Candidate info
Particular qualifications:
I have an extensive knowledge of IUCN having initially worked as a member of the secretariat based in three regional offices and served as a member of SSC, CEESP and WCPA. I have also worked for a member organization of IUCN. I am currently a member of the IUCN Council and have served and chaired several groups and committees in the Council. My experience in different roles in the IUCN family enables me to understand the real opportunities and challenges of IUCN’s structure and capabilities. In addition, I had the opportunity to work closely with many IUCN members throughout the world. My work at grassroots level as well as at the highest levels of international policy-making often focused on addressing the interface between conservation climate change, social equity and economic development. I bring a strong experience with and a deep understanding of multilateral environmental agreements (CBD, CITES, UNFCCC, RFMOs etc) and the role IUCN can play in influencing their evolution and implementation. I also have a deep knowledge the climate finance architectures and the opportunities that IUCN could tap into. I am fluent in all three IUCN official languages, as well as Arabic.
Experience in fields of concern to IUCN:
I am an international expert with over 20 years’ experience that has spanned over five continents and focused on biodiversity conservation particularly the marine and coastal environment, adaptation to climate change, and protected areas. In addition to my scientific and technical knowledge, I have a strong experience in interacting with, informing and advising decision-makers and planners at national and local levels, having worked with over 80 countries. My work often focused on the interface between science and policy. I led multidisciplinary teams to design initiatives quantifying the contribution of ecosystem services to resilient economic development; and shaping economic incentives for their sustainable management. I also have established and maintained several partnerships with other NGOs, UN and donor agencies as well as the private sector. More recently, I worked on shaping novel opportunities and instruments for countries to access climate finance..