WCEL Steering Committee Members

In accordance with the WCEL By-laws, the Steering Committee is responsible for formulating policy, procedures, and rules of WCEL, and for determining all programmes of the Commission.

Voigt
Christina VOIGT - Commission Chair

Dr. Christina Voigt is a renowned expert in international environmental law and professor at the University of Oslo. She is passionate about legal issues of climate change, environmental multilateralism, and sustainability. Professor Voigt has published widely on these topics and is a frequent speaker at international and national events. She also works as legal adviser for the Government of Norway, as well as for several International and Non-Governmental Organisations. Professor Voigt is chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law.

Dr. Christina Voigt is a renowned expert in international environmental law and professor at the University of Oslo. She is passionate about legal issues of climate change, environmental ...

Mr Ayman CHERKAOUI

Deputy Chair. Mr. Ayman Cherkaoui is the Coordinator for the Mohammed VI Prize for the Climate and Sustainable Development as well as Strategic Development Officer at the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection. 

Deputy Chair. Mr. Ayman Cherkaoui is the Coordinator for the Mohammed VI Prize for the Climate and Sustainable Development as well as Strategic Development Officer at the Mohammed VI Foundation for ...

Ms Marina Demaria Venâncio
Marina Venâncio is an environment and youth advocate, with over nine years of experience in the field of environmental law research and practice. She is currently working as a programme officer at the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre and has previously contributed to several international and civil society organizations, including FAO and UNEP. She holds a master's degree in law, environment, and ecological politics from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil). Ms. Venancio has authored and co-authored more than forty publications in the field of domestic and international environmental law, and was awarded in 2016 the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s Green Talents Award for her research on agroecological public policies. She is also a member of the YPARD Steering Committee. You can contact her at [email protected].

Marina Venâncio is an environment and youth advocate, with over nine years of experience in the field of environmental law research and practice. She is currently working as a programme officer at the ...
David FORMAN
Prof David Forman

David M. Forman is a Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Environmental Law Program, in addition to serving as Affiliated Faculty for both the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law and the Pacific Asian Legal Studies program. He is the Law School's first locally-raised faculty member of Filipino descent to secure tenure, and co-founder of the Tony Oposa Intergenerational Moot Court (an innovative, collaborative moot court designed to highlight cutting edge international issues and their impact on future generations). He has been a member of the World Commission on Environmental Law since November 2014. His publications include the co-edited, inaugural volume of the Normandy Chair for Peace collection entitled Legal Actions for Future Generations (Peter Lang 2020).

David M. Forman is a Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Environmental Law Program, in addition to serving as Affiliated Faculty for both the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian ...

James Cameron
Mr James CAMERON

An award-winning recognised authority in the global climate change movement and a qualified Barrister with 30+ years’ experience, James serves on boards and advisory committees across financial, legal, academic and governmental organisations.

An award-winning recognised authority in the global climate change movement and a qualified Barrister with 30+ years’ experience, James serves on boards and advisory committees across financial, legal ...

Lavanya Rajamani
Prof Lavanya RAJAMANI

Lavanya Rajamani is a Professor of International Environmental Law at the Faculty of Lawl, University of Oxford, and Yamani Fellow in Public International Law at St Peter's College, Oxford. Lavanya specializes in the field of international environmental and climate change law.

Lavanya Rajamani is a Professor of International Environmental Law at the Faculty of Lawl, University of Oxford, and Yamani Fellow in Public International Law at St Peter's College, Oxford. Lavanya ...

Agnes Michelot
Dr Agnes MICHELOT

Agnès Michelot is a Senior Lecturer in Public Law at the Faculty of Law, Political Sciences and Management of the La Rochelle University (France). She specialises in international environmental law. She is vice president and honorary president of the French society for environmental law. 

Agnès Michelot is a Senior Lecturer in Public Law at the Faculty of Law, Political Sciences and Management of the La Rochelle University (France). She specialises in international environmental law ...

Nilufer Oral
Ms Nilufer ORAL

Dr. Nilufer Oral is a Professor of Law and Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore. she is a member of the United Nations International Law Commission and co-chair of the Study Group on Sea-level rise in relation to international law.

Dr. Nilufer Oral is a Professor of Law and Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore. she is a member of the United Nations International Law Commission and co-chair of the Study Group on ...

WCEL Steering Committee
Mrs Elizabeth MREMA

Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, is the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ms. Mrema has worked with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) for over two decades and was the Director of the Law Division at UNEP which is also responsible for international environmental governance as well as multilateral environmental agreements. Prior to joining the Law Division in June 2014, she was Deputy Director of the Ecosystems Division, in charge of coordination, operations and programme delivery from 2012 and for one year also served as Acting Director to the same Division. In 2018, she was also the Acting Director of the Corporate Services Division. Prior to these duties, she also served as Executive Secretary of the UNEP/Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) from 2009-2012. Ms. Mrema’s work at UNEP has focused on development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws including multilateral environmental agreements at national, regional and international levels, among others. Her various roles over the years, include being coordinator of capacity-building and compliance and enforcement projects related to environmental law and the multilateral environmental conventions.

Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, is the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ms. Mrema has worked with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) for over two decades and was the ...

Claudia
Ms Claudia DE WINDT

Claudia S. de Windt. International lawyer from the Dominican Republic. Chief Executive and founder of The Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability (IIJS). International environmental law Professor in globally recognized faculties of law, judicial and prosecutorial academies and Adjunct Associate Professor at American University, Washington College of Law (Human Rights and the Environment). Affiliated to the Center of Constitutional Studies of the Supreme Court of Mexico. Member of the Steering Committee of the World Commission on Environmental Law of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the list of experts in environmental law and the resolution of disputes of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America. Provides expertise to high level international policy forums and to different entities and committees in the UN System. Adviser to the UNODC Global Program on Crimes that Affect the Environment and Climate. In 2021 was invited to join the Scotia Group a global network of prominent internationalists and leaders in law, politics, academia and business convened for the UNFCCC-COP 26 to to drive impactful climate action through the rule of law. Designated in 2020 Visiting Scholar at The Environmental Law Institute (ELI). From 2015-2017, co-Chaired the Green Growth and the Law Working Group of The Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP). Served for almost two-decades at the Organization of American States (OAS) advising numerous political and negotiation processes in the multilateral and hemispheric sphere and making significant contributions to environmental legislation, enforcement, compliance and jurisprudence in Latin America and the Caribbean. A Graduate of Universidad Iberoamericana, UNIBE (Doctor in Law). Master's Degree (LLM) in International Legal Studies from the American University Law School. Certificate in Negotiations from the Harvard University School of Law.

Claudia S. de Windt. International lawyer from the Dominican Republic. Chief Executive and founder of The Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability (IIJS). International environmental law ...

Ms Maria-Goreti MUAVESI
Maria-Goreti Muavesi has over sixteen years of experience in the field of environmental law. She gained her law degree and post-graduate diploma in legal practice from the University of the South Pacific in 2004 and 2005 respectively and was subsequently admitted to the High Court of Fiji in 2005. She graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Master of Fisheries Policy in 2018 She started her career as a Legal Officer with the Department of Environment where she coordinated and managed programmes for the Unit responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the Environment Management Act (2005) (EMA) and provided legal advice to other Units within the Department. She assisted and managed the formulation of the Environment Management (EIA Processing) Regulations 2007 and Environment Management (Waste Disposal & Recycling) Regulations 2007. She then joined Munro Leys as a Solicitor in the Commercial Group of the firm practising in the areas of foreign investment, commercial property, corporate and environmental law. In 2010 she joined the Fiji Environmental Law Association (FELA) as Coordinator and Environmental Lawyer with the responsibility of setting up the FELA office and coordinating its programmes before embarking on another stint at private practice joining Howards Lawyers as a Senior Associate of the firm managing the environmental and natural resource law practice of the firm. Maria is currently a member of FELA, the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, National Environmental Law of Australia and JICA Alumni Association of Fiji. She has attended various trainings in the field of International and Regional Environmental Law to boost her skill as an environmental lawyer. She is married to Eremodo Muavesi and recently gave birth to a daughter, Frances Muavesi.
Maria-Goreti Muavesi has over sixteen years of experience in the field of environmental law. She gained her law degree and post-graduate diploma in legal practice from the University of the South ...
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Christina Park
Ms Christina PAK

Christina specializes in international development finance, law and policy reform, dispute resolution and ESG standards and drives thought leadership on sustainable development issues. She is currently Principal Counsel of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and manages the Office of General Counsel's Law and Policy Reform Program which designs and implements legal and judicial reform technical assistance projects across the Asia and the Pacific region. Christina oversees a diverse portfolio in the areas of environmental protection and climate change, gender equality, private sector development, public-private partnerships and digital economy. In particular, Christina leads ADB’s judicial capacity building program on commercial and environmental and climate change disputes (www.ajne.org) and Developing Environmental Law Champions Program (www.teachenvirolaw.asia) which aims to improve environmental legal education in Asia and the Pacific. She also co-leads the Legal Readiness for Climate Finance and Climate Investments technical assistance which has been modernizing legal frameworks to attract greater international climate finance and climate investments into ADB’s developing member countries (https://cclr.lexxion.eu/article/CCLR/2018/1/4) and most recently, assisted with the enactment of the Fiji Climate Change Act 2021. Additionally, Christina specializes in international arbitration reform and has been assisting various countries accede to the New York Convention and/or put in place implementing arbitration law, including Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Timor-Leste and Uzbekistan. She also speaks on dispute resolution mechanisms under international trade and investment agreements. She also serves as ADB’s Accountability Mechanism Policy Counsel advising the Board of Directors, the Office of the Compliance Review Panel and the Office of the Special Project Facilitator. In her previous role as a project counsel at ADB, Christina worked on complex multi-sector projects in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia regions. She is currently a Steering Committee Member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Christina is a US-qualified lawyer, admitted in the States of New York and New Jersey.

Christina specializes in international development finance, law and policy reform, dispute resolution and ESG standards and drives thought leadership on sustainable development issues. She is ...

Patricia
Dr Patricia KAMERI-MBOTE

Patricia Kameri-Mbote is the Director of the Law Division, UNEP. She leads the Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law, governance, and related policy issues. She was also engaged in the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme since 2007 and is a member of the Governing Board of the Council on Environmental Law (ICEL). Previously, Patricia was Founding Research Director of the International Environmental Law Research Centre (IELRC) and was Programme Director for Africa for over 20 years.

Patricia Kameri-Mbote is the Director of the Law Division, UNEP. She leads the Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law, governance, and related ...

Mr Alejandro IZA

Ex Officio. Dr. Alejandro Iza, Director of the Environmental Law Centre. From a combined academic and practical background, he brings to IUCN a combination of expertise including a broad knowledge base of international environmental law, governance, and diplomacy with a special focus on transboundary resources. In his role as Director and Head of the IUCN Environmental Law Programme he was responsible for organisational development, portfolio management and programme implementation particularly technical assistance to developing legal capacity at regional and country levels throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. His work includes also the re-design and implementation of regional programmes and initiatives relating to environmental law, policy and diplomacy, the enlargement of the EPLP publications series in various fields, the implementation of an internship and fellowship programme, and last but not least the securing of an intergovernmental status for the IUCN in Germany. A dual Argentine and German national, Alejandro Iza holds a law degree from the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina), a Master of Laws from the University of London, a Master of International Affairs from the University of Belgrano (Argentina) and a Doctor of Laws Degree (suma cum laude) from the University of Buenos Aires. He has held academic positions in various universities around the world where he taught public international law, international environmental law and European Law.

Ex Officio. Dr. Alejandro Iza, Director of the Environmental Law Centre. From a combined academic and practical background, he brings to IUCN a combination of expertise including a broad knowledge ...

Dr Tiina PALONIITTY

Ex Officio.

Dr Tiina Paloniitty is an Associate Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Law at the Faculty of Law,  University of Helsinki. Dr. Paloniitty has a passion for the intersection of science and law, specifically in regards to aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. Dr. Paloniitty is the Chair of the Governing Board of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law (2023–) and Member of the Finnish Nature Panel (2024–). Dr. Paloniitty teaches environmental law at UH Faculty of Law's Vaasa unit, leads sustainability law research seminar together with Assistant Professor Dorothee Cambou and co-supervises six doctoral researchers. 

Ex Officio.

Dr Tiina Paloniitty is an Associate Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Law at the Faculty of Law,  University of Helsinki. Dr. Paloniitty has a passion for the intersection of ...

Mrs Sandrine FRIEDLI CELA

Ex Officio. Sandrine Friedli Cela is IUCN’s Legal Adviser since January 2015 and is based at IUCN Headquarters in Switzerland. In her role, she provides legal advice to all components of IUCN and, in particular, to the Secretariat, the Council and the World Conservation Congress. This includes on one side leading and managing the Officer of the Legal Adviser and ensuring legal support to IUCN Secretariat’s top management and other internal clients in all locations worldwide on corporate legal issues affecting the organization and on the other side acting as independent Legal Adviser to the Council and its subsidiary bodies and to the World Conservation Congress, incl. by providing legal opinions on the interpretations of IUCN’s Statutes, Rules of procedures and Regulations and advising on statutory reforms. She is a multilingual Swiss national with strong and broad experience as in-house counsel (+18 years) in the public, private and not for profit sector. She holds a law degree from the University of Fribourg and an LL.M. in European and International Economic Law from the University of Lausanne, both in Switzerland. She has broad knowledge in diverse areas of laws, such as employment, contract, corporate, intellectual property, data protection and international law.

Ex Officio. Sandrine Friedli Cela is IUCN’s Legal Adviser since January 2015 and is based at IUCN Headquarters in Switzerland. In her role, she provides legal advice to all components of IUCN and, in ...

Ms Sheila ABED

Chair Emeritus. 
Sheila Abed is a Paraguayan lawyer. She served as Counselor of the Yacyreta Binational Hydropower Dam from 2016 to 2018 and as the Minister of Justice and Labor of the Republic of Paraguay from 2013 to 2016.

Chair Emeritus. 
Sheila Abed is a Paraguayan lawyer. She served as Counselor of the Yacyreta Binational Hydropower Dam from 2016 to 2018 and as the Minister of Justice and Labor of the Republic of ...

Parvez Hassan
Dr Parvez HASSAN

Chair Emeritus. 
Dr. Parvez Hassan is a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Former Chair, WCEL, 1990-1996, Dr. Hassan was awarded the Honorary Membership of IUCN in 2000. He has got a doctorate in law from Harvard University and his Masters in law from Yale University.

Chair Emeritus. 
Dr. Parvez Hassan is a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Former Chair, WCEL, 1990-1996, Dr. Hassan was awarded the Honorary Membership of IUCN in 2000. He has got a ...

Antonio Benjamin
Prof Antonio BENJAMIN

Chair Emeritus. 
Appointed Justice of the National High Court of Brazil (STJ) in 2006 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Professor Antonio Herman Benjamin was a career Assistant Attorney General of the State of São Paulo for over twenty years.

Chair Emeritus. 
Appointed Justice of the National High Court of Brazil (STJ) in 2006 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Professor Antonio Herman Benjamin was a career Assistant Attorney General ...

Nicholas Robinson
Prof Nicholas ROBINSON

Chair Emeritus. 
Former Chair and Deputy Chair, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (member since 1972, after participating in the UN Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, for the Sierra Club; currently an honorary VP of the Sierra Club). Former Legal Advisor of IUCN negotiated IUCN's Observer Status in the UN General Assembly; participant on IUCN ELP drafting of the UN World Charter of Nature and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Edited traveaux preparatoires for the 1992 UN Earth Summit, Agenda 21 & The UNCED Proceedings; elected Honorary Member of IUCN at Jeju WCC. Founded IUCN Academy of Environmental Law. Selected to follow Dr. Wolfgang Burhenne as Executive Governor of the International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL, a leading IUCN Member since 1969). Professor of Environmental Law at Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University, and founder of its Center for Environmental Legal Studies; author of numerous books and articles, currently co-author, Fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (2021).

Chair Emeritus. 
Former Chair and Deputy Chair, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (member since 1972, after participating in the UN Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, for the ...

 

roberto coll

Roberto Coll, IUCN WCEL Executive Officer. Contact