All Speakers

Speaker Nizar HANI
Nizar HANI

Minister of Agriculture

Lebanon

Dr. Nizar Hani has been serving as Minister of Agriculture in the Republic of Lebanon since February 8, 2025. He brings extensive experience in the fields of environmental protection, protected areas…
Speaker Hesham El-Askary
Hesham El-Askary

Professor

Chapman University

Prof. El-Askary received his Ph.D. in Computational Sciences and Informatics from George Mason University in 2004 along with his two MS degrees in Computational sciences and Earth Systems Sciences.…
Speaker Taís NOGUEIRA FERNANDES
Taís NOGUEIRA FERNANDES

Environmental specialist

Vale S/A

Specialist in strategic environmental management, corporate sustainability, and biodiversity, with 20+ years of experience leading high-impact projects in both industrial and academic sectors. Ph.D.…
RANDRENJARIVELO TSIRY NIAINA
RANDRENJARIVELO TSIRY NIAINA
Speaker Ramesh KRISHNAMURTHY
Ramesh KRISHNAMURTHY

Scientist/Professor

Wildlife Institute of India

Scientist-F/Professor & Head of the Department, Landscape Planning and Management at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and Adjunct Professor at Faculty of Forestry, University of British…
Speaker Duko HOPMAN
Duko HOPMAN

Executive Director

Rob Walton Foundation

Duko Hopman Executive Director, Rob Walton FoundationDuko joined the Rob Walton Foundation in February 2025 after more than a decade at McKinsey & Company, where he co-founded and co-led the…
Speaker Elsburgh 'Tres' CLARKE
Elsburgh 'Tres' CLARKE

Director of Animal Health and Welfare

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center

Dr. Elsburgh “Tres” Octavius Clarke III is the Director of Animal Health and Welfare at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and a diplomat of the American College of Zoological Medicine. He…
Speaker Roger NGOUFO
Roger NGOUFO

Cameroon Environmental Watch

Né le 30 décembre 1959, Roger NGOUFO, Professeur titulaire des Universités de classe exceptionnelle, est Docteur en Géographie (Option Géographie physique) de l’Université de Yaoundé (1989) et…
Speaker Vasanti RAO
Vasanti RAO

Director General

Centre for Media Studies (CMS)

Nature Education for Sustainability Co-Chair & South and Southeastern Asia Regional Vice ChairDr (Ms) Vasanti Rao is the Director General of CMS (Centre for Media Studies) - a research based…
Speaker Mehdi AJANA
Mehdi AJANA

HEAD OF STRATEGY AND PARTNERSHIPS

NABAT

After several years in strategy consulting and technology commercialization, I recently joined Nabat, driven by a mission to build meaningful tools that support the urgent work of protecting and…
Speaker Eresha FERNANDO
Eresha FERNANDO

Programme Officer (Freshwater Biodiversity)

IUCN

I am a conservationist with expertise in assessment work for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. I work as a Programme Officer for Freshwater Biodiversity within the IUCN Biodiversity Assessment…
Speaker Aaron Laur
Aaron Laur

Manager, International Connectivity Program

Center for Large Landscape Conservation

Aaron operates the Center for Large Landscape Conservation’s global networks of expertsand institutions, engages in international policy fora like IUCN, CBD, and CMS, and collaborates…
Speaker Fayez AL ABED
Fayez AL ABED

Student

Khalifa University

Fayez Al Abed is an undergraduate civil engineering student at Khalifa University, representing the next generation of engineers committed to advancing sustainability in infrastructure. His interests…
Speaker pauli merriman
pauli merriman

Interim Senior Director, Oceans

WWF International

Pauli is a committed global leader in ocean conservation, policy, and advocacy, dedicated to driving transformative solutions for people and nature. As Interim Senior Director of Oceans for WWF…
Speaker Marc VON KEITZ
Marc VON KEITZ

Director

Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment

Dr. Marc von Keitz, Ph.D., is the Director for Oceans at the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, a private charitable foundation dedicated to protecting and improving the…
Speaker Erin McCreless
Erin McCreless

Director, Science and Monitoring

Rainforest Trust

Dr. Erin McCreless is a conservation scientist with 20 years of experience working on the biological and socioeconomic aspects of biodiversity conservation. At Rainforest Trust she leads the Science…
Speaker Cristian Fernandez
Cristian Fernandez

Abogado

FARN

Lawyer specialise in environmental law and climate litigation . Legal Coordinator at FARN. Lecturer at University of Buenos Aires
Azza AHMED ALRAISI
Azza AHMED ALRAISI
Speaker Noura ALMANSOORI
Noura ALMANSOORI

Research Assistant (Conservation Genetics)

Reneco International Wildlife Consultants LLC

Noura Almansoori is a conservation genetics researcher from the UAE who applies DNA-based barcoding and metabarcoding methods to study arthropods, birds, and pathogens. Her research spans population…
Speaker Thomas VIEGAS
Thomas VIEGAS

Nature Strategy Lead

Aviva

Thomas Viegas is an experienced professional with deep expertise in environmental economics, finance, and policy making.  He has worked for the Bank of England, HM Treasury, the Taskforce…
Speaker Nadine SELEEM
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…
Speaker Sami Rabah
Sami Rabah

président

ASSOCIATION LES AMIS DES OISEAUX

Speaker Lashley Ashley
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…
Speaker Peter DAVID FARRINGTON
Peter DAVID FARRINGTON

Principal Environmental Research Specialist

DUBAI Environment and Climate Change Authority

Peter is a Canadian international award-winning environmentalist, community advocate, painter and Certified Innovation Strategist who holds a BSc and MSc in the natural sciences.  Peter’s 40+…
Speaker Youness OUAZRI
Youness OUAZRI

Mr

Ecodome Maroc

Youness OUAZRI is a passionate earthen construction engineer with a background in civil engineering. He graduated in 2015 from Ecole Hassania des Travaux Publics and worked for two years at a…
Speaker Harrison BENCH
Harrison BENCH

GCELS Staff Student Intern

Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies (GCELS) at Pace University

Harrison Bench is a third year student at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in White Plains, New York, United States. He is passionate about environmental, climate, and energy law.…
Speaker Moses VILAKATI
Moses VILAKATI

Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable En

AUC

His Excellency Mr. Moses Vilakati, a distinguished national of the Kingdom of Eswatini, brings over three decades of leadership and expertise in agriculture, sustainable development, environmental…
Speaker Patricia RICARD
Patricia RICARD

Présidente

Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard

Patricia Ricard has been actively engaged in environmental protection for over 30 years and is President of the Oceanographic Institute Paul Ricard. Founded in 1966, the Institute operates as a…