Secretary General, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi

Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri is the Secretary General of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), the largest environmental regulator in the Middle East, responsible for protecting and preserving our natural resources and promoting sustainable development in the emirate.

Dr. Al Dhaheri holds a PhD degree in Wildlife Conservation and Protection from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, which makes her the first Emirati woman to earn the accolade. She also holds two Masters degrees: in Environmental Science from UAE University (UAEU) in Al Ain, and another in Biological Conservation From the University of Kent in the United Kingdom. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Species from UAEU.

Secretary-General, WEEC Network, Italy

Prof. Mario Salomone has a master's degree in Theoretical Philosophy. He is an environmental sociologist, former university professor at the University of Bergamo and Milano (IULM), is teaching Environmental sociology at the University of Milano Bicocca and Torino. Journalist, lecturer in hundreds of conferences, author or co-author of handbooks, papers and book chapters on environmental education, environmental communication, ecological economics and other environmental issues, and writer of novels and tales.

President, IUCN

Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak is a United Arab Emirates native who for more than twenty years has supported her country’s efforts to realise a more sustainable future while spearheading progressive environmental protection, species conservation, and global climate action. She was elected President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it, in September 2021. She is the second woman to lead the organization in its 75-year history and its first president from West Asia. Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak serves as UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the leadership team of COP28 Presidency, which will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

Her diverse experience leading the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the largest environmental regulatory agency in the Middle East, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, an international philanthropic organization supporting species conservation projects worldwide, and Emirates Nature – WWF, an Emirates-based NGO focused on citizen engagement, earned her recognition as one of the top 100 Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum in 2018.

Director, UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP)

A science-policy pacesetter, with over 34 years’ experience, Dr. Anantha plays a key role in positioning UNESCO MGIEP as a leading global research institute on education for peace, sustainable development and global citizenship. In working towards making education inclusive, immersive and interactive across formal, non-formal and informal systems, Anantha is driven by his own personal experience as the father of a dyslexic child and someone who himself didn’t start talking until he was six years old.

Co-Chair of Indigenous Studies and Senior Research Fellow Nulungu Institute, University of Notre Dame Australia

Prof. Anne Poelina, PhD, PhD, MA, MEd, MPH&TM, Co-Chair of Indigenous Studies and Senior Research Fellow Nulungu Institute, University of Notre Dame Australia, is a Kimberley, Nyikina Warrwa Indigenous woman; Chair, Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, an active community leader, human and earth rights advocate, and filmmaker. She holds membership to national and global Think Tanks. A Peter Cullen Fellow, Adjunct Professor, College Indigenous Education Futures, Arts & Society, Charles Darwin University with Visiting Fellowships at the Australian National University, Canberra, Charles Darwin University and the Institute for Post-Colonial Studies, Melbourne.

Chief, Natural Sciences Unit UNESCO, New Delhi Office, India

Dr. Benno Böer holds a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. degrees in Biology from the University of Osnabrück, and a Ph.D. degree in Physical Geography from the University of Paderborn. He has worked in several positions in the area of ecology and anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems, in Germany, Ethiopia, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the UAE, including 20 years with UNESCO. He currently serves as the Chief of the Natural Sciences Unit at UNESCO New Delhi. Dr. Böer has published and co-edited many books and journal articles in the field of science-based environmental management.

Director, National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

Bora Simmons serves as the founding director of the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) initiated the Project in 1993 to help educators develop and deliver effective environmental education programs. The Project has drawn on the insights of literally thousands of educators across the United States and around the world to craft guidelines for top-quality environmental education.

Programme Assistant, UNEP

Bryan Michuki is an experienced Communications and Youth Officer with a demonstrated history of working in youth programs who is keen to make a difference. He has experience working in non-profit organization and his strengths include analytical skills, event management and project management. He is a passionate education professional who graduated with a Masters in International Relations (Foreign Policy and Diplomacy) from United States International University (USIU) – Africa.

Member, The Club of Rome

Carlos Alvarez Pereira is a senior professional combining more than 30 years of experience in research and innovation, entrepreneurship, and business management, with a passion for complexity thinking and transdisciplinarity. He is keen on exploring the cultural transformation required to cross the threshold towards equitable human well-being within a healthy biosphere.

Director, Cyber Security and Privacy Research Institute, The George Washington University

Dr. Costis Toregas is the director of the Cyber Security and Privacy Research Institute at The George Washington University, where he manages and conducts education, research and service projects in cybersecurity and privacy. His current research interests include cybersecurity risk assessment and organizational strategies, the role of insurance in cyber risk management, the use of block chain in Disaster Risk Reduction, apprenticeships and exploring a fuller utilization of Community Colleges in cybersecurity workforce strategies.  He is a consultant to the National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center where he is responsible for international program expansion and East Coast representation to academia, industry and government.  He serves on several non-profit boards including the National Cyber League, Ecocity Builders, Women in Cyber Security, and is a Trustee of the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics at UCLA.

Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics and senior adviser to the president of Oberlin College

Dr. David W. Orr is a Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics and senior adviser to the president of Oberlin College. He is a founding editor of the journal Solutions, and serves as the executive director of the Oberlin Project, a collaborative effort of the city of Oberlin, Oberlin College, and private and institutional partners to improve the resilience, prosperity, and sustainability of Oberlin.

Professor Emeritus of Environmental Policy, Michigan Technological University

Barry Solomon is a professor emeritus of environmental and energy policy in the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Technological University. He is a past president and the founder of the United States Society for Ecological Economics.  Previously, he was a senior economist in the Acid Rain and Climate Change Divisions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., where he helped to design and implement the first national system of emissions credit trading, and before that he was senior staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (EIA). From 1989-1991, he worked with the staff of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore in 2007. He is coauthor or co-editor of 8 books, 80 refereed journal articles and over 130 other publications, most recently The Dictionary of Ecological Economics (Edward Elgar, 2023). He has received research funding from the EPA, DOE, NSF, Michigan Economic Development Corp., Caterpillar, Inc., and has consulted for the United Nations Environment Programme, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Postal Service, American Association for the Advancement of Science, United States Academic Decathlon, National Geographic Society, and the European Science Foundation.

Kenyan Environmentalist and Young Climate Leader, Kenya and Founder of the Green Generation Initiative (GGI)

Elizabeth Wathuti, a dedicated environmentalist and dynamic young climate leader from Kenya, is the driving force behind positive change. She is the visionary Founder of the Green Generation Initiative (GGI). Her efforts extend to leading and establishing the Wangari Maathai Foundation's Youth Hub, which recently played a crucial role in supporting the largest delegation of African youth at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Elizabeth's commitment to environmental preservation is further exemplified by her role as a Counties Advisory Committee (CAC) member for the Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund and the youngest Presidential Appointee in Kenya as a Commissioner representing civil society and youth at the Nairobi Rivers Commission. Her global impact is undeniable, having served as the Global South Youth Co-chair for the COP26 Civil Society and Youth Advisory Council during the United Kingdom (UK) Government's COP26 presidency and recently organized and spearheaded the Lead Coordination of the first and biggest ever African Youth Climate Assembly (ACYA), which also served as the formal youth engagement mechanism for the Africa Climate Summit.

Professor and Research Chair in Environment and Sustainability Education,  Environmental Learning Research Centre

Prof. Eureta Rosenberg is a Full Professor and Chair of Environment and Sustainability Education in the Environmental Learning Research Centre at Rhodes University, South Africa, where she is also the Dean of the Education Faculty, and the Chair of the Faculty Research Ethics Committee. Prof Rosenberg is currently the Country Co-Director (South Africa) in the TRANSECTS programme, focusing on Transdisciplinary Education Collaborations for Transforming Sustainability. Her background includes an M.Sc. in Medical Science, an Honours in Psychology, a Masters in Environmental Education and a PhD (1995) that focussed on transformative research methodology. Her scholarly interests include evaluation that supports organisational learning; strategic planning and organisational learning; research ethics and skills for green work. Prof Rosenberg supervises M.Ed. and PhD students and Post-Doctoral Fellows in these and related research areas.

Senior Education Specialist, US Environmental Protection Agency

Ginger Potter is the Senior Education Specialist in the Office of Public Engagement and Environmental Education (OPEEE) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Ms. Potter is responsible for environmental education program design, implementation and management, as well as research, evaluation, and program assessment and strategic planning in the Office of Environmental Education. She serves as the Technical Advisory for the National Teacher Training and Professional Development Program (currently EECapacity) and is the Co-Chair of the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP).

Author and Entrepreneur, My Blue Community 

Gunter Pauli was born in Antwerp, Belgium in March 1956. In 1979, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Loyola University (now the University of Antwerp) in Belgium and received his master’s degree in business administration from INSEAD in 1982 in Fontainebleau, France, on a Rotary International Foundation scholarship. During his studies, he worked at a variety of jobs to “support his family, his education, and to save money, which allowed him to travel extensively during the summer vacations.” In 1978, he was elected national president of the student union AIESEC.

Professor of Early Childhood Education (ECE) at Göteborg University in Sweden and Chair of ECE and Sustainable Development at UNESCO, Sweden

Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson is a professor in Early Childhood Education and holds a UNESCO chair in ECE and Sustainable Development. She is the immediate past world president of OMEP (Organisation Mondiale pour l’Education Préscolaire). Her main research area is young children’s learning and well as conditions for learning in the early years.

President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University

Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs is University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development
at Columbia University, where he directed the Earth Institute from 2002 until 2016. He is
President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Co-Chair of the Council of
Engineers for the Energy Transition, Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for
Development, academician of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at the Vatican, and Tan
Sri Jeffrey Cheah Honorary Distinguished Professor at Sunway University. He has been Special
Advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, and currently serves as an SDG Advocate
under Secretary General António Guterres. He spent over twenty years as a professor at Harvard
University, where he received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. Sachs has received 42
honorary doctorates, and his recent awards include the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable
Development, the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of the Republic of France, and the
Order of the Cross from the President of Estonia. His most recent books are The Ages of
Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (2020) and Ethics in Action for
Sustainable Development (2022).

Former President, Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE)

Dr. Pearson is the Former President of Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) (2010 – 2014 & 2018 – 2020) and Convenor of AAEE WA Chapter (2002 – 2022).  She had an extensive career in teaching from Pre-primary through to University pre-service primary and early childhood education has enabled her to advocate for education for sustainability. 

Executive Director, North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

Judy Braus brings to her role as NAAEE Executive Director a wealth of experience in the environmental education profession, with a focus on conservation education, diversity and inclusion, and using the power of education to help create healthier communities that empower local communities, stakeholders, and individuals to help restore and protect the environment. She comes to NAAEE from the National Audubon Society, where she was the Senior Vice President of Education and Centers, overseeing an extensive nationwide network of nature centers and educators. Prior to that, she led the education programs at World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the U.S. Peace Corps, and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

Director General, Emirates Nature WWF

Laila Mostafa Abdullatif has served as Director General at Emirates Nature– WWF since May 2017. Her role involves leading the organisation locally and representing WWF regionally. She is also involved in successfully initiating and implementing several conservation and education projects and initiatives across the region.

Organisational Culture Advisor, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority

Layla's role as a senior advisor, which reports to the Director General, is focused on building and maintaining a unique internal organisational culture. I also led the development, launch and implementation of the Parent-friendly Label initiative, a workplace award program for the semi-government, private sector and third sector that specifies criteria for organisations to be recognized for their parent-friendly policies and culture. She supports and advises on internal communications and engagement and employee engagement. She is also a member of the Leadership Team, which steers the organisation.

Former Education Minister, ITALY and Director of the Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey 

Lorenzo Fioramonti is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences of the University of Surrey (UK), where he directs the Institute for Sustainability. After spending two decades in South Africa, he returned to his birth country, Italy, to be appointed as a Member of Parliament and the Minister of Education, University and Research (2018-2019). One of his first decisions was to make education on sustainable development mandatory in all schools. The news made headlines worldwide, as Italy became the first country globally to take such a decision.

Professor at the Faculty of Education of the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Canada, and Director of the Centr’ERE Research Center

Professor Sauvé is the founder and co-responsible of the UQAM postgraduate program in environmental education. She is co-founder and director of the international research journal Éducation relative à l’environnement – Regards, Recherches, Réflexions. Lucie Sauvé has a strong experience of international cooperation projects in Latin America (Amazonian region) and won in this context two excellence awards. Her current research focuses on environmental health education (agriculture, food and water issues), energy education, ecocitizenship education and environmental educators’ and community leaders’ professional development. She received an honorary Ph.D. from the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico, in 2015, as recognition of her deep involvement as a researcher in ecosocial movements aiming to address crucial environmental issues.

Director General, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)

Mamo is the Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya, has more than 25 years of experience in Public Service in Environment Sector and served in various leadership positions in his close to two decades at NEMA, Kenya. He has served in several Boards and also as the Chair of the Natural Sciences Committee at Kenya National Commission to UNESCO

Mamo is a recipient of the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS), a Presidential Award, in recognition of his distinguished service to Kenya.

Mamo holds a bachelor's Degree from Egerton University and a Master's Degree in Environmental Education from the School of Environmental Studies, Kenyatta University. He is an Alumni of the prestigious International Leadership Development Program (IVLP), Washington DC, USA (2013)

Mamo was recently awarded the Africa’s Public sector CEO of the Year and the top 50 public sector leader in the Environment Sector in Africa.

Under his leadership, NEMA was recognized as the UN persons of the Year 2022 (runners up) and also as the Africa Environmental Regulator of the Year 2022. He was the head of the Government delegation to the second session of the intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution held at UNESCO HQs, in Paris, France.

Secretary General, Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED)

An architect by training, Najib Saab is Secretary General of the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED), and publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia (Environment & Development), the leading pan-Arab magazine on sustainable development. He started his career working for UNEP under Mostafa Kamal Tolba, and continued the relation in various capacities, most recently as member of the High Level Group (HLG) overseeing Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6). He participated as head of delegation, adviser, delegate and/or speaker in all key international conferences on environment and sustainable development. He has played a pivotal role in shaping regional positions towards climate and green economy. He is a laureate of the United Nations Environment Programme's Global 500 Award in 2003 for environmental achievements, and of the Zayed International Prize for Environment in 2011 for environmental leadership leading to change in society. He is editor of the series of annual reports published by AFED on the state of Arab environment (2008-2018), which have become a main source on sustainable development matters and have triggered major policy changes across the region.

Director and Head of the Department, WWF-India

Neha Raghav, Director and Head of the Department, WWF-India, the leading international non-profit organization for environment and conservation. She has been associated with the organization for over eight years and where she has been working on the development and implementation of the national environment education strategy for WWF-India. As a lead of the education division, she has conceptualized and executed the environment education strategy through a multipronged approach for children, youth, citizens, corporate organizations and government agencies across the country. She has developed the impact assessment systems for various programs targeting the school children and youth.  

She has been actively contributing at multiple national platforms for India’s National Education Policy 2020 and developing the curriculum framework and syllabus for environment education and climate literacy.  

She is an active member of WWF’s global education community and has been instrumental in the development of WWF’s global education strategy focusing on shaping active global citizens for a sustainable future.

Senior Manager, International Programmes EE 30 Under 30 at North American Association, Environmental Education (NAAEE)

Nina Hamilton leads the North American Association for Environmental Education's (NAAEE) youth leadership initiatives and supports the Global Environmental Education Partnership's efforts to build capacity for EE across the globe. Before NAAEE, Nina worked on community-based conservation, land rights, gender equity, participatory research, and global network coordination in the U.S., Madagascar, and Gabon. Nina is particularly passionate about working across cultures to connect people with the resources they need to maximise their impact, while combining her interests in the environment, social equity, and youth engagement. Nina has a Master's in Environmental Management from Duke University and a Bachelor's in Biology from Kenyon College.

Phil’s forty years in education span the breadth of formal and non-formal education: schools, TAFE, community colleges, universities and a wide range of community settings. He has held leadership roles in schools, government agencies, a national professional association and local and international NGOs. He has worked overseas in education, training and evaluation. His experience includes advocacy and community campaigning at local, state and federal levels; education in a humanitarian environment (Nauru); sustainability leadership courses for young people; professional development for teachers and trainers; and conference facilitation. Phil currently teaches in two teacher-training programs at Western Sydney University, and he runs his own program for schools, Speaking 4 the Planet, which is an Arts-based approach to sustainability education.

Wildlife Biologist, Aranyak
Directors of Species Restoration and Community Climate Education, Rewilding Academy
Founder, Hargila Army

Dr. Purnima Devi Barman is a wildlife biologist and environmental educator from Assam, India.  She is more popular and known as “Hargila Baido,” aka “Stork Sister" globally because of her story of restoring  an endangered bird Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius). She is the founder of the Hargila Army, an all-female conservation initiative dedicated to protecting the greater adjutant stork in Assam, India. Through the Hargila Army, she has mobilized 10,000 rural women, giving them a voice for the bird and biodiversity, and has educated thousands of children through her environmental education program over the last 20 years.

In 2022, she was awarded with the UN Champions of the Earth Award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, which is the  highest environmental honour of UN from UNEP. In 2017, Purnima was the recipient of Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian award for women, presented by the President of India. In the same year she was also awarded with the Whitley Award, knows as Green Oscar Presented by HRH Princess Anne.

Specialist: Early Childhood & Environment Education

Radhika Suri is an educationist with a remarkable career spanning over 3 decades in India. Formerly the Director of Environment Education at the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), India, she led the programme across the country reaching millions of students, youth and educators. She also played a pivotal role as the Global Education Coordinator, spearheading transformative initiatives across 60 countries.

A true educator at heart, Radhika possesses extensive expertise in teaching, curriculum development, school establishment, and educator capacity building. She has an exceptional track record in seamlessly executing organisational transformation projects, implementing path-breaking best practices, and leveraging optimal pedagogical knowledge to enhance the learning experience of children and youth. Throughout her career, Radhika has collaborated with Indian and UN organisations, NGOs, State & National Education Boards , Ministries, and various institutions. She actively engages in policy advocacy with national and state education bodies, ensuring that her expertise directly influences educational policies and practices.

Radhika specialises in early childhood education, environment education, and literacy.

Internationally renowned Music Composer, Environmentalist and Professor. Three times Grammy Award Winner, Awarded as the United Nations "Global Humanitarian Artist", UNESCO MGIEP Ambassador, UNCCD "Land Ambassador", UNICEF 'Celebrity Supporter'.

Three-times Grammy Award-winning, three-times Grammy-nominated Indian music composer and environmentalist. He has performed at venues in over 30 countries including at the United Nations headquarters in New York and Geneva. In December 2022, Kej was announced as a UNHCR "Goodwill Ambassador".

Kej was also named a UNCCD Land Ambassador at the COP14 to raise public awareness about the challenges of land degradation, desertification and drought. Kej also serves as a UNESCO - MGIEP "Global Ambassador for Kindness", UNICEF Celebrity Supporter, and is an ambassador for the Earth Day Network. In 2020, Kej was named as a GQ Hero 2020 by GQ magazine.

Artist, Cartoonist, Illustrator and Naturalist

Rohan Chakravarty, notorious for rolling up into a ball like a pangolin to avoid meeting people, is a cartoonist, illustrator and the creator of Green Humour, a series of cartoons, comics and illustrations on wildlife and nature conservation. Cartoons from Green Humour appear periodically in newspaper columns, magazines and journals. Illustrations from Green Humour have been used for several projects and campaigns on wildlife awareness and climate change. Rohan is also the author of seven books (including the Penguin publications 'Green Humour for a Greying Planet', 'Naturalist Ruddy', and 'Pugmarks and Carbon Footprints') and has won awards by UNDP, Sanctuary Asia, WWF International, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Bangalore Literature Festival for his work.

Program Specialist in Sustainability Education, Uppsala University

Dr Shepherd Urenje is a Programme Specialist in Sustainability Education with the Centre for Research and Education on Learning for Sustainable Development and Global Health (SWEDESD) at Uppsala University, Sweden. Dr Shepherd Urenje has been supporting universities and government ministries in integrating sustainable development strategies into teacher education and university curriculum in order to implement quality and relevance in Higher Education in line with the global sustainable development goal 4. His current work supports teaching and learning within and among countries in Scandinavia, Africa and Asia.

Dr Shepherd Urenje coordinated the UNESCO Global Action Programme of Increasing the capacities of educators and trainers to mainstream ESD and a UNESCO Key partner in developing capacity of teacher education institutions in Southern Africa and Central Asia. Dr Shepherd Urenje has developed and implemented a new strategies for capacity development to support learning in a changing world for leaders now used in the Baltic Sea Region, Southern and East Africa. Dr Shepherd Urenje studied Sustainability Education at the University of London, United Kingdom. His professional background includes teaching environmental science and development education in Zimbabwe, Regional Programme Manager for Education and Training at SADC REEP and Principal Examiner of Environmental Science in the UK.