All Speakers

Speaker Christy WILLIAMS
Christy WILLIAMS

NEOM

Amirtharaj Christy Williams is Director of Land Conservation at NEOM, where he leads the development and management of the NEOM Nature Reserve’s land area, including one of the world’s largest…
Speaker Natali Silveira
Natali Silveira

Forest and Restoration Coordinator

Speaker Basma BINT ALI
Basma BINT ALI

Founder

Royal Botanic Garden

Speaker Petch Manopawitr
Petch Manopawitr

Technical Advisor

IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2021-2025

Petch is a conservation scientist with over 25 years of experience in the fields of biodiversity conservation, protected area management and science on sustainability.  His master research at…
Speaker Nadine SELEEM
Nadine SELEEM

Senior Assurance Officer

IUCN

Bridging technical expertise to elevate community impact, I have 8+ years of experience insustainability standards, certification, and process optimization while fostering stakeholderengagement, and…
Speaker Ferdinando DIDONNA
Ferdinando DIDONNA

MSC

SOCIETA' SPELEOLOGICA ITALIANA ETS

Having graduated in forestry sciences in Bari in 1998, today I work in cooperation with Latin America countries as a consultant for a European technical assistance company in the fields of rural and…
Speaker Jean-Mary TJIOHIMBA
Jean-Mary TJIOHIMBA

The SAN Vision Foundation (TSVF)

Jean-Mary Tjiohimba is an Indigenous human rights defender and advocate for the San people, renowned for her tireless work in defending the rights of Indigenous communities. She has spoken on global…
Speaker AYESHA AL DHAHERI
AYESHA AL DHAHERI

Advisor

United Arab Emirates University

Professor Ayesha Al Dhaheri serves as an Advisor to the Vice Chancellor's Office at the United Arab Emirates University. Her previous roles include Associate Provost for Student Affairs (2020-2022),…
Speaker Laure MONTCHAMP
Laure MONTCHAMP

Senior Grants Officer, Species Conservation Action

IUCN

Laure Montchamp has been working at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2021, where she currently serves as Senior Grants Officer , Conservation Action within the Species…
Speaker JENEEN GARCIA
JENEEN GARCIA

SENIOR EVALUATION OFFICER

GEF IEO

Jeneen R. Garcia is a Senior Evaluation Officer with over 10 years’ experience in evaluating environmental programs at the Global Environment Facility Independent Evaluation Office (GEF IEO). Her…
Speaker Rodrigue Castro GBEDOMON
Rodrigue Castro GBEDOMON

Director of research

African Center for Equitable Development

I am a senior researcher and data scientist driven by a passion for generating and translating scientific and non-scientific knowledge to inform policies, practices, investments, and actions for…
Speaker VIliame WAQALEVU
VIliame WAQALEVU

Senior Researcher

Miral Experiences LLC

Experience in working as a marine biologist and academic researcher in the Pacific, Asia and more recently in the Arabian Gulf region. Have worked across a diverse number of coastal marine ecosystems…
Speaker Katherine HEINEMAN
Katherine HEINEMAN

Program Officer

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, IUCN SSC Center for Species Survival Biodiversity Banking

I am originally from the midwestern United States with degrees from the University of Nebraska and a doctorate in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from University of Illinois-Urbana. For…
Speaker Paul SALAMAN
Paul SALAMAN

President

Conservation Allies

Dr. Paul Salaman is a leading expert in global biodiversity conservation with more than 35 years of research and field experience across the tropics. He has dedicated his career to bridging academic…
Speaker Lina SARKIS
Lina SARKIS

Coordinator of development

Shouf Biosphere Reserve

Lina Sarkis carries over 15 years of experience in the fields of conservation, rural development, and NGO management. She has a proven track record in leading initiatives for biodiversity…
Speaker Carolynne WHEELER
Carolynne WHEELER

Head of communications, BBC Media Action

BBC Media Action

Carolynne Wheeler is head of communications at BBC Media Action, the BBC's international charity. She began her career in daily newspaper journalism in Canada and spent more than a decade as a…
Speaker Félix FEIDER
Félix FEIDER

Senior Programme Officer

Synchonicity Earth

Félix is a conservationist, originally from Luxembourg, based in London and currently serving as Senior Programme Officer at Synchronicity Earth, where he leads the Freshwater Programme and Chrysalis…
Speaker Nathan CARDINAL
Nathan CARDINAL

Director, Indigenous Policy

Parks Canada

Nathan Cardinal is a member of the Métis Nation and comes from a line of trappers who stewarded their lands in northern Alberta, Canada. He is the director of Indigenous Policy for Parks Canada,…
Speaker Hassan ABDALLA
Hassan ABDALLA

Research Specialist

UAEU

Dr. Hassan Mohamed Hassan is a Research Specialist at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, with more than 20 years of experience in food safety,…
Speaker Manh Hiep NGUYEN
Manh Hiep NGUYEN

Biodiversity Coordinator

IUCN Secretariat

Speaker Lina OSMAN
Lina OSMAN

Head, Sustainable Finance - Middle East, Africa & Pakistan

Standard Chartered Bank

Lina is the Regional Head of Sustainable Finance, Middle East, Africa and Pakistan at Standard Chartered Bank. She has over 19 years of banking experience across Sustainable Finance, Corporate…
Speaker Alexis GROSSKOPF
Alexis GROSSKOPF

Director and Founder

African Hub for Ocean Impact (t/a OceanHub Africa)

 Alexis Grosskopf is the Founder and CEO of African Hub for Ocean Impact (trading as OceanHub Africa), an ocean-impact entrepreneurship support organisation focusing on strengthening the…
Speaker Esmat ALFAKI MOHAMMED
Esmat ALFAKI MOHAMMED

Principle Wildlife Officer

Dubai Environment and climate change Authority

Enthusiastic, and experienced wildlife specialist with more than 20 years of experience in ornithology, wildlife biology, terrestrial ecology, conservation biology, breeding ecology, protected area…
Jane COTTON-HALL
Jane COTTON-HALL
Speaker Sarah Amy WYATT
Sarah Amy WYATT

Sr. Biodiversity Specialist

GEF (Global Environment Facility)

Sarah Wyatt is a Senior Biodiversity Specialist at the Global Environment Facility (GEF). At the GEF, she leads work with Latin American and Pacific island countries to develop biodiversity…
Speaker Jenny RAMAROLALA
Jenny RAMAROLALA

Communication and Advocacy Officer

FAPBM

Nan Chen
Nan Chen

Shenzhen Zhilan Foundation

Speaker Rob WALTON
Rob WALTON

Founder

Rob Walton Foundation

Rob Walton is a business leader, conservationist, and owner of the Denver Broncos.After serving as a partner at the law firm of Conner & Winters in Tulsa, Rob held several positions at Walmart,…