Claudia Turbay Quintero is a Colombian diplomat and journalist with a distinguished career in international relations. She has served as Colombia’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Uruguay, and, since 2013, Ghana, with concurrent accreditation to several West African countries. Turbay has also represented Colombia at the Latin American Integration Association in Montevideo and held leadership roles at Proexport, including President. She studied Humanities and Journalism at Fordham University and holds a Master’s in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from New York University. Daughter of former President Julio César Turbay Ayala, she is recognised for her expertise in diplomacy and international trade.

Kojo Yankah is a renowned Ghanaian journalist, author, politician, and cultural activist. He served as a Member of Parliament and Minister of State under the Rawlings government, and later founded the African University College of Communications. As President of the World Museum of Pan-African Heritage, he champions the preservation and celebration of African history and culture. Yankah's career spans leadership in media, education, and public service, including roles as editor of the Daily Graphic and director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism. His lifelong dedication has shaped policies, inspired generations, and promoted African heritage globally.

Graduated in Cultural Management from the University of Cartagena; Professional in Literary Studies from the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga; Magister in e-Learning and social networks from the Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (UNIR), Spain and Magister in Creative Writing at the University of Salamanca, Spain. Worked for more than ten years in the tourism sector, later served as Manager of El Colegio del Cuerpo de Cartagena, was Director of the Summer School and the Internationalization Area at the Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar and Director of Media Relations at the University Jorge Tadeo Lozano sectional of the Caribbean. Teacher of oral and written communication at the Colegio Mayor de Bolívar and columnist for the newspaper El Universal de Cartagena, de El Espectador and the Semana magazine

Nigel Crawhall is Chief of Section for the Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) programme in the Natural Sciences Sector of UNESCO. He is a South African sociolinguist with extensive experience with Indigenous Peoples human rights, knowledge systems and cultural heritage. The LINKS programme hosts both the Technical Support Unit on Indigenous and Local Knowledge for the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems (IPBES) and the Technical Unit on Indigenous and Local Knowledge for the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net).

Guiomar Alonso is an anthropologist with 30 years of international experience in culture, education, and sustainable development. She has led multidisciplinary teams and designed innovative strategies in technical cooperation, institutional strengthening, and public policy advisory across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Her work has been instrumental in promoting culture as a driver of development, consolidating approaches that integrate tangible and intangible heritage, traditional knowledge, and biocultural diversity into models of sustainability and resilience. Throughout her career, she has championed the systematisation, recognition, and protection of local and Indigenous knowledge, as well as intangible heritage. She has explored new methods of knowledge transmission in educational settings and fostered dialogue between empirical and modern science to co-create sustainable and resilient development models. Alonso has also spearheaded pioneering initiatives to assign quantitative values to intangible aspects of culture, such as the Culture for Development Indicators (CDIS)—a tool that has enabled measurement of culture’s contribution to development in over 35 countries. Since 1994, she has held various roles within UNESCO’s Culture Sector, including her tenure as Regional Culture Advisor at the UNESCO Office for West Africa/Sahel (2012–2022), where she led large-scale heritage protection projects and socio- economic development initiatives for local communities. Since 2022, as Head of the UNESCO Office in Peru, she has led efforts to bridge educational gaps in Amazonian regions, safeguard cultural and natural heritage, and revitalise local and Indigenous knowledge through innovative strategies for biodiversity management and preservation.

Kofi Asare Opoku, chairman of the Council of Elders of the Pan African Heritage Museum, was formerly Founding chairman of the Kwabena Nketia Centre for Africana Studies, AUCC, and Associate Professor of Religion and Ethics at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon; he is an authority on traditional African religion, and retired Professor of Religious Studies at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.
His books include: West African Traditional Religion; Speak to the Winds- Proverbs from Africa; Healing for God’s World. At 92, he is currently spending more time on his Herbal Plant Farm and his 3-acre Forest in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Luis Bolaño Nolavita is an indigenous representative in the municipal cabinet of Ciénaga, Magdalena (2024-2027). He is a community leader committed to protecting the rights of indigenous populations and implementing inclusive public policies. He works for sustainable development that respects ancestral traditions and promotes social equity in the Magdalena region, contributing to the "Ciénaga Más Social, Sostenible y Productiva" (More Social, Sustainable and Productive Ciénaga) Plan.

Juan Conchacala Dingula, a Kogui mama, was born in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta's Maldamaxe basin. Trained for over 25 years, including 12 years in the darkness of Magutama caves, he became a spiritual leader of the Kogui people. He was instrumental in establishing the Kogui Reserve and Gonawindúa Tayrona Organisation (OGT), and founded the Kogui village of Zhinkuameldo in the Río Ancho Basin. Conchacala initiated and led the audiovisual documentation resulting in the film "The Spirit of the Festival".

Otilia Lux de Cotí is a renowned Guatemalan activist for the human rights of women and indigenous peoples. From 2001 to 2007, she served as Vice President of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In addition, from 2004 to 2007, she was Guatemala’s Representative to the UNESCO Executive Board.

Parfait DIHOUKAMBA, a national of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), is a prominent advocate for the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Central Africa. He serves as the National Coordinator of REPALEAC-Congo and is the founding president of APADEFC and former coordinator of RENAPAC. Actively engaged in regional and international arenas, including the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples of Central Africa (FIPAC), he works to ensure the recognition of Indigenous Peoples in public policy and reforestation programs, and strongly supports the establishment and implementation of national and international legal frameworks for Indigenous rights.

Alberto Gómez Mejía is a Colombian lawyer, ecologist, and environmental leader, founder and president of the Quindío Botanical Garden, and president of the National Network of Botanical Gardens of Colombia since 1996. With over 50 years dedicated to nature conservation, he has participated in the redacion of some key environmental laws and advised national and international bodies. Honoured with a Doctorate honoris causa and the Whitley Award, he is a reference in biodiversity and environmental policy in Colombia.

Laurence is the newly elected President of ENERGIES 2050 and a committed human rights and climate justice defender. A historian and lifelong educator, she has devoted her career to building bridges between generations and cultures. For her, memory and understanding are essential to restoring dignity and protecting ancestral heritage. She believes that knowing history and past realities is vital to restoring rights and recognition. Since 2017, she has led ART’S PLANET, an artistic and grassroots initiative within ENERGIES 2050, mobilizing artists, Indigenous voices, and citizens around the SDGs through a humanistic vision rooted in education, creativity, and cultural dialogue.

Arhuaca Indigenous Member of SNSM. Bacteriologist from Universidad San Buenaventura, Cartagena. Doctor in Environmental Toxicology, University of Cartagena. Member of the Research Group at the Arhuaca Cultural Teaching Center, Swaka, located in Jimain, César. Research focused on environmental impact assessments and health effects of anthropogenic activities. Contributions to promoting Arhuaca culture, particularly female attire, food security, and environmental conservation

Michael is a serial entrepreneur with expertise in real estate investment, venture capital, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and AI. He serves on advisory boards for multiple organizations, including IQ Hall, Sense4FIT, proximal.ai, Chicago Hope Academy and the Riverside Library Board of Trustees. A graduate of Concordia University and Acton University, Michael is dedicated to improving education and alleviating poverty, with over 35 years of service in various advisory and board roles.

Michele Fetting is a writer, filmmaker, and communications strategist dedicated to advancing climate solutions through global partnerships. She has led multimedia campaigns to protect U.S. farmland, the Florida Everglades, and Appalachian communities impacted by petrochemical and industrial development. At the Climate Institute, Michele collaborates with international coalitions to raise climate awareness, shape policy, and promote renewable technologies, with a strong focus on climate justice and the transition to a clean energy economy. Michele holds a BA in Journalism from Ohio State University and a Master’s in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, where she worked on a USAID project in Kenya. She serves on multiple boards and has published writing, film, and photography in a range of media. She recently served as executive director of the HBO documentary A Tree of Life.

Casey has devoted his career to empowering professionals worldwide. He collaborates with Fortune 500 executives to develop effective training programs and has worked in over 20 countries, adapting solutions to diverse organizational needs. Casey is committed to creating lasting educational impacts through innovative approaches tailored to modern learning challenges.

Born in the Kalungu camp, Bushushu, in South Kivu (DR Congo), Justin is a determined leader and activist of the Indigenous Pygmy Peoples (PAP). As founder of ADELIPO -an organization created, led, and governed by PAP communities- he defends human rights and fights for the dignity, recognition, and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. His work spans the promotion of ancestral knowledge, forest and biodiversity protection, and climate justice. Active across five provinces of the DRC and in Malawi, ADELIPO stands as a grassroots voice for justice, resilience, and the rights of those too often excluded from decision-making.

Human rights and environmental defense lawyer, Master's in Government and Public Policy, researcher in peace pedagogies, socio-ecological conflicts, environmental justice, climate justice and related fields. Member of CLACSO's Southern Political Ecologies Working Group of Abya Yala, Vamos Por los Derechos Collective, and Abya Yala Collective.

Cultural anthropologist and Doctor in Sustainability for Colombia's Caribbean region, with extensive experience as an international consultant on indigenous affairs and projects involving science, innovation, and technology at GATEWAY.IT. She has worked in Colombia, Spain, and Mexico safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage of indigenous communities such as Inkal-Awa (Nariño), Embera-Katios, Zenúes (Córdoba), and Zapotecs (Oaxaca). From 2014 to 2021, she coordinated the Intangible Cultural Heritage line at the UNESCO Chair in Sustainability. A university lecturer and researcher, she has integrated applied research across humanities, environmental studies, and technology. She currently leads a project promoting ecological and cultural resilience among the Zenú people through Nature-Based Solutions in response to climate droughts in Córdoba.

Urban architect from Universidad de los Andes with a Master's degree in Development Studies from the University of Geneva and PhD candidate in Social and Political Sciences at the University of Lausanne. She has lived in Europe, West Africa and Southeast Asia.

She is an environmental communicator specialising in environmental planning and climate change.

Former professor at the Institute of Environmental Studies IDEA at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, civil servant at Bogotá City Hall, United Nations consultant in Burkina Faso, Mali and Colombia.

She chairs the board of directors of Fundación Natura, is a board member of the Society for Urban Improvement and Beautification of Bogotá and of the International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance IRHA in Geneva, Switzerland.

She directed the environmental opinion TV programme "Su Madre Naturaleza" on Canal Capital, the documentary series "Ambiente de Paz", and regularly publishes video interviews "Voces del Cambio" in Revista Cambio. All publications are available on the portal http://www.sumadrenaturaleza.org

Stéphane is the founder of ENERGIES 2050, an international network active for over 25 years, and a lifelong advocate for climate and social justice. With over 35 years of experience and projects in more than 100 countries, he promotes systemic approaches that connect local realities with transformative, just solutions serving the global good. For him, no lasting change is possible without deep understanding and acceptance. He fights the violence endured by Indigenous Peoples as a brutal reminder of our dehumanized world that continues to exhaust our planet. Through ENERGIES 2050 and ART’S PLANET, he envisions a future rooted in dignity, memory, solidarity, and hope.

Dieter Rudolph leads Earth Island Institute's "Stop Fish Bombing USA" project. An ocean NGO veteran, he tackled climate change as President/CEO. Commercially, he managed contracts for military and energy clients. As Director for Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation, he supported Defence leadership in this £32M UK-Norway-Russia-US initiative developing non-proliferation tech for Russian environmental issues. Captain Rudolph served as Deputy Oceanographer of the Navy, commanding three Naval Oceanographic Commands. Honours include the Defence Superior Service Medal and two Legions of Merit.

Luis Salgado Rivero is a prominent cultural manager and Territorial Public Administrator of the Zenú People, recognized for his work in defending and promoting the identity and cultural rights of his community. He has served as Cultural Advisor to the Council of Indigenous Education, Culture, and Sports of the Zenú People, actively participating in projects aimed at strengthening ethnic identity and safeguarding ancestral traditions, such as caña flecha weaving. His work has been key in managing and administering initiatives that protect the heritage and cultural autonomy of the Zenú People.

Álvaro Soto is an anthropologist who graduated from Universidad de los Andes and holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of California. He has served as director of the Department of Anthropology at Universidad de los Andes, as well as the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and the National Natural Parks of Colombia. A renowned expeditionary and archaeologist, he was one of those responsible for bringing Ciudad Perdida in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to public attention. In addition, he is a pilot with the Civil Air Patrol, as well as a professional navigator and diver.

PhD in Applied Creativity (Faculty of Fine Arts) from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) and Master’s in Audiovisual Communication with an emphasis in Screenwriting from the Antonio de Nebrija University in Madrid (Spain). She graduated as a Historian with a research emphasis from the Pontifical Javeriana University of Bogotá (Colombia), and received study and creative grants from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Ministry of Culture (Colombia), and the National Fund for Culture and the Arts FONCA (Mexico).

She is a professor, researcher, lecturer, and writer; artist, photographer, art curator, and manager of culture and innovation. She coordinated the National School Workshop Program (Ministry of Culture), directed the Institute of Heritage and Culture of Cartagena (IPCC) for two years, and has written three dissertations, one thesis, and several unpublished books. She has managed all kinds of agreements and partnerships for local, national, and international artistic and cultural activities; produced high-impact events and TV programs. She has participated in the restoration of heritage buildings, app development, etc. She also managed the local library network and cultural infrastructure (Adolfo Mejía Theater and Plaza de Todos). According to the Administrative Department of Public Function, the IPCC achieved its best results (FURAG) during her tenure in 2020 (83/100) and in 2021 (89/100), ranking as the second-best district institution, third in the department, and eighth nationwide. She has published academic and opinion articles for international, national, and local media (Cartagena) and has been a columnist in various media outlets.

She is currently the Vice Minister of Heritage, Memories, and Cultural Governance at the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge of Colombia.

Publications: El País (Spain), El Espectador, Las Dos Orillas, La Silla Vacía, El Tiempo, El Universal de Cartagena, Cambio.

Juan Pablo Merchán Arango I am from Bogotá, Colombia. I am 20 years old and currently in my fifth semester of Law at Universidad Libre de Colombia. I serve as a Consiliario at the university and am a Youth Ambassador for the NGO South-South Cooperation Council. I am also part of the Observatory for Constitutional Citizen Intervention and the research group “Economy, Conflict, and Peace” at my university. My personal projects are reading and writing. Soon, I will be launching my book titled: “Life and Work of Epifanio Mejía.” I am known for my problem-solving skills and for being helpful, attentive, and cheerful.

I’m Isabella Pasquier Roa, a Youth Ambassador with SSCC from Colombia. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in International Governance and Diplomacy focusing on Migration and Diolomacy at Sciences Po, Paris. Passionate about social justice, youth empowerment, and international cooperation, I’ve contributed to programs focused on migration and fundamental rights. In my free time, I enjoy engaging in cultural diplomacy and global youth advocacy.

Originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, I am 20 years old and currently in my sixth semester of law at Universidad Libre de Cartagena.
I work as a research assistant and have presented papers at both national and international levels, representing my alma mater. I have published research articles in scientific journals and have worked as an intern in the judicial offices of my city of residence, eventually holding the position of legal drafter.
In my free time, I enjoy reading and practicing languages; I am currently fluent in English, French, and Spanish.

I also actively participate in organizing congresses in various areas of law and am a member of the foundation Angels for the World.

My name is Adrian De Jesus Martins Vasquez, I am 22 years old. I am from Venezuela and have lived in Colombia since I was 8. I am currently in my sixth semester of law at Universidad Libre, Cartagena campus. I currently tutor English and have previously interned at a legal clinic and contributed to research articles. I have devoted considerable time to subjects that have always interested me, such as the study of history—mainly European and Middle Eastern—and global geopolitical issues.

I am from Cartagena, Colombia. I am 20 years old and currently in my sixth semester of Law at Universidad Libre, Cartagena campus. I am deeply committed to legal research and have actively participated in various research groups since my early semesters. I have presented papers in several competitions and research group meetings at the national level, notably as a main speaker at the Colombian Congress of Procedural Law during my third semester.

I have published several scientific articles in indexed journals and have been involved in organizing academic contests and events. I am passionate about criminal law and have had the opportunity to gain practical experience in a court and a legal clinic. In my free time, I enjoy practicing English, playing tennis, guitar, singing, and reading.

I am from Cartagena, Colombia. I am 19 years old and currently in my sixth semester of Law at Universidad Libre, Cartagena campus. Throughout my academic journey, I have stood out by participating in various events at local, national, and international levels. I am an active coordinator of one of the university’s research groups, where I have gained valuable knowledge.

I have had the opportunity to participate as a speaker in different meetings, including the Colombian Congress of Procedural Law. I am enthusiastic about the different branches of law and hope to achieve my personal, academic, and professional goals. In my free time, I like to study English, read, practice public speaking, and learn new things.