All Speakers

Kevin SMITH

Head of Programme, Invasive Species and Wildlife Health

IUCN

Kevin Smith is the Head of Programme Invasive Species and Wildlife Health, for IUCN. His work focuses on supporting countries and civil society in meeting global, regional, and national targets…

Umang BHATTARAI

Energy Specialist

Asian Development Bank

Umang is an Energy Specialist at under the Energy Sector Group at the Asian Development Bank. He is responsible for the origination, processing, financing, and implementation of loans, grants, and…

Patience GANDIWA

Director International Conservation Affairs

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Professor Patience Gandiwa has accumulated 18 years of professional experience in wildlife conservation. She began her tenure with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife…

Blandine CAMUS

IUCN Secretariat

Blandine Camus serves as Food Systems Officer within the IUCN European Regional Office team. Based in Brussels, she has been actively engaged in advancing policy solutions for agriculture, climate…

Claudia MAYER

head of section global projects on biodiversity, forests and environmental polic

Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GIZ

Dr. Claudia Mayer is a senior expert in international cooperation, biodiversity, climate policy, and sustainable development, with more than 20 years of professional experience at GIZ/GTZ. She holds…

Lucas CHE ICAL

Presidente y Representante Legal

Asociación Ak' Tenamit

Mayan spiritual guide specializing in traditional knowledge related to biodiversity conservation

Leigh WINOWIECKI

Global Research Lead of Soil and Land Health

CIFOR-ICRAF

Dr. Leigh Ann Winowiecki is the Global Research Lead for Soil and Land Health at CIFOR-ICRAF, based in Nairobi, Kenya. A soil scientist, her research focuses on scaling farmer-centered landscape…

Tunga RAI

Director of the Climate Change Program

Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN)

Tunga Bhadra RaiTunga Bhadra Rai is an Indigenous researcher and anthropologist from Nepal, belonging to the Rai Indigenous Nationality. He is Director of the Climate Change Program at the Nepal…

Mohamed AL KAABI

Secretary General

Emirates Council for Balanced Development

H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Kaabi is a distinguished leader with extensive experience in government, finance, and strategic sustainable development. He played an instrumental role in establishing the…

Savinaz BAGHDADI

Technical and Admin Assistant

IUCN ROWA

A Passionate Advocate for Sustainable DevelopmentSavinaz Baghdadi is an accomplished professional with a strong background in sustainable development and project management, specializing in…

Hang NGUYEN BICH

Project manager

WWF-Viet Nam

Nguyen Bich Hang is a forestry and sustainability professional with over 22 years of experience in sustainable forest management, responsible timber trade, and project management. She currently…

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…

Christina FERNANDES

Facilizator

Emirates Soil Museum

Christina is a 500-hr+ certified yoga teacher and completed her permaculture design certificate (PDC) in 2020 with Permaculture Education in the US as well as the Permaculture Educators Course with…

Karl BURKART

Deputy Director

One Earth

Karl Burkart has been at the forefront of scientific research that explores the connections between human systems, the natural world, and climate change. Formerly the Director of Science &…

Ruth TIFFER SOTOMAYOR

Senior Environmental Specialist

The World Bank

Ruth Tiffer Sotomayor is a Senior Environmental Specialist at the Global Environment Deparment of the World Bank with over 25 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration,…

Eric SCHMIDT

Executive Director

Wildlife Protection Solutions

Combining a deep understanding of technology with a passion for wildlife allows Eric Schmidt to approach conservation issues from multiple perspectives. With a Master’s degree in conservation…

Melanie HEATH

SENIOR DIRECTOR – GLOBAL PROGRAMME OFFICE at TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC

Senior Director of Global Programmes at TRAFFIC. Leading role in the development, promotion and marketing of the work of the Global Programme Office, with specific attention to global and multi-…

Robin LAWSON

Director of Programs

Wildlife Habitat Canada

Robin Lawson’s specialties are community engagement, program design and governance for land conservation. She is a strong proponent for meaningful youth engagement and intergenerational collaboration…

Babacar DIONE

Directeur des Eaux et Forêts, Chasses

DIRECTION DES EAUX ET FORETS, CHASSES ET DE LA CONSERVATION DES SOLS

I am a Water, Forestry and Hunting Engineer;- Director of Water, Forestry, Hunting and Soil Conservation in Senegal;- I have risen through all the ranks of the forestry…

Anastasiia Drapaliuk

expert on PAs

Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group

EDUCATION: 2009 – 2011 University of Klagenfurt, Austria, Master of Science in Management of Protected Areas, 1993 – 1998 West Ukrainian National University, Ukraine, Master of Science in Accounting…

Karen Westley

Karen Westley has a BS in Human Biology from Stanford University and an MSc from Yale University in Tropical Ecology. She spent her early career working for a large international humanitarian…

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…

Gregoria JIMENEZ

Licenciada en Trabajo Social

ODECO

Long Thang HA

Chairman

GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Centre

I am currently working with the Frankfurt Zoological Society. I began working in the field of nature conservation in 1999 with the Primate Rescue Center, Cuc Phuong National Park. In 2009, I…

Jorge Lopez-Doriga

Cheif Communications and sustainability officer

AJEGROUP

EnglishJORGE LÓPEZ-DÓRIGA (Chief communications and sustainability officer AJE GROUP)Throughout his career he held various positions including Executive Director of Marketing for Disney for…

Sadka SAENMI

Indigenous Expert

IPO

Mr. Sakda Saenmi is an Indigenous expert from Thailand with expertise in the areas of Indigenous Peoples and their relation to Climate Change and Biodiversity