Dr. Lara Daley, Research Associate, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Australia. Dr. Lara Daley is a Research Associate and Fellow for the School of Environmental and Life Science from The University of Newcastle, Australia. Back to Speakers Page

Engr. Angelica F. Añabeza, MSc in Smart City for ASEAN, SungKyunKwan University. Engr. Añabeza is currently taking a Master’s Degree Program in Smart City at SungKyunKwan University, Natural Sciences Campus, Suwon, South Korea. She is an elected local government official (Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson) in the Philippines. She is an active Youth Leader in the Philippines with the goal to empower the youth through various projects under Education, Economic Empowerments, Social Inclusion and Equity, Active Citizenship, Governance, environmental Initiatives, etc.

Ms. Caroline Dumas, Special Envoy for Migration and Climate Action, Office of the Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM Director General’s Special Envoy for Migration and Climate Action, Caroline DUMAS, is a career diplomat, whose expertise is mainly on Africa and MENA region, on political, as well as on humanitarian and development issues. Her career lead her to serve France in different countries and continents (Africa, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and United States) and work in different kinds of situations, some of open political tensions or crisis and violations of Human rights, others of strong development needs, or of refugees crisis. She has been Ambassador of France…

H. E. Steven J. Robinson AO, Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines. Mr Robinson is a Deputy Secretary-level officer from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who presented his credentials to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 15 January 2019. Over his extensive career, Mr Robinson has developed and expanded Australia’s relationships with a broad range of countries, with a particular focus on the South East Asian region. He has served in Australia’s embassies in Jakarta, Yangon and Bangkok and has held a range of senior positions in Canberra across operational and corporate areas. In 2009, Mr Robinson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) “for service…

Councillor Nuatali Nelmes, Lord Mayor of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Nuatali Nelmes was returned for a second consecutive term as the Lord Mayor of Newcastle in 2017, now serving as Lord Mayor for five years. Councillor Nelmes previously served as Councillor on Newcastle City Council for 6 years from 2008, before being elected Lord Mayor of Newcastle in 2014. Nuatali holds a Bachelor of Business degree with a double major in industrial relations/human resource management and marketing from the University of Newcastle, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Currently participating in Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Institute. She worked in small business and recruitment before being elected to The City of Newcastle Council…

Ms. Georgina Hernandez-Yang, Executive Director, Galing Pook Foundation. Georgina Ann Hernandez-Yang is the Executive Director of Galing Pook Foundation, an organization that promotes innovation and excellence in governance. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Vice Presidential Spokesperson and Head of Angat Buhay, the Vice President’s flagship Anti-Poverty Program that gathers partners across different sectors to work with local governments. She also worked at the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the Director of the Sustainable Livelihood Program. She worked in the academe as a Research Program Manager at the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and a member of the Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Schools faculty. She graduated with a degree of AB Interdisciplinary Studies (2007) and…

Ms. Elisea G. Gozun, Member, Galing Pook Foundation. Elisea “Bebet” Gozun, is the former Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and former Presidential Assistant for Climate Change. In 2007, she was recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the Champion of the Earth for Asia and the Pacific. An activist involved with many national and regional NGOs 1 working towards sustainable development, she has served as consultant on environmental management, climate change and urban development to WB, ADB, and other development partners. She was the Institutional and Engagement Specialist for the World Bank’s Risk Resiliency Program (RRP) working with the Cabinet Cluster and 17 provinces that are highly vulnerable to climate…

Dr. Emma E. Porio, Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University. Dr. Emma Porio is Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, School of Social Sciences Ateneo de Manila University and Science Research Fellow, Manila Observatory. She is President of the International Sociological Association (ISA), Clinical/Sociology Division (2019-2023) and of the Asia Pacific Sociological Association (2020-2023). She is also the Principal Editorial Adviser of the Environment and Urbanization (Asia Edition) and Review Editor of the Journal of the Cities of the Global South. Currently, she is Project Leader and Principal Investigator of the transdisciplinary action research project, Coastal Cities at Risk: Investing in Climate and Disaster Resilience in the Philippines (CCARPH). She…

Hon. Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian, Mayor, City of Valenzuela. Hon. Rex Gatchalian is now on his third term as the chief executive of the City of Valenzuela, Valenzuelanos felt the remarkable improvements in their lives. The solid foundation of his public service is underscored by his governance platform known as the “Five Pillars of Good Governance”. It focuses on the essential needs of every Valenzuelano in Education, Health and Social Welfare Services, Housing, Economic Development, and Liveability. Under his leadership, Valenzuela City has earned over a hundred awards and recognitions for his innovations in good governance. These are the affirmation of the city’s economic accountability, disaster preparedness, outstanding employment and micro-entrepreneurship development programs, timely health and social protection policies, sound implementation of…

Mr. Par Liljert, Chief of Mission for IOM Australia and Regional Coordinator for the Pacific. Mr. Liljert is the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Chief of Mission in Australia, and Coordinator for the Pacific. Prior to taking up his current post he served (from 2013 – 2018) as IOM’s Special Envoy and Chief of Mission in China, Chief of Mission in Tanzania (2007 – 2011) and Chief of Mission in Zambia (2002 – 2004) and played an important role in establishing IOM’s Africa Capacity Building Center (ACBC) in Tanzania. He is based together with his family in Canberra, Australia.