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Council and Committee Members

Meet the fantastic team that make IBA tick! Below you'll find our current Council, Student Group and Committee Chairs

2024 IBA Council

John Hechtel

President | Retired – Alaska Department of Fish and Game

United States of America 

Term Ends: 09 January 2026

Agnieszka Sergiel

Vice President Eurasia | Institute of Nature Conservation of Polish Academy of Sciences

Poland

Term Ends: 09 January 2027

Stewart Breck

Vice President Americas | USDA-National Wildlife Research Center

United States of America

Term Ends: 09 January 2026

Emily Puckett

Secretary | University of Memphis

United States of America 

Term Ends: 09 January 2027

Gordon Stenhouse

Treasurer | GBS Wildlife Consulting

Canada

Term Ends: 09 January 2026

Anne Hertel

Councillor | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

Germany

Term Ends: 09 January 2026

Colleen Olfenbuttel

Councillor | North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

United States of America 

Term Ends: 09 January 2027

Lorraine Scotson

Councillor | Saola Foundation for Annamite Mountains Conservation

United Kingdom/Lao PDR

Term Ends: 09 January 2026

Mark Edwards

Councillor | Office of the Chief Scientist/ University of Alberta

Canada

Term Ends: 09 January 2027

Santiago Molina

Councillor | San Francisco University of Quito

Ecuador

Term Ends: 09 January 2027

Ex-Officio Council

Jennapher Teunissen van Manen

Director of Operations and Programs | International Association for Bear Research and Management

United States of America 

Mark Edwards

International Bear News Managing Editor | Office of the Chief Scientist/ University of Alberta

Canada

Andrew Derocher

Ursus Managing Editor | University of Alberta

Canada

Kristin Laidre

IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group Co-Chair | University of Washington

United States of America

Nick Lunn

IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group Co-Chair | Retired - Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canada

IBA Student Council Group

Emily Puckett

Council Liaison/Coordinator | University of Memphis

United States of America

Aurora Donatelli

Southern Europe Student Representative | Sapienza University of Rome

Italy

Elise Loggers

North America Student Representative | Montana State University

United States of America

Sakhi Dabhi

Middle East to Indian Subcontinent Student Representative | WCB Research Foundation

India

Viviana Albarracín Dávalos

South America Student Representative | National Museum of Natural History of Bolivia (MNHN)

Bolivia

IBA Committee Chairs

Conference Committee

Frank van Manen

Co-Chair | USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team

United States of America

Martyn Obbard

Co-Chair | Retired - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Canada

Conference Travel Grants Committee

Martyn Obbard

Chair | Retired - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Canada

Research and Conservation Grants Committee

Karyn Rode

Co-Chair | USGS Alaska Science Center

United States of America

Gordon Warburton

Co-Chair | Retired - North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission

United States of America

Experience and Exchange Grants Committee

Frank van Manen

Co-Chair | USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team

United States of America

Shyamala Ratanayke

Co-Chair

United States of America

Management Committee

David Telesco

Co-Chair | Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

United States of America

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© 2024 International Association for Bear Research and Management.

We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live, work and research across the earth. We recognise their continued custodianship and connection to the land, waters and community. We respect and honor Elders past, present and emerging. Our hope is that we move forward with open minds listening and learning from their wisdom and knowledge.