This International Women’s Day (IWD), LVF is celebrating women around the world working hard to protect our planet. We have been inspired by so many incredible women in the climate and biodiversity space that it is impossible to showcase all those who have paved the way for us to advocate for positive change. However, we asked some of the LVF Stewardship Committee who has inspired them, and here are some of our climate and biodiversity heroes.
Legal Voices for the Future’s co-founders
The eagle eyed amongst you will spot that all of LVF’s co-founders are women, so we couldn’t celebrate IWD without celebrating them! We’re so grateful to all of them for their ground-breaking work in starting Legal Voices over two years ago, and for continuing to provide assistance through our ‘Advisory Board’.
You can find more detail about Zaneta Sedilekova, Ming Zee Tee, Margherita Cornaglia, Matilda Graham, and Elnaz Cadogan on this section of our website.
Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection: Jenny Desmond
Jenny Desmond is the co-founder of Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection, alongside her husband Dr James Desmond. LCRP is the only chimpanzee rescue and rehabilitation centre in Liberia and LCRP partners with local and international organisations to educate people about wildlife conservation and protection, as well as on the topics of One Health and prevention of spread of zoonotic diseases. Jenny’s hope is that their efforts will help save critically endangered West African Chimpanzees and to ensure that Liberian biodiversity is protected and thriving. On top of rescuing orphaned chimpanzees, Jenny is one of the nicest and kindest people you could have the pleasure of knowing!
You can find out more about Jenny and LCRP here, and a recording of our 2024 knowledge session on ‘International Wildlife Trade & Zoonotic Diseases’ at which Jenny was a panellist is available here.
Lawyer, founding Director of the Institute for Small Islands: Caroline Mair-Toby
Caroline is an advocate for the rights of those most vulnerable at the frontlines of climate change. She has advised small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) and negotiation sessions since 2011.
ClientEarth CEO: Laura Clarke OBE
Laura was previously British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and the Governor of Pitcairn, and as part of the latter role she was responsible for the governance and sustainability of the Islands, and efforts to maximize the benefits of its Marine Protected Area – the fourth largest in the world.
She is now CEO of ClientEarth, an NGO which views ‘Earth’ as its client. Laura’s mission is to increase dialogue and constructive engagement with Governments, businesses and regulators to help them act on the climate crisis. Laura regularly posts her views on LinkedIn.
Indigenous Rights activist: Dayle Takitimu
Dayle Takitimu is an indigenous rights lawyer and has a Masters in Law (Hons) specialising in international environmental law. Dayle advocates for reprioritising the needs of the Tairawhiti particularly with regards to environmental management and ensuring space for indigenous voices in legal spheres. You can read more about Dayle’s work here.
Born Free Foundation: Dame Virginia McKenna
Virginia McKenna DBE co-founded the Born Free Foundation in 1984. This followed her starring role in An Elephant Called Slowly, where she was moved by the terribly sad fate of Pole Pole, an African Elephant forced to be in the film production. The Born Free Foundation’s aim is to stop the suffering of wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild. They have always had at the centre of their mission a world where animals and humans can co-exist and where threatened and endangered species will be protected. You can read more about their work here.
Advocate and climate warrior: Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Sheila Watt-Cloutier is a Canadian Inuk activist and an advocate for rights of the Inuit of the Arctic.
She was an influential force behind the adoption of the Stockholm Convention to ban persistent organic pollutants, which accumulate in the Arctic food chains. She has also published a book called The Right to Be Cold, about her life and the effects of climate change on Inuit communities. Sheila Watt-Cloutier argues that climate change is a human rights issue and she advocates for recognition of the violation of the rights of the Inuit due to the increasing temperatures. You can find a review of Sheila’s book here.
Leading climate barrister: Estelle Dehon KC
Estelle Dehon KC is a top public law barrister specialising in environment and planning law, with particular expertise in climate change, net zero and energy infrastructure. She is the founder of Cornerstone Climate, a cross-disciplinary practice group for environment law, climate change litigation and advice at Cornerstone Barristers.
To name but a few of her recent successes, she appeared in the Supreme Court in the seminal case of Finch v Surrey County Council, as well as representing South Lakeland Action on Climate Change in Friends of the Earth & SLACC v SSLUHC & West Cumbria Mining.
Director of Casework at Environmental Law Foundation: Emma Montlake
Emma has been working for the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) since 2006, and is passionate about nature and wildlife and assisting ELF grassroot communities, both human and non-human. Emma’s work with ELF has had a huge impact, particularly on rights of nature – the River Ouse is set to become the first river in England with legal rights.
Emma’s profile in the Law Society Gazette is here. A recording of our 2024 knowledge session on ‘Should Nature have Rights’ at which Emma was a panellist is available here.
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