Candidate info
Particular qualifications:
As IUCN President since 2021, I bring over two decades of governance experience at the intersection of conservation, climate, and development. I serve in a personal capacity, with deep commitment to the Union’s mission and values, and the ability to provide strategic leadership, global perspective, and institutional oversight. I have led large and diverse organizations, including the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the Middle East’s largest environmental regulator, and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, one of the world’s most active species conservation philanthropies. I have chaired IUCN Council meetings, worked closely with the Director General and Commission Chairs, and upheld the principle that Council’s role is to set strategic direction — not to manage day-to-day operations. Fluent in English and Arabic and conversant in French, I represent IUCN at the highest diplomatic levels. I have supported collaboration across the Union and helped foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and transparency. I have also advocated for ambitious institutional deliverables — including the development of IUCN’s first-ever 20-Year Strategic Vision and the draft Programme of Work 2026–2029, which are currently under consideration by Members for adoption at the World Conservation Congress. As President, I remain committed to ethical leadership, institutional independence, and service to the Union — grounded in transparency, equity, and strategic focus.
Experience in fields of concern to IUCN:
My career has been rooted in IUCN’s core areas of concern: species conservation, ecosystem management, protected areas, environmental governance, and the convergence of biodiversity, climate, and development. As Managing Director of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, I have overseen programs on protected areas, marine and air quality, climate resilience, and one of the world’s most ambitious species reintroductions — returning the Scimitar-horned oryx to the wild after it was declared Extinct in the Wild. As founding director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, I have supported more than 3,000 projects in nearly every country, spanning all taxonomic groups and ecosystems. I have also contributed to global conservation diplomacy, serving as UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, UAE Sherpa to the Ocean Panel, and Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. These roles have helped shape international policy on biodiversity, climate, and finance — reinforcing the importance of nature to global sustainability goals. As IUCN President, I have prioritized inclusive governance, strengthened coordination across Council, Secretariat, and Members, and supported alignment with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. My leadership is rooted in scientific credibility, practical experience, and a commitment to collaboration across all parts of the Union. My leadership is informed by scientific knowledge, multilateral experience, and an unwavering belief in the power of collective action to protect nature and the people who depend on it.