2026 #ParrotCrisis Summit Speakers

Nick Byaba  is the Founder of the Parrot Tree Caretakers Association & Bigodi Grey Parrot Museum in Uganda. He advocates for the protection of African Grey Parrots through community action, rescue, and public education. He is dedicated to ensuring a future where parrots and people thrive together.

Lieth holds a degree in anthropology from Andes University, with a specialization in law and state. She has experience in researching and monitoring organized crime dynamics, particularly those related to wildlife trafficking and environmental crimes, using data-based methods, OSINT tools, and community engagement. She has collaborated with various media outlets on investigations aimed at uncovering cases of transnational corruption and illegal trafficking networks.

Dan Howie is an ecologist and the Operations Manager at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. He oversees biosecurity and species recovery across a 3,400-hectare pest-free mainland sanctuary. Working closely with the Department of Conservation, Dan has led the on-the-ground management of the landmark kākāpō reintroduction program, directing health checks, monitoring networks, and habitat protections to secure population recovery. At the summit, he will share insights into combating invasive predator threats and habitat loss to safeguard Aotearoa New Zealand’s rarest parrots, including kakapo and kaka.

LoraKim Joyner empowers the people saving the planet. She stands in solidarity and witness to the plight of the parrots and people where One Earth works with others – currently in Brazil, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Suriname. She is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Loros Sin Fronteras, Parrot Researchers Group, and Parrot Conservation Alliance.

Dr Jess is a conservation biologist with a paraveterinary background and a specific interest in birds. She works with conservation partners across Southeast Asia around the preservation of bird species that are threatened by habitat loss and especially the illegal and unsustainable bird trade. She believes that building capacity in conservation partners in the region, working as a collective in a one-plan approach (in and ex situ conservation), and finding sustainability in conservation programmes are key inthe recovery of avian species in the wild.

Sylvia Margarita de la Parra Martínez is a biologist with a Ph.D. from UNAM and over 17 years of experience in parrot conservation. She works at One Earth Conservation as a project management assistant, supporting conservation initiatives in Latin America.

Dayana Serrano is a Honduran veterinarian with postgraduate training from the Professional Master’s Program in Wildlife Conservation and Biodiversity (MACOVIB) at the National University of Costa Rica. Her career has focused on wildlife conservation, integrating veterinary medicine, applied research, rehabilitation, reproduction, and biodiversity management.

Liz Cabrera Holtz is an attorney and the Senior Campaigns Manager at World Animal Protection, where she oversees their campaign to end the exploitation of wild animals in the pet trade. Her work focuses on leveraging policy and mobilizing animal advocates to make concrete change for animals.

Charley works for the Bob Brown Foundation as an ecologist to document threatened species in native forests of Tasmania (Australia) that are earmarked for logging. He uses a combination of active surveys and passive acoustic monitoring. His focus species include the Critically Endangered Swift Parrot and the Vulnerable Blue-winged Parrot.​

Nancy J . Jacobs is a specialist in African history, environmental history and animal history. A former president of the American Society for Environment History, she is author of the forthcoming "The Global Grey Parrot: How a Charismatic African Animal Became an International Commodity" (University of Washington Press, 2027).

Dr. Latas works with the wild parrots of southern California. She serves on the Steering Team for Parrot Researchers Group and is Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Wild Parrot specialist Group. Her interests are wild urban parrots in conservation, the health and recovery of parrots confiscated from the pet trade, and the health, welfare, well-being, conservation and preservation of wild parrots across the earth.

Dr. Asha Poonia has over a decade of experience in zoological research and higher education. Her research focuses on wildlife trade, biodiversity conservation and wildlife law and policy, with particular emphasis on understanding and addressing illegal wildlife trade and strengthening conservation responses. She is a Founder Member and Co-coordinator of the Trade & Use Subgroup of the IUCN SSC Wild Parrot Specialist Group and has contributed research that has been cited in CITES-related policy discussions.

Johanne was drawn into parrot research and conservation investigating the adaptation and survival of wild Amazon parrots in Germany. It was during that time that they joined the Parrot Researchers Group, which they currently lead with the PRG Steering Team as elected Secretary. In 2016 Johanne moved to Australia, where she attained a PhD investigating Beak and Feather Disease in wild parrots, before being hired by BirdLife Australia for a post-bushfire assessment on Ground Parrots. She spent several years working for Zoos Victoria's Orange-bellied Parrot recovery program before moving back to Germany in 2025, where she now works for a consultancy.

Karen oversees operations at Foster Parrots, Ltd. and The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary, 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Rhode Island. The largest bird rescue i the Northeast, Foster Parrots is dedicated to the rescue and protection of unwanted and abused companion parrots and other displaced captive exotic animals.