IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Helen will represent IUCN in the World Parks Congress 2014 Executive Management Team, together with counterparts in Parks Australia and the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Helen is based at IUCN headquarters in Gland. She was most recently CEO of the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust in Northern Ireland, which was responsible for the natural and cultural heritage of the north coast, and worked previously for the Europarc Atlantic Isles, where she organized several large conferences, seminars and workshops, including the Europarc Conference. Her experience ranges from protected areas management, to operational management of large organizations and she has worked with governments, NGOs and charities at all levels. Described as a “can do” person, Helen calls the UK home, and has wide-ranging outdoor interests, including horse riding, swimming and sailing. She balances these with a love of theatre, concerts and cinema.

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Dawn is coordinating efforts among IUCN and Australian agencies regarding sponsorship, fundraising and programme development opportunities in the run up and immediate follow-up to the World Park Congress in November 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Dawn has over ten years of experience in international development, working with NGOs in countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Peru. Dawn most recently served as the Head of Mission/Country Director for the United Methodist Committee On Relief in Sri Lanka. Her background includes programme development and fundraising, programme management, inter-agency coordination and monitoring and evaluation. Dawn has an MA in International Development from the University of Denver in the US, and BA in Biology. She is from the US state of Minnesota, and enjoys long distance running, trekking and somersaults and playing “peek-a-boo” with her two young children. Dawn is based at IUCN headquarters in Gland.

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