All Speakers

Speaker Naoya FURUTA
Naoya FURUTA

Coordinator - IUCN Japan Liaison Office

IUCN

Before Nao Furuta was appointed as coordinator of IUCN Japan Liaison Office in July 2015, he has been working on global policy on biodiversity particularly on Convention on Biological Diversity…
Speaker Angela STADEL
Angela STADEL

Director, Reconciliation Partnerships and Agreements

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Angela Stadel is the Director, Reconciliation Partnerships and Agreements with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and has been working in the field of conservation and Indigenous relations for over 25 years…
Speaker Mukhtar BABAYEV
Mukhtar BABAYEV

Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, UNFCCC COP29 Pres

Azerbaidjan

Mukhtar Babayev was appointed Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on climate issues on 5th February 2025. Mr Babayev is the official envoy appointed by the President of…
Speaker Fiona WILTON
Fiona WILTON

Sacred Lands and Waters

The Gaia Foundation

+30 years experience in the non-profit sector, in South America and globally, working on a range of conservation and environment issues; accompanying indigenous communities in reviving bio-cultural…
Speaker Doreen Simiyu NASIMIYU
Doreen Simiyu NASIMIYU

Communication Monitoring and Evaluation Lead

Community Action for Nature Conservaation

Doreen Nasimiyu Simiyu is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in environmental conservation, fisheries governance, and policy advocacy across the South West Indian Ocean region.…
Speaker Alexandra MYSTIKOU
Alexandra MYSTIKOU

Head of Commercial R&D

M42

A scientist who turned corporate to transform research into revenue, I transitioned from academia into government R&D and later into industry—connecting these three worlds to strengthen the full…
Speaker Michael COOPERMAN
Michael COOPERMAN

Fish & Fisheries Ecologist

PlusFish Philanthropy

A fish and fisheries ecologist specializing in research and management of inland fisheries of the developing nations of the tropics. Founder and principal of PlusFish Philanthropy, from which grants…
Speaker Romaniah Hunter
Romaniah Hunter

Ranger, Nyamba Buru Yawuru

Nyamba Buru Yawuru Limited

Romaniah Hunter - Yawuru RangerRomaniah is a descendant of the Yawuru People from in and surrounding Broome. Her cultural knowledge stems largely from her grandmother who maintained a strong…
Speaker Charlie TOKELEY
Charlie TOKELEY

Communication Officer

IUCN Secretariat

I hold an MSc in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford, and since 2013 have conducted research and project implementation for conservation and rights initiatives in the LAC region. These…
Speaker Thri Heni Utami RADIMAN
Thri Heni Utami RADIMAN

Associate Expert of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries - Indonesia

Thri Heni Utami RadimanThri Heni Utami Radiman is a marine conservation professional with extensive experience in Marine Protected Area (MPA) management in Indonesia. She serves as an Associate…
Speaker Craig HILTON-TAYLOR
Craig HILTON-TAYLOR

Head, Red List Unit

IUCN

I have been head of the IUCN Red List Unit for the past 26 years, the unit is responsible for overseeing the production and maintenance of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. My responsibilities…
Speaker Alen Amirkhanyan
Alen Amirkhanyan

Director

AUA Acopian Center for the Environment

Alen Amirkhanian is the Director of the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment, a position he has held since 2013. In 2023, he became the inaugural Chair of the…
Speaker Andrés RODRÍGUEZ ZUMBADO
Andrés RODRÍGUEZ ZUMBADO

Scientific Associate

IUCN

Tropical biologist and natural resource management specialist with over a decade of experience in research, project management, and international cooperation. Currently, as a Scientific Associate…
Speaker Johanna NILSSON
Johanna NILSSON

Program Director

The WILD Foundation

As a lifelong advocate for nature and cultural integrity, I work with fellow indigenous Sámi to defend our ecosystems, traditions, and ways of life. I am committed to translating decades of…
Speaker Thani MOHAMED-SOILIHI
Thani MOHAMED-SOILIHI

Ministre délégué

France

Married and father of three children, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi was born on June 20, 1972 in Sada, Mayotte. A graduate of the École du Centre Ouest des Avocats de Poitiers, he has been practicing as a…
Speaker Sanot ADHIKARI
Sanot ADHIKARI

Chairperson

Youth Alliance for Environment (YAE)

Sanot AdhikariSanot Adhikari is an environmental scientist with over 15 years of experience in climate change, water resource management, and environmental sustainability. As CEO of Alliance for…
Speaker Yana GEVORGYAN
Yana GEVORGYAN

Director of Secretariat

Group on Earth Observations

Yana is a visionary leader with a unique global perspective, adept at strategic change, and a systems thinker. With over 25 years of experience spanning public, private and intergovernmental sectors…
Speaker Arild LINDGAARD
Arild LINDGAARD

Head of Geodata and Biodiversity

Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre

Head of biodiversity and geodata at Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre. Background from Norwegian Environment Agency on International conventions and cooperation, and nature management.
Speaker Christina VOIGT
Christina VOIGT

Professor

University of Oslo

Commission Chair. Dr. Christina Voigt is a renowned expert in international environmental law and professor at the University of Oslo. She is passionate about legal issues of climate change,…
Angelito TENORIO
Angelito TENORIO
Speaker Pritpal SOORAE
Pritpal SOORAE

Programme Officer

IUCN Conservation Translocation Specialist Group

I am Deputy Chair of the IUCN Conservation Translocation Specialist Group and have been involved with group for nearly 30 years. During this time Ihave worked on developing various guidelines and…
Speaker SAIFUDEEN KABEER
SAIFUDEEN KABEER

Senior Data and Ranking Specialist

United Arab Emirates University

Saifudeen A is a Senior Research Data and Ranking Specialist at the Office of the Associate Provost for Research, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from…
Speaker Karsten SACH
Karsten SACH
Dr. Karsten SachKarsten worked for the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety for more than three decades. From 2016 to 2022, he was Director General of…
Speaker Mahmoud MOHIELDIN
Mahmoud MOHIELDIN

UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development

United Nations

Mahmoud Mohieldin is a global economist and the UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development, with over 30 years of experience in international finance and development. He co-leads the UN…
Speaker Mathias ROCHELEAU-DUPLAIN
Mathias ROCHELEAU-DUPLAIN

Directeur général

Mycosphaera

I am the Director of Mycosphaera, the first non-profit organization in Canada dedicated to mushroom conservation. Mycosphaera also works to promote mycology, fungal conservation, and scientific…
Speaker Dickson Kaelo
Dickson Kaelo

Chief Executive Officer

Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association

Dickson Ole Kaelo is a conservation ecologist and the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA). With over 20 years of experience, he has championed…
Speaker Hussein Alfa NAFO
Hussein Alfa NAFO
Ambassador Seyni Nafo is an influential voice in global climate diplomacy and a driving force behind Africa’s climate and sustainable development efforts. Currently serving as Co-Chair…
Speaker Laxmi AGGARWAL
Laxmi AGGARWAL

Conservation Officer

Botanic Gardens Conservation International

Influenced by her upbringing near the Serengeti National Park, Laxmi Aggarwal has completed her PhD. researching illegal ivory markets in Tanzania, with a determination to inform policy dialogue and…