All Speakers

María Teresa VARGAS RÍOS

Fundación Natura Bolivia

Maria Teresa Vargas is a force of nature — a journalist by training, a conservationist by passion, and a strategist by necessity. Based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, she stands at the intersection of…

Francesca BENZONI

Associate Professor

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Professor of Marine Science Francesca Benzoni explores the diversity, evolution, and ecology of corals and coral-dominated ecosystems across the tropical Indo-Pacific, with a particular focus…

Cristina CHAMINADE

Professor

Spanish ational Research Council and Unearthodox

Refined English version:I am a Research Professor at INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), Spanish National Research Council and Unearthodox consultant. With a background spanning unorthodox economics, ecology, and…

Juan Carlos NAVARRO

Ministro de Medio Ambiente

Panama

BA in Geography and Government, Dartmouth College; Master's in Public Administration, Harvard University. 1985, Member of the Board of Trustees and Founding Director, Ancon Foundation, an…

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…

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…

Silvana BALDOVINO

Directora

IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law 2021-2025

SILVANA BALDOVINO BEASLawyer and currently serves as director of the Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples Program of the Peruvian Society of Environmental Law since 2006.Silvana has more than 20 years…

Sougalo SOULAMA

Researcher

Commission Nationale de Gestion des Ressources Phytogénétiques

Dr. Soulama Sougalo, Senior Research Fellow in Plant Biology and Ecology.Researcher at the Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA)Permanent Secretary at the National Commission for…

Sally REHANI

Senior Strategic Partnership Manager

Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center

A results-driven Senior Revenue Development Manager at Miral Experiences, leading strategic growth initiatives at Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Centre. With over a decade of experience spanning…

Sukhyun PARK

International Coordinator

Sustainable Systems Research Institute

Sukhyun Park is the Director and Head Researcher at the Sustainable Systems Research Institute, with extensive expertise in environmental policy and sustainable development. Her career bridges both…

Nabegh GHAZAL ASSWAD

Programs Manager / Senior Scientific & Technical Advisor

Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife

Dr. Nabegh Ghazal Asswad had a PhD. in Wildlife Ecology and Management. He works as a Programmes Manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for the Middle East and North Africa…

Ramón PEREZ-GIL

President

FAUNAM

RamonCVin360 A Mexican wildlife biologist graduated from the School of Sciences, UNAM, graduate studies in natural resources management, ecology, fisheries and wildlife from the University of…

Arsène Alain SANON

Regional Head, Protected Areas & Biodiversity

IUCN

Arsene Alain Sanon holds a PhD in Environmental Geosciences, which he obtained in 2009 from Nancy 1 University (France). Prior to that, he obtained a DESS (postgraduate diploma) and then a DEA (…

Mariana Rodrigues

Marketing Director

L`Occitane Middle East

Julia NEWTH

Ecosystem Health & Social Dimensions Manager

WWT

I’m a social ecologist leading WWT’s Ecosystem Health and Social Dimensions team, a dynamic group working at the intersection of social science and ecology. Our mission is to generate and apply…

Alister Scott

Executive Director

Global Rewilding Alliance

40 year career making big change happen with sustainability as the driving purpose. Doctorate in Science Policy from the University of SussexHonorary Professor of Practice at UCL Institute for…

Astrid SCHOMAKER

Executive Secretary

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

In April 2024, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed Astrid Schomaker Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).Prior to her appointment as Executive Secretary of…

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…

Lewis Cocks COCKS

Aquarium Curator

The National Aquarium

Working with aquatics since the age of 15, i have steadily been involved with aquariums, conservation and fieldwork for 20 years and have spent the last 13 years in the GCC. Currently the Curator of…

Cheryl CHARLES

President and CEO Emeritus

IUCN Commission on Education and Communication 2021-2025

#NatureForAll Co-Chair Cheryl Charles is an innovator, entrepreneur, educator, author and organizational executive. Throughout her career, Cheryl has focused on the well-being of children, families…

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…

Patricio Roberto ROBLES GIL MESTRE

Artist in Residence

The WILD Foundation

Artist, conservationist, activist. Founder of two Mexican conservation organizations, thatworked with endanger species and securing biodiversity wild lands. In the last forty years, heproduces, and…

Camilla THAM

Head of International Partnerships

Natural History Museum

Camilla is Head of International Partnerships at the Natural History Museum. She is responsible for building collaborative relationships with organisations and individuals across the world to extend…

Helena ATKINSON

Senior Programme Manager

Peace Parks Foundation

Daniel Kobei

Executive Director

Ogiek Peoples Development Program

Daniel Kobei is the Founder and Executive Director of the Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program (OPDP), a Kenyan NGO advocating for the land and human rights of Indigenous Peoples. He is an Ogiek, a…

Anna SALSAC

Communications Manager

CLS

Anna Salsac is Communications Lead for the Environment & Climate unit at CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites). She supports the deployment and promotion of satellite-based solutions for…

Rodrigo FLORES-GUTIERREZ

Regional Programme Manager

IUCN Secretariat

Ayasha AL ALI