All Speakers

Speaker Eric SCHMIDT
Eric SCHMIDT

Executive Director

Wildlife Protection Solutions

Combining a deep understanding of technology with a passion for wildlife allows Eric Schmidt to approach conservation issues from multiple perspectives.  With a Master’s degree in conservation...
Speaker Aubrey TEFFER
Aubrey TEFFER
I am Aubrey Teffer, a senior at Westwood Highschool in Austin Texas. The last few years of my life have been partially dedicated to a project regarding the marine health of Tela Bay in Honduras. My...
Speaker Marco LAMBERTINI
Marco LAMBERTINI

Convener

Nature Positive Initiative

Marco Lambertini is the Convener of the Nature Positive Initiative.Marco was WWF International Director General (2014-2022) and Special Envoy (2023). Before joining WWF he was Global Director of...
Speaker Ahmed Al Maliki
Ahmed Al Maliki

General Manager

King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve Authority

Dr. Ahmed M Almalki PhD in Ecology and PollutionMaster in Environmental Science Board Member of AlSalam rescue Association Over 18 years of experience in nature conservation started...
Speaker Seheno ANDRIANTSARALAZA
Seheno ANDRIANTSARALAZA

COO

Fanamby

I hold a PhD in Plant Biology from the University of Antananarivo, specializing in baobab ecology and plant–animal interactions. She is the Chief Operating Officer of Fanamby, a Malagasy organization...
Speaker Dörte SEGEBART
Dörte SEGEBART

Advisor

GIZ

Geographer (PhD), currently advisor at GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), focus on protected and conserved areas, governance, equity, human rights-based approaches. Over...
Speaker Hannah FAIRBANK
Hannah FAIRBANK

Senior Biodiversity Specialist

The Global Environment Facility secretariat

Speaker Peter LEIMGRUBER
Peter LEIMGRUBER

Director of Conservation and Science

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Peter Leimgruber is the Director for Conservation and Science of the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI).Previously, he served as the director of NZCBI's Conservation Ecology...
Speaker Susan CHEYNE
Susan CHEYNE

Vice-Chair

Borneo Nature Foundation International

Originally from Scotland, I have worked in Asia since 1997 and in Indonesia since 2002. My PhD at Cambridge was focused on the scientific assessment of gibbon rehabilitation – can gibbons raised as...
Speaker Armel MEWOUTH
Armel MEWOUTH

Regional Water Focal Point

IUCN Secretariat

De nationalité camerounaise, Armel est titulaire d’un Master en Gestion de l’Environnement obtenu à l'Université Senghor à Alexandrie.Il totalise 15 ans d'expériences dans l'exécution des projets...
Speaker Magda ZACHARA
Magda ZACHARA

Programme Officer

IUCN

Magda Zachara is an educator and advocate for nature conservation with a strong scientific background. She holds a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Geneva and a PhD in Molecular...
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 Zhigang ZHAO
Zhigang ZHAO
•Project Director of TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Program Office, Huawei•Responsible for Huawei‘s global digital inclusion nature conservation projects, cooperation with IGO、NGO organizations and...
Speaker Shahnoor Abbas
Shahnoor Abbas

Senior Series Developer

BBC Studios

Syeda Shahnoor Abbas is a Series Developer at BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions.During her time at BBC StoryWorks, she has led the development on multiple, human-centric, solutions-focused series...
Speaker Yose CORMIER
Yose CORMIER

IUCN #NatureForAll Coordinator

Parks Canada

I work for Parks Canada and as our commitment to international conservation and the IUCN , I manage the day-to-day operations of the IUCN #NatureForAll initiative, focusing on partner engagement and...
Speaker Angel MARCOS RAMOS
Angel MARCOS RAMOS

Geógrafo

IUCN

Angel Marcos brings over 20 years of experience in international cooperation initiatives for development in Central America. He holds a master's degree in Geography and Spatial Planning from the...
Speaker Hesham El-Askary
Hesham El-Askary

Professor

Chapman University

Prof. El-Askary received his Ph.D. in Computational Sciences and Informatics from George Mason University in 2004 along with his two MS degrees in Computational sciences and Earth Systems Sciences....
Speaker Aimé Joseph NIANOGO
Aimé Joseph NIANOGO

Regional Director

IUCN

Après des études au Burkina Faso et aux Etats-Unis, le Prof. Nianogo a débuté sa carrière en 1982 comme enseignant-chercheur ; depuis lors il a successivement occupé plusieurs postes de...
Speaker Jennifer SAWADA
Jennifer SAWADA

Senior Manager

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Jen Sawada provides strategic guidance and project management support for the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project. In that capacity, she focuses on campaigns that work to promote a conservation...
Speaker Ilena ZANELLA
Ilena ZANELLA

Presidente

Misión Tiburón

Ilena Zanella is a marine biologist and a Master in Wildlife Management andConservation from Institute for Wildlife Conservation and Management,Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. She is the co-...
Speaker Shamsa AL HAMELI
Shamsa AL HAMELI

Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

Shamsa Al Hameli, PhD researcher and Specialist in Marine Vessel Management at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, focusing on the biodiversity and conservation of sharks and rays in the Arabian Gulf.
Speaker Charles KNAPP
Charles KNAPP

Vice President

John G. Shedd Aquarium

I am a conservation science practitioner working for the past 30 years to save endangered species. I work at the nexus of the zoological, academic, governmental, and traditional conservation spaces...
Speaker MICHEL MASOZERA
MICHEL MASOZERA

Africa Director, Policy and Partnerships

Wildlife Conservation Society

Dr. Michel Masozera is currently the Director of Policy and Partnerships for Africa at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The goal of this position is to enhance WCS Africa’s influence and...
Speaker Gregoria JIMENEZ
Gregoria JIMENEZ

Licenciada en Trabajo Social

ODECO

Speaker Hag Young HEO
Hag Young HEO

Chief Researcher

KNPS

Dr. Hag Young HEO, is working for Korea National Park Service (KNPS) as a Chief Researcher in National Park Research Institute. He has plenty of research experience related to Protected Areas,...
Speaker Leonardo Simon CRISOSTOMO LONCOPAN
Leonardo Simon CRISOSTOMO LONCOPAN

President

Asociación de Comunidades Mapuche Winkulmapu

Mapuche. A geographer by profession, he is President of the Winkulmapu Mapuche Communities Association in Curarrehue and Territorial Planning Coordinator for the Füta Mawiza Inclusive Conservation...
Speaker Alexandra SWANSON
Alexandra SWANSON

Nature Tech & Innovation Director

Conservation International

Dr Alexandra (Ali) Swanson is a conservation ecologist with 20 years international experience at the intersection of community and population ecology, technology, and international policy. As the...
Speaker Abigail KITMA
Abigail KITMA

Indigenous Peoples Rights Focal Point

Tebtebba

Abigail Kitma is an Ibaloy hailing from Baguio City, Philippines. Her professional interests include Indigenous Peoples’ rights and environmental sustainability. She is affiliated with Tebtebba (...