Madeleine

Communications officer, IUCN

Lydia Kalekye

Conservation educator and trainer, Africa Climate Environment Foundation

Lydia is a seasoned conservation educator,majorly training learners in primary and secondary schools in Kenya. She is also a social mobilizer and trainer at community workshops, training on conservation of wildlife,wetlands,forests and savannahs. Lydia is very intrigued by wildlife and water related research, prompting her to carry out biodiversity research with Nature Kenya's herpetology,youth and ornithology working groups on a rolling basis. She is also a member of Nature Kenya under HARI and youth working groups.As an educator,she has interacted with at least 100 schools in the last two years during ecological visits to different forests,wetlands and national parks, teaching them about different issues on environmental conservation. I joined this platform to learn how to write compelling proposals for funding,network and face my fear of grant writing.
Adam Roberts

Counter-Wildlife Trafficking / Conservation Biologist / Wildlife Photographer, Self Navigating!

Dice alumni, Conservation Biology MSc. Adam has been a global wildlife conservation practitioner in wildlife trade, a forager, ranger, field guide, and wildlife photographer for over 18 years. He has worked within Cambodia for 8 years with NGOs including the Wildlife Conservation Society, Jahoo, Elephant Valley Project, and Marine Conservation Cambodia. His writing, captures, and photo journalism has been shared by NatGeo, Disney, Traffic, and the IUCN. He focuses his photographic work on the unseen, wildlife trade, and environmental education, giving nature a voice not commonly heard. He hopes that his work inspires a different perspective on our human place within nature as its protectors, not living alongside it, but rather living as one and creating a better world to leave for future generations.
Debra Saunders

CEO & Chief Remote Pilot, Wildlife Drones Pty Ltd

For over 20 years, Dr Debbie Saunders has worked as a wildlife biologist, specialising in threatened species conservation management and worked with diverse teams of talented people to develop the world’s most advanced drone radio-telemetry solution – resulting in the establishment of Wildlife Drones.  As a passionate founder, CEO and Chief Remote Pilot of this award-winning deep tech company, Dr Saunders gets to empower wildlife biologists and land managers to achieve greater insights and conservation impact all around the world by cost-effectively collecting more data, more often with less effort. How can Wildlife Drones help you?  - Track up to 40 animals simultaneously and in real-time - Survey difficult terrains like rugged mountains and swamp areas easily - Save time, effort and money so you can focus on what really matters - Collect more data, more often with less effort She has received an ACT Innovation Award as well as an ACT Government Innovation Connect grant for her creative business solutions for challenging research problems. Debbie believes that drones are a highly valuable and flexible tool that provide unprecedented opportunities for new insights into the world’s most complex and fascinating natural ecosystems.
Louisa Richmond-Coggan

Founder & Conservation Consultant, LRC Wildlife Conservation Consulting

Is your organisation's technology decision-making as structured as it needs to be? Conservation organisations face real pressure to adopt technology, often without a clear process for assessing whether it fits their context, capacity, and conservation goals. The free Conservation Technology Decision Quiz takes five minutes. It scores your approach across three areas: Decision Clarity, Fit and Feasibility, and Delivery and Performance. Results include practical recommendations matched to your score, so you can see where your decision process is strong and what to address first. Start here: Technology Decision Quiz I work with conservation organisations and funders on structured technology decision-making, the process that determines whether adoption actually works. Twenty-five years in conservation across the Global South. Technology-agnostic, no vendor affiliations. If your team is navigating a technology decision, evaluating a pilot, or funding organisations that are, I'd welcome a conversation. BACKGROUND Dr. Louisa Richmond-Coggan. My career spans field-based ecology, international NGO and policy work, academic leadership, and conservation technology decision-making. Field career: large carnivore ecology and human-wildlife coexistence research across Eastern and Southern Africa, including as Head of Ecology at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. I led Namibia's National Leopard Census, a multi-stakeholder project whose results fed into national and international policy. I built the Carnivore Tracker app, the first of its kind in Namibia. Institutional career: BirdLife International, UNEP-WCMC, TRAFFIC International, Earthwatch. Academic Dean at the School of Wildlife Conservation at the African Leadership University. Technology and innovation work with IUCN Tech4Nature, including leading three Innovation Challenge Workshops and contributing to the strategic guidance framework on conservation technology adoption. The Navigating Web 3.0 Guide: A Tool for Conservation came out of that work. It is a decision-support tool that starts with your conservation goals and operational realities, not the technology. 34 guided questions assess which emerging technologies are worth exploring across four areas: data collection and management, resource allocation and financial management, collaboration and communication, and monitoring and evaluation. Now integrated into the IUCN GSAP SKILLS platform. This guide is where the decision-support work started, and it remains the clearest entry point into conservation technology decision-making for teams new to this field. Research at the International Conservation Technology Conference, Lima in 2026 confirmed what I had been building toward: the gap in conservation technology is not the tools. It is the structured process for deciding whether, which, and how technology fits an organisation's context. PhD, Nottingham Trent University. MSc Conservation Biology, Durrell Institute. Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. IUCN WCPA Task Force on Human-Wildlife Coexistence. Member of the Nature Tech Collective and Top Tier Impact.
Mesaria Shalu

Senior Research Fellow, Central Zoo Authority

Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal

Regional and Membership Program Officer, Amphibians Specialist Group, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

For unintentionally setting free a non-venomous injured wolf snake from my room, my college mates call me Snake-man because by doing so, they assumed I endangered their lives. You can find me with wild animals in the mountains, valleys, or plains because our addresses are somehow the same. Outside my job, I do herping and anyone who wants information on this group of animals besides other biodiversity, climate, and social science can contact me any time. Rest, I follow Allan Rufus’ dictum “Life is like a sandwich, birth as one slice and death as the other. What you put in between the slices is up to you. Is your sandwich tasty or sour?” So, it is me who makes my sandwich! Education-wise, I have a PhD Ecosystem Management (University of New England, Armidale, Australia), MSc Biodiversity, Wildlife, and Ecosystem Health (Edinburgh University, Scotland, UK), PG Diploma (Hons), Wildlife Management (Wildlife Institute of India), BSc Forestry (Royal University of Bhutan), and High Standard Professional Certificate (Forest Rangers' Course), Northeast Forest Rangers' College, Jalukbari, Assam (now Central Academy for State Forest Service, Burnihat, Assam, India). All my life, I studied Nature Conservation and related Ecological and Environmental Sciences and live to see how rapidly they change. I can do many things many people can do! I have been recently immortalized by a team of taxonomists from the British Museum as they named a torrent frog (Amolops wangyali) from eastern Bhutan after me based on the work I have done on Bhutan amphibians. Thus, frogs in military jackets around Trashigang may carry my name as their specific species epithet. But more than rejoicing, I feel stressed because I feel I should do more in this area and I don't have much time. So, you know...!
Flavia Manieri

WildHub Community Advocates Coordinator|Interdisciplinary Researcher, Uppsala University

Since July 2025, I have been serving as the Community Advocates Coordinator at WildHub, where I coordinate initiatives to engage, support, and empower our community advocates in advancing WH’s mission. Beyond WildHub, I wear a few different hats. I work as a researcher and lecturer in Sweden, teaching courses on environmental law, political and historical ecology, and disaster risk management. I also mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students, collaborate with faculty members, and contribute to ongoing research projects. I’m passionate about giving back through volunteer work. I support a few conservation and animal welfare organisations with research and advocacy to help drive positive change. When I’m not working, you’ll find me hiking forest trails with my dog or enjoying a good cup of coffee.
Nasir Uddin, PhD

Counter Wildlife Trafficking Program Coordinator , Wildlife Protection Activity

I am a trailblazer in the fight against wildlife crime and the promotion of conservation efforts across Bangladesh and Asia. With a proven track record of over a decade, my expertise lies in wildlife trafficking prevention, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and zoonotic disease control. In my current role as Program Coordinator for Counter Wildlife Trafficking with WPA, I lead initiatives to fortify Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies against wildlife crime. I orchestrate multi-agency collaborations, conduct training sessions, and craft strategic policies, significantly enhancing the nation's capacity to combat the illegal wildlife trade. Previously, as a Research Investigator at icddr, b, I drove impactful research endeavors in public health, particularly focusing on zoonotic diseases. I am adept at project management and ensure seamless coordination of research activities, resulting in actionable insights that inform national policy frameworks for disease prevention and control. My academic prowess, including a Ph.D. in Ecology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a DVM from Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, underscores my multidisciplinary approach to conservation challenges. My doctoral thesis on understanding wildlife trade dynamics in Bangladesh has garnered international acclaim for shedding light on critical conservation issues. Beyond academia and professional endeavors, my contributions extend to numerous publications in prestigious journals, reflecting my commitment to knowledge dissemination and evidence-based conservation practices. My active involvement in organizations like the Bangladesh Veterinary Council, the IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group, and Rangers Federation Asia further amplifies my impact on wildlife conservation efforts. My remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication epitomize my status as a visionary leader in wildlife conservation and public health advocacy, paving the way for a sustainable future where humans and wildlife thrive harmoniously. I am open to collaborating and learning in mutually beneficial ways.
Loretta Andrade

First an Animal & Wildlife Goodwill Ambassador & then a Corporate Professional, N/A

I have always believed that kindness should extend to every living being. My love for animals and nature is not just a passion. It is a part of who I am. I care deeply about Animal Rights, Welfare, and Wildlife Conservation, and I do whatever I can to make this world a gentler and safer place for them. Whether it is raising awareness or supporting meaningful causes, I try to play my part with heart and purpose. Professionally, I have grown as an Executive Assistant and Administrative Specialist with hands-on experience across different sectors and cultures. Over the years, I have worked closely with senior leadership teams in Technology, Business, and Higher Education, always striving to be dependable, professional, and calm under pressure. I have earned an Advanced Certificate in Executive Assistance from BMTG UK Ltd which reflects my dedication to this profession. I have also completed several training programs focused on workplace excellence and strong organizational skills. These skills help me adapt to change and keep things running smoothly in today’s fast-paced world. My work often involves managing international travel, planning both virtual and on-site events, and handling communication, immigration, and hospitality tasks. I approach each of these with care and a personal touch. I also write professionally, preparing internal communications and business correspondence with clarity and precision. This has helped me build a reputation for being trustworthy, effective, and committed to high standards. What truly keeps me going is my willingness to learn and grow. I believe that every day is an opportunity to do better, not just at work, but in how we treat others, especially those who do not have a voice. This journey of compassion, hard work, and lifelong learning is what I carry forward, wherever I go and whatever I do.
Dr Nick Askew

Director, Conservation Careers

Sardar Amiri

Conservation Manager, BraveEarth ECOA natureexperts.org

Matthew Creasey

Course Development Manager, WildTeam

I work for WildTeam UK, helping to deliver training workshops, write conservation best practice manuals and share them as widely as possible. Previously a Writing Fellow working with various conservation organisations across India. Background in research, particularly behavioural ecology. Bird nerd.
Christina Imrich

Coach & Facilitator, Christina Imrich Coaching & Consulting

Anish Banerjee

Managing Director, Think Wild Foundation

Hi,  I'm Anish, a young conservationist with an interest in nature based solutions, human-wildlife interactions and conservation outside protected areas. I am currently a consultant at Legal Atlas, working on projects pertaining to wildlife trafficking, biodiversity conservation and wildlife health. I founded Think Wildlife Foundation. We have a few research projects on human wildlife conflict and wildlife cybercrime. We also have hosted a few plantations in the past in our neighbourhood and plan to expand these works in the future. I also host The Think Wildlife Podcast!
Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler)

Wildlife Biologist and Science Communicator, Fancy Scientist LLC

Wildlife biologist 🐘 Mentor 👩‍🎓 Your Biggest Career Cheerleader 📣 Communicator 👥 | Showing animal lovers how to get their dream job✨ | Connecting people with nature for conservation 🌿 and community 🏙️
Zoe Melvin

WildLearning Specialist, WildTeam

I am a WildLearning Specialist at WildTeam with a PhD in Conservation Biology.
Beth Robinson

Consultant, Biodiversify

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. 
Liane Fulford

Training Specialist, WildTeam

I'm Liane, and I am a WildLearning Specialist at WildTeam! I'm looking forward to getting to know you all! For the last few years, I've been working in Seychelles, focusing on island and marine conservation efforts, particularly coral restoration and turtle nesting monitoring. If you ask me questions about coral, be prepared for me to get very nerdy about it! Prior to that, I was managing a project in Northern Thailand, where I worked closely with a local community to set up ethical elephant experiences in their village. In my free time, I love running and hiking, and being anywhere in nature. I have also learnt to freedive in the last few years and enjoy doing that when possible. I'm really interested in talking to different people and learning from them and their unique experiences.
Thirza Loffeld

WildHub Founder, WildHub Conservation Community

My background is mainly in species conservation, education and capacity exchange. I researched mother-young interactions in gorillas and chimpanzees, in captivity and the wild. After that, I worked for three years in Indonesia, where I developed and implemented youth ambassador and community engagement programmes on local and regional scales. I co-founded WildHub, a community of nature conservation professionals, in 2020 and work as their Community Lead. I am furthermore on the Advisory Board of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent where I obtained my PhD on capacity development for conservation in 2022.