All Speakers

Janet EDMOND

Senior Director, Peace and Development Partnerships

Conservation International

Janet Edmond is the Senior Director for Peace and Development Partnerships in the Policy Center for Environment and Peace at Conservation International (CI). Building upon a strong foundation of…

Joyce Nyaruai MBATARU

Communication Manager

Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association

Joyce Mbataru is a communication for development specialist with over 15 years of experience in community-led conservation, gender, youth, and media development in Kenya. She serves as the…

Kongjian YU

Professor

Peking University

A farmer’s son and Doctor of Design from Harvard, Yu is a professor and dean of Peking University College of Architecture and Landscape, and founded Turenscape and the Landscape Architecture…

Liz Chamberlin

Director of Innovation

Point Blue Conservation Science

Dr. Liz Chamberlin is Director of Innovation at Point Blue Conservation Science, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservation and nature-based solutions. She leads Point Blue’s…

Obaid Ali Humaid Al Shamsi

Head of Marine Biodiversity Section

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

Obaid Alshamsi is Head of the Marine Biodiversity Section at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. He specializes in ecology and environmental biology, with a focus on biodiversity…

Prajna PANDA

Programme Manager

IUCN SSC AsESG

Prajna Paramita Panda is a conservation professional currently serving as the Program Manager for the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG). Working earlier for…

Antonio BENJAMIN

Chief Justice, High Court of Brazil (STJ)

IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law 2021-2025

Chair Emeritus. Appointed Justice of the National High Court of Brazil (STJ) in 2006 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Professor Antonio Herman Benjamin was a career Assistant Attorney…

Stuart ANSTEE

Lead nature Positive

Nature positive Landscapes Initiative

Stuart is widely regarded as a global leader in the field of business and biodiversity management with over 35 years working on extractive sector related biodiversity management and conservation…

Sheherazade SHEHERAZADE

Co-Executive Director

PROGRES

I am the Co-Director of PROGRES, a conservation NGO based on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, my home. We combine knowledge-based and people-centered approaches to build a network of empowered…

Jemima Marie HOLT

Global Energy Transition Advocate

Natural Resources Defense Council

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…

Karen Westley

Karen Westley has a BS in Human Biology from Stanford University and an MSc from Yale University in Tropical Ecology. She spent her early career working for a large international humanitarian…

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…

Malika Dreyfuss

Programme Manager

Fondation Hans Wilsdorf

After spending some time working in the social innovation and youth empowerment sector, Malika started accompanying individuals, teams and organisations to create brave spaces that spark…

Halima Abdikadir

Program officer

Indigenous Women Biodiversity Network

Halima is a dedicated conservative advocate with a focus on youth engagement and the practical challenges young people face in the field. Drawing on extensive…

Francis Quique ALVAREZ

Vocal de monitoreo y vigilancia

Ejecutor del Contrato de Administración de la Reserva Comunal Amarakaeri

Francis Quique Álvarez is an Indigenous leader of the Harakbut people, originally from the Native Community of San José de Karene (Madre de Dios, Peru). Since 2024, he has served as Vice President of…

Lyraya SCHABLEIN

Events Manager

The Nature Conservancy

Lyraya works for The Nature Conservancy as an Events Manager on high visibility events. Her background spans work in marketing, fundraising, community engagement, project management, event management…

Amanda VINCENT

Chair

SSC Marine Conservation Committee

Amanda Vincent is the Chair of the SSC Marine Conservation Committee and Chair of the IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group. She is firmly convinced that we know enough…

Hipolitus Januar POGO

Regional Engagement Officer

LTKL

Hipolitus Januar Pogo is a professional dedicated to sustainable development and the empowerment of indigenous communities. A Mathematics graduate, he serves as the Regional Coordinator for…

Junior ALBERTO

Azzedine DOWNES

President and Chief Executive Officer

IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare

Azzedine T. Downes, President & CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)As President and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) since 2012 and since joining the…

Joseph ITONGWA MUKUMO

Indigenous Expert

ANAPAC - RDC

Joseph Itongwa Mukumo is Walikale from the North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Graduated in Rural Development, he is the Founder and Co-ordinator of PIDP-SHIRIKA LA BAMBUTI (…

José Luis Chicoma

Program Chair of The Future of Food

THE NEW INSTITUTE

José Luis Chicoma is the Program Chair of The Future of Food at THE NEW INSTITUTE. He has served as Minister of Production in Peru, overseeing the fishing, aquaculture, and food market sectors. He…

Lakeshia ANDERSON

Executive Director

Bahamas National Trust

Rajesh SHARMA

Scientist

Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE)

Rajesh Sharma M.Sc. and PhD in Forestry with specialization in Forest Genetics & Tree Improvement is presently posted as Assistant Director General (Biodiversity & Climate Change) Indian…

Karen KEENLEYSIDE

Global Co-Chair IUCN #NatureForAll

IUCN WCPA and CEC

Thematic Vice Chair, People and Parks/Nature for All. An ecologist by training, Karen has over thirty years’ professional experience in the environmental field in Canada and…

Jun HASHIMOTO

Landscape architect

Shimizu Corporation

I aspire to be a person who can articulate the inherent value of nature. I deeply believe in the power of landscape architecture—its potential not only to solve diverse problems related to human land…

Ahmed SALEH AMAN

Unit Head - Infrastructure and Development Inspection

Environment Agency

began my professional journey over ten years ago as an Inspector at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), where I conducted more than 1,000 field visits covering all industrial and development…