All Speakers
Marie Bjornson-langen
Directrice exécutive adjointe AFD/SDD
Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères
Marie Bjornson-Langen, Deputy Executive Director for Sustainable Development Solutions at AFDMarie holds a Master’s degree in History, a postgraduate diploma (DEA) in Political Science, and a Master’…
Jurgen TACK
Secertary-General
European Landowners' Organization (ELO)
Jurgen Tack studied marine ecology (PhD). He worked for the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Brussels Free University, the Belgian Biodiversity Platform (European and international…
Chelsea HUNTER
Assistant Professor
University of North Texas
Chelsea Hunter (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Texas and an environmental anthropologist. Her research interests largely center around…
Silvia VIMERCATI
Coral Reef Conservation Specialist
SHAMS
Dr. Silvia Vimercati is a marine biologist working with the General Organization for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea (SHAMS), where she leads projects on coral reef…
Cymie PAYNE
Professor
Rutgers University
Professor Cymie R. Payne is on the faculty of Rutgers University. She has appeared as counsel before the Internationall Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and as expert before the International Court of…
Maria Eugenia PERIAGO
Coordinadora de Estrategia e Impacto
Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
I am conservation biologist, specialized in native mammal conservation. I lived in many countries and went to University of Maryland in the US for my undergrad. Then, I got my masters and PhD at the…
Roman JASHENKO
President
Tethys Scientific Society
Director General of Institute of Zoology CS MSHE Republic of Kazakhstan, Chairman of the Kazakhstan National Committee for the UNESCO Program “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB), adviser of the UNESCO…
Mohamed AL KAABI
Secretary General
Emirates Council for Balanced Development
H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Kaabi is a distinguished leader with extensive experience in government, finance, and strategic sustainable development. He played an instrumental role in establishing the…
Santiago RUGERONI
Animal Care Supervisor - Birds
Al Ain Zoo
Santiago Rugeroni is the Animal Care Supervisor for the bird collection at Al Ain Zoo, overseeing avian welfare, enrichment, and habitat design. With over 14 years of zoo experience from Buenos Aires…
Samwel SHABA
CEO
Honeyguide
Sam Shaba is the CEO of Honeyguide Foundation since 2024, where he has risen through the organization since joining in 2014. He leads a team of over 50 professionals, proving that community-led…
Sebastian SCHMIDT ROACH
CEO
Ocean Revive
Sebastian Schmidt-Roach began his coral reef research in 2005 in Trinidad and Tobago, later innovating coral recruitment methods in Indonesia. He earned his PhD on coral reproductive ecology at the…
Geraldo CARREIRO
Team Leader
B4Life (EU)
As a natural resource manager with more than 25 years of professional engagement, I focus on sustainable landscapes, the promotion of green and blue economies, and climate-resilient development…
Youbo ZHUANG
ZHUANG Youbo is a tenured associate professor and doctoral supervisor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, and serves as the deputy director…
Sonya BENJAMIN
I moved to the Middle East over a decade ago, when opportunities for actual biodiversity work were few. In 2020, a global and regional shift took place in which the importance of ecosystem…
Bilal QTESHAT
Director of Nature Protection Directorate
Ministry of Environment of Jordan
Neovitus SIANGA
Director of Community Conservation and Environment
Tanzania People & Wildlife
Neovitus is an esteemed Director of Community Conservation and Environment for African People & Wildlife, known for his unwavering commitment to preserving our natural world and empowering local…
Frances CHASE
Director of Programmes
Namibia Nature Foundation
As Director of Programmes at the Namibian Nature Foundation (NNF), I lead a dynamic and multidisciplinary team working across six strategic areas: Community-Based Organisational Strengthening (CBOS…
Oldman Oduetse KOBOTO
MEA Coordinator
African Union Commission
Emma MEDERIC
Senior Science and Projects Officer
Island Conservation Society
Emma Mederic is a Seychellois conservation professional and currently serves as Senior Science and Conservation Officer at the Island Conservation Society (ICS). In this role, she leads the design…
Paola Elizabeth Cerón Quel
Ingeniera Forestal
GAD de la Provincia del Carchi
PAOLA ELIZABETH CERÓN QUEL, Forest Engineer, holds an International Diploma in Project Development and a Diploma in Water Schools. She has experience in the design and implementation of local,…
Scott BRENNAN
Chief Operating Officer
American Prairie
Reporting directly to and working closely with American Prairie's CEO, Scott is responsible for overseeing all organizational operations including conservation strategy, philanthropy, brand and…
Jawhara ALJUNIBI
Administration Pmo
Zayed Authority for people of Determination
I am proud to serve at Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, where I work as an administrative officer and coordinate volunteer initiatives that create meaningful impact. As the Vice…
Thanatat ANIWAT
Sustainability Manager
TCP Group
Thanatat Aniwat is a sustainability and social impact professional with over a decade of experience leading high-impact programs across the corporate and non-profit sectors. As Sustainability Manager…
Gautier AMOUSSOU
Coordonnateur National
Benin Ecotourism Concern
Koffi Gautier AMOUSSOU, a Beninese national, is an agronomist with forestry background. Born in 1976, he is specialized in the development and management of natural resources and their valorization…
Pradeep KURUKULASURIYA
Executive Secretary
United Nations Capital Development Fund
Pradeep Kurukulasuriya is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Capital Development Fund. He is a Sri Lankan economist with a PhD from Yale University in the United States. Prior to…
Pradeep SINGH
Senior Project Manager
Oceano Azul Foundation
Pradeep Singh is a Senior Project Manager at Oceano Azul Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal. He holds an LL.M degree from Harvard Law School, an LL.M. degree in Global Environment and Climate Change Law…
Dana AHMED
Ocean Programme Advisor
Earth Law Centre
Dana Ahmed is a Law of the Sea Researcher, Ocean Rights Educator & Accessibility Advocate, working at the intersection of law, community, and ocean justice. Her foundation in common law sparked…
Julia CARABIAS
Julia CARABIAS