All Speakers

Speaker Sonja KAULBARSCH
Sonja KAULBARSCH

Eni

Sonja Kaulbarsch is a Biodiversity Specialist in the Environment Department of the Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Unit at Eni Global Natural Resources (formerly Eni Upstream), based at the…
Speaker Noor BADER
Noor BADER

Student

Ecoherence New York University Abu Dhabi

Nour Bader is a biology undergraduate at New York University Abu Dhabi, specializing in Brain and Cognitive Sciences with minors in Psychology and Anthropology. Passionate about neuroscience and…
Speaker Bruno Smets
Bruno Smets

Lead Natural Capital Accounting/Biodiversity

VITO

Bruno Smets is a senior environmental informatics specialised in spatiotemporal analysisof ecosystems at VITO. He is leading the Natural Capital Accounting and Biodiversity teamand shares this…
Speaker Hussein Alfa NAFO
Hussein Alfa NAFO
Ambassador Seyni Nafo is an influential voice in global climate diplomacy and a driving force behind Africa’s climate and sustainable development efforts. Currently serving as Co-Chair…
Speaker Wadima ALDHAHERI
Wadima ALDHAHERI

Lead Veterinary - Animal Conservation & Reintroduction

Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

Dr. Wadima is an Emirati veterinarian that is currently working with wildlife and recognized with the Animal Welfare Award by the World Veterinary Association 2022. As a pioneer from the first batch…
Speaker Janice CHANSON
Janice CHANSON

Species Assessment and Australasia Manager

Re:wild

Sian CHAPMAN
Sian CHAPMAN
Speaker Hakam MANDOURI
Hakam MANDOURI

Climate Change & Resilience Officer

IUCN Secretariat

Speaker John EWEN
John EWEN

Professor

Zoological Society of London

Professor John Ewen is a conservation scientist in ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, leading a research group focussed on species recovery including conservation translocations.  He has published more…
Speaker Maria Eugenia PERIAGO
Maria Eugenia PERIAGO

Coordinadora de Estrategia e Impacto

Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina

I am conservation biologist, specialized in native mammal conservation. I lived in many countries and went to University of Maryland in the US for my undergrad. Then, I got my masters and PhD at the…
Speaker Morgan MARTIN
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. 
Speaker Steven DICKINSON
Steven DICKINSON

Company Biodiversity Expert

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2021-2025

Steven Dickinson is the Corporate Biodiversity Expert at TotalEnergies, a global energy company active in 130 countries. He leads the company’s biodiversity program, overseeing policy, tools,…
Speaker Melissa DE KOCK
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…
Speaker Laurel MCIVOR
Laurel MCIVOR

Program Advisor, Conservation Strategy Branch

Parks Canada

Laurel McIvor works for the Parks Canada Conservation Strategy Branch as a Policy & Program Advisor for Intergovernmental Collaborations team. She liaises and collaborates with Canadian and…
Jane COTTON-HALL
Jane COTTON-HALL
Speaker Robin MITCHELL
Robin MITCHELL

CEO

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2021-2025

Speaker Hind AL AMERI
Hind AL AMERI

Acting Section Head Marine Biodiversity Assessment & Conservation

IUCN Species Survival Commission 2021-2025

Dr. Hind Al Ameri is a marine conservation scientist and has joined the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) in 2014. Dr. Al Ameri has a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Exeter and…
Speaker Tulshi Laxmi SUWAL
Tulshi Laxmi SUWAL

Founder and Program Coordinator

Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation

Dr. Tulshi Laxmi Suwal is one of the recipients of the prestigious "Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN)" Award 2023, which is referred to as the "Green Oscar" for conservation. She is a member of the IUCN…
Speaker David ROY
David ROY

Executive Director, Workshops for Biodiversity

Workshops for Biodiversity

David Roy is the Executive Director of Workshops for Biodiversity, an organization he founded in 2023 to help integrate biodiversity into decision-making across sectors. He is fully committed to…
Speaker Myrna SEMAAN
Myrna SEMAAN

President

Friends of Nature

MYRNA SEMAAN PhD Brief summaryA- Project Management and Consultancy (over 15 years):International organizations: 7 topics for IUCN, EU Commission, GEFGovernment: - ecological studies to the…
Speaker Christel DELMAS
Christel DELMAS

Director Environmental Services

CLS

Working togehter with engineers, scientists, institutions to think, create and deploy space based solutions to monitor, understand, protect and sustainably manage our planet resources
Speaker Nikhil SEKHRAN
Nikhil SEKHRAN

Chief Conservation Officer

WWF US

Nik Sekhran is the Chief Conservation Officer at the World Wildlife Fund- US, overseeing WWF’s global work on nature conservation and climate change. He earlier served at the United Nations…
Speaker Pradeep KURUKULASURIYA
Pradeep KURUKULASURIYA

Executive Secretary

United Nations Capital Development Fund

Pradeep Kurukulasuriya is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Capital Development Fund. He is a Sri Lankan economist with a PhD from Yale University in the United States. Prior to…
Speaker Lessah MANDOLOMA
Lessah MANDOLOMA

Human-Centred Conservation Coordinator

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025

I am currently a PhD student at University of Oxford working on developing a framework for integrating Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation in a landscape in Malawi.
Speaker Milton RIEBACK
Milton RIEBACK

Zoological Education Director

SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Milton Rieback, Zoological Education Director for SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center, has worked in conservation and the zoological field, since 1996.…
Speaker Ali RAZMKHAH
Ali RAZMKHAH

Global Coordinator

ICCA Consortium

Ali Razmkhah is an Iranian based in Italy. His journey with the movement for the territories of life dates back to 2012. For over a decade, he has worked in various roles with one of the founding…
Speaker Sebastien TURBOT
Sebastien TURBOT

Director

Earthna - Qatar Foundation

Sebastien guides governments, cities, businesses, and civil society in creating content and community-driven platforms that turn ideas into action. In his Earthna role, he develops the center’s…
Speaker MATAURI NGATAMARIKI MIRIA
MATAURI NGATAMARIKI MIRIA