Razan Al Mubarak
An experienced global leader and advocate for nature
Razan has dedicated her career to protecting the environment and ensuring the conservation of species across the world. Razan is a native of the United Arab Emirates which has afforded her the opportunity to lead the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and Emirates Nature WWF. In 2018 the World Economic Forum recognized Razan as one of the top 100 Young Global Leaders for her significant role in environmental protection and species conservation. She is a strong supporter of the IUCN and its mission to ensure nature is valued and protected for future generations worldwide.
A Strong Background
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak has spearheaded progressive environmental protection and species conservation for over 20 years. Razan is Managing Director of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. It is a large 1,000+ employee government agency responsible for all environmental regulation, conservation and promotion of sustainable development in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In her pioneering role as Secretary General and subsequently Managing Director she was the youngest woman to be appointed to lead an Abu Dhabi Government entity and one of the only women to hold such a position. The Environment Agency, under Razan’s leadership, strongly supported the IUCN Species Survival Commission, having hosted its specialist group chairs meeting four times since 2008.
Further background information about Razan can be found on Wikipedia
- Championed the reintroduction of Scimitar-horned Oryx in Chad.
- Established protected areas across more than 15% of Abu Dhabi’s terrestrial and marine territories.
- Founded Eye on Earth Summit in collaboration with UN Environment.
- Founding Managing Director of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
- Developed the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI).
- Promoted women into a majority of leadership positions at the Environment Agency.
- Strong supporter of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Results & Accomplishments
Environment Agency Abu Dhabi
Milestone achievements of EAD under Razan’s leadership include: building and developing the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI); the launch of the Eye on Earth Summit in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme; and habitat mapping of the terrestrial and marine environments of Abu Dhabi. Razan is also championing the reintroduction of Extinct in the Wild species, including the Scimitar-horned Oryx into Chad – one of the world’s most ambitious mammalian species reintroduction programmes. EAD, during Razan’s tenure, has also established and managed protected areas across more than 15% of Abu Dhabi’s terrestrial and marine territory and promoted a majority of women into positions of leadership within the organization.
Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
She is also the founding Managing Director of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund – one of the world’s most significant philanthropies supporting direct species conservation. Since its inception the MBZ Fund has supported thousands of projects in more than 160 different countries benefiting more than 1,300 different species and subspecies across all taxa. Through the work of its grant recipients, numerous species have been discovered or rediscovered, and others pulled back from the brink of extinction.
Emirates Nature – WWF
Razan helped establish Emirates Nature WWF (EN-WWF) in 2001 and is currently its Managing Director. Under her stewardship, EN-WWF has undertaken the most comprehensive coral reef mapping in West Asia, pioneered research and conservation efforts to protect marine turtles and was crucial to the establishment of the first national park in the UAE (Wadi Wurayah National Park), as well as a number of leading sustainable education and stakeholder engagement initiatives.