All Speakers

Speaker Melinka NAJERA
Melinka NAJERA

Coordinadora regional del Programa Enlazando

IUCN

After my graduation in Spain and Belgium as a forestry engineer with a master in tropical forestry and development, I moved to the Central America region in 2011. During my career, I have gained…
Speaker Robin MITCHELL
Robin MITCHELL

CEO

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2021-2025

Speaker Abil Castañeda
Abil Castañeda

Executive Director

Protected Areas Conservation Trust

Mr. Abil Castañeda is the Executive Director at the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), Belize’s national conservation trust. He is responsible for steering the Trust’s strategic direction,…
Speaker JACOBO ARTEE
JACOBO ARTEE

President of Conservation Projects

Sierra el Alamo / Alcampo Hunting Adventures

I was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, into a family of hunters, led by my father, a pioneer of organized hunting in the state. What began as tradition gradually evolved into conservation projects focused…
Speaker Hariliva RASOANARIVO
Hariliva RASOANARIVO

Directeur Exécutif

FONDATION TANY MEVA

Hariliva Rasoanarivo is the Executive Director of the Tany Meva Foundation in Madagascar. Tany Meva is an environmental foundation created in 1996 with a mission to mobilize and manage funds for the…
Speaker Beatriz BARROS AYDOS
Beatriz BARROS AYDOS

IUCN Secretariat

Biologist specialized in Protected Natural Areas (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 2019). Currently Program Officer for Brazil at the International Union for Conservation of Nature – South America (…
Speaker Caitlin Eschmann
Caitlin Eschmann

Executive Director

Conservation Allies

Dr. Caitlin Eschmann brings over 20 years of dedicated experience in primate behavioral ecology, conservation research, science education, animal welfare, and project management to her role as…
Speaker Leigh Morris
Leigh Morris

Chief Executive Officer

The Wildlife Trusts

Leigh’s career began in horticulture, working and managing in plant nurseries, then teaching in land-based colleges, before 10 years at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where he managed education…
Speaker Aaron Laur
Aaron Laur

Manager, International Connectivity Program

Center for Large Landscape Conservation

Aaron operates the Center for Large Landscape Conservation’s global networks of expertsand institutions, engages in international policy fora like IUCN, CBD, and CMS, and collaborates…
Speaker Matthew MITCHELL
Matthew MITCHELL

Senior Researcher

Yas SeaWorld Research and Recue Center

I'm a Senior Researcher at the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center in Abu Dhabi, UAE. My work focuses on how individual fish respond both behaviorally and physiologically to changes in their…
Speaker EDWIN ARRIGUI TORRES
EDWIN ARRIGUI TORRES

Biólogo - Coordinador de conservación

Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre

Originally from El Pital, Huila, he has dedicated his academic and professional life to building bridges between continents—America, Europe, Africa, and Asia—in the constant pursuit of knowledge and…
Speaker Rima JABADO
Rima JABADO

Founder and lead scientist

IUCN Species Survival Commission 2021-2025

Deputy Chair Dr Rima Jabado is the Deputy Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and Chair of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. As a scientist and conservationist, she has spent…
Speaker Karen SUDMEIER-RIEUX
Karen SUDMEIER-RIEUX

Education and capacity-building expert

G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD

Dr. Karen Sudmeier-Rieux Environmental is an education outreach specialist with two decades of experience researching, teaching and publishing on ecosystem restoration for reducing climate risks,…
Speaker HILLARY RENICK
HILLARY RENICK

Tribal Liaison Officer

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Hillary Renick, Tribal Liaison Officer, Office of Environmental Programs, leverages her extensive background in environmental and cultural resource management, Indigenous law, and public health to…
Speaker Martin KELLER BOCK
Martin KELLER BOCK

Presidente Junta Directiva y Representante Legal

Asociación de Reservas Naturales Privadas de Guatemala

President of the Association of Private Natural Reserves of Guatemala -ARNPG- since 2010. Experience in environmental issues and administration since 1995. Owner and Manager Cafeco, Administrator…
Speaker Cleo GRAF
Cleo GRAF

Executive Director

SMART

Dr. Cleo Graf – Director, SMART PartnershipDr. Cleo Graf is a conservation ecologist with over 20 years of experience across Africa. She is currently the Director of the SMART Partnership, leading…
Speaker Andrew RUDD
Andrew RUDD

Programme Management Officer

UN-Habitat

Speaker Christian LUETKE WOESTMAN
Christian LUETKE WOESTMAN

Head of Division Natural Ressources

KfW

Christian is an economist with 25 years of experience in international development finance, especially in Latin America, Turkey and Eastern Europe. Since 2020 he is head of  KfW´s sector policy…
Speaker Sean NAZERALI
Sean NAZERALI

Director of Innovative Finance

BIOFUND Mozambique

Sean Nazerali  (BIOFUND - Director for Innovative Financing) is a Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management specialist with 30 years of experience in international development, of which…
Speaker ADIZA OWUSU ADUOMIH
ADIZA OWUSU ADUOMIH

PROGRAMMES MANAGER(Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)

HEN MPOANO

Adiza Ama Owusu Aduomih is a Programs Manager and Gender Equity & Social Inclusion (GESI) Team Lead at Hen Mpoano, Ghana. She has extensive experience in coastal resource management, gender…
Speaker Mahmoud MOHIELDIN
Mahmoud MOHIELDIN

UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development

United Nations

Mahmoud Mohieldin is a global economist and the UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development, with over 30 years of experience in international finance and development. He co-leads the UN…
Speaker Natali Silveira
Natali Silveira

Forest and Restoration Coordinator

Speaker Barbara LANG LENTON
Barbara LANG LENTON

Director Jumeirah Burj Al Arab Aquariums and Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project

JUMEIRAH

Speaker Fatima HELALAT
Fatima HELALAT

susatinable development commissioner

petra development and tourism authority

Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Ali Al-Hilalat , a Senior Legal and Governance Expert from Petra, Jordan, with 24 years of experience in public administration, arbitration, legislative drafting, and sustainable…
Speaker Paulina ARROYO
Paulina ARROYO

Director, Global Portfolio

Enduring Earth

Paulina is an environmental leader and manager with over 20 years of experience dedicated to rights-based conservation in Latin America, the U.S., and globally, with a specific emphasis on Indigenous…
Speaker Vatosoa RAKOTONDRAZAFY
Vatosoa RAKOTONDRAZAFY

Regional Coastal and Ocean Governance Manager

IUCN

Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy is a leading Malagasy conservationist and strong advocate for small-scale fishers and community-led resource management. From 2015 to 2020, she served as National Coordinator…
Speaker Vishwaja BAKKATHATLA
Vishwaja BAKKATHATLA

Student

No

 am Vishwaja Bakkathatla, a student of grade 10 in Pallavi Model School, Hyderabad, India. I am a girl who aspires to experience, learn, and share knowledge with others. Dance has always been my…