All Speakers

Khaled MARAFI

Expert ecosystems management - Candidate IUCN Regional Council West Asia

Councillor Elected From The Region WEST Asia

With over 27 years of experience in environmental management, dryland restoration, and sustainable development, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, regional knowledge, and leadership. My…

María Belén MONCAYO

Abogada

IUCN ORMACC

María Belén Moncayo Benalcázar is Ecuadorian and has been living in Central America for seven years. She holds a law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador and a master's degree in…

Amanda BIRNBAUM

Lead Scientist-Horticulture

Emirates Global Aluminum

Amanda is Lead Scientist for Horticulture at Emirates Global Aluminum, where she spearheads bauxite residue R&D focused on developing best management practices for manufactured soils derived from…

Paloma CARRILLO

Directora Ejecutiva

FUNDACION PROAVES DE COLOMBIA

I am a Certified Public Accountant with a specialization in Managerial Accounting and over 17 years of experience at ProAves, an organization dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity in Colombia…

Tanya BIRCH

Senior Program Manager

Google

Tanya Birch is a Senior Program Manager at Google in Geo, which powers the most helpful, trusted, and innovative digital representation of the real world for the user ecosystems we serve … to empower…

Umang BHATTARAI

Energy Specialist

Asian Development Bank

Umang is an Energy Specialist at under the Energy Sector Group at the Asian Development Bank. He is responsible for the origination, processing, financing, and implementation of loans, grants, and…

Admire CHANYANDURA

Unit Head Conservation Research Development

Al Ain Zoo

Admire Chanyandura is the Unit Head of Conservation Research Development at Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates. He holds an MPhil in Conservation Science, an MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable…

Alla Aleksanyan

senior researcher

HH GAA A. TAKHTAJYANI ANVAN BUSABANUTYAN INSTITUT

Dr. Alla Aleksanyan is a leading Armenian conservation biologist and Head of the Department of Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Studies at the International Scientific-Educational Center of NAS of…

Junior ALBERTO

Michail KAPETANAKIS

Policy Advisor, Sustainable Infrastructure

IISD

Michail Kapetanakis is a Policy Advisor in Sustainable Infrastructure at IISD. He has over 6 years of cross-sectoral experience in sustainability consulting and economic analysis for transport, urban…

Johan ROBINSON

Head GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit

IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2021-2025

Johan Robinson is a Global Expert in sustainable environment management, strategy and conservation with over 30 years as an Environmental Specialist with high profile organisations such as the United…

Mahnaz KADHEMI

Head, Environmental Citizenship Program of Bahrain Women Association

Bahrain Women Association – for Human Development

Regional Vice Chair, West AsiaMahnaz Kadhemi is a member of the Environmental Citizenship Program, one of Bahrain Women Association for Human Development’s programs. She joined IUCN in 2002.…

Marco LAMBERTINI

Convener

Nature Positive Initiative

Marco Lambertini is the Convener of the Nature Positive Initiative.Marco was WWF International Director General (2014-2022) and Special Envoy (2023). Before joining WWF he was Global Director of…

Belen CITOLER

Directora

World Rural Forum

Belén Citoler holds a degree in Political Science and master's degrees in Cooperation for Development and Social Research. With 25 years of professional experience, she has dedicated her career to…

Gary TABOR

CEO

Center for Large Landscape Conservation

Gary Tabor is an ecologist and wildlife veterinarian based in Bozeman, Montana in the United States. He was appointed CCSG Chair in 2016 to further advance pioneering work led by Dr. Graeme…

Craig Bruce

Director Conservation and Communities

Jamma International

Craig was born in Zimbabwe and spent most of his formative years sitting in the back of his uncle’s Toyota Landcruiser, always on some sort of a quest after wildlife. This led to a firmly entrenched…

Tim BADMAN

Director, World Heritage

IUCN Commission on Education and Communication 2021-2025

Tim Badman is Head of the World Heritage Programme at IUCN. He joined IUCN in August 2007, and was previously based in Dorset County Council (UK) as Environment Policy Manager. Between 2000-2006 he…

Stéphanie BOUZIGES-ESCHMANN

Secrétaire générale

AFD/FFEM

Stéphanie Bouziges-Eschmann is the Secretary General of the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), since September 2018. She is also Alternate member representing France to the Council…

Alessandra BLASI

Experienced programme management specialist in the development sector with a demonstrated history of working in the international affairs industry, mostly in the Middle East. She worked with various…

Alejandra PIZARRO CHOY

Technical Specialist, Social Equity and Rights

Fauna & Flora

My initial training was in Conservation Biology in Peru, then proceeding to do an MPhil in Conservation Leadership and a PhD in Geography in the UK, studying the geopolitics of international…

Carl BRUCH

Director, International Programs

Environmental Law Institute

Carl Bruch is the Director of International Programs at ELI and the Executive Director of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association. His research focuses on making environmental law work. He…

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…

Ljubica TIPSAREVIC

Bibhab TALUKDAR

Secretary General and Executive Director

Aaranyak

Bibhab Talukdar is a conservation biologist and involved in field research and applied conservation measures to secure rhinos in Asia. He is one of the founders of Aaranyak in 1989, a NGO based in…

Maya SUMI

Expart

National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan

With a background in forest ecology, I first worked in the international division of a private company, managing overseas offices. After three years at the Japan Committee for IUCN, I joined my…

Alejandra BOWLES

Global Policy Events Manager

The Nature Conservancy

Philip FRANKS

Principal Researcher | Biodiversity

International Institute for Environment and Development

Email: phil.franks@iied.orgPhil Franks is an expert on the social dimension of natural resource management and conservation, with a particular focus on better understanding and applying…

Oscar Joel Rosales Lemus

Director

ASOPROGAL

With 25 years of experience in the field of non-governmental organizations in the Caribbean of Guatemala, where I have developed experiences and lessons learned in the management of protected areas…