Xiomara Ortiz, born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia, is a civil engineer with a minor in environmental and sanitation engineering. She has a diverse range of work experience in Bolivia. She graduated from Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, where she completed an undergraduate project on software development for normal concrete design based on three standards. Since 2018, Xiomara has gained valuable experience in water and sanitation projects through her work with Engineers In Action (EIA) and partnerships such as Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapters from U.S. universities. Her roles as an intern and project manager at EIA exposed her to the importance of stakeholder inclusion, pre-feasibility methods, and understanding rural communities' behaviors. One of Xiomara's most influential experiences was working alongside engineers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), including Dr. Witmer. This collaboration deepened her understanding of contextual engineering and the significant impact it has on the success of projects. It also sparked her interest in concepts like "place-based knowledge”. Currently, Xiomara is pursuing a Master's degree in Agricultural and Biological Engineering at UIUC. Her research focuses on designing a water storage system for livestock use in Bodaway Gap, a chapter in the Navajo Nation, where she emphasizes the importance of contextual engineering studies. As a delegate of the Bolivian team in the Global FEW initiative, Xiomara had the privilege of participating in the inaugural summit held at UIUC in October 2022. She describes this experience as enriching and motivating, reinforcing her commitment to working in the field of climate change. She is dedicated to applying engineering solutions to support communities in need, prioritizing the voices and concerns of the local population to ensure their active involvement and benefit from the projects.