All Speakers

Omar AL HAMELI

Evan FREUND

Senior Director, Sustainable Infrastructure

WWF

Evan Freund is a senior director for sustainable infrastructure and finance on the WWF-US Forest team. In this role, he manages programming around infrastructure design, finance, and development,…

Carl BRUCH

Director, International Programs

Environmental Law Institute

Carl Bruch is the Director of International Programs at ELI and the Executive Director of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association. His research focuses on making environmental law work. He…

Max Andonirina Noëli FONTAINE

Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development

Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development

Max Andonirina Fontaine, 29, is Madagascar’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development. Before his appointment, he founded Bôndy, a social enterprise dedicated to reforestation and…

Gia PAOLA

National Policy Analyst

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Gia Paola is a dedicated and forward-thinking National Policy Analyst with specialized expertise in environmental sustainability, natural resource management, and human rights. With a strong…

Santiago RUGERONI

Animal Care Supervisor - Birds

Al Ain Zoo

Santiago Rugeroni is the Animal Care Supervisor for the bird collection at Al Ain Zoo, overseeing avian welfare, enrichment, and habitat design. With over 14 years of zoo experience from Buenos Aires…

Morgan MARTIN

GCELS Staff Intern

Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies

I am a recent graduate from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law. I received my Juris Doctor Magna Cum Laude with an advanced certificate in Environmental Law.

Sally WREN

Co-Chair

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group

Sally joined the ASG as a Programme Officer in 2013, and had roles as Conservation Planning Officer, then Deputy Chair, before becoming Co-Chair in 2024. One of Sally’s main roles to date was leading…

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…

Javier MÁRQUEZ

Executive Director

Fundación Defensores de la Naturaleza

Javier Marquez Executive Director of Defensores de la Naturaleza, has worked on conservation and sustainable development actions for more than 27 years. With extensive experience working with local…

Louise HOBIN

Programme Officer - GAA Coordinator for Africa, Europe and Asia

IUCN Species Survival Commission 2021-2025

I am coordinating the global amphibian Red List efforts for Africa, Europe and Asia for the third Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA3). I have been involved in GAA work since 2015, where I led on the…

Nicolette CRAVEN

Ali FARHADI

CEO

Ai2

Ali Farhadi is the CEO of the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) and a Professor at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington. Ali has been a professor…

Cristina CHAMINADE

Professor

Spanish ational Research Council and Unearthodox

Refined English version:I am a Research Professor at INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), Spanish National Research Council and Unearthodox consultant. With a background spanning unorthodox economics, ecology, and…

Claudine BLAMEY

Chief Sustainability Officer

Aviva

Currently Chief Sustainability Officer at Aviva. Claudine was previously the Director of Sustainability and Digital Strategy at Argent LLP for 3 years. Claudine delivered the net zero carbon…

Nanette KUICH

Research Scientist

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

EducationStony Brook University - Bachelor of Arts, 1975Major: Earth and Space SciencesNew York State Regents ScholarshipUniversity of Texas, Dallas - Graduate Studies, 1977-80Major: Biogeochemistry…

Shamma MUSABBEH AL KAABI

Biologist

Ministry Of Climate Change and Environment

Biologist in the Biodiversity Department at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), holding an MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Leeds. Possesses a…

María José GONZáLEZ BERNAT

Director of the Oceans Program

AIDA

Maria Jose Gonzalez-Bernat is a biologist with over 16 years of experience and results in marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystem management and conservation. She is originally from Guatemala…

Taras BAINS

Junior Professional- World Heritage

International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Taras is a young conservation professional with experience across natural world heritage, conservation communications, environmental education and protected areas/community-based conservation. He…

Milica RADANOVIC

NbS Officer

IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO)

Milica Radanovic is a biologist by training and a nature conservationist by practice. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s studies in biology (botany) at the Faculty of Sciences, University of…

Aseela AL MOALLA

Director of Fujairah Environment Authority

Fujairah Environment Authority

Her Excellency Aseilah Abdullah Moalla has a rich career. She achieved this through her academic career, obtaining a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Sharjah in 2005…

Humaira BADRú

Project officer

Fundação para a Conservação da Biodiversidade

Humaira Agibo Badrú is a young Mozambican, born in Maputo. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Terrestrial Biodiversity Conservation (2017) and a Postgraduate degree in…

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…

Eesha RANGANI

Rami BEIRAM

Associate Provost for Research

United Arab Emirates University

Rami Beiram PhD, PharmDAssociate Provost for Research United Arab Emirates University (UAEU)Dr. Rami Beiram serves as the Associate Provost for Research at the United Arab Emirates University (…

Lorien INNES

Sustainable Development Manager

Esri

Lorien Innes is Senior Sustainability & Development Manager - Africa at Esri. She joined Esri in 2011, and, since 2020 has been working across the public, private and nonprofit sector to help…

Manoswini SARKAR

Global Energy Policy Officer

BirdLife International

Originally from India and based in Cambridge, UK, Manoswini serves as the Global Energy Policy Officer at BirdLife International. She supports BirdLife’s energy policy agenda and coordination of the…

Hayfe Chamkhi

Field biologist

NAWT

As a wildlife ecologist, I am dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity and strengthening the link between nature and local communities. I hold a Master’s degree in Biodiversity, Ecology & Evolution…