All Speakers

Peter Thomson

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean

United Nations

Ambassador Peter Thomson is the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, in which role he leads global support for the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, to conserve and…

Marina REQUENA MORA

Postdoctoral Researcher

Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona

Marina Requena-i-Mora is a passionate Valencian sociologist dedicated to unravelling the complex relationship between society and the environment. Using diverse qualitative and quantitative…

Saud ABDULAZIZ AL MUHAIDIB

Managing Director of the Board

Tilad Business Holding

Saud Al-Muhaideb is the Managing Director of the Board of Tilad Business Holding, a pioneering Saudi group headquartered in Riyadh that integrates environmental consultancy, veterinary sciences, and…

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),…

Fatima AHMED

Scientific Researcher

EPAA

An Environmental Researcher and Analyst at the Environment & Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah, UAE, with recognized expertise in sustainability, environmental policy, future foresight…

Lena SEEBALD

Programme Associate-Knowledge Management and Tech4Nature

IUCN Secretariat

Carolina MARQUES

Consultant

Consultant

Biologist, project manager, and content/publications coordinator with over 10 years of experience in socio-environmental initiatives, particularly with international and network-based organizations…

Jorge URBAN

Professor

IUCN Inter Commission 2021-2025

El Dr. Jorge Urbán es Profesor del Departamento de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur Sede La Paz, BCS, donde ha trabajado durante 35 años. Recibió su…

Ahmed ALHASHMI

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…

Lama SALEH

Programme Development and Partnerships Director

Goumbook

Lama has been leading several impactful education and awareness programmes at Goumbook, including the Take a Breath initiative that focuses on improving indoor air quality in the UAE and…

Ron VAVE

Assistant Professor

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025

I'm an indigenous Fijian, interdisciplinary marine social scientist who has worked in my home country (Fiji), the Indo-Pacific as part of the Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) network, and in Hawai'…

Nizar HANI

Minister of Agriculture

Lebanon

Dr. Nizar Hani has been serving as Minister of Agriculture in the Republic of Lebanon since February 8, 2025. He brings extensive experience in the fields of environmental protection, protected areas…

Patricia RICARD

Présidente

Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard

Patricia Ricard has been actively engaged in environmental protection for over 30 years and is President of the Oceanographic Institute Paul Ricard. Founded in 1966, the Institute operates as a…

Brahim HADDANE

President

National committee Morocco

Has been working in Forest département morocca ministry of Agriculture for 30 years on wildlife management and conservation in situ and ex situ Dealing with environment health preventing…

Jessica da Silva

Principal Scientist

South African National Biodiversity Institute

Jessica da Silva is a Principal Scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Her research focuses on integrating evolutionary genomics into wildlife management and policy, with a…

Jessica Webb

Strategy Lead, Forests and Nature for People • Food-Land-Water Program

World Resources Institute (WRI)

Jessica Webb is Strategy Lead for Forests & Nature for People and Co-director of Global Forest Watch at the World Resources Institute (WRI). She has over 15 years of experience advancing tropical…

Nicholas MACFARLANE

Head of Conservation Science & Technology

IUCN Secretariat

As Head of Conservation Science and Technology in IUCN's Centre for Science and Knowledge, Nicholas leads the execution of IUCN science and knowledge projects developing science-based targets for…

Bineesh KINATTUMKARA

Scientist E

Zoological Survey of India

Haya FAHMAWI

Project Coordinator

IFAW

Haya Fahmawi is a dedicated wildlife conservationist and environmental advocate born in Amman, Jordan. With a Master’s degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management, Haya has spent the past five…

Eiman AHMED ALOBAIDLI

Sr. Manager -Environment

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)

Eiman is a highly experienced Senior Manager in the Environment Department at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) – UAE Operations, where she leads the development and implementation of comprehensive…

Bas VERSCHUUREN

Research and Conservation

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025

I do research on conservation and rural development issues in protected areas, World Heritage sites and the wider land and seascape. I link practical conservation experience with applied scientific…

Elizabeth NSIMDALA

President

Eastern Africa Farmers Federation

Elizabeth Nsimadala is a Ugandan young agriprenuer and a smallholder farmer. She is the President of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), Current Board member and past President at the Pan…

Arwa DIAB

Salem ALZAHMI

College of Engineering Assistant Dean for Research & Graduate Studies

United Arab Emirates University

Dr. Salem Alzahmi is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the United Arab Emirates University, where he has served as a faculty member since July 2015. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical…

Lite NARTEY

Affiliate Professor of Strategy

INSEAD

Lite Nartey is an Affiliate Professor of Strategy at INSEAD (Fontainebleau campus), in France. Leveraging her professional background in international development, her academic research seeks to…

Juan DU

Vice Edior-in-Chief

China Sustainability Tribune

She has over twenty years of experience in media and has long been dedicated to promoting the concepts and practices of sustainable development. She has conducted extensive research, high-level…

ALI HAYAJNEH

Program Manager - Water and Climate Change Program

IUCN

Ali has worked for more than 13 years on the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Jordan as hydrology-water Engineer, Head of water master plan division and the director of water policies and…