All Speakers

Mercedes MUÑOZ CAÑAS

Nature conservation and food systems/ Marine Biodiversity and Blue Economy

International Union for Conservation of Nature- Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med)

Biologist and Environmental Scientist with over 20 years of experience in creating, developing, and monitoring projects related to international cooperation and environmental protection at both…

John ROBINSON

Joan L. Tweedy Chair in Conservation Strategy

Wildlife Conservation Society

John G. Robinson directed the WCS’s conservation programs in the Americas, Africa and Asia from 1990 to 2020. He has studied subsistence and commercial hunting in tropical forests, and has a long…

Heloise HEYER

Conflict Sensitivity Lead

PeaceNexus Foundation

Heloise Heyer brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of peacebuilding, international cooperation, and organisational development. She works with civil society, governments, and…

Elizabeth BENNETT

Vice President, Species Conservation

Wildlife Conservation Society

Elizabeth Bennett is currently Vice President for Species Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) based at WCS’s head office in New York. In this role, she oversees WCS’s species…

Axel BENEMANN

Policy Officer

BMUKN

Mr. Axel Benemann is Deputy Head of Division for International Environment Finance at the Federal Ministry for the Environment Climate Action, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear SafetyHe has…

Lara HILDEBRAND

Nature Manager

Holcim

Lara has been working as a Nature Manager at Holcim since June 2024. She has a Master’s in Nature conservation from Wageningen University and Research. At Holcim Lara is in charge of topics…

Madison ROUTLEDGE PETTUS

GCELS Staff Intern

Pace Law School

I am a recent J.D. graduate of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, obtaining certificates in both international and environmental law.I am an assistant law clerk to the Honorable…

Eesha RANGANI

Nicolas MBENGUE

Coordonnateur des Opérations

Cegep de la Gaspésie et des Iles

Nicolas MBENGUE is Operations Coordinator at Cegep de la Gaspésie. His work spans all international cooperation projects coordinated by the Dakar Office. He has over seven years of professional…

Amr ABDELMEGUID

Programme Manager

CEDARE

Olivier HABIMANA

Regional Programme Delivery Manager, GEF/GCF

IUCN

Olivier Habimana is an experienced program manager and agro-ecological economist with expertise in climate resilience, market systems development, sustainable finance, private sector development and…

Sarah OLSON

Director, Health Research

IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2021-2025

Sarah Olson joined WCS Global in 2011 and is currently the Director of Health Research for the Health Program. She received a joint PhD in Population Health and Environment & Resources from the…

TORU SASAKI

Global Head, Senior Director, Sustainability

AZBIL CORPORATION

Mr. Sasaki graduated from the Keio University, majoring in International Trade and Country Risk Assessment. He began his career at Fuji Bank (presently known as Mizuho Bank) for a decade where he…

Leonie MEIER

Global Lead Ecosystem Restoration and Grasslands and Savannahs

WWF Germany

Leonie Meier is the Global Lead for Ecosystem Restoration and Grasslands & Savannahs at WWF, where she drives initiatives to restore degraded ecosystems and protect biodiversity. With over a…

CATHERINE LOSURUTIA

FIELD OFFICER

UJAMAA COMMUNITY RESOURCE TEAM

My name is Catherine Sipiteki Losurutia. I am a Maasai woman, born and raised in Kiteto District, Manyara Region, Tanzania. I come from a community where women play a vital role in caring for…

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…

Jimmy GAUNAVOU

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change

Jimmy Clint Gaunavou is a seasoned expert in environmental science, health, safety, and sustainability, with a strong focus on multilateral environmental agreements, regulatory compliance, and…

Zhi WANG

Professor

Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment

WANG Zhi. Professor and doctoral supervisor of Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), P.R. China, Vice Chairman of China Expert Assessment…

Mark EIGENRAAM

Director

IDEEA Group

Mark has worked in environmental markets and natural capital accounting for over 25 years across academic and government institutions at all levels. Mark produced Australia’s first set of…

Peeranuch Dulkul KAPPELLE

Forest Technical Officer

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Peeranuch Dulkul Kappelle (Pat) With over 30 years of experience as a technical forest officer within Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Pat has dedicated her career to advancing both…

Jamie LEE

NRDC

Jamie Lee focuses on issues including energy, renewables, and climate policy at the international level. Prior to NRDC, Lee worked at a boutique international arbitration law firm and qualified as an…

Mark SCHAUER

Coordinator Resilient Landscapes

GIZ

Mark Schauer is the co-lead for the GIZ project Resilient Rural Areas and for the ELD Initiative. Mark has been with GIZ in different positions with activities in the context of economic valuation,…

artemis KOSTARELI

Julius ARNEGGER

Professor of tourism

DI Tourismusforschung (German Institute for Tourism Research) / FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences

Julius is professor of tourism management at DI Tourismusforschung (German Institute for Tourism Research) at FH Westkuste University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and holds a PhD in geography from…

Dominic REGESTER

Director Education

IUCN Commission on Education and Communication 2021-2025

Dominic Regester is Director of Education and Director of the Center for Education Transformation at Salzburg Global, where he is responsible for designing, developing and implementing programs on…

Jenny RAMAROLALA

Communication and Advocacy Officer

FAPBM

Ibelice AñINO

Presidente Pro Tempore Consejo Agropecuario Centroamericano (CAC-SICA)

Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario

Ibelice Añino Nieto's Curriculum VitaeIbélice del C. Añino Nieto is an Agricultural Engineer with a specialization in Environmental Management. She has developed a solid professional career linked to…

Carlos Manuel RODRIGUEZ ECHANDI

CEO & Chairperson

Global Environment Facility

Lawyer by profession, politician by choice, and conservationist at heart, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez was elected as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility by its governing body, the GEF…