Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, Ph.D., CEnv.
State Project Coordinator , Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises (LIFE-ND)
Uchenna is a Chartered Environmentalist, University Lecturer and on secondment to IFAD-funded LivelihoodImprovement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project as Abia State Project Coordinator, a board oftrustee-member of Future Generation University, USA; Chairman - Abia State Chapter of Nigerian Environmental Society (NES); with a doctoral degree in environmental forest ecology. He has over 20 peer-reviewed academic publications, and an international development professional with over 22 years and hasworked at least once in each Nigerian state as an Independent Development Consultant. Also, he hasprovided development consultancy services in India, Nepal, United States of America, Rwanda, Cameroon,United Kingdom and Namibia.
Recently, he participated as the Nigerian representative in a-global research titled ‘Developing indicators of Peace’, piloted by Future Generations University in collaboration with the United States Institute of Peace.
Uchenna’s skills include an in-depth understanding of community working systems in developing countries;linking policy analysis and emerging issues to plans; understanding of pro-poor and gender issues indevelopment, an excellent team player, good interpersonal, report writing and communication skills.
Data, databases and apps ( Claris FileMaker ) for nature conservation and sustainability research. Funding expertise as a bonus
Where is restoration taking place around the world, and how is it being tracked? This is an important question that should put ecosystem monitoring at the forefront to achieve both quantitative and qualitative goals. That's where my work comes in—launching data-driven solutions for monitoring, reporting, and guiding investment. Because both people and the planet matter.
Affordable, flexible and sociable online learning in technical skills for conservation and open education. Support for virtual and hybrid conferences and events
I'm a biodiversity consultant working mainly in the corporate space. I work with large companies to help them figure out their nature-related impacts, dependancies, risks and opportunities, then use this information to create biodiversity strategies.
Shelley acts as community manager for the two growing networks that sit alongside the core Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership teaching programme; the University of Cambridge Conservation Leadership Alumni Network (UCCLAN) and the Conservation Leadership Transformation Network. The management of these two networks delivers two of the three goals set out in the Masters in Conservation Leaderships ten-year strategy; to catalyse the impact of the UCCLAN; and to establish a Global Conservation Leadership Community of Practice.
Shelley is a former archaeologist, who moved into the communications sector and has been specialising in external affairs and communications at the University of Cambridge for the last 15 years. Shelley is a brand specialist with extensive experience in delivering large-scale communications campaigns for the University’s high-profile events such as the Cambridge Science Festival, alongside training staff and students from across the University in to how to engage audiences both in person and online.
Leah Winstead
IT department Head / Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Coordinator, Project Neofelis / Tour Operator Guide, U.S. Navy / S.P.E.C.I.E.S./ San Diego Zoo Global
I lead on the Whitley Fund for Nature's Network Development programme, supporting and creating connections among the 200-strong global network to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration, and strengthen capacity. Previous to this role, I worked for Galapagos Conservation Trust for over seven years across project management and operations/finance. I hold an MSc in Conservation Science from Imperial College London. I am passionate about habitat restoration, the conservation of endemic species and inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders.
Ana Di Pangracio
Biodiversity Director and Deputy Director, Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN)
Lawyer (University of Buenos Aires). Specialised in environmental law (Argentine Catholic University). IUCN Councillor (2021-2025). Member of the UNCCD CSO Panel (2022-2024). Observer at the UNCCD Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought (2022-2024).
Biodiversity, human rights and gender. A passionate advocate for nature protection with an ecosystem and human rights-based approach. Naturalist and birdwatcher. Over a decade experience working in civil society organisations and networks, as an environmental consultant, lecturer and editor.
I studied Marine Biology in San Diego, California and Wildlife Biology & Conservation in Edinburgh, Scotland. I volunteered, interned, and worked in various capacities at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Hopkins Marine Station, and on a small whale-watching outfit prior to my MSc, and I now work as a Program Delivery Facilitator at the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity in Sacramento, California. My passions lie in informal science education, outreach, and public engagement in the sciences.
After a decade of training to be a wildlife conservationist, I founded Lonely Conservationists to help conservationists thrive by providing a platform to be heard, employment pathways and a strong community foundation. As well as running Lonely Conservationists, I teach sustainability incursions and excursions to school students in a classroom, forest and marine park environments.
Fátima D. Gigante
Program Coordinator / Coordinator, CoalitionWILD / Women in Nature Network (WiNN)
Interdisciplinary conservation professional. Consultant at the European Forest Institute and coordinator for CoalitionWILD 2022 Global Mentorship Programme. Passionate about the social dimensions of natural resource management, community-based conservation, participatory methodologies and human-wildlife conflicts.
I also run the conservation workshop and networking platform '& another thing'. See details of our free upcoming workshops and events here - https://andanotherplace.wixsite.com/home
Hi all! I am currently Fauna & Flora Internationals (FFIs) Senior Programme Manager for Conservation Capacity and Leadership. I have a lovely broad remit, but at its heart my job is to support FFI staff and partners strengthen skills in establishing, managing and supporting FFIs conservation work. I do this in lots of ways- designing and running training events, supporting the application of new skills/learning to peoples work, setting up mentoring relationships and peer to peer learning groups, organising exchange visits, work shadowing, master classes etc. We have a big focus on knowledge management in FFI, so don't just focus on how to bring in new knowledge and learning into our organisation, but how to share and apply all the incredible knowledge and skills our 400 strong team already have
I have an MSc in Environmental Technology and PhD in Anthropology from UCL where I specialised in human-environment interactions, with a stint as a Teaching Fellow in Human Ecology (maternity cover). Prior to joining FFI, I spent a number of years working in the Central African Republic to assess and improve the integration of conservation and development in the Dzanga-Sangha region, and following gorillas up and down volcanoes in Rwanda with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Before joining FFI's Conservation Capacity team in 2013, I spent 5 years in FFI’s Africa team, co-ordinating and managing projects in Liberia, West Africa.
I am a WildLearning Specialist at WildTeam with a PhD in Conservation Biology.
Here are the 3 things I am all about: 1. Nature From day one my favorite place to be and my north star in every life decision I make. I want to protect and rewild as much nature as I possibly can. In order to do so I created 2 businesses: Wildya - my attempt to give personal development a wild update Wild Business Mates - my consulting service to empower wild change makers 2. Personal Development I am life long learner and believe that we can live happier if we take matters into our own hands. Daily tiny actions accumulate. So with Wildya, I can support you to take action and change your life. 3. Ecopreneurship The world needs to change. The most successful companies & NGOs of tomorrow generate positive impact at scale. If you attempting to do this, let me help you. I am building Wildya transparently, to provide a clear blueprint on how to take an idea from 0 to a sustainable business / NGO. Creating a community of wild change-makers, as well as consulting them along the way.
I am a marine biology graduate with an MSc in conservation from Plymouth Uni. I use to be the assistant community manager of WildHub and. have a passion for science communication and bringing people together. 🦇 In my spare time I have a blog as well as a Redbubble shop where I sell my artwork. Check it out under my website link :) 🦇 Other interests include the use of technology (specifically cameras) to study animals as well as animal husbandry and advocacy.
Alan J. Hesse
Senior Behaviour Change Specialist (TRAFFIC); also independent author-illustrator and climate educator.., TRAFFIC International
My conservation career started in 1992 when I helped set up and joined a University expedition to the Bolivian Amazon. What started out as a 3-month experience ended up being a life-changing inflection point that set my professional and personal course to the present day. My conservation experience was built bottom-up and hands-on, and includes field data collection and logistics, grassroots organization leadership and project management, community engagement and capacity building, M&E, training and behavior change, and lately climate education through authorship of graphic novels and other resources. My conservation career includes positions as a senior staff member and a principal investigator at the Bolivian BirdLife Partner Armonía, field investigator in the Gran Chaco with WCS Bolivia, field logistics officer for Conservation International's RAP expeditions, and Programme Manager and Senior Manager of M&E at Rare. I currently work as Senior Behaviour Change Specialist with TRAFFIC International, applying behavioural science approaches to support TRAFFIC's work across wildlife supply chains globally.
I started my conservation career as a researcher/author for the Arkive online natural world encyclopedia, before managing the Wildscreen Exchange project which gives 350+ organisations across the world access to free photographs and videos for their communications. From working on this project, I developed a keen interest in conservation communications and began researching impact and technique.
I also ran the public section of the Wildscreen Festival, Witness the Wild, which is an event programme that includes a travelling bicycle-powered wildlife film cinema, the world's largest recycled and recyclable photography exhibition, and a nature-themed street art gallery. Since then, I have been running my own conservation communications business, Song and Dance Communications, but split my time 50/50 between this and field work, which mostly centres around ecosystem restoration and short-term contracts in the ecotourism industry. I also produce a seldom updated blog, which I hope to spend more time on at some point in the not-too-distant future!