IUCN WCEL Ethics Specialist Group

Cristiane Derani is a Professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, where she teaches Public International Law, International Economic Law and International Environmental Law. She is also Research Coordinator and Head of the research group on ‘Advanced Studies of Economics and Environment in International Law’(EMAE), as well as a Researcher of the Brazilian National Research Agency (CNPq). During 2022-23 she is visiting scholar in the IREDIES – Institut de Recherche en Droit International et Europeen de la Sorbonne. Member of the steering committee of Cambridge Global Food Security- GFS of the University of Cambridge – UK, where she is also fellow in the Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Governance, since 2016. Member of the expert group of United Nations program Harmonia with Nature, steering committee member of the ELGA- Ecological Law and Governance Association and coordinator of the network of the new Latin American constitutionalism for the State of Santa Catarina

She was prorector on graduate studies at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (2018-2022), where she manages all University’s masters and doctors' programs. During this time, she achieved the approval of a resolution introducing affirmative action in the graduation studies. She also sett up an Institute for Advanced Studies at the University.

She graduated in Law from São Paulo State University (1988), wrote her PhD dissertation at J.W. Goethe Universitaet, Frankfurt a.M. (1991-1993), and was awarded a Ph.D. in Economic Law at USP (1996), where she worked as Associated Professor (1997-2004). She conducted post-doctoral studies at Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), in France, about the Privatisation of Public Services and Sustainable Development (1999) and passed her Aggregation in Law at USP in 2001. From 2000 to 2007, she was a Professor at Pablo d’Olavide University in Seville, Spain, teaching environmental law and sustainable development. She was also a Visiting Scholar at the European University Institute (2001), a Visiting Professor at Maison de Sciences de l’Homme (2005), as well as a Visiting Professor at the J.W. Goethe Universitaet (2005). She was responsible for the creation of a master’s degree at University of the State of Amazonas. She has experience as part of the Brazilian delegation for the COP 8 and 9 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Derani’s passion for nature motivated her academic career since college, where she acted as an activist, and after as lawyer for environmental associations. As professor she works engaging students and acting as a consultant for the public and private sector. Cristiane has published two single authored monographs: ‘Environmental Economic Law’ and ‘Privatisation and Public Service’. She has also edited several volumes and published numerous articles on environmental law, economic law, biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable development law. Her main research areas are in international environmental law, globalisation, sustainability and decoloniality, climate change and energy governance, food security and trade law.

Neshan Gunasekera is an international lawyer, educationist, leadership coach, facilitator and environmentalist from Sri Lanka. He is committed to bring communities together for environmental protection, healing and conservation through the use of intergenerational, holistic and experiential learning.

He was a Visiting Fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in Lund, Sweden. During his earlier tenures, he has supported and advised several international organizations including the United Nations Agencies and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN. In his last tenure, he provided technical guidance to the United Nations on Peace and Governance during 2016-2022, including bringing together all 14 UN Agencies, Government, private and civil society stakeholders under these themes and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Sri Lanka.

Neshan is engaged by several international organizations, including as Director of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA), Member, Steering Committee, of the Ecological Law and Governance Association, (ELGA), Co-Chair, Earth Trusteeship Working Group and a Lead Counsel, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions at the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law.

Neshan has supported the work of the World Future Council from its inception in 2007, including as a Policy Advisor to the pioneering work of the Future Justice Commission and supported projects covering a wide array of areas including on the Nuclear-Climate nexus, Crimes Against Future Generations and International Tribunals, Rights of Future Generations and supported the work on the Future Policy Awards. He is currently, Co-Chair of the Peace & Disarmament Commission and the Working Group on the UN Summit of the Future.

In 2020, Neshan was bestowed with The H.E. Judge C.G. Weeramantry International Justice Award for his work for the cause of justice and inclusion of all peoples during and after conflicts, notably in Sri Lanka and the South Asia region through various global, regional and national institutions and his continuing contributions in the areas of peace, conflict transformation and sustainable development.

Neshan is a trained lawyer and educationist with specialized skills in Peacebuilding, Conflict Transformation, International Law – including International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law, International Relations, Multilateralism, Public Diplomacy, Preventive Diplomacy, Advocacy, Environmental Conservation, and Leadership. He continues to contribute to several peacebuilding, conflict transformation, environmental conservation and educational projects in various parts of the world. Also, he continues to dedicate his efforts to rebuilding trust with our Earth, through the use of law and application of principles of intergenerational equity and Earth Trusteeship.

Further, he is a passionate sportsman and involves himself in sports administration and the promoting the spirit of sports. He supports various individuals to take up sports and continue in sports, including persons with disability and uses sports as a tool for integration and leadership. Neshan is married to Bridgette Kennedy and they have a son, Aryesh.

He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the World Future Council as of May 2025.