KEY SPEAKERS - ICCP 2025
Eugenia Olliaro
Country: Italy
Current Work: International and Health Law Jurist
Affiliation: Independent Advisor, Responsible Data & Technology.
Sub-theme:
Climate Change and Humanitarian Crises in Africa: Implications for Child Protection.
About Eugenia:
Eugenia Olliaro is a jurist specialized in international and health law. With 10 years of experience across the humanitarian, development, academic, tech, and non-profit sectors, Eugenia brings a legal background and an intersectional perspective to advancing child rights, youth engagement, and responsible data and technology—particularly with and for underserved communities in the Global Majority. Whether collaborating with grassroots changemakers or shaping global policy, she thrives on building inclusive, culturally grounded, and rights-based solutions.
Monika (Moni) Emad
Country: United States
Affiliation: Founder, Human Unity Gateway Foundation
Sub-theme:
Children and Young People’s Participation in Climate Initiatives
About Monika Emad:
Moni Emad is a holistic Wellness Counsellor and Energy& Empowerment Coach, devoted to elevating humanity by helping individuals access deeper vitality, clarity, and purpose.
Certified in Positive Psychology, Reiki, and Holistic Therapy. As the founder of the Human Unity Gateway Foundation, she develops life-changing programs that cultivate self-leadership, emotional intelligence, and purpose-driven action.
Alana Chelangat
Country: Kenya
Current Work: Environmental Ambassador and Climate Change Advocate
Affiliation: Host of "Climate Gumzo with Alana"
Sub-theme:
Children and Young People’s Participation in Climate Initiatives
About Alana Chelangat:
Alana Chelangat is a 13-year-old climate advocate. She Serves as an Environmental Ambassador and Voice of the Children in Africa. Alana actively connects with peers across Africa to inspire climate action. She is also an author and Champions the rights of children, who are most vulnerable to climate change.
Dr. Sheila Paryvn Wamahiu
Country: Kenya
Current Work: Consulting Professional with a PhD in Education
Affiliation: Director, Jaslika Consulting
Sub-theme:
Child Protection and Safeguarding in the Education Sector During the Climate Change Crisis.
About Dr. Wamahiu:
Dr Sheila is a strong consulting Professional with a PHD in Education. She has contributed significantly to education and child rights policies. She has guided practice in the East African region through her research and advocacy work on issues related to girls’ education, adolescent and youth participation, and value-based education. An experienced Senior International Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organisations, Intercultural Communication, Policy Analysis, Programme Evaluation, and Qualitative Research.
Prof. Jenelle R. Shanley, PhD
Country: USA
Current Work: Psychologist and a Professor in the PhD Clinical Psychology program at Pacific University in Oregon, USA
Affiliation: Pacific University, Oregon, USA.
Sub-theme:
Promoting Localization: Community-Based Approaches in Strengthening Child Resilience in the Face of the Climate Crisis.
About Prof. Shanley:
Dr. Jenelle Shanley is a licensed Psychologist and a Professor in the PhD Clinical Psychology program at Pacific University in Oregon, USA. With over 20 years of experience in behavioural and implementation research, her work centers on improving the dissemination and implementation of parenting programs to reduce barriers, enhance engagement, and prevent and address child mental health and child maltreatment. She has 15 years of experience integrating parenting programs into community organizations in the USA and internationally, including training, consulting, and collaborating with providers, administrators, and policymakers to plan, initiate, and sustain these programs. Prof. Shanley has also contributed extensively to developing a program with Community Health Volunteers in Kenya, building on work initiated in 2016.
Dr. Shanley was recently awarded as lead multiple Principal Investigator a US National Institutes of Health R01 grant to assess a newly adapted parenting program with Community Health Volunteers in Kenya, continuing a project initiated in 2016. She has published widely and presented internationally on parenting, child mental health, and maltreatment prevention.
Gloria Makahwi
Country: Zimbabwe
Current Work: Climate Change Advocate
Affiliation: Gender and Advocacy Officer at Women and Land in Zimbabwe
Sub-theme:
Integrating Child Protection into Climate-Responsive Health, Nutrition, and Mental Health Services.
About Gloria Makahwi:
Gloria Makahwi is a Gender and Advocacy Officer at Women and Land in Zimbabwe, holding an MSc in Gender and Development Studies (2014). She advocates for women’s land rights, wetland and biodiversity protection, and sustainable watershed management, representing Southern African rural women in regional and international forums to promote gender equality in environmental management.
Yann Grandin
Country:
Current Work: Regional Child Protection Specialist for Eastern and Southern Africa at UNICEF
Affiliation: UNICEF
Sub-theme:
Enhancing Legal and Policy Frameworks for Climate-Responsive Child Protection
About Yann Grandin:
Yann Grandin is an experienced humanitarian and development professional with over 20 years of work across Asia and Africa, specializing in child protection, violence prevention, and the promotion of children’s and women’s rights. He currently serves as the Regional Child Protection Specialist for Eastern and Southern Africa at UNICEF, where he leads emergency preparedness and response for conflicts, health crises, and climate-related disasters. His recent work focuses on strengthening the evidence base linking child protection and climate change, including multi-country research on climate change and child marriage, and advocacy on climate-induced migration. Yann has also coordinated regional emergency responses, built technical capacity, and developed surge mechanisms. Previously, he held leadership roles in West and Central Africa, Madagascar, the DRC, and Côte d’Ivoire