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Young scientists attend World Conservation Congress

Hilma Angula and Dr. Justine Braby

Hilma Angula and Dr. Justine Braby

NAMDEB has fully sponsored two young Namibian professionals, Dr. Justine Braby and Hilma Angula, to attend and actively participate in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)World Conservation Congress taking place in Jeju, South Korea, from 6 to 15 September 2012.
Working for the Integrated Environmental Consultants Namibia and its sister non-profit organisation, Natuye, the two are actively involved in sustainability innovations, and have focused on youth mobilisation in Namibia and Africa generally.
Dr. Braby holds a PhD in Zoology, a Post-graduate Diploma in Environmental Law, a Post-graduate Certificate in Education (Senior and Further Education), and a BSc in Zoology, all from the University of Cape Town. She was elected this year as the Deputy Coordinator/Programme Director of the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change, a 31-country member organisation, and the African youth voice at international summits.
During her time at IECN, she has led various projects, including the Climate Change Adaptation Youth Action Programme and Outreach Strategy, which involved the development and dissemination of various material including the founding of the Namibian Youth Coalition on Climate Change through the Africa Adaptation Project Namibia.
Ms Hilma Angula of Integrated Environmental Consultants Namibia (IECN) holds a Diploma in Natural Resource Management (Nature conservation). She first joined IECN as an intern, carrying out her compulsory in-service training in fulfillment of the requirements for her Diploma. She is currently a junior consultant and has been involved in various projects at IECN, working closely with local communities and youth groups especially on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).
Hilma is also one of the founding members of the Namibian Youth Coalition on Climate Change (NYCCC), and is a member of the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC). She spear headed the Climate Change adaptation multimedia school competition for school learners as part of the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP) under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and helped with the organisation of the climate change adaptation youth conference held in Windhoek last year.
The two are mentored by the Director of IECN, Dr. Juliane Zeidler, who is currently running for election for the Global Chair of the Commission on Education and Communication of the IUCN.
The three Namibian-based colleagues will be heading to Jeju to facilitate various sessions, among them a half-day learning session on “Getting to action: secrets to influencing climate resilient decision-making”. In addition, Hilma and Justine are part of the inter-generational task force of the IUCN, the global youth group voice of the congress which will be hosting various exciting youth-action based sessions at the conference.
The World Conservation Congress is the world’s largest and most important conservation event. It is held every four years and it aims to improve the management of the natural environment for the social and economic development of people.
Leaders from government, the public sector, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and social organisations will discuss, debate, and draft solutions for the world’s most pressing environment and development issues.
Dr. Braby and Ms. Angula depart for Jeju on Monday, 3 September and are expected back in the country on 14 September 2012.

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