All Speakers

Speaker Stephen CARVER
Stephen CARVER

Senior Lecturer

University of Leeds

Geographer with interests and experience in mapping/modelling wilderness and rewilding. Director of Wildland Research Institute and Wildland Research Limited. Co-chair of IUCN CEM Rewilding Thematic…
Speaker Antoinette VERMILYE
Antoinette VERMILYE

Gallifrey Foundation

Antoinette, co-founder of the Gallifrey Foundation and She Changes Climate, tackles the deep connections between ocean health, climate, plastics, gender, and overfishing. She builds coalitions for…
Speaker Rosa Elena LICUY VARGAS
Rosa Elena LICUY VARGAS

Piatua Resiste

My name is Rosa Elena Licuy Vargas. I was born on August 1, 1996, in the community of Rey del Oriente. I am 29 years old and trained as a nursing technologist. I am currently studying for a degree in…
Speaker Alejandro IZA
Alejandro IZA

Director, Environmental Law Centre

IUCN Secretariat

Ex Officio. Dr. Alejandro Iza, Director of the Environmental Law Centre. From a combined academic and practical background, he brings to IUCN a combination of expertise including a broad knowledge…
Speaker Erika HARMS
Erika HARMS

Grupo Iberostar

With over a decade of experience in the field of responsible tourism and sustainable ocean economy, Erika holds a combined master's degree in business administration and natural resource management…
Speaker Joanna WOLSTENHOLME
Joanna WOLSTENHOLME

Senior Programme Manager, Nature Finance

UNEP-WCMC

Joanna is a Senior Programme Officer in the Nature Economy team at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). Her work focuses on finance for nature, looking at…
Speaker Pauline BARRAQUE-BIGOT
Pauline BARRAQUE-BIGOT

Director, Sustainable Finance

Finance Montréal

Pauline Barraque-Bigot is Director, Strategic Initiatives, Sustainable Finance for Finance Montréal. She actively participates in the creation of Finance Montreal's sustainable finance strategy and…
Speaker Shamen VIDANAGE
Shamen VIDANAGE

Country Representative, IUCN Sri Lanka

IUCN

Shamen Vidanage brings over 30 years of experience in natural resource management at government, academia and non-government sectors. He is currently the Country Representative of IUCN Sri Lanka…
Speaker Claudia SOARES MARTINS
Claudia SOARES MARTINS

Secretary Director

Podáali

Claudia Soares Baré, traditionally named Kirimbawa, is an Indigenous member of the Baré people of the Upper Rio Negro (Amazonas, Brazil). She is a sociologist and leader of the Amazonian Indigenous…
Speaker Sean HOBAN
Sean HOBAN

Researcher

The Morton Arboretum

After completing my PhD in 2010, on forest tree genetics and biogeography, my first post-doctoral position (2010-2013) was spent in France and Italy. I created, evaluated and improved methods for…
Speaker Damien MITTEMPERGHER
Damien MITTEMPERGHER

Economist

IUCN

Damien Mittempergher is an economist passionate about building stronger links between nature and the economy. At IUCN, he supports various stakeholders to better account for natural capital, using…
Speaker Johanna NILSSON
Johanna NILSSON

Program Director

The WILD Foundation

As a lifelong advocate for nature and cultural integrity, I work with fellow indigenous Sámi to defend our ecosystems, traditions, and ways of life. I am committed to translating decades of…
Speaker Lorena Arce
Lorena Arce

Program Coordinator

Observatorio Ciudadano

Lorena Arce Letelier is coordinator of the Biodiversity and Development Alternatives Program at the Observatorio Ciudadano in Chile. She is also member of Council in the ICCA Consortium and president…
Speaker Rodrigue Castro GBEDOMON
Rodrigue Castro GBEDOMON

Director of research

African Center for Equitable Development

I am a senior researcher and data scientist driven by a passion for generating and translating scientific and non-scientific knowledge to inform policies, practices, investments, and actions for…
Speaker Liam DALL
Liam DALL

Executive Director, US

African Parks

Liam T. Dall is the Executive Director of African Parks Foundation of America, responsible for all US based operations and activities in support of the advancement of safeguarding African protected…
Speaker Cindy JULIANTY
Cindy JULIANTY

EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR

Working Group ICCAs Indonesia

I currently serve as the Executive Coordinator for WGII (Working Group ICCAs Indonesia) and Advocacy Coordinator for ICCA Consortium Southeast Asia, where I oversee and support local to global…
Speaker Frank MUGISHA
Frank MUGISHA

CEO,

AKATALE ON CLOUD

Frank Mugisha is a 28-year-old Ugandan entrepreneur, lawyer, and environmental activist. Inspired by his farming background, he champions innovative climate-tech solutions to address food insecurity…
Speaker AMIR IQBAL
AMIR IQBAL

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

SINDH ENGRO COAL MINING COMPANY

Amir Iqbal has been serving as Chief Executive Officer of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and its community development arm, Thar Foundation, since 2021. As Pakistan’s pioneering coal mining…
Speaker Akshay VISHWANATH
Akshay VISHWANATH
Akshay Vishwanath has wide-ranging, international experience in the fields of water resource management, landscape and wildlife conservation, community participatory approaches, advocacy and lobbying…
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…
Speaker Christian GORTAZAR
Christian GORTAZAR

Universidad de Castilla La Mancha

Christian Gortázar defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Zaragoza in 1997. He is a professor of animal health at the National Wildlife Research Institute IREC, a joint center between the…
Speaker Jimmy GAUNAVOU
Jimmy GAUNAVOU

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change

Jimmy Clint Gaunavou is a seasoned expert in environmental science, health, safety, and sustainability, with a strong focus on multilateral environmental agreements, regulatory compliance, and…
Speaker Ferdinando DIDONNA
Ferdinando DIDONNA

MSC

SOCIETA' SPELEOLOGICA ITALIANA ETS

Having graduated in forestry sciences in Bari in 1998, today I work in cooperation with Latin America countries as a consultant for a European technical assistance company in the fields of rural and…
Speaker Rabab AL LAWATI
Rabab AL LAWATI

Conservation Outreach Coordinator

Environment Society of Oman

Rabab Al Lawati is an early-career wildlife and conservation biologist and, until June 2025, served as the Conservation Outreach Coordinator at the Environment Society of Oman (ESO), Oman's first and…
Speaker Jimpson DáVILA ORDOñEZ
Jimpson DáVILA ORDOñEZ

Director of The Marine Governance Program

Peruvian Society for Environmental Law - SPDA

Jimpson Dávila Ordoñez serves as Director of the Marine Governance Program at the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA). He plays a key role in building alliances and maintains close…
Speaker Rebecca MOON
Rebecca MOON

Education Coordinator

Centre for Global Education

Rebecca empowers youth to take meaningful action toward SDGs. With a B.Ed. from the University of Alberta, Rebecca brings a strong foundation in education and science to her work. Teaching in rural…