Mariam WESTON FLORES

I am an Engineer in Sustainable Development with an MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge and an unfathomable passion for wildlife conservation and sustainable social development. For more than eight years, I have led, promoted, and developed interdisciplinary, sustainable, and community-based conservation strategies for biodiversity.

I currently work as a Programme Officer for the IUCN Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group (HWCC SG), where I support global efforts to advance coexistence approaches. I have significant experience in developing trainings, building collaborative networks across sectors and geographies, and facilitating knowledge exchange between practitioners.

My professional background also includes experience in grant-making, working with the Rufford Foundation, as well as designing, managing, and implementing conservation projects with NGOs such as Animal Karma Foundation, WWF Mexico, and Panthera Mexico. These projects have been focused on community engagement, human-wildlife coexistence, and the development of innovative, sustainable conservation solutions. I have also contributed to the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation through the coordination of the Ocelot Working Group.

I am deeply committed to fostering human-wildlife coexistence, advancing sustainable development, and promoting nature-based solutions. My greatest aspiration is to help stop extinctions by engineering innovative and sustainable conservation solutions.