Miembros del Comité Directivo del CEC

Deputy Chair

Dr Margaret Otieno is the CEO/National Coordinator of Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, a national NGO targeting the youth and communities with Conservation Education. Margaret is also a board member of Worldlife Kenya, African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, Elsa Conservation Trust and is Deputy Chair for the Kenya Steering Committee (IUCN) and Deputy Chair for IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) for Eastern and Southern Africa. A holder of a PhD in Climate Change and Education for Sustainable Development and an MSc in Environment and Development, she is the 2020 winner of the 2020 International Brandwein Medal award. Margaret is a passionate hands-on environmental education professional and is driven by the belief that sustained education from grassroots to leadership levels is the single most important element in improved environmental protection and conservation. Through Africa wide workshops, WCK has stimulated a continental wildlife clubs movement. It has also helped spawn clubs in Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere in the developing world. In over 50 years, WCK has helped educate over 1,000,000 young Kenyans and placed many of them in positions of influence.

Asesora estratégica y copresidenta de Educación sobre la Naturaleza para la Sostenibilidad
Katalin Czippan es una educadora con experiencia en el campo de la educación y la comunicación sobre el medio ambiente y la sostenibilidad, desde la organización de campamentos y campañas sobre la naturaleza hasta el apoyo a los gobiernos en la elaboración de políticas. En la CEC de la UICN, es copresidenta de la Red de Educación sobre la Naturaleza para la Sostenibilidad y asesora estratégica de la presidencia. Anteriormente, fue vicepresidenta de la CEC y, antes de eso, vicepresidenta regional para Europa. Inició y colaboró con varios miembros europeos de la CEC en el proyecto «Aprendizaje experiencial y educación para la concienciación sobre la naturaleza» (www.elena-project.eu) en la Academia Bávara para la Conservación de la Naturaleza y la Gestión del Paisaje, miembro de la UICN.

Es miembro activo de varias ONG y organizaciones científicas, como el Comité Nacional Húngaro de la UNESCO, y presidenta del Consejo de Administración de la Fundación Tiszta Út (Camino Limpio). En la fundación, puso en marcha y supervisa un programa de donantes para apoyar la ecologización de los patios escolares con la participación de los alumnos, con el fin de utilizar espacios verdes nuevos o ampliados para el aprendizaje y para fines escolares y comunitarios.

Es autora de varias publicaciones, ha impartido conferencias y ha dirigido varios proyectos en el ámbito de la educación y la educación para la sostenibilidad. Cree que todos los esfuerzos de conservación deben aplicar la educación como herramienta estratégica. También cree que todas las formas de educación deben facilitar el aprendizaje sobre y desde la naturaleza, para verla como un sistema, comprender la interconexión entre el ser humano y la naturaleza y amar, apreciar y proteger los valores naturales.

#NatureForAll Co-Chair

Cheryl Charles is an innovator, entrepreneur, educator, author and organizational executive. Throughout her career, Cheryl has focused on the well-being of children, families, communities and the environment that supports us all. She is the Co-Founder, President and CEO Emerita of the Children & Nature Network (www.childrenandnature.org), an international NGO with its mission to connect all children, their families and communities to nature in their everyday lives.

Cheryl serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Commission on Education and Communication (CEC). A member of the Commission since 2005, she previously served on the CEC’s Steering Committee from 2006—2012 and again beginning in 2018. Deeply committed to the importance of connecting people of all ages with nature for their own health and well-being and that of the Earth itself, she is one of those who helped develop the concept for IUCN’s #NatureForAll and serves as one of its three international co-chairs. She was lead author and coordinator of #NatureForAll’s report, Home to Us All: How Connecting with Nature Helps Us Care for Ourselves and the Earth.

Cheryl currently is Research Scholar and founding Executive Director of the Nature Based Leadership Institute at Antioch University New England (AUNE), and an elected school board member. She is a member of the board of trustees of both the Brandwein Institute and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. She served as foundation National Director of the pioneering K-12, interdisciplinary environment education programs, Project Learning Tree and Project WILD.

Cheryl is author, editor and designer of a wide variety of publications including books, articles, and educational materials. Cheryl has given hundreds of public presentations and workshops including scores of keynote addresses; and has facilitated a wide variety of civic, business and educational meetings on a range of topics from developing community leadership to leading the worldwide effort to reconnect children with nature. Cheryl has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington. She lives near her son, daughter-in-law and nature-based grandchildren on a forest family farm in southern Vermont, USA.

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 internationally, both in the private sector and with the Canadian government. During 15 years with Parks Canada, Karen led the development of evidence-based strategic approaches to ecological restoration, climate change, and urban parks, among other topics. Most recently, she has been bridging natural and social-scientific disciplines to develop collaborative relationships and find solutions for building and diversifying the constituency of support for conservation.

Karen led the Inspiring a New Generation Stream of the IUCN World Parks Congress in 2014, which was the foundation for the subsequent launch of #NatureForAll in 2016. Since then, she has been instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of #NatureForAll and contributing to its growth and influence. Karen has been the Vice Chair responsible for #NatureForAll for the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and a Co-Chair of #NatureForAll for the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication since 2016. 

Co Chair IUCN #NatureForAll  

Steering Committee Member IUCN Commission on Education & Communication

Dr (Ms) Vasanti Rao is the Director General of CMS (Centre for Media Studies) - a research based think tank in India (www.cmsindia.org) and also directs CMS VATAVARAN, the Asia’s largest international film festival and forum on environment & wildlife (www.cmsvatavaran.org).

Vasanti has her PhD in Media Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University and has double Masters degrees in Psychology and Management. She specializes in strategy development, designing, researching and evaluating development programs communication initiatives. Vasanti also advises, studies and writes on: the communication media and regulatory issues; mass and new media trends and consumption patterns; strategies for development programs & social issues in popular media (entertainment & NEWS); Communication & Media Research; Behavior & Social Change Communication & Entertainment Education Strategies.

Conservation, Gender and Children are three key areas of her concern and passion. Vasanti has to her credit numerous policy inputs, program evaluations, designing and organizing multi stakeholder events and research based publications.  

Nature Education for Sustainability Co-Chair & South America Regional Vice Chair

Luis Alberto Camargo is the founder and Director of the Organization for Environmental Education and Protection (OpEPA), a non-profit organization registered in Colombia and the USA, which has worked directly with over 120,000 children and youth and help thousands of educators incorporate nature into their work. OpEPA centres on the advancement of nature-based and regenerative education, heritage interpretation and weaving.

Luis is co-leader/convener of Colombia Regenerativa initiative, working to strengthen bioregional transitions to regenerative cultures. Co-founder and board member in Catalyst 2030. He is also a co-founder of The Weaving Lab, which aims to create thriving learning ecosystems by helping Change Leaders to become more aligned, collaborative and systemic. In addition, he is a climate reality leader for The Climate Reality Project and part of the core team for the Regenerative Communities Network. He has been a speaker on subjects such as social entrepreneurship, social innovation, conservation, climate change, environmental education, environmental peace, wilderness medicine and wilderness expeditions.

"I focus my work on reconnecting youth to nature and people to the Earth in order to build more sustainable, regenerative and peaceful communities." 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisalbertocamargo/

CEC de la UICN, Vicepresidente Regional para Asia Occidental y Copresidente del Grupo de Educación en la Naturaleza para la Sostenibilidad

Firas es asesor económico sénior del gobierno de Jordania y experto en comunicación con más de tres décadas de experiencia en economía, desarrollo, medio ambiente y gestión integrada del agua. Ha estado vinculado a la UICN desde 2009 en diferentes puestos: consultor de comunicación, traductor y, actualmente, Vicepresidente Regional para Asia Occidental de la Comisión de Educación y Comunicación (CEC) de la UICN y miembro del Consejo Editorial de la UICN. También es miembro de la junta y coordinador de comunicación de la Asociación del Mundo Árabe de Jóvenes Científicos (ArabWAYS). Firas es coautor, editor y traductor de varios libros, artículos y otras publicaciones sobre economía, agua, medio ambiente y desarrollo.

Diana Garlytska es una joven experta que, a lo largo de sus nueve años de carrera académica, ha enseñado en más de una decena de países en Europa y Asia como profesora invitada. Ha redactado varios manuales para estudiantes de licenciatura y ha creado su propio curso titulado «Desarrollo empresarial sostenible».

Diana Garlytska es miembro de la Comisión de Educación y Comunicación (CEC) de la UICN desde 2018 y Vicepresidenta Regional de la UICN CEC para Europa Occidental desde 2022.

Diana Garlytska cuenta con una sólida experiencia en el movimiento juvenil mundial por el medio ambiente. Fue copresidenta del comité directivo (2018-febrero de 2022) y miembro del comité directivo de CoalitionWILD (2019-febrero de 2022). Actualmente forma parte del consejo asesor de CoalitionWILD. En 2021, integró el grupo de trabajo juvenil para la Cumbre Mundial de la Juventud de la UICN, co-redactó la declaración final de dicha cumbre y tuvo el honor de presentarla en el Congreso Mundial de la Naturaleza de la UICN en Marsella, Francia. En 2022, Diana fue miembro del Grupo de Trabajo Juvenil para Stockholm+50 y contribuyó activamente al trabajo juvenil en la elaboración de políticas ambientales. Participó en la COY17 y en la COP27, donde también intervino en varios eventos de alto nivel.

En 2022, Diana asistió a la SB58 y a la COP28, así como al Foro Público de la OTAN. Ese mismo año coorganizó la RCOY Europa del Este en el marco de YOUNGO, UNFCCC, lo que permitió a los jóvenes de su región reunirse, establecer redes y cooperar. Más tarde, ese mismo año, Diana Garlytska inició también su proyecto de investigación doctoral en finanzas ambientales.

Así, las mayores pasiones de Diana son la participación juvenil en la conservación de la naturaleza, el storytelling y el trabajo académico. Siente un gran orgullo e inspiración por su papel en el Comité Asesor de la Juventud de la UICN y por su rol de liderazgo. Habiendo comenzado su trayectoria como miembro de Comisión, Diana ha podido experimentar el apoyo al liderazgo juvenil dentro de la Unión. Por lo tanto, la creación del YAC le brinda la confianza de que la implementación de la Estrategia de Juventud de la UICN conducirá a un empoderamiento aún mayor de los jóvenes profesionales.

Regional Vice Chair for North and Co-Chair of Youth Engagement and Intergenerational Partnerships

Mrs. Kenza Khallafi, is currently the Partnerships Officer and responsible of the education for sustainable programs at the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental protection, a non-profit organization based in Morocco that takes action by raising public awareness and education on sustainable development, especially among the youth.

The past ten years, Kenza has been working closely with the Ministry of education of Morocco on developing ESD projects and programs, on accelerating local level actions to make progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and on Empowering and mobilizing youth from preschool to university. Kenza also work to reinforce cooperation with United nations agencies, international and national organizations and the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training, the academic branch of the Foundation, launched in 2019, in the areas of environmental education, biodiversity, Action for Climate Empowerment and ocean literacy.

Kenza is member of the Climate Change Competence Center of Morocco (4C) a national platform for dialogue and capacity building for the various actors and a hub for climate change information open to its regional, African, and international environment. Before joining the Foundation, Kenza graduated in Finance from an American University Al Akhawayn based in Ifrane (Morocco) and Bocconi University in Milan (Italy). 

Ana ha trabajado en el sector sin fines de lucro por más de 20 años. Ha liderado con éxito iniciativas que van desde el apoyo a comunidades indígenas y rurales con estrategias de comunicación, marketing y comercio, hasta la creación de mecanismos financieros para garantizar la continuidad de programas de conservación.

Ana es la Directora Ejecutiva de BIOME CONSERVATION,  / International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), una organización dedicada a proteger la naturaleza en áreas de alta biodiversidad alrededor del mundo. ICFC trabaja en alianza con organizaciones locales para apoyar esfuerzos de conservación en campo que protegen especies, ecosistemas y las comunidades que dependen de ellos.

También es cofundadora de Zamia Media, una iniciativa social que apoya a organizaciones sin fines de lucro y proyectos de impacto social, ofreciendo herramientas de comunicación y marketing, cursos y mentoría personalizada para construir movimientos, inspirar cambios y crear un mundo mejor. Antes de este rol, fue Directora Ejecutiva del Fondo de Conservación El Triunfo, donde creó programas de vinculación y campañas exitosas de recaudación de fondos, logrando donaciones recurrentes de empresas nacionales e internacionales que hoy garantizan la conservación y el desarrollo en Chiapas, México.

Ana también forma parte del Comité Directivo de la Comisión de Educación y Comunicación (CEC) de la UICN, es miembro del consejo de varias organizaciones que apoyan la seguridad alimentaria, el acceso al agua y la educación, y es fellow del programa de emprendimiento social WeAmerica.

Soy egresado de la Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas con licenciatura en Ciencias de la Tierra, dediqué gran parte de mis estudios a temas relacionados con la conservación de los recursos naturales, desarrollo comunitario, áreas protegidas, educación ambiental y comunicación ambiental.

He trabajado en ONG 8 años y tengo una gran experiencia en comunicación estratégica y recaudación de fondos, actualmente soy consultor y apoyó a varias organizaciones a visibilizar su causa a través de los diseños y estrategias.

Formo parte de la Comisión de Educación y Comunicación (CEC) de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN), esta comisión promueve el cambio para la co-creación de soluciones sostenibles a través de la comunicación, el aprendizaje y la gestión del conocimiento en la UICN y el mundo en general. comunidad conservacionista.

West and Central Africa Regional Vice Chair

Tommy Garnett is a dual citizen of Ireland and Sierra Leone, with background in Agricultural and Development Economics. Following completion of post graduate studies in the former USSR, he began his career in 1984, as a high school teacher in Kenya, where he taught Agriculture, Mathematics and Physical Education for 4 years. In 1992, Tommy founded the Environmental Foundation for Africa as a charity in the UK to create awareness about the environmental impacts of the conflict and to empower the local people to protect the integrity of nature in West Africa. Since then, Tommy traveled extensively in the West and Central Africa region, studying and reporting on the nature and extent of the threats to the Guinean Forest Ecosystem.

Tommy has been a member of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) since 1996. From 2006-2012 and 2016-2021 he served on the CEC Steering Committee as Regional Vice Chair for West and Central Africa. Tommy also served as member of the UN Panel of Experts from 2003-2007, monitoring economic sanctions on Liberia, with the specific task of assessing the socio economic, ecological and humanitarian impacts of the sanctions, co-authoring several reports for the UN Security Council during this time. He is a contributing author of CEPA Toolkit for Africa, published by the CEC in 2007.

From 2010, Tommy oversaw the design and construction of the Biodiversity and Renewable Energy Learning Centre (Learning Centre), which was completed and formerly launched in June 2014. A first of its kind in West Africa and situated on the edge of Freetown’s Western Area Peninsula Forest National Park, the centre was current hosts visitors from various sectors and all age groups, especially school children, who can now experience nature and sustainability principles first hand.

In October 2016, Tommy joined BirdLife International, to lead its Regional Implementation Team, managing the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund’s investment portfolio in the Guinean Forests of West Africa Hotspot, spanning eleven countries from the Guinea to the Gulf of Guinea Islands of Sao Tome & Principe. In 2018, Tommy returned to Sierra Leone to lead EFA’s Sierra Leone country program, while maintaining links with various regional entities, including the African Civil Society Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA).

Hanying has nearly 30 years’ experience in sustainable development at the national, regional and international level. She has worked with State Environmental Protection Administration of China (the former Ministry of Environment and Ecology), China Environmental Protection Foundation, National People’s Congress, P. R. China, and two important international organizations on nature conservation - IUCN and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Hanying’s work covers a variety of topics, especially nature conservation, environmental protection, climate change, gender balance, poverty alleviation, green finance and etc. She is interested in nature-based integrated solutions for global challenges.

In recent years, Hanying has been dedicated to promote nature education in East Asia in her capacity as Regional Vice Chair of IUCN CEC (2016-2025), through membership recruitment and collaborative activities with various partners. During this time, Youth engagement and Intergenerational diallage - one of the four priority areas - was greatly enhanced in East Asia. 

Hanying holds an M.S. degree in Organizational Management from the School for International Training Institute, Vermont, U.S.A., and a B.L. degree in International Political Sciences from Peking University, China.

Marie-Philippe Ouellet es una joven profesional que trabaja en el sector de la conservación en Parques Canadá. Nacida y criada en Berthierville (Quebec, Canadá), siempre ha vivido con un pie en el campo y otro en la ciudad. Sin embargo, fue al mudarse a la ciudad de Quebec para sus estudios que comenzó a valorar verdaderamente el equilibrio entre la vida urbana y el acceso a la naturaleza. Completó su licenciatura en la Université Laval y ahora posee un título en comunicación pública con una especialización en turismo sostenible.

Marie-Philippe inició su carrera en Parques Canadá como estudiante en 2017, formando parte del equipo central de la Expedición Franklin, con el objetivo de arrojar luz sobre la trágica historia de la expedición y amplificar el conocimiento inuit local sobre los naufragios históricos. Desde entonces, ha tenido la oportunidad de participar en una amplia gama de proyectos dentro de la agencia, desde la promoción de experiencias en parques nacionales del norte entre los canadienses, hasta la creación de asociaciones y colaboraciones en el ámbito de la conservación internacional. Más recientemente, fue organizadora principal y anfitriona del Global Youth Summit de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) en abril de 2021.

En el centro de todo el trabajo de Marie-Philippe está su pasión por empoderar a los jóvenes para que participen de manera significativa en el sector de la conservación. Es orgullosa exalumna de Student On Ice (2018) y Ocean Bridge (2019).

En 2021, Marie-Philippe recibió el Premio a la Excelencia para Jóvenes Profesionales Micah Messant del Consejo Canadiense de Parques, en reconocimiento a su liderazgo en la organización del primer Global Youth Summit de la UICN.

Soñadora que rompe barreras, Marie-Philippe sigue constantemente sus pasiones y pone en marcha nuevos proyectos. Es muy probable encontrarla en plena naturaleza, escondida detrás de su cámara, contemplando el atardecer o riendo con amigos y familiares.

Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Vice Chair
 

Dr. Alex Zavarzin  is currently director of the AI in Agrobiotechnolgy center of the ITMO University (https://en.itmo.ru) combining this position with advisory to the State selectional achievements commission of Russia (https://gossortrf.ru).  Previously he combined university professorship with service  of vice-provost for biology, geography, geoecology and soils of St.Petersburg state university. Dr. Zavarzin also worked for the All-Russia center for talented children “Sirius” recently established at the former Olympic infrastructure in Sochi and later as a deputy director of Vavilov Center opf Plant Genetic resources (VIR). For many years Dr. Zavarzin combined his academic research with work in environmental NGO “Baltic Fund for Nature” followed nowadays by a membership in the IUCN Member organization - All-Russian Society of Nature Protection-Leningrad region office. (https://voop.spb.ru) where he is the academic leader for the biodiversity projects.

Dr. Zavazrin has been an active member in a number of professional societies. He participated and led many international environmental projects in Russia and NW Europe, sponsored by WWF, Programmes of European Union, UNDP with many of them being implemented under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidance. He has wide experience in promoting biodiversity field studies, networking of protected areas, implementation of environmental legislation and transboundary collaboration, enhancing youth involvement into decision making and introducing of education for sustainable development and communication.

Dr. Zavarzin is a regional vice-chair of the IUCN CEC and vice co-chair for IUCN ICENCA, as well as a member of the IUCN Russian National Committee.

Regional Vice Chair for Eastern and Sothern Africa

Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy is a passionate advocate for small-scale fishers and has expertise in education, outreach and story-telling. She served as the National Coordinator of MIHARI - Madagascar’s Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) Network for 6 years and she was elected President of the board of the Network in November 2020. She won the Whitley Award in 2019 for her success in defending the rights of Madagascar’s small-scale fishers and to enable those communities to exchange experiences and strengthen their capacity to manage their resources. In 2021, Vatosoa was named in Top 100 young African Conservation Leaders. After successfully bringing stakeholders together to ensure the sustainable management of Madagascar's marine resources, Vatosoa put her coordination skills at the service of the Malagasy think-tank INDRI with the task of building on existing conservation knowledge to safeguard Madagascar's unique marine and terrestrial biodiversity. She led Alamino, which is a national movement to generate collective action and brain power to re-green Madagascar. She is now the founder and the CEO of BEOLOBE, Madagascar’s first platform that brings together the island’s community-led conservation initiatives: marine and terrestrial and aims to mobilize investments and resources to prioritize Indigenous and local communities’ well-being and their guardianship of natural resources.