All Speakers

Samisoni RAKABU

Technical Officer

IUCN

I am a development professional with over 15 years of experience working with communities across Fiji and the Pacific, specializing in program management, MEAL, and research with a focus on food…

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…

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…

Frédéric CASTELL

Senior Natural Resources Officer

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Frédéric Castell is a Senior Natural Resources Officer at the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) within the Food and Agriculture Organization (…

Esteban FALCONÍ

WWF

Environmental and Human Rights attorney, specialized in legal and policy design and drafting, on areas such as: area-based conservation, indigenous rights and territories, 30x30, OECMs, climate…

Karimah HUDDA

Founder and Chief Catalyst

illumine.earth

Karimah Hudda is the Founder and Chief Catalyst of illumine.earth. From roots in small-town India, Karimah became a global citizen, living, working, and traveling across nearly 50 countries.For over…

Louisa CHAUBERT

CFO

Samuel SCHWAIDA

Environmental Analyst

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil

I am a biologist with a Master's degree in Environmental Geoprocessing, focusing on landscape connectivity in the Cerrado Biome. Since 2014, I have been an Environmental Analyst at the Brazilian…

Nidia Mildred Crasborn Ojeda

Nidia is a member of Cooperativa Carmelita, one of the two community concessions in the Maya Biosphere Reserve with a live-in community. Her ancestors migrated to the Petén forest to tap gum. …

Errol DOUWES

Senior Manager

EThekwini Municipality

Errol is Senior Manager of the Restoration Ecology function in the city of Durban, South Africa. As a restoration practitioner he oversees many practical aspects of terrestrial ecosystem restoration…

Kathy Lene CIELO

Deputy Executive Director

Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc.

Kathy Lene Cielo, also fondly known to colleagues as Kyle, is a wildlife biologist with over 10 years of experience in conservation science and environmental management. She holds a B.Sc. in Wildlife…

Shanna CHALLENGER

Offshore Islands Conservation Programme Coordinator`

Environmental Awareness Group

Shanna Challenger is a wildlife conservationist from Antigua and Barbuda, known for leading endangered species recovery and island restoration in the Caribbean. With nearly a decade of experience,…

Heidi WEISKEL

Acting Head, Global Ocean Team

IUCN

Dr. Heidi Weiskel is an American marine ecologist who spent her summers at the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New England, an experience she credits for her lifelong dedication to marine ecology…

Rocio Andrea BARRERO RAMÍREZ

Especialista Efectividad del Manejo

Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia

An economist and specialist in social project evaluation, he has 15 years of experience in planning and managing protected areas within the National Park System. He is a member of the Implementation…

Joao SOUSA

Senior Programme Officer, Blue Natural Capital

IUCN Secretariat

Name : Joao Matos de Sousa Academic Background: Joao possesses a BA in Biotechnology, a MA in Biotechnology Engineering and a post graduation in Engineering Policy and Management of Technology.…

Hijaba YKHANBAI

Allen CEDRAS

Chief Executive Officer

Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, (SPGA)

Allen Vosrie Cedras serves as the Chief Executive Officer and a board director of the Seychelles Protected Areas Authority (SPGA). With over 15 years of experience at the Seychelles National Parks…

Aissa TRAORE

IUCN Secretariat

Originally from Mali, Aissa has 10+ years experience managing multiple projects on development, humanitarian aid and partnership coordination. She holds a master's degree in communication and has…

Barbara CHESIRE

Managing Director

AB Entheos

Barbara has been in the insurance industry for 18 years and is passionate to see insurance play a role in increasing financial resilience across the continent. She co-founded AB Entheos in 2014 and…

Marina Antonopoulou

Conservation Director

Emirates Nature-WWF

Edwin BERNBAUM

Senior Fellow, Instituto de Montaña; Co-Chair, CSVPA

Instituto de Montaña; IUCN

Edwin Bernbaum, Ph.D., is Co-chair of the IUCN Specialist Group on the Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas (CSVPA). A scholar of comparative religion and mythology, his research and work…

Caleb Ofori-Boateng

Director, Herp Conservation Ghana

Herp Conservation Ghana

Lucy MULENKEI

Executive Director IIN and Co chair IIFB

Indigenous Information Network

Lucy Mulenkei is a Masaai from Kenya: a gender specialist and a human rights activist. Ms. Mulenkei has many years of experience in Environmental issues and community development work, focusing on…

Carlos Mauricio HERRERA

Director de Conservación y Gobernanza

WWF Colombia

Ecólogo profesional y Magister en manejo y conservación de bosques tropicales y biodiversidad con sólidos conocimientos en biología y ecología de la conservación, así como en dinámicas ecosistémicas…

Iliana MENDOZA

Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza

I hold a degree in Biology with a specialization in Agroecology from the Technological Institute of the Valley of Oaxaca and a Master's degree in Social Economy Business Management from the…

Jennifer SAWADA

Senior Manager

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Jen Sawada provides strategic guidance and project management support for the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project. In that capacity, she focuses on campaigns that work to promote a conservation…

Kyra Lunderstedt

Chairperson

Botanical Society of South Africa and Sustainable Finance Coalition

Kyra Lunderstedt is the youngest Chairperson of the Botanical Society of South Africa and the Strategic Lead for Finance Solution Discovery at the Sustainable Finance Coalition. Kyra has more than 10…

Akbar JOHN

Associate Professor

University of Khorfakkan