Hon. Prof. Amb. Judi Wakhungu, EGH, is the former Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Republic of Kenya (2013-2018) where she spearheaded transformative national and international initiatives on environmental governance, climate action, and sustainable resource management. She is also the former Ambassador of Kenya to France, Portugal, Serbia, the Holy See and Monaco. A distinguished Kenyan geologist, diplomat, academic, and global leader in environmental sustainability, energy policy, and science and technology development.

Prof. Wakhungu is internationally recognized for her landmark achievements in environmental legislation and conservation policy. During her tenure as Cabinet Secretary, Kenya implemented the historic ban on single-use plastic bags in 2017, widely regarded as one of the world’s most progressive environmental policies. She also led the destruction of Kenya’s ivory and rhino horn stockpiles in 2016 as a strong stand against illegal wildlife trade. Her leadership further contributed to the enactment of key environmental laws and reforms, including the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (2013), Climate Change Act (2016), Water Act (2016), amendments to the Environmental Management and Coordination Act and Forestry Act, as well as the advancement of the Waste Management Bill and other conservation regulations.

Prior to joining government, Prof. Wakhungu served as Executive Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies and as Associate Professor of Science, Technology and Society at Pennsylvania State University, where she also directed the Women in Sciences and Engineering (WISE) Institute. She additionally served as an Energy Advisor to the World Bank and advisor at the Legatum Centre at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A trailblazer for women in science and engineering, Prof. Wakhungu was the first woman geologist in Kenya’s Ministry of Energy, the first female petroleum geologist at the National Oil Corporation of Kenya, and the first female faculty member in the Department of Geology at the University of Nairobi.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from St. Lawrence University, a Master’s degree in Petroleum Geology from Acadia University, and a PhD in Energy Resources Management from Pennsylvania State University.

Prof. Wakhungu has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH), the Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award, the Oceans Award, and honorary distinctions from leading international universities. In 2013, she was appointed by Ban Ki-moon to the United Nations Scientific Advisory Board, recognizing her outstanding global leadership and expertise.

Lord Zac Goldsmith is the former UK Minister of State for Overseas Territories, Common Wealth, Energy, Climate and Environment. A Senior Fellow at the Bezos Earth Fund, where he advises on the implementation of the 30x30 conservation agenda, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and environmental strategy development in Indonesia and the Pacific region. He also serves as Chief Envoy at Re:wild.

A lifelong environmental advocate, Lord Goldsmith has dedicated his career to conservation and sustainability. He began as Editor of The Ecologist magazine before entering public service as a Member of Parliament and later becoming a Government Minister and Conservative peer in the House of Lords.

In 2019, he was appointed Minister attending Cabinet, with responsibilities spanning the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He served as Minister of State until June 2023, overseeing portfolios including forests, oceans, biodiversity, climate change, the illegal wildlife trade, the Pacific region, and the UK Overseas Territories.

Lord Goldsmith played a significant role in advancing global environmental policy, including the delivery of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration at COP26, the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at CBD COP15, and the establishment of the Global Ocean Alliance, a coalition of countries committed to strengthening ocean protection.

In recognition of his international environmental leadership, he was awarded Colombia’s Order of Boyacá in 2022 by President Iván Duque — the country’s highest honour for a non-Colombian national. The same year, he received Gabon’s Order of the Etoile Équatoriale from President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Lord Goldsmith served as Member of Parliament for Richmond Park from 2010 to 2016 and from 2017 to 2019. Prior to his political career, he spent a decade directing and editing The Ecologist magazine and received Mikhail Gorbachev’s Global Green Award for International Environmental Leadership.

Hon. Muhammad distinguished himself as an accomplished parliamentary diplomat, representing Nigeria at numerous international legislative engagements. He was a member of the National Assembly delegation to the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, led Nigeria's delegation to the 2012 World Legislators' Summit in Brazil, and headed Nigerian delegations to Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States conferences in Burkina Faso and Turkey.

A passionate legislator, he sponsored and supported several landmark bills, including legislation to prohibit the killing and exportation of donkeys in Nigeria. His sustained advocacy contributed significantly to Nigeria's domestication of the African Union's 2024 resolution banning the donkey skin trade across Africa.

Following his legislative service, Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad was elected National Vice Chairman (North-West) of Nigeria's ruling party. Beyond politics, he is the Grand Patron of the Diamond Equine Network, where he champions animal welfare, reflecting his enduring commitment to public service, good governance, humanitarian causes, and sustainable national development.

He's currently the chairman governing board of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.

Tedeschi earned his Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he specialized in the bio-affiliative connections between humans and animals. Throughout his distinguished career, he has focused on exploring the intricate relationships among people, domestic and wild animals, and the natural world, emphasizing their implications for health, well-being, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

His research, scholarship, teaching, professional training, and community engagement have addressed a broad range of issues, including human-animal interactions, conservation social work, human ecology, environmental social work, experiential and nature-based therapies, forensic social work, and the causes and consequences of violence toward both people and animals. He is particularly recognized for his expertise in the therapeutic and health-promoting benefits of human-animal and nature-based interactions, trauma-informed practice, and interventions addressing interpersonal violence, animal cruelty, and abuse.

As a leader in education and professional development, Tedeschi coordinates the University of Denver’s Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate Program for Master of Social Work (MSW) students and has played a central role in developing professional training programs focused on animals and human health. His work has contributed to the integration of animal-assisted approaches into social work, mental health, and human services practice worldwide.

In addition to his academic and clinical accomplishments, Tedeschi brings extensive practical experience to his work. He is a certified Master Therapeutic Riding Instructor, a former Outward Bound course director and instructor, a wilderness medical technician, and a forensic evaluator specializing in interpersonal violence and animal abuse. Over several decades, he has worked with children, adults, and families using innovative and non-traditional therapeutic approaches that incorporate animals, nature, and experiential learning.

Through his leadership, research, teaching, and advocacy, Philip Tedeschi has become a leading voice in advancing the understanding of human-animal relationships and their role in promoting individual, community, and environmental well-being. His work continues to influence policy, professional practice, and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of social work, animal welfare, conservation, and human health.

Dr. Annie Katunge Lewa is a former Senior Programmes and Projects Officer at the African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR). A veterinarian, socio-economist, and certified international project manager with over 31 years of professional experience in animal welfare, animal health, pastoral livelihoods, and development programming across Africa. Her career has been dedicated to advancing animal welfare, particularly the protection and preservation of donkeys, through research, policy development, advocacy, and programme implementation.

Dr. Lewa holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine, a Master's degree specializing in donkey diseases, and a PhD in Socio-Economics focusing on pastoral livelihoods and animal-resource interactions. She is also a Certified International Project Manager (CIPM), combining technical expertise with extensive programme management experience.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Lewa has served at the African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), where she provided technical leadership for animal welfare programmes across Africa. She has coordinated the development and implementation of continental strategies, policies, and projects aimed at strengthening animal welfare systems and institutional capacities among African Union Member States and Regional Economic Communities.

Prior to joining AU-IBAR, Dr. Lewa worked with the Kenya Veterinary Services and several prominent organizations, including the Kenya Society for the Care and Protection of Animals (KSPCA), the Kenya Network for Draught Animal Technology (KENDAT), and the Animal Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (ATNESA). These roles provided her with extensive experience in community-based animal welfare interventions and sustainable livelihood programmes.

Dr. Lewa has collaborated closely with leading international animal welfare organizations, including Brooke, SPANA, The Donkey Sanctuary, World Horse Welfare, World Animal Protection, and the African Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), providing strategic and technical guidance to numerous initiatives across the continent.

Among her most significant achievements is her leadership in coordinating the formulation and implementation of the Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa (AWSA), the continent's landmark framework guiding animal welfare interventions. She also led the development and implementation of the Donkey Strategy for Africa, promoting the protection, welfare, and sustainable use of donkeys across Africa. In addition, she coordinated the successful organization of the Pan-African Donkey Conferences (PADCO) held in Tanzania (2022) and Côte d'Ivoire (2024).

Dr. Lewa is a founding member of the Animal Welfare Association of Kenya (AWAKE) and has played a key role in elevating animal welfare within continental policy processes. Notably, she contributed to the development of submissions to the Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) Resolution, which recognized the links between animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and sustainable development. She has also represented AU-IBAR before the African Union Specialized Technical Committee, advancing the adoption of animal welfare priorities by Member States and Regional Economic Communities.

Through her leadership, advocacy, and partnership-building efforts, Dr. Lewa has significantly contributed to mainstreaming animal welfare within Africa's agricultural, environmental, and sustainable development agendas.

Engineer Benoit Doamba is the former National Director of Wildlife and Game Resources in Burkina Faso. A highly experienced Water and Forestry Engineer with more than three decades of expertise in wildlife conservation, protected area management, and environmental governance across West Africa. He graduated in 1987 from the Higher Polytechnic Institute of the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and later earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Senghor University in 2015. Throughout his career, he has undertaken extensive professional training in protected area management, wildlife conservation, forest management, environmental science, agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture.

Mr. Doamba began his professional career in 1989 in Burkina Faso’s public administration, where he quickly assumed leadership responsibilities in wildlife and natural resource management. His early work focused on anti-poaching operations, sport hunting regulation, ecological monitoring, tourism development, and fisheries management. He first served as Deputy Head of the Production and Marketing Department before being promoted to Head of the Department in 1990. In 1993, he was appointed Director of the Nazinga Game Ranch, one of Burkina Faso’s most important wildlife conservation areas. He later served as Provincial Director of Environment for Kossi Province and subsequently as Head of the Statistics and Ecological Monitoring Department within the Directorate of Wildlife and Hunting at the Ministry of Environment.

From 1996 onward, Mr. Doamba expanded his professional experience through major regional and international conservation initiatives across West Africa. Between 1996 and 2002, he worked as Biodiversity Specialist for the Participatory Management of Natural Resources and Wildlife Project in Côte d’Ivoire. From 2002 to 2004, he served as Technical Administrator for the project “Optimizing Biological Diversity and its Economic Profitability in Ranching” at Nazinga Ranch in Burkina Faso.

In 2005, he was appointed Conservation Officer of the Comoé-Léraba Conservation Unit and Head of the Project Coordination Unit for the Partnership Project for Improving the Management of Natural Ecosystems in Banfora, Burkina Faso. Later that year, he joined the Gourma Elephant Conservation Project in Mali as Protected Areas and Wildlife Expert, a position he held until 2009. From 2009 to 2013, he served as National Coordinator for Burkina Faso for the regional W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) protected area project involving Burkina Faso, Benin, and Niger, aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and sustainability of one of West Africa’s most significant transboundary conservation complexes.

Mr. Doamba returned to the Burkina Faso civil service in 2013 within the Directorate General of Water and Forests. From 2014 to 2019, he served as National Director of Wildlife and Game Resources and as Burkina Faso’s CITES Focal Point. From December 2019 until his retirement in June 2024, he was Director General of the National Office of Protected Areas of Burkina Faso.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Benoit Doamba participated in numerous national, regional, and international missions and conferences related to wildlife conservation and animal welfare. He is the author or co-author of more than 35 publications and has received several national honors, including the Medal of Honor for Water and Forests in 2005 and the title of Knight of the Order of the Stallion in 2020.

Now retired, Mr. Doamba continues to contribute his expertise as a resource person for studies and meetings on protected areas and biodiversity conservation. He lives in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with his wife Roseline and their children.

Adolfo is an international consultant with over 40 years of experience in animal welfare advocacy, public policy, strategic communications, and international relations. Throughout his career, he has worked at the intersection of policy, diplomacy, and public affairs, promoting the integration of animal welfare into national, European, and global policy frameworks.

He has extensive experience in journalism, lobbying, strategic campaigning, coalition building, and high-level collaboration with governments, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, and the media. A recognised speaker, journalist, and thought leader, Adolfo has played a leading role in advancing practical animal welfare proposals within international policy and legislative processes.

As the former representative of international animal welfare organisations to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the institutions of the European Union, he contributed to shaping international dialogue on animal welfare, trade, and sustainable development.

Adolfo currently collaborates with the Italian newspaper il Riformista, the Italpress news agency, and the art publications AboutArt and exibart. He is also the author of chapters on animal welfare and international trade published in Latin American academic textbooks.

His work and professional achievements have been featured in several internationally acclaimed publications, including Planet Chicken (Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 2007), Blessed Peacemakers: 365 Extraordinary People Who Changed the World (Cascade Books, USA, 2013), and Farmageddon: The True Cost of Cheap Meat (Bloomsbury, UK, 2014).

Adolfo's core areas of expertise include lobbying and political advocacy, national, European, and international relations, strategic campaigning, the formation and leadership of international coalitions, project and stakeholder coordination, policy analysis and development, cross-cultural communication, leadership and team management, public speaking, media relations, and multilingual communication in English, Italian, Spanish, and French.

Dr. Hope Ferdowsian is president of Phoenix Zones Initiative, a global nonprofit organization that advances the interconnected health and wellbeing of people, animals, and the planet. Over two decades, as a double board-certified internal medicine, preventive medicine, and public health physician, she has cared for individuals from diverse backgrounds, while she has also worked on policy to address human and animal suffering. Her medical and public health expertise covers communicable and noncommunicable diseases, violence and conflict, and environmental threats. Her work across six continents has included the development of medical, public health, and educational resources for nongovernmental organizations, national governments, and intergovernmental organizations. As a result of her work in these areas, she was named a Humanitarian of the Year in the American College of Physicians in 2017.

Dr. Ferdowsian has authored highly cited publications and has spoken at academic institutions and through media outlets across the globe. Her work has been featured in Scientific American, the Times Literary Supplement, and HuffPost, and by MSNBC, the BBC, and other international news outlets. Many of her publications, including her book, Phoenix Zones: Where Strength Is Born and Resilience Lives, focus on ethics, global public health, and the links between human, animal, and planetary health and wellbeing. In 2019, she cofounded Phoenix Zones Initiative. Dr. Ferdowsian received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Southern California, a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, and a master’s degree in public health from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed a medical internship at Yale University/Griffin Hospital, a preventive medicine residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and an internal medicine residency at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She served as faculty at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Georgetown University School of Medicine, and she now serves as a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.