All Speakers

Speaker Kevin CHANG
Kevin CHANG

Executive Director

Kua'aina Ulu Auamo

Kevin Chang is the Executive Director of Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) a non-profit organization with a mission to increase the capacity of community-based resource management (CBRM) initiatives with a...
Speaker Susan Lieberman
Susan Lieberman

Vice President, International Policy

Council 2021-2025

Dr. Susan Lieberman is Vice President, International Policy with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), where she leads WCS’s policy engagement in multiple intergovernmental fora. She has worked in...
Speaker Matrah ALMUTAIRI
Matrah ALMUTAIRI

Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

Dr. Matrah Al-Mutairi, a senior scientific researcher and environmental activist from Kuwait. Her experience as a researcher covers the fields of biodiversity, conservation, wildlife, land...
Speaker Louise CARVER
Louise CARVER

Research Associate

TBA21-Academy

Human geographer and political ecologist  combining insights from academic, policy and arts and design contexts to explore transformative approaches to conservation aligned with Convivial...
Speaker Rebecca STERN
Rebecca STERN

Chief Science Officer

Dunya Analytics

Rebecca Stern is a forest ecologist with a decade of experience in nature and climate change research and application. She has expertise in quantifying corporate nature risk in line with global...
Speaker Christopher DUNN
Christopher DUNN

Executive Director

Cornell Botanic Gardenws

Christopher is the Elizabeth N. Wilds Executive Director of Cornell Botanic Gardens of Cornell University and is Chair of the IUCN National Committee for the USA. He is a botanist and conservation...
Speaker Elise HUFFER
Elise HUFFER

Cultural Consultant

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025

Regional Vice Chair, OceaniaElise’s interests and work are in the areas of culture, conservation and development and the relationships between them in Oceania. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor...
Mohamed Faiz
Mohamed Faiz
Speaker Angus MIDDLETON
Angus MIDDLETON

Executive Director

Namibia Nature Foundation

Angus Middleton is the Executive Director of the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). With 25 years in senior leadership, he has spent the last 15 years guiding NGOs through complex change to sharpen...
Speaker Cleo GRAF
Cleo GRAF

Executive Director

SMART

Dr. Cleo Graf – Director, SMART PartnershipDr. Cleo Graf is a conservation ecologist with over 20 years of experience across Africa. She is currently the Director of the SMART Partnership, leading...
Speaker Mark DIMECH
Mark DIMECH

Marine Director

9808U66216

Dr. Mark Dimech, obtained his Ph.D. in Ocean Sciences, at the University of Wales, Bangor, U.K. He has 25 years’ experience in Fisheries data collection, stock assessment and Fisheries...
Speaker Hla Shing NUE
Hla Shing NUE

Executive Director

Bolipara Nari Kalyan Somity (BNKS)

Hla Shing Nue born on January 01, 1974 in Bandarban, Bangladesh. She has obtained Master of Social Science from Eden Women’s College and University, Dhaka in 1997. She is dynamic Indigenous...
Speaker Abdrahmane WANE
Abdrahmane WANE

Regional Director for West and Central Africa

ILRI

Dr. Abdrahmane Wane is Principal Scientist and Regional Director for West and Central Africa at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). A development and agricultural economist...
Speaker Ursula PARRILLA
Ursula PARRILLA

Regional Director

IUCN Secretariat

Úrsula Parrilla, Directora Regional de la Oficina Regional de la UICN para México, América Central y el Caribe (UICN ORMACC). Máster en Política Pública Internacional de la Universidad de Tsukuba en...
Speaker Nujoud ALHAMMADI
Nujoud ALHAMMADI

Head of Environmental Awareness Section

Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority

Nujoud Alhammadi is the Head of the Environmental Awareness Section at the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA). With a background in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in...
Speaker Emily NICHOLSON
Emily NICHOLSON

Professor of Conservation Biology

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2021-2025

Professor Emily Nicholson is a conservation scientist whose work has impacts on conservation policy and practice at global and local levels. Her research interests include biodiversity monitoring and...
Speaker Shubash LOHANI
Shubash LOHANI

Director, Global Conservation Initiatives

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Speaker Dodo MOKE
Dodo MOKE

Senior social safeguards Officer

African Wildlife Foundation

Dodo Moke is an economist with a rich background in conservation and community development. His professional journey began as a consultant, where he managed a crucial boat project in the Maringa-...
Speaker Carlos Manuel RODRIGUEZ
Carlos Manuel RODRIGUEZ

CEO and Chairperson

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Lawyer by profession, politician by choice, and conservationist at heart, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez was elected as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility by its governing body, the GEF...
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 ANN WAHINYA
ANN WAHINYA

Director

Global Trauma Project

Ann WahinyaDirector, Global Trauma Project – KenyaAnn Wahinya, M.A., is the Kenya Director of Global Trauma Project (GTP) and a development practitioner with over 15 years’ experience in...
Meera ALSHAMSI
Meera ALSHAMSI
Speaker Jessica CAMPESE
Jessica CAMPESE

Part-time consultant

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025

Jessica is a practioner and researcher with over 15 years' experience working on environmental governance and human rights-based conservation. Her work includes collaboration, advocacy, and learning...
Speaker Alexandra HARRINGTON
Alexandra HARRINGTON

Chair, Plastic Pollution Task Force

IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law 2021-2025

Dr. Alexandra R. Harrington is Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law Agreement on Plastic Pollution Task Force, a  Researcher at the University of Ottawa and a Visiting Scholar...
Speaker Grethel AGUILAR ROJAS
Grethel AGUILAR ROJAS

Director General

IUCN

Dr Grethel Aguilar, born in Costa Rica, assumed office as Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in October 2023. Dr Aguilar brings with her thirty years of...
Speaker Julia SILVA BENETI
Julia SILVA BENETI

Red List Assessor

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

I have a PhD in Zoology from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and my work was originally focused on the taxonomy and systematics of a group of sea anemones. I have also worked as an editor of...
Speaker Reine Metlej
Reine Metlej
Reine Metlej is a sustainability consultant and social entrepreneur from Lebanon, passionate about driving climate action, circular economy solutions, and youth empowerment. With a background in...
Speaker Kimathi Norah
Kimathi Norah

Co-founder

Zerobionic

Norah Kimathi is a 22-year-old multi-award-winning entrepreneur whose ventures in assistive robotics, climate innovation, and inclusive education are reshaping the future of Africa’s innovation...