All Speakers

Speaker Catherine BRYAN
Catherine BRYAN

Co-Chair

Synchronicity Earth

Catherine uses her experience in organisational development, markets and risk, alongside her fascination with the natural world to support a wide range of work that promotes the protection and...
Speaker Manal AWAD
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...
Speaker Erika HARMS
Erika HARMS

Grupo Iberostar

With over a decade of experience in the field of responsible tourism and sustainable ocean economy, Erika holds a combined master's degree in business administration and natural resource management...
Speaker Michelle BENDER
Michelle BENDER

Legal Counsel and Head of Ocean Rights

Ocean Vision Legal

Michelle is the creator and leading expert in the movement towards "Ocean Rights," the application of Rights of Nature in the ocean policy seascape. She has provided her expertise to Rights of Nature...
Speaker Loïs Lelanchon
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...
Speaker William RIDGEON
William RIDGEON

Senior Producer / Director

BBC Studios, Natural History Unit

Will is an award-winning Senior producer and director, at the BBC’s Natural History Unit – producing a wide range of natural history series and specialising in creating landmark, blue-chip films. As...
Speaker Rob WALTON
Rob WALTON

Founder

Rob Walton Foundation

Rob Walton is a business leader, conservationist, and owner of the Denver Broncos.After serving as a partner at the law firm of Conner & Winters in Tulsa, Rob held several positions at Walmart,...
Speaker KOUDERIN K. MARTIAL
KOUDERIN K. MARTIAL

Directeur Exécutif

CREDI-ONG

Mr. KOUDERIN Kotcholé Martial is a committed Beninese professional in the fields of rural development, environmental governance, and social innovation. He currently serves as the Executive Director...
Speaker Jocelyne SZE
Jocelyne SZE

Postdoctoral researcher

Autonomous University of Barcelona

Jocelyne (she/her) is a post-doc researcher currently on the CONDJUST project based at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She is looking at how geospatial data (maps) are used in conservation...
Speaker Alice MACHARIA
Alice MACHARIA

V.P. Africa Programs

The Jane Goodall Institute

Alice Macharia serves as the Vice President of Africa Programs for the Jane Goodall Institute, where she develops and implements JGI’s community-led conservation strategies. As part of the...
Speaker Jennifer OLEGERIIL
Jennifer OLEGERIIL

Minister for Justice

Ministry of Justice

Jennifer S. OlegeriilMinister of JusticeMinistry of JusticeRepublic of PalauBiographyJennifer S. Olegeriil was sworn into office to hold the post of Minister of Justice on 19 May 2025under the...
Speaker Khaled MARAFI
Khaled MARAFI

Expert ecosystems management - Candidate IUCN Regional Council West Asia

Councillor Elected From The Region WEST Asia

With over 27 years of experience in environmental management, dryland restoration, and sustainable development, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, regional knowledge, and leadership. My...
Speaker Fátima D. GIGANTE
Fátima D. GIGANTE

Program Coordinator

CoalitionWILD/WILD Foundation

Fátima D. Gigante has a multidisciplinary background as a biologist with a Master’s degree in Forest and Nature Conservation from Wageningen University and Research, where she specialized in the...
Speaker Elizabeth BENNETT
Elizabeth BENNETT

Vice President, Species Conservation

Wildlife Conservation Society

Elizabeth Bennett is currently Vice President for Species Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) based at WCS’s head office in New York. In this role, she oversees WCS’s species...
Speaker Saebyeol SEO
Saebyeol SEO

Programme Officer, Protected Areas

IUCN Secretariat

Saebyeol Seo is a program officer for protected areas at the IUCN Asia Regional Office (ARO), where she primarily supports the Secretariat of the Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP). Seconded...
Speaker Lina SARKIS
Lina SARKIS

Coordinator of development

Shouf Biosphere Reserve

Lina Sarkis carries over 15 years of experience in the fields of conservation, rural development, and NGO management. She has a proven track record in leading initiatives for biodiversity...
Speaker Paulina KARIM
Paulina KARIM

Assistant Professor

National Dong Hwa University | Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency

I’m an Assistant Professor at the College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography and CEO of the @ScapesLab Research Centre at National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan. With a PhD in Landscape...
Speaker Milica MISKOVIC
Milica MISKOVIC

Programme Officer

IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO)

I am the Conservation programme officer for IUCN (Regional office for Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia), based in Belgrade and have been with IUCN for 5 years now. Prior to that I worked for...
Speaker Natalia DANILINA
Natalia DANILINA

Director

Environmental Education Centre Zapovedniks

NATALIA DANILINA, PRESIDENT OF THE CHARITABLE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION "Protected Areas EMBASSY", DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE ZAPOVEDNIKS. Since 1996 creator and director Zapovedniks...
Speaker James HARDCASTLE
James HARDCASTLE

Director, Protected and Conserved Areas

IUCN

James Hardcastle leads IUCN’s Protected and Conserved Areas work. James helped develop the IUCN Green List, the flagship sustainability standard for fair and effective area-based conservation.James...
Speaker ROWELY YEN PARICO
ROWELY YEN PARICO

Executive Officer

IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas

Yen Parico is currently serving as the Temporary Executive Officer of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). A firm believer in the power of young people to shape a better future for...
Speaker Peeranuch Dulkul KAPPELLE
Peeranuch Dulkul KAPPELLE

Forest Technical Officer

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Peeranuch Dulkul Kappelle (Pat) With over 30 years of experience as a technical forest officer within Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Pat has dedicated her career to advancing both...
Speaker Suman GHIMIRE
Suman GHIMIRE

Founder and CEO

PlantSat by Seed Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

I am an agri-insurtech entrepreneur who started his journey in 2019 with a mission to protect South Asian farmers, starting from Nepal, from both agriculture and climate risks. My startup harnesses...
Speaker Derek GLIDDON
Derek GLIDDON

Director Environmental Science Developement

Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

Derek Gliddon is an environmental informatics and research leader with over 30 years of international experience advancing biodiversity conservation, environmental governance, and sustainable...
Speaker Edy Reynaldo DARIQUEBE LAURA
Edy Reynaldo DARIQUEBE LAURA

Indigenous Expert

FENAMAD

Edy Dariquebe, community leaderand director of the Native Federationof the Madre de Dios River and Tributaries.
Speaker It SAV
It SAV

Head of the O’Tung Community Protected Area (CPA)

O’Tung Community Protected Area (CPA)

Mr. Sav It is the Head of the O’Tung Community Protected Area (CPA) Committee in Virachey National Park (VNP), in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. He has more than 15 years of experience in community-...
Speaker Sawyer KUHLKEN
Sawyer KUHLKEN

Youth Humboldt Scientist

Families in Nature

Sawyer Kuhlken is a youth leader, diver, artist and conservationist. He has collaboratively contributed to research projects in Tela, Honduras aimed at discovering the biotic and abiotic factors...