ICCB 2023 Steering Committee
The ICCB 2023 Steering Committee works in coordination with SCB Global Services in the organization and planning ICCB.
The Steering Committee includes scientists and SCB staff who work together to identify ICCB priorities, coordinate the work of ICCB subcommittees, and ensure that ICCB meets the goals established for SCB conferences.
The Committee also provides insights related to the ICCB budget, works to ensure that ICCB is a safe, inclusive, diverse and equitable congress, assesses and works to minimize risk, and supports fundraising efforts and the identification of Congress partners.
The Committee is led by a chair, two co-chairs, and a vice-chair. At-large members include the president of the Africa Section, the chair of the ICCB Scientific Program Committee, the chairs of the ICCB Local Organizing Committee, and the chair of the ICCB Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee.
Meet the ICCB 2023 Steering Committee
Clockwise: Badru Mugerwa, John Cigliano, Israel Borokini, Tsitsi McPherson, Felix Ndagijimana, and Nate Spillman.
Badru Mugerwa
I am a Ugandan conservationist, and a PhD candidate at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany. I hold a BSc in Forestry, two MSc in Biology and a PgD in International Wildlife Conservation Practice. I am the President-Elect for the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB)’s Africa Section. I am a founder of Embaka- Saving African Golden Cats, a local community based conservation NGO working with local communities to stop poaching in Uganda.
Fun fact: I am the only Ugandan vegetarian I know!
Israel Borokini
PhD candidate, Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, (b) Adjunct faculty, Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno Nevada, (c) Fellow, United Nations' Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES.
I am an early career researcher with focus on plant biogeography, invasive species, indigenous knowledge and conservation biology. I am particularly interested in species distributions and the niche theory, while my current work in Africa focuses on naturalised and invasive species management, and phytogeography of West African species. ICCBs provide unique networking and capacity building opportunities, and I met some of my closest friends and colleagues in past ICCBs. I am currently SCB Africa section President, and have been involved with the section administration and activities since 2015. Africa section is excited to host the 30th ICCB!
I love traveling, watching tennis, and the natural outdoors, and participate frequently in hiking, mountaineering, camping and traveling. In my free times, I play soccer with friends and colleagues.
John A. Cigliano
Professor of Biology and Director of Environmental Conservation at Cedar Crest College (USA), adjunct research faculty at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park (USA), and an Earthwatch Institute Principal Investigator
My background is in behavioral ecology, marine conservation ecology, and marine conservation education and my current research interests include the effects of ocean acidification and warming on temperate rocky intertidal organisms and communities and the effects of captivity on the behavior of zoo animals. I am currently the President of the Participatory and Citizen Science Working group of SCB and Past President of the Marine Section of SCB. This is the fourth ICCB that I have helped organize as chair or co-chair and I have helped organize four International Marine Conservation Congresses for the Marine Section.
Nate Spillman
Nate Spillman is SCB's Communications and Membership Director and the staff liaison to the Society's Conference Committee. He has worked for SCB for nearly ten years and helped plan four of the last five ICCBs.
Tsitsi McPherson
Tsitsi chairs SCB's Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee and is the president-elect of the Society's Latin America and Caribbean Section.
Felix Ndagijimana
Director at Karisoke Research Center/Fossey Fund