Andressa is a development professional with over 15 years of experience in country-level and regional-level management, coordination, and monitoring of development investments in natural resources, environment, public health, education, and social development. She has worked in different capacities in development organizations including ADB, FAO, and UNEP-ROAP.

Andressa has a master's degree in international development from Brandeis University, Massachusetts, USA and a bachelor's degree in fisheries management from University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Iloilo, Philippines. Her long-term goal is to contribute to improving lives of those experiencing poverty through working in research in development.