All Speakers

Naira DEHMEL

Researcher

International Institute for Environment and Development

Naira is part of IIED’s Natural Resources research group where she works on environmental justice and rights-based approaches to biodiversity conservation and natural resource governance.

Francesco SINDICO

Professor

University of St

Francesco Sindico is a Professor of International Environmental Law at the University of Strathclyde Law School in Glasgow, Scotland. He is also the Founder and Director of the Climate Change Legal…

Jingjing ZHANG

Lecturer

Beijing Forestry University

Jingjing Zhang, Lecturer, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University. PhD in Ecology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Research focuses on biodiversity…

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,…

Michelle BENDER

Legal Counsel and Head of Ocean Rights

Ocean Vision Legal

Michelle is the creator and leading expert in the movement towards "Ocean Rights," the application of Rights of Nature in the ocean policy seascape. She has provided her expertise to Rights of Nature…

Karim HAGGAR

Senior Advisor (Conservation & Biodiversity)

IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2021-2025

Dr. Karim Haggar, WCPA member and IUCN Congress ambassador, is a Senior Advisor at Roland Berger, where he focuses on nature conservation and biodiversity, with a broader emphasis on ESG,…

James DALTON

Global Director, Water and Wetlands

IUCN

James is the Global Director for Water and Wetlands at IUCN Headquarters near Geneva, Switzerland. With degrees in rural development, science and politics, and irrigation engineering—as well as…

Asri DWIYAHRENI

Senior Researcher

Research Center for Climate Change ISER FMIPA Universitas Indonesia

Asri A. Dwiyahreni (Diah) is a senior scientist and Head of Training and Education in the Research Center for Climate Change, Universitas Indonesia. Her research interests focus on mammal ecology,…

Emily COFFEY

Vice President of Conservation and Research

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Dr. Emily E. D. Coffey is VP for Science and Conservation at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Coffey joined the Garden in 2017 to lead the Conservation and Research Department where she leads and…

Darien MIZUTA

Marine Researcher

CEM EGTG Lead; Consultant

I am a senior marine researcher with experience leading award-granted projects and applied research. My work focuses on aquaculture sustainability, bridging natural and social sciences for support of…

Ishana THAPA

CEO

Bird Conservation Nepal

Ishana Thapa is the CEO of Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), leading the organization in its mission to conserve bird and biodiversity in Nepal. With a strong background in Zoology and environmental…

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…

Tiwonge I MZUMARA-GAWA

Senior Lecturer

Malawi University of Science and Technology

Tiwonge I Mzumara-Gawa is an ornithologist, ecologist and conservation biologist by training; and an activist by passion. She is a Senior Lecturer in Ecology, in the Biological Sciences Department,…

Thri Heni Utami RADIMAN

Associate Expert of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries - Indonesia

Thri Heni Utami RadimanThri Heni Utami Radiman is a marine conservation professional with extensive experience in Marine Protected Area (MPA) management in Indonesia. She serves as an Associate…

Xiaoying Wang

Secretary-General

Ant Forest Foundation

Xiaoying WangDirector of Sustainable Development, Ant Group Secretary-General, Ant Forest Ecological Green Development Foundation EducationMaster of Business Administration, BI Norwegian…

Xiaofan WANG

China Land Surveying and Planning Institute

Senior Natural Resources Engineer with 9+ years of experience in ecological protection line delineation and land ecosystem assessment. PhD-qualified expert leading national-level environmental…

Paula CERDáN

Head of Conservation and Animal Welfare

WAZA | World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

As Head of Conservation and Animal Welfare at WAZA, Paula collaborates with a global network of leading zoos, aquariums, and like-minded organisations to strengthen collective impact on biodiversity…

David MEYERS

Executive Director

Conservation Finance Alliance

David Meyers is the Executive Director of the Conservation Finance Alliance. He is an environmental finance expert and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in sustainability, business…

Stewart MAGINNIS

Deputy Director General Programme

IUCN

Stewart Maginnis has worked in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation for over 35 years. He has lived for extensive periods in Tanzania, Sudan, Ghana and Costa Rica, undertaking…

Katherine GALIDO

Programme/MEL Coordinator

NTFP-EP Asia

Katherine (Kate) Mana-Galido has dedicated her career to environmental advocacy, community empowerment, and sustainable resource management. She began her professional journey with the Environmental…

Qiongyu HUANG

Wildlife Biologist

Smithsonian's National Zoo Conservation Biology Institute

Qiongyu Huang, Ph.D., is the Roger and Molly Sit Giant Panda Biologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. A spatial ecologist and physical geographer, he integrates…

Minna EPPS

Director – Global Marine and Polar Programme

IUCN Secretariat

Minna Epps is a global ocean thought leader on Ocean Governance, Ocean Climate and Biodiversity nexus, Sustainable Blue Economy, and Blue Natural Capital. A published author with over 20 years…

Jordan STEWARD

Sr. Communications Manager

Ai2

Jordan Steward is a Senior Communications Lead, Conservation, at Ai2 (the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence). He oversees communications for EarthRanger, a platform supporting more than 800…

Iliana MENDOZA

Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza

I hold a degree in Biology with a specialization in Agroecology from the Technological Institute of the Valley of Oaxaca and a Master's degree in Social Economy Business Management from the…

Ksenia Chernaya Scanlon

Chief, Communications, External Relations and Partnerships

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Xenya Scanlon is the Chief of Communications, External Relations and Partnerships at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). She brings 20 years of experience on…

Ivana THOMPSON

Programme Officer, BESTLIFE2030

IUCN EU Representative Office

Ivana Thompson is a former marine biology researcher currently serving as a Programme Officer with the IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas under the BESTLIFE2030 programme. In this role, she…

Mathieu SOUQUET

Directeur Régional Outre-Mer Biotope et Gérant Biotope Madagascar

Biotope

As a passionate geographer and ecologist, I have been a senior expert in reconciling nature, the environment, and regional and societal development for over 20 years.I frequently undertake exciting…

Léa GLâTRE

Programme manager

Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco

I work at the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, where I coordinate two donor-led initiatives: the Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE) and the Pelagos Initiative. I…