All Speakers

Speaker Yasmin QUINTANA
Yasmin QUINTANA

Manager of the Center for Species Survival: Freshwater

Shedd Aquarium

Dr. Yasmin Quintana is a fisheries scientist, ecologist, and conservation biologist with over a decade of experience working across academic, governmental, non-governmental, and international…
Speaker Rachel CLAUSING
Rachel CLAUSING

Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco

Rachel Clausing is the Special Advisor to the Vice President and the Head of Initiatives at the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. A marine scientist by training, she earned her doctorate from…
Speaker Frank HAWKINS
Frank HAWKINS

Science and Policy Advisor

IUCN

Frank Hawkins is a conservation biologist and policy advisor with many years of experience working with governments, civil society and local communities in Africa and around the world. His main focus…
Speaker Hye-Jin Kim
Hye-Jin Kim

Senior-Manager

Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute

Speaker James HARDCASTLE
James HARDCASTLE

Director, Protected and Conserved Areas

IUCN

James Hardcastle leads IUCN’s Protected and Conserved Areas work. James helped develop the IUCN Green List, the flagship sustainability standard for fair and effective area-based conservation.James…
Speaker George SHILLINGER
George SHILLINGER

Financial Contact

MIGRAMAR

Dr. George Shillinger is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Upwell Turtles. He previously served as Executive Director for The Leatherback Trust. George has worked in environmental conservation…
Speaker Tulshi Laxmi SUWAL
Tulshi Laxmi SUWAL

Founder and Program Coordinator

Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation

Dr. Tulshi Laxmi Suwal is one of the recipients of the prestigious "Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN)" Award 2023, which is referred to as the "Green Oscar" for conservation. She is a member of the IUCN…
Speaker Clemens KüPPER
Clemens KüPPER

Programme Officer

IUCN Secretariat

Clemens Küpper is Evaluations and Operations Officer for World Heritage at IUCN and the IUCN World Heritage Panel’s Executive Officer. He is responsible for coordinating the technical evaluation of…
Speaker Roger NGOUFO
Roger NGOUFO

Cameroon Environmental Watch

Né le 30 décembre 1959, Roger NGOUFO, Professeur titulaire des Universités de classe exceptionnelle, est Docteur en Géographie (Option Géographie physique) de l’Université de Yaoundé (1989) et…
Speaker Maitha ALMHEIRI
Maitha ALMHEIRI

Biologist

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

Maitha Abdulla Al Mheiri is a biologist in the Biodiversity Management Department at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. With over five years of national and international experience…
Speaker Savinaz BAGHDADI
Savinaz BAGHDADI

Technical and Admin Assistant

IUCN ROWA

A Passionate Advocate for Sustainable DevelopmentSavinaz Baghdadi is an accomplished professional with a strong background in sustainable development and project management, specializing in…
Speaker Marina Demaria Venâncio
Marina Demaria Venâncio

Legal Officer

IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law 2021-2025

Marina Venâncio is an environmental lawyer with over ten years of experience in the field of environmental law research and practice. She is currently working as a legal officer at the United…
Speaker Alfred KUKE
Alfred KUKE

Governance and Engagement Manager

Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program

Alfred Kuke is a social worker by profession. Alfred worked in number of development NGOs in Papua New Guinea for over a decade. However, his passion for rural development, inclusive governance…
Speaker Bandana SHAKYA
Bandana SHAKYA

Lead, Landscape

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Bandana Shakya leads ICIMOD’s Landscapes portfolio, driving the Centre’s interventions on Springshed Management, Rangelands and Wetlands, Incentives for Biodiversity and Landscapes, and Human–…
Speaker Nafisa MAREI
Nafisa MAREI

Bow Seat

Nafisa collaborates with youth around the world through Bow Seat to tackle issues ranging from a lack of climate awareness to ocean pollution. She also creates artwork--from poems to paintings to…
Speaker Benjamin FITZPATRICK
Benjamin FITZPATRICK

Marine Ecologist

IUCN CEM

Ben is a Marine Ecologist and Director of Oceanwise Australia. He is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia Oceans Institute and Leads the Coastal and Marine Specialist…
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…
Speaker Neida ARIMUYA
Neida ARIMUYA

Indigenous Expert

IPO

Neida Andi Arimuya is a spiritual guide of the Siona people of the Amazon region of Ecuador with extensive experience in the areas of biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change.
Speaker Roger Reyes
Roger Reyes

Director Ejecutivo

CODDEFFAGOLF

Roger Reyes is the Executive Director of CODDEFFAGOLF, with 10 years of experience in the conservation of marine resources in the Gulf of Fonseca. He has led multidisciplinary teams dedicated to…
Speaker James BARTRAM
James BARTRAM

Advisory Chair - NFEL

Toronto Zoo

I have a broad base of international experience in education, conservation and design, with particular interest in program start-ups, innovation, staff development and multi-agency partnerships. I’ve…
Speaker Michele DIEKMANN
Michele DIEKMANN

Director

KfW Development Bank

Michele Diekmann, Director Sector Policy at KfW Development Bank.Michele Diekmann is Director of Sector Policy at KfW Development Bank in Frankfurt, with over two decades of experience in…
Speaker ANTOINE ALLAM
ANTOINE ALLAM

IUCN Climate Crisis Commission 2022-2025

Dr. Allam is a highly experienced Water Resources and Hydrology Expert with 15 years of experience in Lebanon and the Mediterranean Region. He holds a PhD in hydrology, where he studied Mediterranean…
Speaker OLOO MOLLY AKINYI
OLOO MOLLY AKINYI

RADIO PRESENTER

NAMLOLWE FM

Oloo Molly Akinyi  is a 30 year old trained journalist with over nine  years of experience in the Kenyan Media industry, She is known for her professionalism, authenticity and determination…
Speaker Brendan MACKEY
Brendan MACKEY

Professor and Director, Climate Action Beacon

Griffith University, Queensland Australia

Brendan Mackey is a professor at Griffith University, Queensland Australia and Director of its Climate Action Beacon. He has a PhD in ecology from The Australian National University. He was a…
Speaker SEONGHWAN JO
SEONGHWAN JO

Head of Visitor Service Division

Korea National Park Service

Ph. D. in Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Chungbuk National University in Cheong-ju City, South KoreaServing at the Korea National Park Service since 2014Research AchievmentStudy on the…
Speaker Astrid SCHOMAKER
Astrid SCHOMAKER

Executive Secretary

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

In April 2024, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed Astrid Schomaker Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).Prior to her appointment as Executive Secretary of…
Speaker Piet THERON
Piet THERON

Senior Director: Conservation Strategy & Development - Southern Africa

Conservation International

Piet Theron (B Landscape Architecture, MPhil Environmental Science) is a Landscape Architect working in the environmental planning and management field. He has more than 28 years’ experience working…
Speaker David RAMOS
David RAMOS

Senior Manager, Sustainability

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

David Ramos is a Senior Manager in Sustainability for HSBC Bank Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. From November 2022 to June 2024 he was Acting Head of Sustainability for the region while the…