One week before the CO-OP4CBD’s two-day training session for civil society organisations ahead of #COP17 in Paris, we are glad to present the speakers.

Panel 1: Experience from traditional ecological knowledge holders' organizations in engaging in CBD processes and meetings (22 April):

• Sirarpi Leraneh Khojabaghyan: President and Co-founder of Carota Cultural Educational Development NGO.

Sirarpi Leraneh Khojabaghyan is the President and co-founder of Carota Cultural Educational Development NGO, an Armenia-based organisation dedicated to researching, documenting and reviving traditional knowledge and intangible cultural heritage. Through Carota's work, she leads initiatives focused on the revival of Armenian traditional practices, including crafts, rituals and community-based knowledge systems, while supporting artisans and cultural practitioners across Armenia. Moreover, she is actively engaged in international processes related to biodiversity and culture, including the COP17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD). Her participation in SB8J/SBSTTA has contributed to the development of new initiatives such as the "Tree of Life" project, strengthening connections between traditional knowledge, cultural heritage and environmental sustainability. 

• Christine Myrseth: Coordinator of Forum For Nature.

Christine Myrseth holds a law degree from UiT The Arctic University of Norway, with a specialization in ecosystem-based management in the marine Arctic. She also has an interdisciplinary bachelor's degree in environmental ethics, politics and leadership from the same university. Today, she works as the Coordinator for Forum for Nature and Outdoor Recreation Troms – a collaborative network for nature and outdoor recreation organizations in the Troms region. She is a Sea Sámi and grew up in a small municipality in Northern Troms, Norway, with strong harvesting traditions and the international Indigenous festival Riddu Riđđu. 

• Dr. rer. nat. Yolanda Lopez-Maldonado: Researcher and Founder of Indigenous Science 

Dr. rer. nat. Yolanda López-Maldonado is an Indigenous earth systems scientist from a Maya community in Mexico. Her research focuses on the revival and recovery of Indigenous science to address complex Earth system challenges. She has worked and collaborated with diverse organizations including UNESCO, ICCROM and IPBES, to address complex socio-ecological issues from an Indigenous perspective. As Lead Author of the UNEP Global Environment Outlook Report (GEO7), she was recently appointed Reviewer Editor for the IPBES Second Global Assessment. additionally, Dr. Lopez-Maldonado founded Indigenous Science, an Indigenous-led organization committed to incorporating Indigenous knowledge into global scientific environmental frameworks and related multilateral and diplomatic initiatives. 

• Silje Heldt Zaltzman: Advisor at IWGIA.

With a strong passion for protecting and ensuring the fundamental rights of Indigenous Peoples and safeguarding the diverse ecosystems and biodiversity covering our Earth, Silje Heldt Zaltzman is deeply dedicated to the fight for global justice and equity. She has strong interdisciplinary and cross-cutting skills which she utilizes in her work for Indigenous Peoples' rights and biodiversity and climate in international fora like the UN CBD, as well as in political advocacy work in Denmark. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and gender studies and a master’s in environmental planning.

Panel 2: Experiences from Women and Youth organizations in engaging in CBD processes and meetings (23 April):

• Maine Monteiro: Board Secretary at NBYN.

Maine Monteiro is an Agriculture student with a background in Social Sciences and Climate Change. Moreover, she is the Board Secretary at Nordic Youth Biodiversity Network and Member of the Student Council of RUN-EU Alliance at Häme University of Applied Sciences.   

• Anna Shakhnazarian: Coordinator of the Armenian Chapter (GYBN).

She is engaged in preparations for COP17 in Armenia through her involvement with the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), where she is a member of the European Chapter, coordinator of the Armenian Chapter and part of the Policy Team. Her work focuses on youth empowerment and strengthening Armenia's role in international environmental governance. 

• Cristina Eghenter: Member of CBD Women's Caucus Board of Directors. 

Before becoming a member of the CBD Women's Caucus Board of Directors in 2025, Cristina Eghenter has supported and joined the advocacy of the CBD WC on gender equality for several years and focused on women's resource rights and food systems. This is part of an overall attention and core engagement on advancing human rights and equity in biodiversity and environmental governance in global fora (e.g., CBD, UNCCD, SDGs). With over 20 years of experience with WWF and civil society organizations at local, national and global levels to build capacity and advance rights and equity in conservation, she now works with WWF International and focuses on whole-of-society and human-rights based advocacy especially in the context of the UN CBD. 

• Mkrtich Grigoryan: National Coordinator of Maqoor.

Mkrtich Grigoryan is the National Coordinator of Maqoor Environmental NGO in Armenia and the Director of the Maqoor Eco-activism Center. He has been actively involved in environmental initiatives since the organization's early stages, leading projects focused on waste reduction, community engagement and environmental awareness. Moreover, he has organized and participated in numerous environmental events and campaigns across Armenia, working to mobilize youth and promote sustainable practices. He is currently pursuing a BA in Data Science at the American University of Armenia. 

Read more about this upcoming training here.