All Speakers

Speaker Javkhlan ARIUNBAATAR
Javkhlan ARIUNBAATAR

GIZ Mongolia

Dr. Javkhlan Ariunbaatar is a development and environmental strategist advancing sustainable development and biodiversity conservation in Mongolia and internationally, with expertise in conservation…
Speaker Fehmi SANAA
Fehmi SANAA

Business Development Manager

CLS

Dynamic business development and sales leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth across the telecommunications, public safety, and environmental technology sectors. Skilled in forging…
Speaker Andrew MOONEY
Andrew MOONEY

Senior Conservation and Science Officer

Dublin Zoo

Senior Conservation and Science Officer at Dublin Zoo, Ireland, and Coordinator for the IUCN Centre for Species Survival: Ireland.
Speaker Austin MAST
Austin MAST

Professor

Florida State University | Citizen Science Global Partnership

I am a Professor in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University where I also serve as Director of the Institute for Digital Information and Scientific Communication and as…
Speaker Jennifer CORPUZ
Jennifer CORPUZ

Fellow and Strategic Advisor

Nia Tero

I am an Indigenous woman from the Kankanaey Igorot People of Besao, Mountain Province in the Philippines. I am a lawyer by profession, having obtained my Bachelor of Laws degree from the University…
Speaker Violeta BARRIOS AQUINO
Violeta BARRIOS AQUINO

Chief Operating Officer

Sahara Conservation

Violeta Barrios is Chief Operating Officer at Sahara Conservation, based in France. In this role, she oversees the organization’s programs across countries, ensuring effective project delivery,…
Speaker Alex TOTH
Alex TOTH

Founder

MycoNest

Alex Tóth (Hungary) is passionate about restoring ecosystems through bio-based, circular, and regenerative design. With a background in EU environmental policy and circular economy, he works at the…
Speaker Astrid SCHOMAKER
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…
Speaker Gavin EDWARDS
Gavin EDWARDS

Executive Director

Nature Positive Initiative

Gavin Edwards is a conservation and environment advocate with three decades of experience in pursuing and helping secure break-through solutions to the twin biodiversity and climate crises. He…
Speaker Padu FRANCO
Padu FRANCO

Senior Program Manager

Bezos Earth Fund

Evolutionary and conservation biologist with more than 20 years of experience designing, coordinating, and implementing basic and applied research studies and projects. Over 15 years of…
Speaker Hannah TIMMINS
Hannah TIMMINS

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2021-2025

I am an ecologist with an interdisciplinary background in landscape-level conservation planning and management. I have researched and written about many topics including most recently the…
Speaker Matthew COLLIS
Matthew COLLIS

Senior Director, Policy

IFAW

Matt Collis is IFAW’s Senior Director for Policy. Matt has been with IFAW for 20 years in a number of different roles, first joining IFAW’s London office to lead IFAW’s engagement with the UK…
Fazil ABDUL RAHIMAN
Fazil ABDUL RAHIMAN
Speaker Martín ZORDAN
Martín ZORDAN

CEO

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)

Dr  Martín Zordan is a veterinary‑trained conservationist who earned his degree in veterinary medicine before taking on leadership roles in wildlife care and advocacy. He served as Executive Director…
Speaker Simba MANDOTA
Simba MANDOTA

Team Leader/ Acting Country Representative

IUCN Secretariat

Simba currently holds the position of Team Leader for the IKI funded CBA SCALE southern Africa+ project, where he has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a deep understanding of the unique…
Speaker Giacomo MONTEREALE GAVAZZI
Giacomo MONTEREALE GAVAZZI

Science for Policy Researcher/European Commission Contract Agent

European Commission Joint Research Centre

Giacomo Montereale Gavazzi (BSc Animal Biology and Behaviour, MSc Conservation Ecology, PhD hydroacoustics for seabed mapping) is an ecologist working at the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre…
Speaker Takao AIBA
Takao AIBA

Chair of Planning Sub-comittee

Keidanren Nature Conservation Council

Contact point and account manager Toyota in Japan, liaising with our Japan office
Fernando ESPERON
Fernando ESPERON
Speaker Zoë ZÜRN
Zoë ZÜRN

Junior Conservation Officer

IUCN European Representative Office

Zoë Zürn  joined the IUCN European Regional Office in 2023 and now works as a junior conservation officer as part of the European natural resources unit, focussing on policy and programme within…
Speaker Joaquín Humberto GUTIéRREZ SáNCHEZ
Joaquín Humberto GUTIéRREZ SáNCHEZ
Speaker Louise CARVER
Louise CARVER

Research Associate

TBA21-Academy

Human geographer and political ecologist  combining insights from academic, policy and arts and design contexts to explore transformative approaches to conservation aligned with Convivial…
Speaker Tessa WORGAN
Tessa WORGAN

Senior Producer

BBC Studios Natural History Unit

Tessa is a Senior Producer in BBC Studio’s Natural History Unit development team. She has developed several landmark natural history and conservation series including Blue Planet III, Hidden Planet,…
Speaker Cristian Fernandez
Cristian Fernandez

Abogado

FARN

Lawyer specialise in environmental law and climate litigation . Legal Coordinator at FARN. Lecturer at University of Buenos Aires
Speaker Priyanshu KAMBLE
Priyanshu KAMBLE

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025

I’m a 21-year-old wildlife conservationist. I began at 16 as a wildlife rescuer in Mumbai, responding to urban human–wildlife conflict and safely rescuing and relocating more than 2,000 snakes. To…
Speaker Kevin SMITH
Kevin SMITH

Head of Programme, Invasive Species and Wildlife Health

IUCN

Kevin Smith is the Head of Programme Invasive Species and Wildlife Health, for IUCN. His work focuses on supporting countries and civil society in meeting global, regional, and national targets…
Speaker Cloé TRéPANIER
Cloé TRéPANIER

Government and Community Relations manager

Ducks Unlimited Canada

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Université Laval and a Master’s degree in International Studies, specializing in Trade and Investment. As part of her graduate studies, she…
Speaker Sonia Castañeda
Sonia Castañeda

Deputy Director

Fundación Biodiversidad

I contribute to nature conservation and climate emergency through the management of organizations and projects. As a child I got inspired by Mafalda, a comic strip character and cultural icon of the…
Speaker Alifireti TAWAKE
Alifireti TAWAKE

Executive Director

LMMA Network International Trust

Alifereti Tawake, an Indigenous Fijian leader, is the Executive Director and co-founder of the LMMA Network International Trust. For over two decades, he has pioneered LMMAs, community-based…