The event will be moderated by Ms Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General, CITES.
High-level Opening speakers include:
- Mr Kristopher Blake, Chair, CITES Standing Committee, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- H.E. Mrs Francisca Méndez Escobar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of México to the United Nations at Geneva
- Ms Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP
- Ms Francine Pickup, Deputy Assistant Administrator, UNDP
Musical Performance with Medicinal Plants will be performed by Ms Helen Anahita Wilson, Composer, Sound Artist and Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, King's College London
Lightning Talks on the Trade and Conservation of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants around the World will be moderated by Mr TING Wai Kit, Co-Founder, CITES Global Youth Network and Youth Executive, Mandai Nature.
- Chamomile – Dr Rita Engel, Horticultural Engineer, Department of Botany in the University of Veterinary Medicine in Budapest
- Frankincense – Dr Melesse Maryo, Associate Professor, Ethiopian Wildlife Authority
- Jatamansi - Ms Kalpana Sharma Dhakal, Scientific Officer, Department of Plant Resources of Nepal
- Candelilla - Dr Tim Synnott, Former Executive Director, Forest Stewardship Council
Statements from the Floor by Member States will be made by:
- H.E. Dr Linkham Duangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- H.E. Ms Irene Vélez Torres, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia
- H.E. Lt Gen. Bashir Mohamed Jama, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Somalia
- Ms Célia de Lavergne, Director of Water and Biodiversity, Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion of France
Jackson Wild 2026 Film Showcase Selections will be revealed by Ms Christie Quinn, Executive Director, Jackson Wild
Stakeholder Stories from Along the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Value Chain will be moderated by Ms Anastasiya Timoshyna, Director of the European Programme Office, TRAFFIC and Co-Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission Medicinal Plant Specialist Group
- Ms Emma Williams, CITES Policy Officer, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Ms Neida Andi Arimuya, Kichwa Indigenous Spiritual Guide from the Amazonian Ecuador
- His Majesty MVONDO Bruno, the President of African Network of Traditional Leaders for Environmental Conservation and the Sustainable Management of Ecosystems and Forests, Cameroon
- Ms Elisa Aragon, Co-Founder, Nelixia, Paraguay
- Ms Jamie Horst, Chief Purpose Officer, Traditional Medicinals, United States of America
The IFAW 2026 Youth Art Contest Winners and Finalists will be announced by Mr Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of IFAW.
Takeaway Messages will be delivered by:
- Dr Grethel Aguilar, Director General, IUCN
- Mr Richard Scobey, Executive Director, TRAFFIC
