All Speakers

Speaker Leah BARCLAY
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…
Speaker Elsa G RICHARDSON TEMM
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…
Speaker Geert Jan HEUSINKVELD
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…
Speaker Oumou DICKO
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,…
Speaker Sheena KHAN
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…
Speaker Mezna ALHEBSHI
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…
Speaker Miguel MORAES
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…
Speaker Mirjam DE KONING
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…
Speaker David OBURA
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).…
Speaker Christopher GOATLEY
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…
Speaker Jessica WALSH
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…
Speaker Nicolas MBENGUE
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…
Speaker Prescilia KAPUPU
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…
Speaker Salem ALZAHMI
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…
Speaker Karen ALLEN
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…
Speaker Sione 'Akau'ola
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…
Speaker Jessica Judith GREFA HUATATOCA
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…
Speaker Hana NIMRY
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…
Speaker Nalucha NGANGA-ZIBA
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…
Speaker Paloma CARRILLO
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…
Speaker Ricardo WONG
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…
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 Robin DAVIES
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…
Speaker Amanda VINCENT
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…
Speaker Hernando GARCÍA MARTÍNEZ
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…
Speaker Joaquín Humberto GUTIéRREZ SáNCHEZ
Joaquín Humberto GUTIéRREZ SáNCHEZ
Speaker Sandrine FRIEDLI CELA
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…
Speaker Danish MUSTAFA KHAN
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…