Nature, biodiversity and health

Ingrid has more than 30 years’ experience in sustainability and governance. Her work focuses on mainstreaming nature, its benefits, and nature-based solutions into urban planning and decision-making in cities and city regions thereby helping them become healthier, and more resilient and liveable places. She also serves as technical lead on ICLEI’s biodiversity advocacy work. Ingrid’s expertise includes stakeholder engagement, facilitation, law reform, policy, and strategy development.

Dr Heidi Albert is a global health leader with over 25 years of experience, predominantly in Africa and Asia. Passionate about data-driven systems thinking and locally-driven solutions, she has led programmes to increase equitable access to essential services. Her work is grounded in strong partnerships with governments, donors, and local and global organisations to ensure solutions are relevant and sustainable. Heidi has a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD in Pharmacy/Microbiology. She joins ICLEI as Head of the One Health Cities Centre based in Cape Town, where she will work collaboratively to address holistic determinants of health and wellbeing, recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health in the urban environment.

Ernita Flynn is a senior professional officer (social-ecological systems) at ICLEI Africa and ICLEI’s Cities Biodiversity Center: Urban Biodiversity Work stream. Her work focus is on mainstreaming nature-based benefits in urban environments through planning and implementation. Following initial training in ecology and conservation, Ernita developed an interest in how people and institutions value and interact with the natural environment. She brings 22 years’ experience to the work place.

Bongiwe has a strong passion for sustainability and social justice. She holds BSc Honours degrees in Environmental Management and Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. Bongiwe has over 4 years’ experience working on Spatial Biodiversity Planning, Project Coordination and Ecosystem Services research. Her work on mapping and making the case for green and blue infrastructure helped cultivate her interest in integrated environmental management and developing products and tools useful for mainstreaming biodiversity into development, land use planning and informing the policy landscape.

Jade has a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Stellenbosch. She has 1 year and 8 months of experience working in the Urban Catalytic Investment department at the City of Cape Town Municipality as an Urban Planning and Project Packaging Assistant. Jade is currently working as an intern in the Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions team. She is an avid reader and is passionate about sustainable development.

Ivana has a Double Bachelor Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP). She has four years of experience in sustainable development policy, project management and environmental advocacy at the local level. She actively participates in research and innovation for the analysis of public policies that contributes to social change. She has a passion for work related to nature-based solutions, climate change, multilevel governance, activism and gender mainstreaming.