Discover the incredible work of professionals dedicated to preserving biodiversity and fostering conservation worldwide.
Former Secretary General Ministry of Environment, Cameroon & Vice-Chair, IPBES
Prudence Tangham Galega is a distinguished expert in environmental governance, law, and sustainable development, with over two decades of experience in policy formulation, legal frameworks, and multilateral environmental negotiations. She has held various leadership positions in government and international organizations, contributing significantly to advancing biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and sustainable resource management.
Ms. Galega has been instrumental in shaping national and regional policies in Africa, particularly in the areas of natural resource management and environmental protection. As a legal adviser and negotiator, she has represented her country and region in key international forums, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Her work focuses on aligning national legislation with international environmental agreements, ensuring equitable benefit-sharing, and fostering community participation in conservation initiatives.
Prudence is also an advocate for gender equity and indigenous rights within the context of sustainable development. Her leadership in promoting inclusive policies has earned her recognition as a thought leader in the field. She regularly contributes to academic and policy discussions and is a sought-after speaker at global conferences.
Holding advanced degrees in law and environmental policy, Prudence Tangham Galega continues to dedicate her career to building resilient and inclusive systems that balance ecological integrity with socio-economic development.
For insights into Judge Galega’s impactful role on the international stage watch here.
Ms. Ivonne Higuero is the current Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Secretary-General Higuero was appointed in 2018 and is the first woman and Latin American to hold this post. As an environmental economist with a career spanning 32 years in international organizations, she has worked at the global, regional, and national levels, with the public and private sectors, on disaster risk reduction and sustainable development, with a focus on environmental sustainability, environmental economics, biodiversity and trade, ecosystem services, sustainable forest management, housing and land management, and trade facilitation. In 2024, she received a Global Biodiversity Law & Governance Leadership Award.
CITES is an international agreement between governments that was signed on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975. With 184 Parties (183 countries + the European Union), the Convention remains one of the world’s most powerful tools for wildlife conservation through the regulation of international trade in over 40,900 species of wild animals and plants. CITES-listed species are used by people around the world in their daily lives for food, health care, furniture, housing, tourist souvenirs, cosmetics or fashion. CITES seeks to ensure that international trade in such species is sustainable, legal and traceable and contributes to sustainable livelihoods, national economies and a healthy planet in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
For an insight into the leading global efforts to protect endangered species through sustainable trade practices watch here.