International Desert Conservation Summit

Rentsen Oyunbat is the Chief Executive Officer of the Mongolia Conservation Initiative. He earned a master’s degree in biology from the National University of Mongolia. Rentsen has been leading local research projects, assisting with the implementation of international projects, and leading community outreach and education programs for local students. His significant roles have been recognized, and he has been awarded the Distinguished Environmentalist Award from the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and Climate Change in 2024.

Aidée Sánchez Ramírez is the Deputy Director of the NGO Conservación en Acción. Inspired from childhood by her parents’ dedication to conservation, she began her career in 2010 as Deputy Coordinator of the Peninsular Pronghorn Recovery Program (PRBP). With over fifteen years of experience, she has developed expertise in environmental education, event planning, and resource management, while also serving as a bilingual liaison between U.S. zoos and conservation organizations.

Dickson Katana is a Kenyan herpetologist who has dedicated his life to snakes. He began his career at a reptile center, where he learned his skills before turning to snake conservation in the wild. Passionate about reducing human-snake conflict, he educates both communities and children about snakes. He collaborates with The Living Desert to assess the effectiveness of his education programs in helping children develop a better understanding of snakes. He also co-leads East Africa’s first long-term monitoring project on the Kenya Horned Viper.

Dr. Jeff Lovich was a Research Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona, before retirement in 2024. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor at Northern Arizona University. He has over 200 scientific publications and five books. He is a Fulbright Scholar and an elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London. Continuing research focuses on turtle ecology and the impacts of utility-scale wind and solar energy development on wildlife

Lewyn Maefala is the Founder and Project Manager of the Bush Babies Environmental Education Program (BBEEP). After she joined Transfrontier Africa in 2015, BBEEP started with four local primary schools and rapidly expanded to include 11 schools. BBEEP currently reaches more than 2,000 students. Lewyn also organizes bush camps for students and a Bush Grannies program and facilitated the integration of the Bush Babies into the World Scout Movement, establishing the first-ever Scout program in the Phalaborwa region.

Veila Makundi is the Environmental Education Coordinator for the Wild Nature Institute. She holds a degree in Environmental Sciences and Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture-Tanzania. She empowers communities, particularly young minds, to embrace sustainable practices and care for the environment. Through hands-on work with teachers and over 4,000 students per year, she aims to nurture a culture of sustainability that extends beyond the classroom. She is passionate about bridging disciplines and connecting people, ideas, and opportunities to build strong networks for sustainable conservation.

Vusa Ncube grew up in Ngamo village, adjacent to Hwange National Park and near Imvelo’s Bomani and Camelthorn Lodges. As a boy looking after his family’s cattle, he dealt firsthand with threats from elephants and lions. Today, that same big game represents his livelihood. He received a diploma in travel and tourism, and a year later, he took the intermediate guides exam set by National Parks. After ten years of dedication, he passed the intense written and practical examinations to receive Zimbabwe’s Professional Guides license. He is the first person from his community to achieve this qualification, and he has become a role model for the next generation.

Craig Spencer is the Executive Director of Transfrontier Africa and the warden of Olifants West Nature Reserve. He has a Master of Science in Primatology. After 11 years in anti-poaching and fisheries compliance in South Africa, Craig established the NGO Transfrontier Africa, which focuses on ecological management, research, and community engagement. Based in the Olifants West region of the Greater Kruger National Park, Craig started the Black Mambas All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit in response to the rhino poaching crisis. This novel approach to curbing wildlife poaching has gained traction globally and has inspired change across the conservation world.

Susan Sorrells is a fourth-generation resident of Shoshone, California, where she grew up. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Smith College and then received a Master of Arts in African Studies at the University of California- Los Angeles. After living in Europe for several years, she returned to her hometown, where she and her husband began managing Shoshone. Their vision is to manage in a way that integrates nature and community by restoring damaged ecosystems within the town. Susan remains dedicated to protecting the unique and beautiful Amargosa for the next generation