International Conference, 1 – 3 November 2010, CEE, Ahmedabad, India
 
Speakers
1 | 2 | 3
 
  Ruud Lubbers
  Ruud Lubbers was the Prime Minister of The Netherlands from 1982 - 1994. From 1995 to 2000 he taught Globalization Studies at Tilburg University, The Netherlands and at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the United States. He is a member of the Earth Charter Commission and former president of World Wildlife Fund (1999-2001). In October 2000 he was elected as the U.N. refugee agency's ninth High Commissioner by the U.N. General Assembly following his nomination by Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He succeeded Mrs. Sadako Ogata of Japan, on 31 December 2000.
 
 
  Brendan Mackey
  Brendan Mackey has a PhD in tropical forest ecology, and is a professor of environmental science at The Australian National University, Canberra. Mr. Mackay’s research and teaching is in the areas of global environmental change and biodiversity conservation, including the challenge of conservation planning in extensively intact countries where indigenous interests are paramount. He co-chairs the IUCN Ethics Specialist Group within the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law. Mr Mackay has a long-standing commitment to the Earth Charter Initiative. He served on the drafting committee of the Earth Charter during the global consultation process and participated in numerous regional consultations, including an Australian national forum he convened.
 
 
  Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda
 

Swamiji is the author of the scientific master-system ‘Yoga in Daily Life’, which teaches how to achieve good health, inner peace and harmony by using yoga, meditation and spiritual development. For the last 30 years Vishwaguruji has been teaching the ‘Yoga In Daily Life’ system, promoting the principles of physical, mental, social and spiritual health, respect for life of all living beings, tolerance of all religions, cultures and nationalities, protection of human rights and the environment.

In 2002 the Shree Vishwa Deep Gurukul Prathmik Vidyalaya, Yoga in Daily Life's primary school in Rajasthan, India, was founded. To address the major water crisis in the desert state of Rajasthan, India, the International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship, has launched a Desert Rainwater Harvesting initiative. The project was supported by UN.
 
 
  Zabariah Matali
  As Chief Executive Officer of the Islamic Information Centre, Zabariah Haji Matali is helping to achieve the Centre’s vision and mission of promoting a better understanding of the ideals, principles, values and universality of Islam. She presented papers at national and international events on topics relating to community development and community participation. She was responsible for initiating a Civil Society Dialogue, among non-governmental and community-based organizations in Sarawak. Zabariah Matali is collaborating closely with UNESCO in the context of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development through knowledge and information sharing especially with the media and civil-society organizations. She was responsible for coordinating and facilitating the workshop on Media and Sustainable Development with UNESCO at the 4th International Conference on Environmental Education in Ahmedabad, India.
 
 
  Prasad Menon
  Prasad R. Menon, B.Tech (Chem), IIT has been Managing Director of Tata Power Co. Ltd. of Tata Motors Ltd. and Tata Sons Limited since October 16, 2006. Mr. Menon has 36 years of professional experience in the industry. Mr. Menon served as Managing Director of Tata Chemicals Ltd. from 2000 to 2006. Earlier Mr Menon was with Nagarjuna Fertilisers and Chemicals, where he served as Technical Director and Agri Business Sector Chief. Throughout his career, he has served in a number of illustrious positions like Chairman, Nelco Ltd,  Director, Chemical Terminal Trombay Ltd,  Executive Director, Tata Chemicals Ltd. and Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of Rallis India Ltd.
 
 
 
  Sunita Narain
 

Sunita Narain is the director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) , director of the Society for Environmental Communications and publisher of the fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth. She is a writer and environmentalist, conducting research with forensic rigour and passion, so that knowledge can lead to change. In 2005, 2008 and 2009 she was included by US journal Foreign Policy as one of the world’s 100 public intellectuals. In 2005 she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian government. She has received the World Water Prize for her work on rainwater harvesting and for its policy influence in building paradigms for community based water management. She has chaired the Tiger Task Force at the direction of the Prime Minister, to evolve an action plan for conservation in the country after the loss of tigers in Sariska. She advocated solutions to build a co-existence agenda with local communities so that benefits of conservation could be shared. She is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Climate Change as well as the National Ganga River Basin Authority, chaired by the Prime Minister, set up to implement strategies for cleaning the river.
 
 
 
  Manuel Obregón
   Inspiring youth through song, Manuel Obregón uses art to educate and motivate people to make social and lifestyle changes towards sustainable practices. He is  the Minister of Culture and Youth of Costa Rica. Mr. Obregón has excelled in the field of music; his group projects include Malpais, La Orquesta del Río InfinitoThe Orquesta de la Papaya and label Papaya Music. He has also received several awards and national recognition by the Costa Rican Association of Composers and Musical Authors ACAM and is well known internationally in countries like USA, Italy and Paraguay. He is also considered a leader in the field of Mesoamerican culture , environment and sustainable development by Avina Foundation, in 2006.
 
 
 
  Razeena Omar
  Razeena Omar is a South African citizen who takes a keen interest in monitoring trends, shifts and debates on environment, conservation and education, including policies and implementation issues, and has been a central player in these fields for a number of years. She holds academic and professional qualifications in the areas of botany, zoology, ecology, conservation and education. Subsequent to working in the area of formal education, she joined the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) and was thereafter appointed as environmental adviser to the previous National Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal for four years (1999-2003). Her work in the Ministry of Education included establishing the National Environmental Education Programme (NEEP), which resulted in the environment being recognised as a key issue in all education and training programmes in South Africa. She has also provided guidance to international organisations such as UNESCO. Dr. Omar was the executive director for People and Conservation at South African National Parks (SANParks) and, since June 2008, she has been chief director of integrated coastal management and development for the department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism; Marine and Coastal Management.
 
 
 
  Kirit Parikh
 

Dr. Kirit Parikh is the former Member, Planning Commission, Government of India and Chairman, Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), New Delhi. He is also the former (Founder) Director (Vice Chancellor), Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai – An Advanced Research Institute. He was honoured with the Padma Bushan by the President of India in March 2009. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India. Dr Kirit S. Parikh has a Doctorate of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master's Degree in Economics from MIT, USA. He has been a Professor of Economics since 1967. Dr. Parikh had been the editor of "India Development Report" which provides a non-governmental assessment of India's development and policy options. Dr Parikh has authored, co-authored and edited 29 books.