All Speakers

Neil COUSINS

Founder

Bluedot

I am the founder and Director of Bluedot. He is an international marine biodiversity advisor with 27+ years' international experience. I have been resident as a working marine scientist in the UK,…

Nanette KUICH

Research Scientist

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

EducationStony Brook University - Bachelor of Arts, 1975Major: Earth and Space SciencesNew York State Regents ScholarshipUniversity of Texas, Dallas - Graduate Studies, 1977-80Major: Biogeochemistry…

Jeffery STALLMAN

Fungus Conservation Coordinator

Global Center for Species Survival; Indianapolis Zoological Society

Jeff is the Fungal Conservation Coordinator at the Global Center for Species Survival at the Indianapolis Zoo. In his role, he works closely with the Fungal Conservation Committee and nine specialist…

Michelle ANAGNOSTOU

Banting Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Oxford

Michelle Anagnostou is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford researching how to better leverage anti-money laundering interventions to tackle illegal wildlife trade. Collaborating…

Willow MCGRATH

Student

Center for Global Education

I’ve represented Canadian youth on matters of environmental education, human rights and the SDGs at; the National Forum for Environmental Learning, the AP Nature Ed conference, the CCUNESCO…

Doug WEIR

Director

Conflict and Environment Observatory

Doug has undertaken research and advocacy on the polluting legacy of armed conflicts and military activities since 2005. After working on conflict pollution and the toxic remnants of war for many…

Laura SONTER

Technical Director - Science & Policy

The Biodiversity Consultancy

Dr Laura Sonter is Technical Director for Science and Policy at The Biodiversity Consultancy and an Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of Queensland. With over 15 years’ experience at the…

Alain FRECHETTE

Director - Rights, Climate & Conservation

Rights and Resources Initiative

Alain Frechette, PhD, is Director of Rights, Climate, and Conservation and Strategic Analysis at RRI. He’s worked for nearly three decades in areas related to natural resource management,…

Carlos Mauricio HERRERA

Director de Conservación y Gobernanza

WWF Colombia

Ecólogo profesional y Magister en manejo y conservación de bosques tropicales y biodiversidad con sólidos conocimientos en biología y ecología de la conservación, así como en dinámicas ecosistémicas…

Laura Alejandra PARRA

Biodiversity officer

CNTI

With a solid track record in defending the territorial and environmental rights of Indigenous Peoples, I lead initiatives and projects that promote their active participation in biodiversity and…

Elise HUFFER

Cultural Consultant

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025

Regional Vice Chair, OceaniaElise’s interests and work are in the areas of culture, conservation and development and the relationships between them in Oceania. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor…

Samuel IVANDE

Conservation Coordinator

Indianapolis Zoo Global Center for Species Survival

Sam Ivande is a Conservation Biologist whose work integrates field research, citizen science, capacity building, and scientific writing to advance biodiversity conservation, with birds as focal…

Abil Castañeda

Executive Director

Protected Areas Conservation Trust

Mr. Abil Castañeda is the Executive Director at the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), Belize’s national conservation trust. He is responsible for steering the Trust’s strategic direction,…

Michelle BENDER

Legal Counsel and Head of Ocean Rights

Ocean Vision Legal

Michelle is the creator and leading expert in the movement towards "Ocean Rights," the application of Rights of Nature in the ocean policy seascape. She has provided her expertise to Rights of Nature…

Kevin VEGA

Ecologist

Second Nature Ecology + Design

Kevin is an urban ecologist who has spent nearly a decade researching the importance of small green spaces for biodiversity in the city of Zurich, Switzerland after crossing the ocean from New York.…

Jennifer OLEGERIIL

Minister for Justice

Ministry of Justice

Jennifer S. OlegeriilMinister of JusticeMinistry of JusticeRepublic of PalauBiographyJennifer S. Olegeriil was sworn into office to hold the post of Minister of Justice on 19 May 2025under the…

Amy COLES

Media and Communications Officer

IUCN

Chansol KO

Programme Officer

GCIDA

Fehmi SANAA

Business Development Manager

CLS

Dynamic business development and sales leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth across the telecommunications, public safety, and environmental technology sectors. Skilled in forging…

Andrew WETZLER

Senior Vice President, Nature Program

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

As senior vice president of NRDC's Nature Program, Andrew Wetzler oversees NRDC's oceans, lands, and food and agriculture teams, and is responsible for providing thought leadership, shaping strategy…

Iain STEWART

Director, Membership and Commission Support Unit

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Iain Stewart joined IUCN in 2022 and is the Director of Membership, Commissions and Communications. This role sees Iain working closely with IUCN Commissions, Members and Secretariat to develop and…

Juha SIIKAMAKI

Chief Economist

IUCN Secretariat

Juha Siikamäki is Chief Economist and Director of Economy and Finance Team of International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN). He has more than 20 years of experience working on the economics…

Tunga RAI

Director of the Climate Change Program

Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN)

Tunga Bhadra RaiTunga Bhadra Rai is an Indigenous researcher and anthropologist from Nepal, belonging to the Rai Indigenous Nationality. He is Director of the Climate Change Program at the Nepal…

Stewart MAGINNIS

Deputy Director General Programme

IUCN

Stewart Maginnis has worked in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation for over 35 years. He has lived for extensive periods in Tanzania, Sudan, Ghana and Costa Rica, undertaking…

Louise MAIR

Research Fellow

Newcastle University

I am a research fellow at Newcastle University, UK, working on global biodiversity conservation and policy. My research focuses on delivering the science required to inform and support the…

Suman GHIMIRE

Founder and CEO

PlantSat by Seed Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

I am an agri-insurtech entrepreneur who started his journey in 2019 with a mission to protect South Asian farmers, starting from Nepal, from both agriculture and climate risks. My startup harnesses…

Atanasio Gabriel HUENUN HUEITRA

Indigenous Expert

Koyagtun Koz Koz Mapu Mapuche Association

I am Atanasio Gabriel Huenun Hueitra, 46 years old, Mapuche, and I participate in the work of the Koyagtun Koz Koz Mapu Mapuche Association of Panguipulli and the ICI Futa Mawiza. I am a farmer and…

Alex Dehgan

CEO & Co-Founder

Conservation X Labs

Dr. Dehgan is the CEO and co-founder of Conservation X Labs, an innovation and technology startup focused ending the Sixth Mass Extinction. Conservation X Labs both builds new technologies…