still remember the day she called to tell me that she had gotten a job near Seattle and asked if I wanted to join her on this crazy adventure. Back then, I didn’t know much about the Emerald City—just the origin of its name and that it was the setting of Grey’s Anatomy.

She moved first, and I followed her three months later, initially with the idea of eventually living in Canada. In the end, we got married, and I was able to stay in the U.S. and start my professional journey a year later.

My entire professional experience in Chile had been focused on projects, natural areas, and community engagement. When I saw this position open and read about the values and vision of the Seattle Parks Foundation, I fell in love with what you do—supporting communities to achieve their goals and encouraging greater participation and inclusion across society. I applied, hoped for the best, and here I am.

As a Program Coordinator on our Partner team, the support you provide to partners starts with building and maintaining relationships with them. Between your time in your previous roles and this position, it’s safe to say that you possess the interpersonal skills needed to lead and support our partners. How have your previous experiences prepared you for the work you do today?
In the end, much of my previous experiences, as a Director in an educational institute, my role as Assistant Manager overseeing the operations and development of tourism projects in national parks and outdoor areas, as well as my early experience as a guide and instructor for the Leave No Trace program with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)—helped me develop the skills I use today.

Of course, I still have a lot to learn and to better understand how things work in the U.S., but ultimately, there are many similarities between all my previous jobs and my role now in Seattle Parks Foundation as I’ve had to combine strong project management and customer service skills. Those two aspects of my professional development are the ones that I like the most.

Time has flown by since you joined the team this past summer! Can you share some highlights from the last few months and your favorite aspects of the job so far?
I have many favorites, but if I had to choose a few, I’d say that I truly love the projects our partners are working on. It’s an honor to be even a small part of their development and success. And I absolutely love our team—you’re all so friendly, kind, and dedicated to giving your best. That makes the office environment a very special place, where you can express yourself freely, knowing your ideas will be heard.

I also really value the flexibility and the trust that our supervisors place in us. Having a toddler isn’t always easy to balance with work, and it’s been such a lifesaver to know that SPF is genuinely family-friendly—not just in words, but in practice.

Another thing I love is how much I’m learning. Each project and grant has so many details and nuances that it feels like I’m discovering something new almost every day. It’s challenging, but that’s exactly what I enjoy most about my job.

Seattle Parks Foundation’s work and mission is—and has always been— rooted in community. All our partners lead projects related to our priorities: equity, health, climate, and community. In many ways, the practice of ecotourism aligns with our priorities as well as the focus of most partner projects, particularly those related to restoration and conservation, climate resilience, and nature-based education. What can we learn from ecotourism when it comes to the ways we treat our parks and public spaces?
I would say there’s a lot we can learn from ecotourism. In general terms, ecotourism is about practicing outdoor activities in natural areas in a sustainable way—considering the environmental, social, and economic impacts of any project you develop. In that sense, true ecotourism naturally aligns with many of the priorities of the Seattle Parks Foundation.

I’ve always seen ecotourism as a way of bringing value to a community, a place, or a culture—sometimes even to something very specific that holds local meaning—and through that value, generating prosperity in many dimensions.

From an ecotourism perspective, if you want to develop a park or natural area and improve it in its different layers, the first step would be to talk with the community, listen to their concerns, understand their relationship with the park, and learn how they envision the space for themselves. From there, you begin building a project that gives the park renewed value—something that makes sense not only to the community but also to the city and potential investors, highlighting why it’s important to improve the space. You’d also think about sustainability in practical terms, such as using eco-friendly materials for any new infrastructure.

In the end, even though different sectors use different labels for their sustainability efforts, the ultimate goal is the same: to create positive impacts that benefit everyone—including the non-human life that shares our spaces.

Since moving to the area, how have you been spending your time outside? Also, what are your recommendations for those who want to explore the Chilean outdoors?
I’d say the Olympic National Park is one of my favorite places. We’ve done some short hikes—because with a toddler, you can’t go too far—but the beaches near Forks were truly remarkable. It feels like you were in a different world or in ancient times.

In Chile, I always recommend Conguillío National Park and the Sierra Nevada hike. The views there are absolutely world-class. And of course, Patagonia—I can’t say enough about Patagonia. It’s a place everyone should visit at least once in their life. Being there helps you realize that life has its own rhythm, one that’s very different from our modern cities. In Patagonia, you have the chance to slow down and reconnect with that natural pace. Chile is a world class destination for adventures. It is not easy to choose a place. Another magical place is of course the desert around San Pedro de Atacama. You will never have enough time to do all the things that you can do there.

Shifting gears a bit— can you share something personal about yourself, such as a hobby, an interesting fact, or one of your favorite activities?
A long time ago, I tried to become a Salsa dance teacher because I love to dance—and I love Salsa (like so many Latinos do!). For many years, I also practiced meditation in a very dedicated and professional way, which eventually led me to publish a book called The Transcendent Journey, exploring the spiritual perspectives of life. This year, I’m planning to publish a poetry book as well.

I love learning languages, so I’ve studied Latin, Greek, Italian, German (for 12 years!!), Catalan (because I am fan of Barcelona Soccer team), and French (because I just love how it sounds!). Unfortunately, since I haven’t practiced them much, I can’t really say I speak them fluently.

I’m also an avid reader and a big fan of The Lord of the Rings—those books are true masterpieces. I love traveling too, although I haven’t been able to do much of it lately. That’s because my life was joyfully taken over two years ago by a very tiny person I’m completely in love with—my child, Mila.

Hopefully, we’ll be able to start traveling again soon, as my wife and I both love discovering new places and meeting new people. Some of the most incredible places I’ve been to include the Pyramids of Egypt, the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, several capitals in Europe, Machu Picchu in Peru, Kho Phi Phi Beach in Thailand, and of course, Patagonia in Chile.

Thank you, Victor, for sharing more about yourself with us!