The National Host Committee is a non-profit organization established in 2014 to support Hawaii’s commitment to host the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016.
The mission of the National Host Committee is to welcome local, regional and international communities to the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016, to address the challenges of a “Planet at the Crossroads” and to celebrate achievements of the U.S. and Hawaii in environmental stewardship, bio cultural sustainability and economic leadership.
The Host Committee is comprised of 17 representatives from public, private and NGO organizations.
The Honorable Daniel K. Akaka
U.S. Senator, Retired
Thomas Lovejoy
Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Policy George Mason University
Enrique J. Lahman, Ph.D.
Global Director – Union Development Group Director, IUCN Constituency Support Group
Laura Bowen Wills
Director, Office of Major Events and Conferences Staff U.S. Department of State
Timothy E. Johns (Chair)
Chief Consumer Officer, Hawaii Medical Service Association
Chipper R. Wichman, Jr. (Vice-Chair)
President, CEO and Director, National Tropical Botanical Garden
William J. Aila, Jr.
Deputy Chair, Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Homelands
Suzanne Case
Chair, Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources
Blair Collis
CEO and President, Bishop Museum
Celeste Connors
George Mason University
Kamanaopono M. Crabbe, Ph.D.
Ka Pouhana, Chief Executive Officer, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Christopher P. Dunn, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Cornell Botanic Gardens
Peter S. Ho
Chairman, President and CEO, Bank of Hawaii
David Lassner
President, University of Hawaii
Mike McCartney
Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor, State of Hawaii
Charles E. Morrison
President, East-West Center
George Szigeti
President and CEO, Hawaii Tourism Authority