All Speakers

Speaker Alec CRAWFORD
Alec CRAWFORD

Director, Nature for Resilience

International Institute for Sustainable Development

Alec Crawford is the Director of Nature for Resilience at IISD. Within this role, he oversees the Resilience Program’s work on nature, undertaking and supervising research, policy, and practice that…
Speaker Rohit SINGH
Rohit SINGH

Director Protected and Conserved Area Governance and Management

IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law 2021-2025

Rohit has been with WWF for 19 years and brings his considerable experience, enthusiasm and insights into his position as Director PCA Management and Governance Poaching. Rohit has been working on…
Chongjun ZHONG
Chongjun ZHONG

Ministry of Natural Resources of China

Speaker Dongho Kim
Dongho Kim

Team Leader

Suncheon city

I am a public servant in Suncheon City, Republic of Korea. I am in charge of ecological civilization transformation and support Nature-based Solutions.
Speaker Erin EATON
Erin EATON

Education Manager

Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue

Erin Eaton is an Education Manager at Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue and SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi.  She has been working in education reform for twenty years.  Erin holds a Masters…
Speaker Matt FROST
Matt FROST

Head of International Office

Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Professor Matt Frost is Head of the International Office at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. A senior leader with over 25 years’ experience, he works extensively on international matters specialising…
Speaker Lilian PINTEA
Lilian PINTEA

Vice President Conservation Science

The Jane Goodall Institute Global

Dr. Lilian Pintea brings thirty years of experience in using geospatial technologies to the job of conserving chimpanzees, other wildlife, and their vanishing habitats. As Vice President of…
Speaker Faye WEAVER
Faye WEAVER

Biodiversity Standards and Indicators Assistant

IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation

I am a global citizen and environmental scientist who is passionate about the research, assessment, protection and restoration of species and ecosystems. Currently based in the Biodiversity Standards…
Speaker Jessica da Silva
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…
Speaker Chelsea HUNTER
Chelsea HUNTER

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Chelsea Hunter (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Texas and an environmental anthropologist. Her research interests largely center around…
Speaker Pierre CARRET
Pierre CARRET

Grant Director

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund

Pierre Carret is an agronomist and expert in biodiversity conservation. For the last twenty years he has worked on nature conservation programs with several international organizations. His career…
Speaker SHOBHANA GURUNG PRADHAN
SHOBHANA GURUNG PRADHAN

COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR NEPAL

BBC Media Action

I currently serve as the Country Director for BBC Media Action in Nepal and have recently assumed the additional role of Regional Director for Afghanistan, India and Nepal. With over twenty-five…
Speaker Mike GILL
Mike GILL

President

Global Conservation Design

Mike Gill is the President of Global Conservation Design Ltd, an Honorary Fellow of UN Environment’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and the former Co-Chair of the Group on Earth Observations…
Speaker Maeve NIGHTINGALE
Maeve NIGHTINGALE

Senior Programme Officer Coastal and Marine, Asia

IUCN Secretariat

Maeve Nightingale the Regional Coordinator for the IUCN Coastal and Marine Programme in IUCN Asia as well as the regional focal person for governance and rights specializing in gender equality and…
Speaker Erik BERGLOF
Erik BERGLOF

Chief Economist

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Erik Berglof sets the vision and strategy for the Economics Department and leads the planning, implementation and supervision of its work plan in support of the Bank’s mandate as AIIB’s inaugural…
Speaker Valentina BALESTRA
Valentina BALESTRA

Researcher

Politecnico di Torino, European Cave Protection Commission

Researcher and field ecologist. Main topics: Microplastic pollution, subterranean biology, karst systems, fauna monitoring and conservation
Speaker Saud ABDULAZIZ  AL MUHAIDIB
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…
Speaker Pengbin WANG
Pengbin WANG

Nature-based Solutions Advisor

IUCN

Dr. Pengbin WANG is Nature-based Solutions Advisor of Nature-based Solution Management Hub, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). He obtained his PhD from Hanyang University,…
Speaker Karen Westley
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…
Speaker Fedes VAN RIJN
Fedes VAN RIJN

Policy & Impact lead

Commonland

Speaker Sylvia JAGERROOS
Sylvia JAGERROOS

Associate Director Coral Restoration

REDSEAGLOBAL

Sylvia Jagerroos is Associate Director of Coral Reef Restoration, with over 25 years of experience in coral reef restoration and marine enhancement. She has worked extensively across remote and…
Speaker Mahmoud MOHIELDIN
Mahmoud MOHIELDIN

UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development

United Nations

Mahmoud Mohieldin is a global economist and the UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development, with over 30 years of experience in international finance and development. He co-leads the UN…
Speaker Wooyeong Joo
Wooyeong Joo

Team Leader

National Institute of Ecology

Speaker Ana Gabriela Díaz Banegas
Ana Gabriela Díaz Banegas

Especialista en Gestión Ambiental

Asociación Sotz´il

Biologist with over 15 years of experience in environmental management and biodiversity conservation. Currently collaborating with Asociación Sotz’il in the implementation of environmental and social…
Speaker Daanish QAMAR
Daanish QAMAR

Projects Coordinator

The Waste Lab

Daanish Qamar is a sustainability and projects specialist based in Dubai, with extensive experience in driving environmental initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and climate education across the MENA…
Speaker Sander VAN ANDEL
Sander VAN ANDEL

Senior Expert Nature Conservation

IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands

Sander van Andel is Senior Expert Nature Conservation at the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands. Sander has an academic background in ecology and natural resource management.Sander has led…
Speaker Prisca MUGABE
Prisca MUGABE

Associate Professor

PREZODE

Name:  Prisca Hazvinei MUGABEPosition:  Associate ProfessorInstitution: University of Zimbabwe , ZimbabweEducationDPhil:  1996,  Rangeland Ecology and Management,  Texas…
Speaker Sonia PEñA MORENO
Sonia PEñA MORENO

Director, Centre for Policy and Law

IUCN

Sonia is a Colombian and Italian national. She is the Director of IUCN's  Centre for Policy and Law. Graduated from Political Sciences and Modern Languages at the University of Los Andes in…