Olivier Chassot has previously served on the Steering Committee of the WCPA as Deputy Vice-Chair and Co Vice-Chair for Connectivity Conservation (2009-2016), and is currently serving as Vice-Chair for Mesoamerica at the Transboundary Specialist Group, and as Deputy Vice-Chair of the Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group, which has allowed him to better grasp the complexity of IUCN’s dynamic constituency and governance. Olivier was also a Governor of the Society for Conservation Biology (2015-2017). Tasks and duties as a Board member of high-impact global organizations and as Executive Director and/or CEO of several national and regional organizations in Latin America, with a cumulative experience of 30 years, has prepared him well to become an efficient Commission Chair and, as such, to contribute actively to the IUCN Council. Olivier has established and cultivated many national and regional networks with hundreds of researchers, policy makers and environmental leaders from different nations. Olivier has authored or co-authored 134 publications, organized or co-organized more than 100 national, regional or global events, and presented over 180 papers at international conferences and workshops. Olivier is a passionate conservation practitioner compromised with high standards of excellence, and a team player able to build strong intercultural relationships. Olivier is fluent in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, with a limited working proficiency in German and Indonesian, and is currently learning Mandarin and Arabic. Please visit https://www.olivierchassot.net for more information.
Olivier Chassot (PhD) has developed an extensive knowledge in conservation and sustainable development over two decades. His areas of expertise include biodiversity, landscape and seascape ecosystems and connectivity conservation, transboundary conservation, protected areas and World Heritage, wildlife, and governance. Olivier has a wide experience in designing, fundraising and implementing conservation biology programs, project planning, monitoring and evaluation, leadership of inter-institutional alliances at the national, bi-national, regional and international level, as well as in the creation of protected areas. As both a multiple IUCN Commission member, and as part of different IUCN member organizations, Olivier understands well IUCN’s multiple levels and perspectives. While he hopes to be able to contribute to the IUCN, he believes that a cultural sensibility is paramount to the interaction with partners in different regions. In this regard, Olivier has been able to develop a strong cultural competence by working and travelling to 70 countries, a process that has allowed him to engage respectfully and effectively with people from different cultures, languages, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors.
