All Speakers

Heidrun FRISCH-NWAKANMA

Programme Management Officer

Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

Both my academic background in environmental geography at the intersection of natural and social sciences and my work for the UN Environment Programme and specifically the Secretariat of the…

Oliver RYDER

Director of Conservation Genetics

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Dr. Oliver Ryder is the Kleberg Endowed Director of Conservation Genetics at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA). He oversees research activities in biobanking, molecular genetics, genomics…

Maya SUMI

Expart

National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan

With a background in forest ecology, I first worked in the international division of a private company, managing overseas offices. After three years at the Japan Committee for IUCN, I joined my…

Thani MOHAMED-SOILIHI

Ministre délégué

France

Married and father of three children, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi was born on June 20, 1972 in Sada, Mayotte. A graduate of the École du Centre Ouest des Avocats de Poitiers, he has been practicing as a…

Michelle TAPIM

Assistant Director, Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA)

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Michelle Tapim, is a proud Aboriginal woman, descendant of the Djabugay peoples and Gudjal peoples from North Queensland, Australia. She has served with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority…

Katherine POE

Programme Associate

IUCN

I am currently a Programme Associate with the IUCN Forest and Grasslands Team based in Washington, DC. I hold a master's degree in Biology and Society (MS) and a Public Policy graduate certificate…

Melissa DE KOCK

Deputy Director

UNEP

Melissa is Deputy Director of UNEP-WCMC, providing leadership support across programmatic and policy issues. She provides programmatic oversight to key areas of UNEP-WCMC’s work; develops and…

Danielle LATRECHE

Doctoral Researcher

ICTA-UAB

I am a doctoral researcher on the Conservation Data Justice project (CONDJUST) at Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA - UAB) in Spain. My research investigates how uncertainty is…

Fiona WILTON

Sacred Lands and Waters

The Gaia Foundation

+30 years experience in the non-profit sector, in South America and globally, working on a range of conservation and environment issues; accompanying indigenous communities in reviving bio-cultural…

Isabella MAZZEI

GCELS Staff Intern

Center for Environmental Legal Studies

I am Italian and Guatemalan, and I grew up in Switzerland. I studied Environmental Law at the Elizabeth Haub School of Law, where I drafted a motion that will be voted at the assembly on the…

Kevin CHANG

Executive Director

Kua'aina Ulu Auamo

Kevin Chang is the Executive Director of Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) a non-profit organization with a mission to increase the capacity of community-based resource management (CBRM) initiatives with a…

Dean Mathews

Assistant Manager - Environmental Services Unit, Nyamba Buru Yawuru

Nyamba Buru Yawuru

Dean Mathews - Assistant Manager, Environmental Services Unit - Nyamba Buru Yawuru Dean is a descendant of the Yawuru People from Broome, Western Australia, with in-depth cultural knowledge…

CELINE KOOI HUA LIM

Managing Director

SAVE Rivers

Celine Lim is an Indigenous Kayan from Baram, Sarawak Borneo, and is the Managing Director of SAVE Rivers, a local Non-profit and Civil Society Organization (CSO) championing Indigenous Peoples' (IPs…

Maggie REINBOLD

Director of Community Engagement

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Maggie Reinbold serves San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as Director of Community Engagement. In this role, Maggie oversees and supports the work of the in-house and community-based conservation teams…

Lucie SERIZIER

Youth Biodiversity Ambassador

Jeunes Ambassadeurs pour l'Environnement (JAE)

I graduated with a master's degree in Economic and Social Development Studies (IEDES) from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and a double bachelor's degree in Economics and Geography from the…

Omagano SHOOYA

Deputy Director , Southern Africa Portfolio

Maliasili

Omagano is the Deputy Director of the Southern Africa portfolio at Maliasili, where she plays a crucial role in providing institutional and leadership support to African organizations engaged in…

Lianchawii CHHAKCHHUAK

Technical Advisor - GEF

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Walid HUSSEIN

Emirates Park Zoo and Resort

I have started my career 23 years ago as a veterinarian specialist in wild animals' treatments and rehabilitation. I moved forward with my career to be collection supervisor and i started my…

Corrado TEOFILI

Secretary General Italian IUCN Committee

Federparchi Europarc Italia

Graduated in Natural Science and Conservation BiologyFor Federparchi: in charge of Biodiversity and Conservation departmentEuropean Charter of Sustainable Tourism national coordinatorIUCN Italian…

Marina KOSMUS

Head of Competence Centre Biodiversity, Forests and Agriculture

GIZ

Marina Kosmus is Head of the Competence Centre for Biodiversity, Forests, and Agriculture at GIZ HQ (German Agency for International Cooperation). She brings over 20 years of professional experience…

VAN MANH LAI

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Economics

ISPAE

Dr. Lai Van Manh is the Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Economics, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and and Environment (ISPAE).He has several research…

Marc HOCKINGS

Emeritus Professor

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2021-2025

Marc Hockings is Emeritus Professor in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Queensland. He is a long-term member of the International Union for the Conservation of…

Giacomo RAMBALDI

Giacomo Rambaldi is an independent consultant in the domains of digitalisation for agriculture and enterprise development. He has 43 years of professional experience in Africa, Latin America, Asia,…

Erin BILLMAN

Executive Director

Science Based Targets Network

Erin Billman is the Executive Director of the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), part of the Global Commons Alliance. She has over 20 years of experience in the private and non-profit sectors. She…

Wenjia JIN

Senior Programme Officer, IUCN China

IUCN Secretariat

With over ten years of professional experience in sustainable development and nature conservation, Wenjia has primarily focused on advancing the development and implementation of projects related to…

Yose CORMIER

IUCN #NatureForAll Coordinator

Parks Canada

I work for Parks Canada and as our commitment to international conservation and the IUCN , I manage the day-to-day operations of the IUCN #NatureForAll initiative, focusing on partner engagement and…

Tinne VAN DER STRAETEN

Member of Parliament

Belgian Federal Parliament

Tinne Van der Straeten is a member of the Belgian Federal Parliament. She served as Federal Energy Minister between October 2020 and January 2025. During her term, she accelerated the energy…

Patricia LEON

Associate Director of Nature Conservation

Bezos Earth Fund

Patricia León Woolfson is Associate Director for Conservation at the Bezos Earth Fund, where she leads global strategies and partnerships to help protect 30% of the planet by 2030. She’s…