IUCN Director General Julia Marton-Lefèvre

Closing Remarks to IUCN Members’ Assembly

Barcelona 14 October 2008

Nine days ago, Valli Moosa described conservation as a creative act, inspired by Barcelona’s

artists, like Gaudi.

As we prepare to sail home from Barcelona, we can recall that Gaudi reminded us that: “The

great book, always open, and which we should make an effort to read, is that of Nature.”

The great book of nature has been entrusted to our care.

I have participated in past World Conservation Congresses.

But this was the first time I experienced Congress from the inside and the experience has

energized me profoundly.

As I watched all the components gradually come together, I realized the truly extraordinary reach

of IUCN.

We not only represent the tapestry from 179 countries but draw on expertise across sectors and

from all walks of life.

People have compared human gatherings to theater.

And there is indeed a dramatic element to our Congress:

the sets, the lighting, the sound;

the hushed anticipation;

the curtain raised, and the stage mounted.

But what sets our production apart -- what makes it so extraordinary and exciting and unscripted

and unpredictable – is not just the urgency and scope of our undertaking.

It is that we engage all members of the audience to become the leading actors of a global drama.

Representing billions of people, all of you here become the stars of a democratic system,

improvising and interacting through 800 planned events, thousands of informal meetings, and

countless opportunities to seek a better future.

As DG I attended more than 20 sessions each day of the Forum, gaining a breadth of insight into

what took place in our pragmatic theater for both words and deeds.

I heard the reviews coming in from observers worldwide.

I was stopped in the corridors by strangers, utterly impressed at the depth of engagement they

found.

My voicemail and email are filled with people asking me to pass on congratulations for the ways

we leveraged financial and human resources to bring fresh insight to the most vexing

predicaments of our time.

If it were only praise we gathered here, it would be flattering.

But our Congress matched words with real and tangible resources for action, and in doing so it

has energized our work, anchored our mission, and fueled our momentum.

Among the high profile commitments that have been made to support our mission during this

week:

• The MacArthur Foundation will invest $50 million in climate change mitigation and

adaptation;

• The Mohammad Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund will invest Euros 25 million for

worldwide biodiversity;

• The Alcoa Foundation announced a $9 million five-year extension of its Sustainability

Fellows Programme;

• During this Congress France committed 7 million Euro to renew its support for IUCN’s

programme 2009-2012;

• Multiple donors launched Phase Two of the Water and Nature Initiative to improve river

basin management;

• With Nokia and WWF we will continue the social platform network, Connect2Earth, to

engage youth;

• With ENERGIA we improve women’s access to electricity and reduce dependence on

biofuels;

• Francophone governments will better integrate biodiversity issues into their development

policy;

• Russia pledged to protect 80 million new hectares;

• Sumatran provinces agreed to stop clearing old-growth;

• With Google we launched an interactive map of marine protected areas;

• With National Geographic and the UN Foundation, we established the first long-term

streaming system that connects anyone, anywhere, to a coral reef in Belize.

• At this Congress we created the International Association of Wildlife Magazines to

coordinate conservation campaigns;

• The Government of Paraguay announced zero net deforestation by 2020.

• Regional heads of state agreed to a summit at Manado, Sulawesi next May to launch the

Coral Triangle Initiative to protect the world's richest coral reefs;

In addition to positive reviews and commitments, I also heard, and welcomed, critical advice.

Most feedback concerned how and where IUCN can improve the relationship between our

Secretariat, Commissions and Members.

I am determined that, by working together, we can and will enhance Secretariat services to

Members and involve all parts of the IUCN world in carrying out our mission. Each of us has an

important complementary role to play. In response to what I have heard, here are my

commitments to you:

1. I will take all your resolutions seriously and will follow them up, keeping you informed of

progress.

2. I have asked all regional and thematic directors to engage members as a top priority.

3. We will continue to value the significant contributions received from the Commission

membership.

4. I will continue to seek creative and diverse sources of funding for our work.

Tightening the links in our Triple Helix – Members, Commissions, Secretariat -- requires an

ongoing and concerted effort by all of us to keep sharing our vision, our recommendations and

our point of view.

Based on your guidance, next February at the next Council meeting we will discuss how to

develop and to implement a more effective membership and governance strategy for the next 4

years.

Yes, our Congress could be compared to a dramatic production on a global stage. But as we

prepare to take down the set, let’s give credit to all those who have been working quietly and

tirelessly behind the scenes.

First, on behalf of IUCN let me: express our deepest gratitude to the Household of His Majesty

the King, for presiding at the Committee of Honor of the World Conservation Congress;

I also convey our deepest thanks to His Royal Highness Prince of Asturias for His presence and

for officially opening the Congress;

AnfitrionesHostsHôtes

We are grateful for the invaluable support of our hosts, the Ministry for Environment, Rural and

Marine Affairs;

the Department of Environment and Housing of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Provincial Council, for its institutional support and generous financial contribution that made possible this Congress, NEXT I’d like to thank our six platinum sponsors whose financial support allowed, among other things, the participation of IUCN members from developing countries

Socios - PlatinoPartners - Platinum Partenaires - Platine

The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development; The European Commission The Cooperatzione Italiana under the Ministero degli Affari Esteri The Environment Agency for Abu Dhabi The French Ministère de l’Ecologie, de l’Energie, du Developpement Durable et de l’Amenagement du Territoire And the World Business Council for Sustainable Development In addition I would like to acknowledge the support from many other donors and partners, including IUCN’s framework donors.

Our thanks go to the people of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain for sharing with us the beauty of

their culture, customs and scenic sites, enriching our experience.

We applaud the hard work and efforts of the officials and supporting staff of the host

administrations, local sponsors, the staff of CCIB and the local volunteers who gave so

generously their time.

It is impossible to thank by name all those who made this Congress a success. But IUCNs

multiple donors enabled us to bring 100 percent of our members to good standing.

Puri Canal’s energy and vision was absolutely essential. Our prayers go out to Pierre Hunkeler.

And Enrique Lahmann, our Congress Manager, headed a tiny team consisting of Pamela

Grasemann, Francois Rogers and Nadia Akhmisse.

DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTIONHead: Connie Espinosa

Fausto PáramoMinguè Niasse

Luma KurdiPimolwan Singhawong

Jil Self

CONGRESS MANAGEREnrique Lahmann

Deputy: Francois RogersAssistant: Pamela Grasemann

FORUMSue Mainka

Deputy: Pascal Girot

MEMBERS ASSEMBLYGrethel Aguilar

Assistant: Marta Pèrez de Madrid Utrilla

CONGRESS OUTREACHMario Laguë

CONGRESS LOGISTICSNadia Akhmisse

Deputy: Fleurange BieriAssistant: Bianca Prado

CONGRESS OPERATIONSDiego Ruiz

Assistant: Valerie Spalding

FACILITATION & LEARNINGGillian Martin-Mehers

FORUM OPENING& CLOSINGSally Jeanrenaud

Deputy: Andrés Alcántara

SECRETARIAT EVENTS FOCAL POINTGeorgina Peard

Deputy: Peter Shadie

ON-SITE EVENT MANAGEMENTHead: Pascal Girot

Deputies:Tamara Montalvo,Georgina PeardPeter Shadie & Alejandro Jimenez

TRAINING COURSESElizabeth CrudgingtonSupport: Diana Rojas

FORUM OUTPUTSJeff McNeely

PLENARY MANAGEMENTPascal Girot

Deputy: Connie Espinosa

MOTIONS & PROGRAMMESteve Broad

COMMUNICATIONSJohn Kidd

Deputy: Brian Thomson

VIPMargarita Astrálaga

Deputy: Narinder KakarAssistant: Miriam Puga

REGISTRATION Marie-Josée Talarico

Deputy: Geneviève Leclerc

ONSITENadia Akhmisse

Deputy: Fleurange Bieri

LOCAL PARTNERSNadia Akhmisse

GREEN CONGRESS COORDINATOR

Pamela Grasemann

ACCOUNTING Caroline Muller

OFFICE SUPPLIES & SHIPPING

Merja MurdochManuel Brenes

EVENT SUPPORT (ALIANCES, CINEMA, POSTER,

KNOWLEDGE CAFE)Arturo MoraBiren Bhuta

Barthélemy BatienoCathrine Mutambirwa

Cécile GorgeratCristina Yépez Pacheco

UNDP POBLEEileen de RavinFleurange Bieri

PODIUM MANAGEMENTHead: Stewart Maginnis

Annotated Agenda: C. Laufenberg

CHIEF RAPPORTEURTim Jones

DOCUMENTATIONDeborah Murith

Cindy Craker

TRANSLATORS - FRD. Devitre C. Thiery/

C. Lokschin/C. Melev

TYPISTSAdissa Kouraogo

Ann DevoyAura Marina Amperez

Cécile GorgeratCelia Steel Dixon

Hannia M. VillalobosIrène OuedraogoMariam YameogoPadmi De Silva

Victoria Hernandez-C.

VOTE COUNTERS

PROGRAMME COMMITTEEHead: Alejandro Iza

Assistant: Jane BulmerRami Salman

Thomas GreiberElise Buckle

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEEAban Marker Kabraji

FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEELine Hempel

Assistant: Valerie Spalding

MOTIONSHead: Constanza Martinez

Deputy: Sonia Peña MorenoAdvisor: Steve Edwards

MOTION MANAGERSAna Shubitidze Anshuman SaikiaArturo Mora Carole Saint-LaurentChantal Van Ham David HubermanEfrain Peña Elizabeth CrudgingtonGeorge Sadiq Giulia CarboneHelen Temple Jackeline SilesKetevan Skhireli Manuela Gonzalez Michael Hoffmann Nikola RassSarah Gotheil Shamen VidanageSuzanne Livingstone Wendy Foden

PROTOCOL SUPPORTXavier López-Schmid

CREDENTIALSHead: Susanna SöderströmDeputy: Véronique Zurcher

MEMBERSHIP HUBMonique Yigbedek

Stella MusiiwaValeria Chamorro

SPONSORED MEMBERSAileen McRoberts

DATABASE & REPORTINGVladimir Bazan

REGISTRATION OFFICERJohn Kotchan

VENUE SAFETY & HYGIENE

SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION

Danielle GréeHELP DESK & MTG ROOM

COORDINATIONBelen RoblesIdrissa Sery

Monica Gomes AbrahamsHaifaa S. Mustafa Abdulhalim

VENUE LIAISONFleurange Bieri

Eric Blanc & Lluis Plans (CCIB)

SPEAKER CENTER (ACS)Cees Drinkenburg

Ivan StupavskiFOOD & BEVERAGELaura Lopez (CCIB)

OFFICE INFRASTRUCTURE

Bianca Prado

TRANSPORT

GRUPO PACIFICOPatty Milan

Deputy: Maria Sanmiguel EVENTS ONSITE

Judith Laita Cristina Garcia

HOTELSBianca Prado (Staff)

Fleurange Bieri (Sponsored)Alicia Martin

Dafne Dueñas

EXCURSION

AIRPORT WELCOME DESK

PAYMENTS OFFICERMohamed Karmass

PAYMENTS DESKAndrea MarshallJoseph DoulkomMonica Espinosa

Riaz BangashSasanka RodrigoShibly Humayun

Teresa O. Martinez

IUCN IT MANAGER (SUPPORT & SETUP)

Fayez Mikhail

BARCELONA COMMITMENTS

Jeff McNeely

PARTNERS & DONORSHans Friederich

Deputy: Francois RogersAssistant: Sabine Bresley

BILATERAL& FRAMEW. DONORSLucy Deram

MULTILATERAL DONORSJ.C. Jacques (EU), S. Hajost (other)

US FOUNDATIONSScott Hajost

CARBON OFFSETDavid Huberman

SUSTAINABILITY DIALOGUESSally Jeanrenaud

JOURNEYS & CROSSCUTTING AREASBiocultural Diversity (incl. Indigenous Peoples): Gonzalo OviedoEnergy: Nadine McCormickEnv Law & Governance: Francois BurhenneForest Production Landscapes: Beatrice RicheIslands: Radhika Murti Marine: Sarah Gotheil Markets & Business: Joshua Bishop Mediterranean: Rami SalmanProtected Areas: Pedro Rosabal Rights and Livelihoods: Gonzalo OviedoSpecies: Julie GriffinWater: Katharine Cross Youth: Cathrine Mutambirwa

STREAM 1 – CLIMATE CHANGENeville Ash/ Ninni Ikkala

Assistant: Elizabeth WilletsSTREAM 2- HEALTHY ENV.

Jean-Yves PirotAssistant: Elodie Chêne

STREAM 3 – DIVERSITYJeff McNeely /Jean-Christophe Vié /Geoffrey Howard

Assistant: Christina Sander

HOST COUNTRY LIAISON (VISA ASSISTANCE & FOREIGN AFFAIRS)

Andrés Alcántara

PAVILIONS & SPONSORSHIPSFrancois Rogers

Assistant: Ditse Mdluli

EXHIBITION HALL MANAGERAlda Ferraz

BARCELONA CONV: BUREAU

CONGRESS CLOSINGSally Jeanrenaud

CONGRESS OPENING & 60TH BIRTHDAY

Mario Laguë

BUDGET MGT & REPORTINGLine Hempel

Asst: Yuliya Bazan

INFORMATION SYS. MGRVladimir Bazan

ACS IT SERVICESSammy Van der Wal

Mark SpringPrivate IUCN needs (rented IT equipment, photocopiers, Internet)Public: Internet Café, Media, VIP

HELP DESKSSEC. OFFICES /REGISTRATIONCécile Durussel

Iftikhar AliManuel Guede

Prasarn JitreesinSergio Montealto Lanza

HUMAN RESOURCESSajid Ali

STAFF DEPLOYMENTMonica Jacobs

TRAINING, ORIENTATION & INFORMATION

Christian Vonarburg

HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEINGMaria Cristina Guerra

DEPLOYMENT OFFICERSIrene HungweNuwan Rezel

STAFF LOUNGEJoss Chambaz

Kerrie Higueras

STAFF EVALUATION OFFICERFabienne Diallo

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Nominated

x Outsourced

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WOMEN’S FAIRLorena Aguilar 1

SIGNAGE & MESSAGING

John Kidd

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SAILING TO BARCELONATamas Marghescu

Coordinator: Sarah GindreAssistant: V. Burgener

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OVERSIGHTBill Jackson

Assistant: Sebastia Semene

SHAREPOINT ADMINISTRATORMichael Gilmour

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CONGRESS EVALUATIONAlex Moiseev

Asst: Natalia Ortiz 2

ONSITE EVALUATORSAna Shubitidze

Anshuman Saikia Camille Flore Jepang Sandjong

Caterina WolfangelChantal Van Ham

Efrain PeñaFanny GuilletGeorge SadiqJackeline Siles

Juan Carlos SanchezMegan Cartin

Raji Dhital 12

FACILITATORS15

NIGHT SCHOOL MGRNicole T. Voillat 1

RESOLUTIONS HELP DESK

Prasanna Dayaratne (5-14 Oct) Joachim Monkelbaan (5-7 Oct)Manuela Gonzalez (8-9 Oct)

Camille F.J. Sandjong (10-14 Oct)Verónica Moreno R. (10-14 Oct)

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SUPPORT & LOUNGE COORD.Arantxa Cendoya

Assistant: Sonia Gutierrez Guillen2

RAPPORTEURSBishnu BhandariChristina Sander

Caterina WolfangelElodie Chene

Raji DhitalVacant 6

VIP TRANSPORT COORDINATORVacant 1

VIP LOUNGE STAFFAna Lorena León Maria Augusta A. FerriNikola Rass Tania R. Echavarría

4CREDENTIALS BACK OFFICE

Eugenia GúzmanAnja Miller

Candice PereraHelen PippardIsabel Moyano

Margarita Restrepo

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HOTEL + PASSPORTGiulia Carbone 1

TRANSPORT+WASTENadia Akhmisse 1

FOOD & CATERINGNadia Akhmisse 1

PAPER REDUCTIONPamela Grasemann 1

MEMBERSHIP LOUNGEAnnika AkerfeltTania Falconner

Ola Mallah

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HOST GOVERNMENTSMiguel Aymerich (MMA)Ignasi Rodriguez (Generalitat)/

Nuria Costas (Ayuntamiento)/ Martí Domenech (Diputació)

ASSISTANTDiana Rojas 1

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PAVILION MANAGERSWater: Mark Smith

Marine: C. Lundin/A. HurdSpecies: Jane Smart

Forest: Stewart MagginisSust. Living+WBCSD: F. Rogers

‘Futures’: Nadine McCormick7

TRANSLATORS – SPDelmar Blasco / M. Prats /R. Pochtar/C. Valdovinos

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GREEN CONGRESS BOOTH

David HubermanValerie Spalding

Catharina Wolfangel 3

RUNNER

BADGE CLERK

PRESS/VIP

CONGRESS MATERIALS

LINE CONTROL 8

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SECURITY OFFICERAntonio Palacios

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INTERPRETERS36

REGIONAL VIP COORDINATORSAime Nianogo (PACO)

Margarita Astralaga. (N. AFRICA)

Hala Kilani (WAME)Jesus Cisneros (ORMA)

Jean-P. Palasi (ROfE)

Joao de Queiroz (SUR)

Hastings Chikoko (ESARO)

Rosa Mary S. (ARO)

Scott Hajost (N. AMERCA)

Taholo Kami (OCEANIA)

RELATIONSHIP MANAGERAdolfo JaramilloDavid Smailes

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REGISTRATION ASSISTANTS Adissa Kouraogo A Padmi De SilvaAltaf H. Salem Ann DevoyAura Marina Amperez Azhar SaeedAzzam Saleh Bharati SharmaCat Valle Fausto PáramoHannia Maria Villabos V. Irène OuedraogoJil Self Luma KurdiMargarita Hernandez-C. Mariam Yameogo-DerraMariela Reyes Mauricio GuevaraMingué Niasse Montse RieraNathalie Velasco Pimolwan SinghawongRaj Kumar Rebecca BarqueroRosemary Nduku Mboya Victoria Hernandez-Castro

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CREDENTIALS DESKAna E. Escalante

Debbie GoodHugo Ruiz LozanoMichel OuedraogoTanya Wattanakorn

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WEBGabriel Dávila

Deputy: Wiebke HerdingHammad Saeed

CORPORATEGaëlle Cuillerot

Deputy: Lynne LabanneOlivia Pasini

TV/VIDEOBorjana Pervan

Deputy: Veronica Moreno RiofrioAnna Knee; Guy Patrick Massoloka;

Jennifer Morris

MEDIABrian Thomson

Deputy: Borjana Pervan

BOOK LOUNGEAlicia Wirz

Deputy: Stephanie AchardSvetlana Ilic /Jelena Ilic

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PRINT/AUDIOSarah Horsley

Deputy: Julian Orozco Claudia Cooney, Deependra Joshi

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MEDIA CENTRESylvia Casellas

Deputy: Nguyen Thi Hue BichArtur Beltran; Ketevan Skhireli;

Kumudini Ekaratne; Mahbubur R. Masum; Stunt Coordinator: Minna Epps

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MEDIA HANDLINGCaroline Wahnbaeck

Aleksandra Nesic; Grettel Montero, Rania Faouri; Sylvia M

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CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

Susanna Söderström 1

Challenges and Innovations for a Sustainable Economy: Sally JeanrenaudGreen Construction for Sustainable Living: Alison Rowles-AnobileGreening Development to Address Climate Change: Kaori YasudaHuman Health and the Environment: Jeff McNeelyLocal 2010 Action for Biodiversity: The ignored solution?: Sebastian Winkler Philanthropy for a Sustainable Future: Hans FriederichSpirituality and Conservation: Gonzalo Oviedo

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AUDIOVISUAL (CCIB)Fernando IradyJesus Gonzalez

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EVENTS OFFSITEElena Dubko 1

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FREIGHTFORWARDINGRESACCIB 2LOGISTIGS COORDINATOR

Daniella Montag 1

Plenary Screen Mgr: Rocío CordobaExternalScreen Mgr: Tania Rodriguez

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PROCEDURAL ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT & DG

Antonio Benjamín 1

ELECTION & COUNCIL SUPPORT

Eliane RusterAssistant: Nathalie Velasco

MEMBERSHIPHead: Tamara MontalvoAssistant: Michelle Cartin

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PHOTOCOPYCoord: Altaf H. Salem

Azhar Saeed Manuel BrenesNuwan RezelSvetlana Ilic1 Hostess

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ELECTION BUREAUEliane Ruster Hugo Ruiz LozanoNathalie Velasco Susanna SöderströmTamara Montalvo Véronique Zurcher

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SPEAKER COORDINATIONBishnu Bhandari

James Okaka

CULTURAL EVENTSJudith Liata

Bianca Prado11

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LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Elizabeth Crudgington1

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Rapporteur Dania A. Malak

Tech Focal PointManuel Guede

Usher CoordCarla Duarte

Deputy to Head of MotionsImene Meliane

Motion Manager (Plenary)James OkakaMotion Tracker:

Joachim MonkelbaanFile Manager

Cristina Yépez PachecoResolution/Prog Com Liaison

Juan C. Sanchez 5

MISJulie Wyman

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ELECTION OFFICERAntonio Machado

Assistant: Eliane Ruster 2

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CCIB IT SignalJordi Gay 1

Barcelona Congress Preparatory Committee*

Chair: Valli MoosaMiguel Aymerich, Nuria Costa, Martí Domenech, Lynn Holowesko, Huguette Labelle, Nik Lopoukhine, Aroha Mead, Manfred Niekisch,

Ignasi Rodriguez, Sylvia Sanchez, Keith Wheeler

LEGAL ADVISERGiuseppe Zaccagnini

Assist: Audrey Monard

PRESIDENT, DG, & DDG OFFICESPresident Valli MoosaChair’s brief C. LaufenbergPersonal Assistant to the President Susan TurnerDirector General Julia Marton-LefèvreSpecial Advisor to DG Christian LaufenbergAssistant to DG Silvia MosqueraAssistant to DG Patricia VaucherDeputy Director General Bill JacksonAssistant to DDG Sue MillsOrganizational Development Advisor to DG Gillian Martin-Mehers

Positions not onsite

To become the Congress Steering Committee onsite(including IUCN Vice-Presidents)*Vs. 43 - 2 Oct 08

GeneralGeneral

Functional Leads

Let’s ponder the intricacies and complexities of this organigram – it is more than a collection of

people; it is a human ecosystem – generated by so many to create so much opportunity.

What is most amazing to me is that the professional technicians – the stage managers, sound

designers, graphic artists and lighting specialists -- who put this Congress together managed to

do so without quitting their day jobs as hydrologists, forest ecologists, energy policy analysts,

resource economists or PhDs in marine ecology.

This reflects a growing awareness that though IUCN has always been an expert on resources

and biodiversity and threatened and endangered plants and animals, we have graduated to

realize that practicing conservation involves learning how to manage the most challenging

species of all, and that is people like us.

We should feel proud of the resounding success of this memorable event. As we prepare to sail

home from Barcelona – departing as gracefully as we arrived in this world class city – I look

forward to seeing all of you at the next Congress in 2012.