One Young World Summit Montréal/Tiohtiá:ke, 2024

BBC News: What if One Young World Delegates Ran The World?

• 18:22 - 19:24, 20 September
• Palais des Congrès
• JCCM Entrepreneur Stage

Speakers

• 

  Sheherazade

  Co-Director of PROGRES (Sulawesi Regional Ecological Conservation Initiative)

  Sheherazade

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  Co-Director of PROGRES (Sulawesi Regional Ecological Conservation Initiative)

  I am the Co-Director of PROGRES (Sulawesi Regional Ecological Conservation Initiative), a conservation organization based on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Established in 2018, PROGRES has been building a network of empowered communities in the world’s biodiversity hotspot of Wallacea and strengthening local leadership in protecting endemic yet overlooked wildlife, from bats, tortoises, cuscus, to freshwater fish. Growing up close to the tropical rainforest of Lore Lindu in a remote area of Sulawesi, I have been passionate about nature and aspires to lead and expand my works in biodiversity conservation locally and globally. Besides PROGRES, I felt the need for different strategies to address conservation challenges which resulted in my involvement in various initiatives to advance conservation practice. My ten years of experience have ranged from leading essential biodiversity research to addressing unequal access to capacity-building opportunities. I co-founded and led Tambora Muda, one of the first national-level networks for Indonesian young conservationists. I recently became part of the steering committee that together established the IUCN SSC Indonesian Species Specialist Group (IdSSG) to foster Global South leadership and bridge collaborative conservation across regions. I won the People Choice Award Conservation Optimism Southeast Asia Awards in 2022 and was selected as a member of 2024 cohort of Re.Generation Program by The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. While co-leading PROGRES, I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley, USA, and active in writing both scientific and popular articles about biodiversity and the roles of woman leaders in galvanizing conservation actions.

• Justin Langan

  Executive Director of O'KANATA

  Justin Langan

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  Executive Director of O'KANATA

  Justin Langan is a 25-year-old Métis, LGBTQ2+ national activist from the rural town of Swan River. He is the Curator of the Indigenous Film Archive, and the Executive Director of O'KANATA, a federal non-profit dedicated to advancing Indigenous youth prosperity. Some of his personal achievements include the 2021 Métis Youth Indspire Award, the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, the Top 25 Environmentalists under 25, the National Champion of Mental Health for Youth, and more. He is entering his fourth year of majoring in political studies and will use his knowledge to become a more decisive leader within his community. He hopes to become a lawyer and politician who advocates for Canadians' rights internationally, where he can create the most effective change. Some of his interests include volunteering on committees and councils, working out, photography, watching movies, going out with his friends, and working on philanthropic projects. He has worked with Indigenous youth and students since 2015 and understands how to teach and mentor them with the knowledge he has gained through his journey as an Indigenous activist.

• Farkhunda Muhtaj

  Professional Soccer Player and Activist

  Farkhunda Muhtaj

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  Professional Soccer Player and Activist

  Farkhunda Muhtaj is an Afghan-Canadian professional footballer and social activist. She is the Captain of the Afghanistan Women’s National Team and plays for Fortuna Sittard in the Dutch Eredivisie. In 2021, she evacuated 300 + Afghans including the Afghanistan Youth National Team and Afghanistan Football Federation Staff to Portugal after the Taliban regime came into power in August.

  She is the co-founder of Scarborough Simbas, a non-profit organization that uses sport to help ease the settlement journey of refugees and newcomers to Canada, the Director of Culture and Conscience at the Respect Group, a humanitarian ambassador for Penny Appeal Canada and UNHCR Netherlands, a global ambassador for Womenforwomen International, and also sits on the board of League 1 Ontario’s women’s soccer committee.

  Muhtaj was recognized as a Top 30 YorkU Alumni under 30 in 2022 for her active dedication to social justice. She has also been the recipient of many accolades including the World Football Summit Positive Impact Award, the Canadian Premier League Game Changer Award, the Community Leadership Award by the Office of the Mayor in the City of Clarington, the Women Who Inspire Award by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, and the Community Involvement Award by the Canadian Afghan Sport Association among others.

  Muhtaj earned two degrees from York University; a BSc degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences (2019) and a B.Ed degree in Science and Physical Education (2021). She captained York University’s Women’s Soccer Team where she was a USPORT Academic All-Canadian, OUA First-Team All-Star and an OUA Gold Medalist.