All Speakers

Speaker Alys YOUNG
Alys YOUNG

Post-doctoral research fellow

James Cook University

I am a quantitative ecology researcher passionate about conserving biodiversity. I employ quantitative tools and data-driven approaches to understand and protect ecosystems and species at broad…
Speaker Kathryn GWIAZDON
Kathryn GWIAZDON

Executive Director

Center for Environmental Ethics and Law

Kathryn (Katy) Gwiazdon is a lawyer, author, advisor, and connector who specializes in the role of the state in global governance and the inter-sectionality of ethics and the environment with all…
Speaker Patricia CLAVERIE
Patricia CLAVERIE

Vice President Environment & Social Performance

TotalEnergies SE

Patricia has carried out the larger part of her professional career in the Oil and Gas industry, in a variety of commercial and operational management roles. She also worked with the…
Speaker Mateo PORTER PARTIDA
Mateo PORTER PARTIDA

Student

EducationNatureNexus

I am a 17-year-old Mexican student living in Canada with a deep passion for marine ecosystems and sustainability. As I navigate my final year of high school, I aspire to study marine biology and…
Speaker Hala HATAMLEH
Hala HATAMLEH

Policy and Research Manager

Posterity Institute

Hala Hatamleh is the Director of the Irth Institute, under the Posterity Institute, where she also serves as Research and Policy Manager. She leads all research and policy initiatives related to…
Speaker Laure MONTCHAMP
Laure MONTCHAMP

Senior Grants Officer, Species Conservation Action

IUCN

Laure Montchamp has been working at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2021, where she currently serves as Senior Grants Officer , Conservation Action within the Species…
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 Baerbel VOGEL
Baerbel VOGEL

Secretary

IUCN/WCPA GSG Caves and Karst Working Group

Over 30 years I am an engaged speleologist with a special focus on cave and karst protection and policy. I serve as president for the German Speleological Federation VdHK for almost 20 years now. In…
Speaker Reine Metlej
Reine Metlej
Reine Metlej is a sustainability consultant and social entrepreneur from Lebanon, passionate about driving climate action, circular economy solutions, and youth empowerment. With a background in…
Speaker Tobias GARSTECKI
Tobias GARSTECKI

Director of Protected Area Planning and Management, Re:wild

Re:wild

Tobias Garstecki supports Re:wild’s partners to manage and govern protected and conserved areas effectively. This involves facilitating the development of management strategies and plans, helping to…
Speaker Rahul Chand
Rahul Chand

Protected and Conserved Areas Coordinator

IUCN Secretariat

Speaker Godfrey NYANGARESI
Godfrey NYANGARESI

Protection Manager

Southern Tanzania Elephant Program (STEP)

Godfrey Nyangaresi is the Protection Manager at the Southern Tanzania Elephant Program (STEP), a dedicated conservationist with over 15 years of experience in wildlife protection and human-wildlife…
Speaker Justin LANGAN
Justin LANGAN

Executive Director

O'KANATA

Justin Ron Langan is a 26-year-old LGBTQ+ Métis leader, activist, and social entrepreneur from Swan River, Manitoba, Canada. He is the founder and Executive Director of O’KANATA, a federally…
Speaker Natalia NILES ARGUELLO
Natalia NILES ARGUELLO

Intern

Families In Nature

Natalia Niles Arguello (Lexi) is a high school Senior in McCallum High School's Fine Arts Academy in Austin, Texas.  Lexi has a passion for environmental climate justice and international…
Speaker Leonardo GARCIA
Leonardo GARCIA

BRIDGE Project Coordinator

Forever Costa Rica

Leonardo Garcia is a Costa Rican biologist with over 20 years of experience in environmental sustainability issues and projects. He holds a Master's degree in Natural Resources and Sustainable…
Speaker Noura ALMANSOORI
Noura ALMANSOORI

Research Assistant (Conservation Genetics)

Reneco International Wildlife Consultants LLC

Noura Almansoori is a conservation genetics researcher from the UAE who applies DNA-based barcoding and metabarcoding methods to study arthropods, birds, and pathogens. Her research spans population…
Speaker John PEREIRA
John PEREIRA

Head of Operations - RER

APRIL

John Pereira has over 20 years of international experience in environmental management, ecology, and operational leadership within conservation. As acting Head of Operations for Restorasi Ekosistem…
Speaker edward perry
edward perry

biodiversity policy analyst

OECD

Edward Perry is a Biodiversity Policy Analyst at the OECD Environment Directorate. His work focuses on biodiversity finance, the design of policy instruments – particularly economic incentives – and…
Speaker Aristide Takoukam Kamla
Aristide Takoukam Kamla

President

African Marine Conservation Organization

Aristide Takoukam Kamla is a National Geographic Explorer, Whitley Award winner, marine researcher, and conservationist. Since 2008, Kamla has worked on the conservation of the African manatee and…
Speaker María José GONZáLEZ BERNAT
María José GONZáLEZ BERNAT

Director of the Oceans Program

AIDA

Maria Jose Gonzalez-Bernat is a biologist with over 16 years of experience and results in marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystem management and conservation.  She is originally from Guatemala…
Speaker Elaina COX
Elaina COX

Indigenous Stewardship and Conservation

Parks Canada Agency - Agence Parcs Canada

Elaina Cox is a Top 25 Environmentalist Under 25 award winner equipped with several years of experience in environmental, climate and sustainability work through affiliations with governments,…
Speaker Kirti Vardhan SINGH
Kirti Vardhan SINGH

Union Minister of State, MoEFCC

Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Ministry of External Affairs

Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh was sworn-in as Union Minister of State on 09 June 2024. He assumed charge as Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Minister of State for…
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 (…
Speaker Loic LESOBRE
Loic LESOBRE

Head of Conservation Genetics

Ekthar

Loïc was born in France and has spent most of his adult life overseas, notably in Morocco, South Africa, and the UAE. He joined Reneco in 2001 at the Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation in…
Speaker Ami VITALE
Ami VITALE

Photographer, filmmaker and journalist.

Vital Impacts

Ami Vitale’s career stands as a testament to her deep dedication to documenting and addressing global crises. As an acclaimed National Geographic photographer, writer, and documentary filmmaker, as…
Speaker Maya NEHME
Maya NEHME

Director

Lebanon National Committee of IUCN Members

Dr. Maya Nehme is the Director of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI), a Lebanese NGO that started in 2010 as a project funded by USAID and implemented by the US Forest Service International…
Speaker Qiongyu HUANG
Qiongyu HUANG

Wildlife Biologist

Smithsonian's National Zoo Conservation Biology Institute

Qiongyu Huang, Ph.D., is the Roger and Molly Sit Giant Panda Biologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. A spatial ecologist and physical geographer, he integrates…