All Speakers

Alain FRECHETTE

Director - Rights, Climate & Conservation

Rights and Resources Initiative

Alain Frechette, PhD, is Director of Rights, Climate, and Conservation and Strategic Analysis at RRI. He’s worked for nearly three decades in areas related to natural resource management,…

Jingyu Chen

Project Manager

Cloud Mountain Conservation

I graduated from the Institute of Anthropology at National Tsing Hua University and am currently conducting research on community-based conservation of the Skywalker Hoolock Gibbons (Hoolock tianxing…

Dolf DEJONG

CEO

Toronto Zoo

Dolf DeJong is the Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Zoo, where he has served since 2018. Under his leadership, the Zoo has advanced its mission of connecting people, animals, conservation…

Rita BENTO

Research Associate

NYUAD

Rita Bento is a Marine Biologist and Research Associate at New York University Abu Dhabi. With nearly two decades of monitoring experience, her research focuses on the resilience of coral reef…

Valentina BALESTRA

Researcher

Politecnico di Torino, European Cave Protection Commission

Researcher and field ecologist. Main topics: Microplastic pollution, subterranean biology, karst systems, fauna monitoring and conservation

Mariana Rodrigues

Marketing Director

L`Occitane Middle East

Adnan AQEEL MADHI

Ibrahim KAHDER

Regional Director, Middle East

Birdlife International

The Regional Director for Middle East Secretariate, BirdLife International. More than thirty years of national, regional and international working experience in the fields of Biodiversity…

Paul SMITH

Secretary General (CEO)

Botanic Gardens Conservation International

Dr Paul Smith is the Secretary General of Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). BGCI is the largest plant conservation network in the world, comprising 650 member institutions in 100…

Demi DOBLE

Supervisor of Animal Training

Al Ain Zoo

Demi is a zoo professional specialising in animal welfare, enrichment, and positive reinforcement training. Passionate about endangered species, she has led the creation of innovative Animal Welfare…

FRITZGERALD WENUR

Marketing & Information Officer

CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat

Fritzgerald Wenur is a Project & Communications Specialist with a background in marine biology and extensive experience in marine conservation, regional cooperation, and youth engagement. Working…

José Aldana

Ingeniero AgroForestal

CRG - AgroProgreso

I have developed experience in sustainable forest management and legal forest governance, complemented by work in economic activation, forest cover expansion, and the administration of coffee and…

Bineesh KINATTUMKARA

Scientist E

Zoological Survey of India

Adeline SERCKX

Strategic Director

The Biodiversity Consultancy Limited

Adeline has more than twelve years’ experience in bio-engineering, specialising in ecology, biodiversity, and conservation biology. With TBC since 2017, she has worked with renewables, oil and…

Jan TRáVNíčEK

Director

Czech Organics / Living Lab PROBIO

I am co-founder of Czech Organics, where I focus on applied research, advisory services, and knowledge transfer in organic and sustainable farming. My work connects farmers, researchers, and…

Mitali SHARMA

Independent Consultant

IUCN Climate Crisis Commission 2022-2025

Mitali Sharma is an independent consultant based in Singapore. She works for various environmental organisations on species conservation and area-based conservation projects. Her work has primarily…

Javier MÁRQUEZ

Executive Director

Fundación Defensores de la Naturaleza

Javier Marquez Executive Director of Defensores de la Naturaleza, has worked on conservation and sustainable development actions for more than 27 years. With extensive experience working with local…

Joséa S. DOSSOU BODJRENOU

President

Comité National des Membres de l'UICN au Bénin

Né en 1964 à Porto-Novo d’une famille très modeste de Hozin, Commune de Dangbo, Monsieur Dossou-Bodjrènou S. Joséa a fait ses études primaires à Hozin et à Pobè et ses études secondaires à Dangbo,…

Marco Vinicio CEREZO

General Director

FUNDAECO

Rosalind HELFAND

Environmental and Social Policy Advisor

California Global Biodiversity Alliance

Rosalind Helfand, based in Los Angeles, California, is an expert in environmental policies and programs. Rosalind is the Co-founder of the California Global Biodiversity Alliance (CalGBA), which…

Huntae KIM

Vice President

POSCO Holdings

I’m Huntae Kim, and I lead the Sustainability Team in the Management Strategy Office at POSCO Holdings.I started my career in 2011 at the POSCO Management Institute, focusing on corporate strategy,…

Marc HOCKINGS

Emeritus Professor

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2021-2025

Marc Hockings is Emeritus Professor in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Queensland. He is a long-term member of the International Union for the Conservation of…

Thomas Andersson

President

IKED

President of the International Organisation of Knowledge Economy and Enterprise Devcelopment (IKED) Previously: Vice-Chancellor of Jönköping University, Sweden Deputy Director of Science Technology…

Kedar Girish GORE

Director

The Corbett Foundation

Kedar Gore has been actively engaged in wildlife conservation and environmental protection work for over two decades. A passionate bird-watcher since the age of 10, Kedar was drawn into the full-time…

Ilana Victorya Seid

Ambassador

Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations

The Permanent Representative of Palau to the United Nations, Ms. Ilana V. Seid, presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 16 September 2021. She is serving concurrently as…

Lara OCALLAGHAN

GCELS Staff Student Intern

Center for Environmental Legal Studies

Lara O'Callaghan is a J.D. candidate at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, where she is actively involved with the Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies. Her studies focus…

Mary BLAIR

Associate Director

Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History

Mary E. Blair, Ph.D. is the Associate Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History. She leads an interdisciplinary research program on…

Dongho Kim

Team Leader

Suncheon city

I am a public servant in Suncheon City, Republic of Korea. I am in charge of ecological civilization transformation and support Nature-based Solutions.