All Speakers

Melanie SCHWEIKART

Project Manager Biodiversity and Marine Conservation at the International Climat

Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH

Melanie Schweikart has been working for 3 years in the International Climate Initiative (IKI), a funding programme for climate action and biodiversity conservation projects by the German Federal…

David EMMETT

Head of International Biodiversity

Hempel Foundation

I am a tropical nature conservationist with almost 30 years of experience from East Africa, Madagascar and the Asia-Pacific. I specialise in strategic planning, landscape-scale conservation,…

Alejandro VON BERTRAB

Project Director

GIZ GmbH

Dr. Alejandro von Bertrab is head of the Indo-German bilateral project Restore, Conserve and Protect Forest and Tree Cover for NDC Implementation in India (RECAP4NDC) commissioned by the…

Gary MAIDMENT

Communications Manager

Huawei

Gary Maidment has been with Huawei since 2014 and currently works as Communications Manager for Huawei’s TECH4ALL Program Office. He is responsible for promoting TECH4ALL projects, including the…

Fanny CORNEJO

Executive Director

Yunkawasi

Fanny M. Cornejo is a Peruvian conservation biologist and anthropologist with over 18 years of experience in biodiversity research, protected area governance, and community-based conservation in the…

Guilherme OLIVEIRA

Scientific Director

Vale Institute of Technology

Dr. Oliveira’s current work focuses on describing the biodiversity of the amazon, from a molecular perspective, with the use of DNA barcoding, genomics, and proteomics approaches. Extensive use of…

Elvis LARA FLORES

Presidente Junta Directiva AESMO

Asociación Ecologica de San Marcos de Ocotepeque (AESMO)

Health professional with 33 years of experience in nursing and a strong commitment to the conservation of natural resources. For the past 10 years, I have collaborated in conservation efforts led by…

Shaimaa ZAGHLOUL

General Manger-Nature Conservation Sector

Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency

Dr. Shaimaa is a nationally recognized specialist in the management of Protected areas and a biodiversity conservationist , and has been employed in the nature conservation sector for seventeen…

Loïs Lelanchon

Head of Partnerships and Advocacy

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Loïs Lelanchon is the Head of Partnerships and Advocacy at the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). A qualified legal professional specialising in environmental and animal law, Loïs brings…

AYESHA AL DHAHERI

Advisor

United Arab Emirates University

Professor Ayesha Al Dhaheri serves as an Advisor to the Vice Chancellor's Office at the United Arab Emirates University. Her previous roles include Associate Provost for Student Affairs (2020-2022),…

Eliana Garzón

Fundación Natura

Pianporn DEETES

Pianporn (Pai) Deetes is the Executive Director of the Rivers and Rights Foundation, a Thailand-based organization advancing environmental justice, community empowerment, and river protection across…

Lashley Ashley

Youth Advisor to the United Nations Secretary General on Climate Change

The United Nations

Ashley Lashley is a passionate advocate for climate, health, and youth empowerment. As one of the Youth Advisors to the United Nations Secrtary General on Climate Change, A former UNICEF Youth…

Virginia YOUNG

Senior Research Fellow

Australian Foundation for Wilderness

Virginia Young works with global science leaders to communicate the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity for carbon retention, climate mitigation and adaptation to encourage synergistic…

Rohitesh DHAWAN

President and CEO

International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM)

Rohitesh “Ro” Dhawan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). He leads the Council of 26 CEOs of the world’s largest mining & metals…

Aziz Abdukhakimov

Aziz Abdukhakimov currently serves as the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a position he has held since December 30, 2022. Born in 1974…

Mohamed Mahdy HASSONA

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2021-2025

Renowned horticulturist Mohamed Hassona, the lead at the Qur'anic Botanic Garden under Qatar Foundation, brings his exceptional expertise to fostering green development. With vast experience in areas…

Stijn VERSCHUEREN

Conservation scientist

Cheetah Conservation Fund

Conservation scientist with affiliations at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (Namibia) and the Conservation Biology Division, University of Bern (Switzerland). Specializes in carnivore ecology,…

Boris ERG

Director, European Regional Office

IUCN

Boris Erg is Director of the IUCN European Regional Office (EURO) based in Bonn. Boris’ professional career spans 25 years focusing on environmental policy, biodiversity conservation, governance and…

Hannah FAIRBANK

Senior Biodiversity Specialist

The Global Environment Facility secretariat

Demba MARICO

Coordonnateur de Programme E2SL

Partenariat Régional pour la Conservation des zones côtières

Chelsea HUNTER

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Chelsea Hunter (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Texas and an environmental anthropologist. Her research interests largely center around…

Ron VAVE

Assistant Professor

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

I'm an indigenous Fijian, interdisciplinary marine social scientist who has worked in my home country (Fiji), the Indo-Pacific as part of the Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) network, and in Hawai'…

Fiesta WARINWA

JOSEPH PIERRE CLAUDE GASCON

DIRECTOR

Global Environment Facility

Dr. Claude Gascon is Director of Strategy and Operations at the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In this capacity Dr. Gascon leads the development of strategic planning, programming,…

Anushri TIWARI

South Asian Region Lead

Urban Biodiversity Hub

Anushri Tiwari is an urban planner and ecologist exploring socio-ecological systems (SES), with a focus on the interlinkages between blue-green infrastructures and communities. She recognizes the…

John ROBINSON

Joan L. Tweedy Chair in Conservation Strategy

Wildlife Conservation Society

John G. Robinson directed the WCS’s conservation programs in the Americas, Africa and Asia from 1990 to 2020. He has studied subsistence and commercial hunting in tropical forests, and has a long…

Ameera MOHAMMAD

Instructor

UAEU

Dr. Ameera F. Mohammad is an Instructor in the Engineering Requirements Unit at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). She holds a dual Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from UAEU and KU Leuven. Her…