Lely is a forester by training with specializations in sustainable forest management, silviculture, and invasive species. Prior to joining ELTI, she worked for Blue Forests Foundation managing mangrove projects in West Kalimantan. She is a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) lead auditor and has been involved in an array of forest management audits in the Asia Pacific region including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, and Papua New Guinea. She has also served as a Quality Panel member for the High Conservation Value (HCV) Network in reviewing HCV assessment reports for palm oil and forestry plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia. Lely holds a B.A. in forestry from Gadjah Mada University and a M.Sc. in forestry from Northern Arizona University.