All Speakers

Speaker Dörte SEGEBART
Dörte SEGEBART

Advisor

GIZ

Geographer (PhD), currently advisor at GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), focus on protected and conserved areas, governance, equity, human rights-based approaches. Over…
Speaker Brent MITCHELL
Brent MITCHELL

Senior Vice President (Also Vice Chair, IUCN WCPA)

Quebec-Labrador Foundation

Thematic Vice Chair, Scaling Natural Solutions. Brent A. Mitchell serves as a Vice Chair of IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and is Senior Vice President of QLF Atlantic Center for the…
Speaker Alys YOUNG
Alys YOUNG

Post-doctoral research fellow

James Cook University

I am a quantitative ecology researcher passionate about conserving biodiversity. I employ quantitative tools and data-driven approaches to understand and protect ecosystems and species at broad…
Speaker Jemima Marie HOLT
Jemima Marie HOLT

Global Energy Transition Advocate

Natural Resources Defense Council

Speaker John EWEN
John EWEN

Professor

Zoological Society of London

Professor John Ewen is a conservation scientist in ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, leading a research group focussed on species recovery including conservation translocations.  He has published more…
Speaker Machel DONEGAN
Machel DONEGAN

Operations Manager

Alligator Head Foundation

As the Operations Manager of the Alligator Head Foundation (AHF), Machel is responsible forits daily operations including the management its livelihood diversification programmes and allgrant…
Speaker Zdenka PISKULICH
Zdenka PISKULICH

Managing Director Enduring Earth

Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre

Zdenka Piskulich is the Managing Director of Enduring Earth since 2021. Working with the founding organizations, Zdenka leads this ambitious collaboration to accelerate and strengthen…
Speaker Agnes Kalibata
Agnes Kalibata

Chair Person

C4Impact Advisory Group

Dr. Agnes Kalibata is a distinguished scientist, policy maker and thought leader on the global stage. She is the Founder and Chair of Connect for Impact Advisory Group (C4Impact Advisory Group), a…
Speaker Michele SOFISTI
Michele SOFISTI

Nzatu Europe SA

Michele Sofisti is an italian/Swiss former geologist who covered CEO positions with luxury brands such as Ferrari Germany, Omega watches, Swatch, Girard Perregaux Gucci watches & jewellery. With…
Speaker Jawhara ALJUNIBI
Jawhara ALJUNIBI

Administration Pmo

Zayed Authority for people of Determination

I am proud to serve at Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, where I work as an administrative officer and coordinate volunteer initiatives that create meaningful impact. As the Vice…
Speaker Thorsten ARNDT
Thorsten ARNDT

Head of Advocacy

PEFC International

Thorsten Arndt is Head of Advocacy at PEFC International, which accounts for over 25% of the world’s certified production forests—more than 300 million hectares across 50+ countries. He works on PEFC…
Speaker Peregrine WOLFF
Peregrine WOLFF

PRAB member, WSF / Executive Manager, WDA

Wildlife Disease Association

Peregrine is the Executive Manager of the Wildlife Disease Association. A graduate from Cornell University, she has devoted her 40-year veterinary career to working in wildlife health, with…
Speaker Jessica FìOR-BERRY
Jessica FìOR-BERRY

Policy Lead

IUCN UK Peatland Programme

I am the Policy Lead at the IUCN UK Peatland Programme. I have a PhD from the University of Leeds (supervised by Prof. Joseph Holden and Dr. Richard Grayson), where I studied the impacts of track…
Speaker Thomas PIENKOWSKI
Thomas PIENKOWSKI

IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2021-2025

Dr Thomas Pienkowski is a Research Fellow at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology and a member of the E3 Sharing Space for Nature initiative.His overarching aim is to produce research…
Speaker thijs BIERSTEKER
thijs BIERSTEKER

Woven Foundation

As an ecological artist who works together with leading scientists, Thijs Biersteker creates data-driven artworks that transform complex environmental research into immersive installations and…
Speaker Axel MOEHRENSCHLAGER
Axel MOEHRENSCHLAGER

Panthera Director of Small Cat Program; Conservation Translocations; Chair IUCN

Panthera; IUCN Conservation Translocation Specialist Group

Director of the Small Cats Program and Conservation Translocation Panthera; Chair IUCN Conservation Translocation Specialist GroupAxel Moehrenschlager, Ph.D., serves as Director of the Small Cats…
Speaker Olga BIEGUS
Olga BIEGUS

Project manager

IUCN

Olga Biegus is a conservation project manager and researcher with extensive international experience in programme design, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement. She manages the IUCN WCPA…
Speaker Natalia BOULAD
Natalia BOULAD

Programme Manager - Biodiversity & Protected Areas

IUCN Secretariat

Natalia Boulad has 20  years of experience in Spatial Conservation Planning, GIS Modelling and Management of Conservation Projects. She is currently working as The Protected Areas, World…
Speaker Jamie LEE
Jamie LEE

NRDC

Jamie Lee focuses on issues including energy, renewables, and climate policy at the international level. Prior to NRDC, Lee worked at a boutique international arbitration law firm and qualified as an…
Speaker Nafeesa ESMAIL
Nafeesa ESMAIL

Senior Advisor, Human Dimensions of Conservation

Wilder Institute

With over 16 years of professional experience across sectors, regions and disciplines, Nafeesa Esmail is passionate about pragmatic win-win solutions for both nature and people. Past and current…
Speaker yu liang LIU
yu liang LIU

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

I am a reproductive biologist of giant pandas from Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. I have been engaged in research on giant panda breeding for more than 20 years and have made…
Speaker Naresh SUBEDI
Naresh SUBEDI

Member Secretary

National Trust for Nature Conservation

Speaker Isabel WALLNOEFER
Isabel WALLNOEFER

Youth and Stewardship Officer

IUCN

Motivated by a strong commitment integrating youth voices in global water governance, Isabel Wallnöfer works to promote sustainable water management across sectors and strengthen youth leadership in…
Speaker Ilad VIVAS
Ilad VIVAS

Profesional asociado a la investigacion

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

I am a Venezuelan early career biologist, specialising in the ecology of vertebrate apex predator populations, behavioural ecology, conservation and wildlife management. For the past five years, I…
Speaker Ann-Katrine GARN
Ann-Katrine GARN

Director of Conservation

Copenhagen Zoo / IUCN National Committee of Denmark

Ann-Katrine Garn is a zoologist and the Director of Conservation at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark. With over 25 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, she has led national and international…
Speaker Robbert CASIER
Robbert CASIER

World Heritage Programme Development Officer

IUCN

Robbert joined IUCN in 2024. He supports the expansion of the portfolio of IUCN’s World Heritage work and explores partnerships and collaborative work across IUCN Programmes, Regional Offices, IUCN…
Speaker Mark SCHAUER
Mark SCHAUER

Coordinator Resilient Landscapes

GIZ

Mark Schauer is the co-lead for the GIZ project Resilient Rural Areas and for the ELD Initiative. Mark has been with GIZ in different positions with activities in the context of economic valuation,…
Speaker Maria PORRAS
Maria PORRAS

California Condor Conservation Program Coordinator

United Nations Development Programme

María Catalina Porras Peña is a committed conservation professional with over 20 years of experience in the California Condor Reintroduction Program in Baja California, Mexico. She has collaborated…