All Speakers
Leah BARCLAY
Discipline Lead of Design and Senior Lecturer
University of the Sunshine Coast
Dr Leah Barclay is an Australian sound artist, designer, and researcher working at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Her research and creative work investigate new approaches to…
Elsa G RICHARDSON TEMM
Lead, GEF Small Grant Program
The Global Environment Facility
Gabriella has over 25 years of experience in advancing human rights, social inclusion, and sustainability in global conservation. With an academic background in sociology and economics, she has led…
Geert Jan HEUSINKVELD
Sustainability Manager
Volcafe / Kyagalanyi Coffee Uganda
Geert Jan Heusinkveld is the Sustainability Manager at Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd, Uganda’s leading coffee exporter and a key member of the Swiss based Volcafe group. With a strong foundation in…
Oumou DICKO
President
Association des Jeunes pour La Défense des Droits Humains et la Protection de l’Environnement
Ms. Oumou Dicko is a young Malian leader committed to human rights advocacy and environmental protection. As President of AJDHPE, she works to promote education, youth and women’s empowerment,…
Sheena KHAN
Head of Environmental Progams
Terra, Expo City Dubai
Sheena Khan is Head of Environmental Programs at Terra, where she designs and leads nature-focused programs across themes of urban biodiversity, citizen science, fungi, nature therapy, and…
Mezna ALHEBSHI
Ekthar
Mezna Alhebshi recently joined Ekthar Wildlife, working under the conservation genetics department as a laboratory technician. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Purdue University…
Miguel MORAES
Projects Director
re.green
Ecologist, specialist in biodiversity conservation, governance, public policies and sustainability. More than 20 years of experience with institutional partnerships, including 2 years as president of…
Mirjam DE KONING
Executive Director
Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust
Mirjam joined Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), a transboundary Conservation Trust Fund financing protected areas and CSOs in the cross border areas of Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia, as…
David OBURA
Director
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
David Obura is a Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa, chairs the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, 2023-2026) and is on the Earth Commission (2019-2026).…
Christopher GOATLEY
Lecturer in Marine Biology
University of Southampton
Chris Goatley is a lecturer in marine biology at the University of Southampton in the UK and a research associate at the Australian Museum. His research has broadly explored the evolution and…
Jessica WALSH
Lecturer in Ecology
Queensland University of Technology
Dr Walsh is leading the development of the Green Status of Ecosystems, which measures recovery of ecosystem types and evaluates the impact restoration and conservation has had ecosystem integrity and…
Nicolas MBENGUE
Coordonnateur des Opérations
Cegep de la Gaspésie et des Iles
Nicolas MBENGUE is Operations Coordinator at Cegep de la Gaspésie. His work spans all international cooperation projects coordinated by the Dakar Office. He has over seven years of professional…
Prescilia KAPUPU
Indigenous Expert
ANAPAC – DRC
Role: Community Facilitator and Program Officer, ANAPAC – DRC andFacilitator, COSPAB SecretariatFields of experience: Nature conservation and biodiversityPrescillia is an Indigenous woman from…
Salem ALZAHMI
College of Engineering Assistant Dean for Research & Graduate Studies
United Arab Emirates University
Dr. Salem Alzahmi is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the United Arab Emirates University, where he has served as a faculty member since July 2015. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical…
Karen ALLEN
Professor
Furman University
Karen E. Allen is a cultural anthropologist who has integrative training across disciplines relevant to conservation and sustainability science, in particular, ecological economics and landscape…
Sione 'Akau'ola
CEO
Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications (MEIDECC)
Mr. ‘Akauola is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, Communication, and Cybersecurity…
Jessica Judith GREFA HUATATOCA
Piatua Resiste
I am an indigenous Kichwa woman from the town of Santa Clara, Ecuador. I trained as a biologist at the Amazonian State University and currently hold a master's degree in Political Ecology and…
Hana NIMRY
Nature Reserves Management
Royal Commission for AlUla, KSA
With over a decade of experience in environmental sustainability and the tourism industry, Hana Nimry has managed and led numerous tourism development projects focused on adventure tourism, community…
Nalucha NGANGA-ZIBA
Country Director
WWF Zambia
Nalucha is an International Development practitioner with a specialization in public policy, human rights and gender. She has a professional career that spans over 15 years of senior-level…
Paloma CARRILLO
Directora Ejecutiva
FUNDACION PROAVES DE COLOMBIA
I am a Certified Public Accountant with a specialization in Managerial Accounting and over 17 years of experience at ProAves, an organization dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity in Colombia…
Ricardo WONG
Ingeniero Industrial / President
Fundación para la Protección del Mar PROMAR
I was born and raised in Panama City. I was a career civil servant at the Panama Canal Authority, where I initially worked as an automotive mechanic apprentice. I later rose to become the supervisor…
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…
Robin DAVIES
WWF Global Sustainable Fisheries Lead
WWF International
Global marine conservation leader, currently heading-up WWF's international marine fisheries effort. PhD in the environmental impacts of fishing and related solutions. Multi-sectoral experience and…
Amanda VINCENT
Chair
SSC Marine Conservation Committee
Amanda Vincent is the Chair of the SSC Marine Conservation Committee and Chair of the IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group. She is firmly convinced that we know enough…
Hernando GARCÍA MARTÍNEZ
Director General
Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt
Biologist with a master's degree in Ecology from the Universidad Autónoma of Barcelona. Has extensive experience in leadership positions oriented to the management of science, research and project…
Joaquín Humberto GUTIéRREZ SáNCHEZ
Sandrine FRIEDLI CELA
Sandrine Friedli Cela is IUCN’s Legal Adviser since January 2015 and is based at IUCN Headquarters in Switzerland. In her role, she provides legal advice to all components of IUCN and, in particular…
Danish MUSTAFA KHAN
CTO
Earth Warriorz
I am is an Independent Researcher and Technical Project Manager with over two decades of experience in enterprise technology, AI integration, and sustainable innovation. Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, his…