• Host:

Ilad Vivas, Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Young Professional Task Force

• Introduction:

Ana Nieto, Global Head, Species Conservation Action Team, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

• Part one:

The journey of youth-driven conservation efforts: opportunities, challenges and successes – IUCN Save Our Species grantee presentations

• Dr Agus Jati, Young conservationist / IUCN SSC Wild Pig specialist Group, Indonesia
• Vivek Chandran, PhD candidate, India
• Yiselle Cano Cobos, PhD student, Colombia

• Part two:

What can we do to empower young conservationists? – Presentations & Panel discussion

• Diana Garlytska, Chair, IUCN Youth Advisory Committee
• Dr Ibukunoluwa Balogun, Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Young Professional Task Force
• Prof Luigi Boitani, Chief Executive Officer, Fondation Segré
• Q&A with the audience

Dr Ibukunoluwa Balogun, Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Young Professional Task Force

Ibukunoluwa is an insect conservationist. She has a PhD in Conservation Ecology with a research focus on the conservation of insect pollinators in urban and agricultural landscapes. She is particularly interested in how insect pollinators respond to floral and nesting resources in urban green spaces and biodiversity-friendly farms. She is also interested in how conservation research translates to actions and policies. Hence, she volunteers in various activities of conservation groups and co-chairs the IUCN SSC Young Professional Task Force.  

Prof Luigi Boitani, Chief Executive Officer, Fondation Segré

Luigi Boitani is Professor Emeritus at the University of Rome, Italy. He works on wolf and bear research and conservation since 1972. He is member of the IUCN’s SSC Steering Committee since 1994; Chair of the IUCN Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe and of the Red List Committee; CEO of the Fondation Segré in Geneva. He has been President of the Society for Conservation Biology (2009-11) and in 2022 received the Society’s European Distinguished Service Award. He received the WWF Conservation Award, the Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit in 2012. He has been elected member of Academia Europea. He is author of more than 400 scientific papers and 10 books. 

Yiselle Cano Cobos, PhD student, Colombia

Yiselle is a Colombian biologist and PhD student at the National University of La Plata in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and doctoral fellow at the National University of Avellaneda and CONICET, specialising in Amazonian dragonflies and damselflies. Passionate about odonate diversity, she focuses on Colombia’s underexplored species, emphasising taxonomy as a foundation for conservation. She believe in collaborative science and strives to make her research a tool for local communities to engage with and protect their biodiversity.

Vivek Chandran, PhD candidate, India

Vivek Chandran A is an Indian researcher and educator with a focus on the diversity, ecology, and conservation of odonates, particularly in the wetlands and forests of Kerala. With a background in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, he combines scientific study with fieldwork to explore and document biodiversity. His research has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications, including species discoveries, contributing to our understanding of dragonflies and damselflies. As part of the Society for Odonate Studies, Vivek has been involved in odonate surveys, training programs, and public engagement efforts. Outside his professional work, he enjoys birdwatching, nature photography, writing popular science articles, and music, blending his personal interests with a commitment to nature and science communication.  

Diana Garlytska, Chair, IUCN Youth Advisory Committee

Diana Garlytska is an academic and environmental expert with over nine years of teaching experience across Europe and Asia. An IUCN Commission member since 2018 and West Europe Regional Vice Chair since 2022, she has led global youth initiatives, spoken at major events like COP27 and COP28, and co-organized RCOY East Europe. She is currently pursuing a PhD in environmental finance and actively contributes to the IUCN Youth Advisory Committee.

Dr Agus Jati, Young conservationist / IUCN SSC Wild Pig specialist Group, Indonesia

Agus Jati is a wildlife enthusiast from Indonesia. He recently obtained a PhD degree in Wildlife Ecology from The University of Maine, USA. Agus performed the first field-based study on the Endangered Togean babirusa (Babyrousa togeanensis, Family Suidae, Order Artiodactyla), revealing the ecology, behavior, and distribution of this previously unexplored species. Currently Agus is leading a follow-up project, focusing on mitigating conflict between humans and the Togean babirusa. Agus is also a member of the IUCN SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group for his involvement in babirusa’s conservation.

Ana Nieto, Global Head, Species Conservation Action Team, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Ana Nieto has programme, project management, and managerial skills acquired during her more than eighteen years of professional experience working for international non-for profit organisations. At IUCN, Ana leads the Species Conservation Action Team, being responsible for the overall management of the two IUCN species grant-making facilities, IUCN Save Our Species and the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme. Previously, Ana worked at the IUCN Regional Office for Europe, ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation (the Netherlands), EUCC–The Coastal Union and did some consultancy work for the European Environment Agency). Ana holds a Master Degree in Environmental Science/Environmental Management.

Ilad Vivas, Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Young Professional Task Force

Ilad Vivas is a conservation biologist and criminal law attorney focused on species conservation, human-wildlife conflict, and protected area management. His research specializes in the ecology of wild felids and canids. With degrees in Law and Biology, plus MScs in Criminal Law and Biodiversity, he is currently pursuing a PhD. Since 2015, he has worked on jaguar conservation in Venezuela and now focus on wolf conflict mitigation at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. As Co-chair of the IUCN Young Professionals Task Force, he advocates for early-career conservationists in global biodiversity efforts.