Sakhile Silitshena

Sakhile Silitshena

Head of Science, Policy and Governance, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

Sakhile Silitshena is an environmental leader, with over 25 years of experience, who serves as the

Head of the Science, Policy and Governance Unit at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. In her current role, she oversees six dynamic teams focusing on, among others, marine and coastal biodiversity, freshwater biodiversity, climate change and biodiversity, invasive alien species, protected and conserved areas, and forest biodiversity. My strategic leadership is instrumental in aligning these teams to effectively support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, driving towards the achievement of its ambitious 2030 targets.

Prior to this she brought her expertise to the UNDP Global Environmental Finance team, the Green Climate Fund, the SCBD programme of work on climate change, the Heinrich Boell Foundation, and the government of Botswana.