All Speakers
Waleed HAMZA
Professor of Oceanography and Aquatic Ecology
United Arab Emirates University
Prof. Waleed Hamza has obtained his Ph.D. from Italy in Aquatic Ecology, in 1994. He has and is acting as principal investigator of different research projects in the field of Oceanography and…
Jens Mackensen
Head of Division
KfW Development Bank
Jens Mackensen holds a doctorate in forestry and has over 30 years of international experience in sustainable land use and climate and forest protection projects in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.In…
Taras BAINS
Junior Professional- World Heritage
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Taras is a young conservation professional with experience across natural world heritage, conservation communications, environmental education and protected areas/community-based conservation. He…
Mark VAN DER WAL
Senior Ecologist - Focal point Extractives
IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands
Tropical ecologist by training. I have worked the 1st 14 year of my career in, mostly very remote settings, in S.America, East Indonesia and Central Africa. Since 2004, based in Amsterdam and working…
Alessandra Guzmán Sanchez
Alessandra Guzmán Sanchez
Michael COOPERMAN
Fish & Fisheries Ecologist
PlusFish Philanthropy
A fish and fisheries ecologist specializing in research and management of inland fisheries of the developing nations of the tropics. Founder and principal of PlusFish Philanthropy, from which grants…
Gia PAOLA
National Policy Analyst
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Gia Paola is a dedicated and forward-thinking National Policy Analyst with specialized expertise in environmental sustainability, natural resource management, and human rights. With a strong…
Manal AWAD
Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment of Egypt
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency
Dr. Manal Awad is the Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment of Egypt. She previously served as Governor of Damietta (2018–2024) and Deputy Governor of Giza for Community…
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,…
David OBURA
Director
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
David Obura is a Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa, chairs the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, 2023-2026) and is on the Earth Commission (2019-2026).…
Tekau FRERE
Tekau Frere, a French Polynesian consultant, serves as the coordinator of the Marine Protected Areas working group of the High Seas Alliance, a network of over 70 international non governmental…
Nadine SELEEM
Senior Assurance Officer
IUCN
Bridging technical expertise to elevate community impact, I have 8+ years of experience insustainability standards, certification, and process optimization while fostering stakeholderengagement, and…
SANJOG THAKALI
Master in Environment Science and management
Teen Gaule Thakali Community
My name is Sanjog Thakali, and I am an indigenous youth from Gharapjhong-5, Mustang, Nepal. I hold a Master of Science in Environmental Management. I have been actively engaged in conservation…
Alexandra ALVES
Senior Researcher
Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center
Dr. Alexandra Alves is a marine biologist and research scientist specializing in aquaculture, comparative endocrinology, and physiology. With over ten years of experience in animal research and…
Caroline LEES
Chair
IUCN SSC CPSG
Caroline joined the CPSG staff in 2011 as a workshop facilitator and PVA modeller. Before CPSG she worked with zoos in the UK, Europe and later in Australasia where her work included evaluating field…
Luc Roscelin TéDONZONG DONGMO
Conservation Scientist - Africa
IUCN
Luc holds a PhD in Biology (Terrestrial Ecology), with a specialization in Wildlife Habitat Management. His doctoral training took place at Ghent University (Terrestrial Ecology Unit) and at the…
Omar AL HAMELI
Omar AL HAMELI
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…
Seheno ANDRIANTSARALAZA
COO
Fanamby
I hold a PhD in Plant Biology from the University of Antananarivo, specializing in baobab ecology and plant–animal interactions. She is the Chief Operating Officer of Fanamby, a Malagasy organization…
Emma GAGEN
Director Data & Research
ICMM
Emma is the Director of Data & Research at ICMM, overseeing ICMM’s materials stewardship, tailings management and data projects. She has 15 years’ post-PhD experience leading projects relating to…
Assad SERHAL
Director General
SPNL
Early Life & EducationBorn in the village of Keyfoun, nestled in the foothills of Mount Lebanon. His childhood was shaped by close contact with nature, including frequent hunting trips with his…
Natalia Gabriela MINKSZTYM
YP Communications and Events
IUCN
I’m Natalia Gabriela Minksztym, a Young Professional in Communications and Events with the IUCN Water and Wetlands Team. My work focuses on digital communications, event support, and project-specific…
Shirleen CHIN
Executive Director
EcoJustice
As an international legal expert for the past 15 years, Shirleen Chin has worked on matters related to environmental crime/ecocide, international criminal law, illicit trade, anti-corruption,…
Nirmala SÉON-MASSIN
Director of Expertise
Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
Ilysa IGLESIAS
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
As an ocean scientist, I am deeply interested in the ecological connections between ocean twilight zone communities and the broader ocean ecosystem. My current research as a Postdoctoral Fellow at…
Nigel ASQUITH
Firoz AHMED
Conservation Biologist
Aaranyak
I am a conservation practitioner and a wildlife biologist who loves exploring the nature and the biodiversity and when possible contribute to the science and communicate to the communities about…
Friederike POHLIN
Vetmeduni Vienna
I am a wildlife veterinary researcher and board-certified veterinary anaesthetist at the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. My interests…