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Aroha Te Pareake Mead

Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Wednesday, August 4 - Opening Session Keynote Speaker

Aroha Te Pareake Mead is from Ngati Awa and Ngati Porou. She was elected Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) in November 2008 for a four year term. CEESP is one of IUCN’s six commissions, which unite over 11,000 volunteer professionals from a range of disciplines to provide expert advice on conservation and sustainable development issues. CEESP helps to improve national policies and local practices on access, equity, participation and benefit sharing of natural resources. The Commission currently focuses on seven key themes: Governance of Natural Resources; Indigenous Peoples and Protected Areas, Environment, Macroeconomics, Trade and investment; Sustainable Livelihoods; Environment, Conflict and Security, and Culture and Conservation. Under these themes CEESP addresses a wide range of issues ranging from genetically modified organisms through mining and biodiversity to indigenous rights, biodiversity governance and community-based conservation areas.

Aroha has a long-standing record in environment and development issues, particularly in relation to indigenous and local community rights, and indigenous cultural and intellectual property issues. In her current role at the Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, she is the Associate Dean of Maori Research.

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