All Speakers

Ryma AFFANI

Emirates Soil Museum Curator

International Center for Biosaline Agriculture - ICBA

Veefeni Ingaveuya Priscilla MUNDILO

Programme Lead: Community Conservation Partnerships & Safeguards

Namibia Nature Foundation

I have worked in Namibia’s Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Programme since 2016, championing conservation that is led by and benefits local communities. My work focuses on…

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…

Erwin AMAVASSEE

Programme Officer, BESTLIFE2030

IUCN EU Representative Office

Erwin Jayson Amavassee is Programme Officer for BESTLIFE2030 at the IUCN European Regional Office in Brussels, where he supports EU-funded grants that strengthen biodiversity conservation and climate…

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…

Frédérique THOMAS

Directrice Sénégal

SOCODEVI

A graduate of HEC Montréal in finance and international economics, Frédérique Thomas obtained a master’s degree in management and international development from the Université de Sherbrooke, and a…

Pär WILHELMSSON

Shalini DHYANI

Principal Scientist

CSIR National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)

Shalini Dhyani is a Principal Scientist at the Environmental Impact Assessment, Audit and Policy Division of CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, India.Shalini is known…

Jordan JOLY

Program Manager

Families in Nature

As Program Manager for Families in Nature (FIN), Jo Joly brings her background in ecology, conservation psychology, and anthrozoology to create inclusive, immersive programs that connect people of…

Juliette PAEMELAERE

Chargée de production et gestion des connaissances BIODEV2030

Expertise France

With a multidisciplinary background in risk management in the Global South and international environmental project management, I have specialized in knowledge production and capacity-building in…

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…

Shaima HUSSAIN GARGASH

Sandra BERTHOU

International GIS manager

Ekthar

With nearly 20 years of GIS experience, Sandra is specialized in data management, GIS software, and web GIS development. She has led numerous projects applying geospatial solutions to wildlife…

Nafeesa ESMAIL

Senior Advisor, Human Dimensions of Conservation

Wilder Institute

With over 16 years of professional experience across sectors, regions and disciplines, Nafeesa Esmail is passionate about pragmatic win-win solutions for both nature and people. Past and current…

Abdulrahman ABDULLA ALZAABI

Aissa TRAORE

IUCN Secretariat

Originally from Mali, Aissa has 10+ years experience managing multiple projects on development, humanitarian aid and partnership coordination. She holds a master's degree in communication and has…

Amran HAMZAH

Professor

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Dr. Amran Hamzah is a Professor in Tourism Planning at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and his area of specialisation is the interface between community-based ecotourism and conservation. In addition…

Lite NARTEY

Affiliate Professor of Strategy

INSEAD

Lite Nartey is an Affiliate Professor of Strategy at INSEAD (Fontainebleau campus), in France. Leveraging her professional background in international development, her academic research seeks to…

Lizzy BAKKER

Head of Presentation

Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Paola MEJÍA

MSc Ciencias Ambientales

IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2021-2025

Thematic Vice Chair, Conservation Outcomes. With more than 20 years of experience in Protected Areas and other area-based conservation measures in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa,…

Emad ADLY

Chairperson

Arab Network for Environment and Development “RAED”

International Environmental Expert with extensive experience of over 40 years in dealing with international agencies, governments, civil society, grass root organizations and media. Professional…

Tamara Elzein

Nirmal SHAH

Chief Executive

Nature Seychelles

Dr. Shah is a Seychellois fisheries, environmental and sustainable development expert with 43 years of experience in public, governmental, private and NGO sectors. He has also worked for IUCN and…

Ju-Kyeong EO

Senior Researcher

National Institute of Ecology

David AINSWORTH

Senior External Relations Officer

Global Environment Facility

David has over two decades of work in communications management, marketing and campaign development in the field of biodiversity and sustainable development. He has worked as head of…

julio JOAO

Projecto CBA- SCALE-REED +

Provincial Government of Inhambane

Júlio João Graduated in Agricultural Sciences from the Catholic University I worked for 25 years in the districts, assisting local communities in improving their livelihoods. About half of this time…

Fanta Bocoum

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…