Tbilisi+35 Conference Programme

INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

6-7 September, 2012

Tbilisi, Georgia

Celebrate a Global Milestone in Environmental Education for Sustainable

Development and Embrace a New Beginning!

P R O G R A M M E

[Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education for Sustainable Development:

TBILISI + 35] September 6-7, 2012

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CONTENTS

Conference Overview.....................................................................................................................3

About the Conference ...................................................................................................................3

Conference Vision and Goals ......................................................................................................3

Conference Format.......................................................................................................................3

Conference Timetable ....................................................................................................................4

Conference Agenda ........................................................................................................................5

Annotations to the Provisional Agenda .......................................................................................8

Information Note for Participants ..............................................................................................12

Conference Speakers ...................................................................................................................19

Tbilisi+35 Expert Group .............................................................................................................25

International Organizing Committee .........................................................................................29

Tbilisi+35 Secretariat .................................................................................................................29



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Conference OVERVIEW

About the Conference The Intergovernmental Conference Tbilisi+35:Environmental Education for Sustainable Development will bring

together around 300 delegates from all parts of the world to carry forward the global appeal for environmental

education as a means for sustainable development set forth by the 1977 Tbilisi Declaration. The Declaration was

adopted at the world’s first Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education (EE) organized in Tbilisi,

Georgia, by UNESCO in cooperation with UNEP.

The 1977 Tbilisi Declaration established a framework for formal and non-formal EE activities at the local, national,

and international levels and provided “fundamental principles for the proposals” in Agenda 21 and a set of other

documents and global initiatives that followed. This Declaration marks a key milestone in terms of EE as the first

global attempt to promote a far reaching goal for education encompassing learning for economic, social, cultural and

environmental aspects of development. Tbilisi+35 shares the same vision of a world in which prosperity,

environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, and social equality in all forms coexist and mutually reinforce each

other.

Conference Vision and Goals Throughout the past 35 years, EE has interacted with the concept of sustainable development paving the way for

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which, promoted through the UN Decade of ESD, is now

internationally recognized as a fundamental education strategy for the development of a society capable of meeting

the needs of present and future generations. In all its forms, education is essential for equipping communities not

only with the values and principles of sustainable development, the knowledge of sustainability issues, but also with

the skills and motivation to apply this knowledge to their own actions at local, national, regional and global levels.

By building upon the existing legacy, the Conference intends to:

commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1977 Tbilisi Declaration

provide a platform for education and environmental decision-makers to enhance international cooperation

for a concerted action towards the sustainable future

acknowledge achievements of the global community in the implementation of Environmental Education

(EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

address the need for a balanced approach between environmental conservation and development, as well as

persisting and emerging challenges of sustainable development and education, including but not limited to

poverty, unequal access to schooling, uneven distribution of resources and opportunities, increased pressure

on the carrying capacity of ecosystems and climate change

develop recommendations in light of the developments particularly those resulting from the Rio+20 UN

Conference on Sustainable Development.

Conference Format The intergovernmental conference will commence in 6 successive sessions during 2 days. First part of the Session I

will be dedicated to procedural issues: election of the president and vice-presidents as well as co-chairs of the

conference. The major part of the first session will provide forum for country statements. Pre-registration as well as

prior submission of the delegates’ official request is required by Friday, 17 August 2012 to sign up for the high-

level segment. Each session will be opened by a keynote speech and a panel discussion followed by a plenary

discussion to enable the participants express their opinion over the topics under discussion. Session VI will aim at

seeking delegates’ agreement on and then, mutatis mutandis, adoption of the stipulations outlined in the Draft Tbilisi

Communiqué.



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Conference TIMETABLE

Conference Venue: Hotel Sheraton Metekhi Palace

TIME Thursday, 6 Sep 2012 / DAY ONE TIME Friday, 7 Sep 2012 / DAY TWO

Mo

rnin

g S

essi

on

s

09:30 – 13:30 Plenary Session I – Launching of

TBILISI+35

10:00 – 11:20 Plenary Session IV: Capturing Progress:

Endorsing Good Practices

09:30 – 10:00 Opening Ceremony

10:00 – 10:30 Welcoming Speeches 11:20 – 11:35 Coffee Break

10:30 – 10:50 Coffee Break

Group Photo with

Ministers 11:35 – 13:30

Plenary Session V: ESD Looking Ahead

and Beyond 2014

10:50 – 11:00 Appointment of the President and

Vice-President

11:00 – 11:10 Introduction of the Rules of Procedure

and the Conference Agenda

13:00 – 13:30

Statements by Observers

11:10 – 13:30 Statements by High-level Delegates

13:30 - 15:00 Lunch – Conference Venue 13:30 - 15:00 Lunch - Conference Venue

Aft

ern

oo

n S

essi

on

s

15:00 – 16:30 Plenary Session II –

Evolving Vision from

Tbilisi to Tbilisi (1977-

2012)

Visit to the

House of

Justice in

Rustavi

15:00 – 18:00 Plenary Session VI: Adoption of the

Tbilisi+35 Outcome Document

15:00 – 15:10 Documentary on the

1977 Tbilisi Conference



17:50 – 18:00

Closing of the Conference 16:35 – 18:00 Plenary Session III :

Rio+20 and Green

Economies in the

Context of Sustainable

Development and

Poverty Eradication:

New Challenges for

Education

19:00 – 19:45 Cultural performance at the Rustaveli

Theatre - Georgian National Song and

Dance Ensemble

20:00 – 22:00

Farewell Dinner in Open Air Lounge

accompanied by live music, band

20:15 – 22:15 Official Dinner on Behalf of the

Government of Georgia

High level Segment Conference Mainstream Cultural Program Official Dinners



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Conference A G E N D A

Ballroom, Hotel Sheraton Metekhi Palace

Thursday, September 6, 2012

09.30 – 13.30 Plenary Session I – Launching of TBILISI+35 Chaired by H.E. Mr. George Zedginidze Minister of Environment Protection of Georgia

09:30 – 10:00 Opening of the Conference: Minister of Environment Protection of Georgia

Opening Ceremony: Cultural Performance

10:00 – 10:30

Welcome speeches:

Representative of the Government of Georgia

Mr. Qian Tang, Assistant Director-General, UNESCO

Mr. Jan Dusic, Acting Director and Regional Representative, Regional Office for Europe, UNEP

Ms. Elene Tchumburidze, Youth Representative

10:30 – 10:50

Venue:

Coffee Break

Ministers’ Group Photo

Front Yard, Hotel Sheraton Metekhi Palace

10:50 – 11:00 Appointment of the Conference President and Vice-Presidents

11:00 – 11:10 Introduction of the Rules of Procedure and the Conference Agenda

11:10 – 13:30 High-level Segment

13:30 – 15:00

Venue:

Lunch

Restaurant Narikala 2, Hotel Sheraton Metekhi Palace

15:00 – 16:30 Plenary Session II – Evolving Vision: from Tbilisi to Tbilisi (1977-2012) Chaired by Mr. Alexander Kvitashvili, Rector, Tbilisi State University, Georgia, former Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

15:00 – 15:10 Documentary on Tbilisi 1977

15:10 – 15:20 Keynote Speech by:

Prof. Dr. Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Teacher Education towards

Sustainability at York University, Canada

15:20 – 15:50 Panelists:

- Dr. Kartikeya Sarabhai, Director, Centre for Environment Education (CEE), India

- H.E. Ms. Glynis Roberts, Minister for Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development of

Grenada

- Prof. Dr. Michael Scoullos, UNESCO Chairholder, University of Athens, Chairman of MIO-

ECSDE, Coordinator of MEdIES

- H.E. Ms. Flavia Nabugere Munaaba, Minister of State for Environment of Uganda

15:50 – 16:20 Plenary Discussion



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16:35 – 18:00 Plenary Session III : Rio + 20 and Green Economies in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication: New Challenges for Education Chaired by H.E. Mr. Alexander Lomaia, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations

16:35 – 16:45 Keynote Speech by:

Ms. Vera Kobalia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

16:45 – 17:30 Panelists:

- H. E. Mr. Macharia Kamau, Ambassador and Permanent Representative at Kenya Mission to

the United Nations

- H.E. Mr. Nurlan Kapparov, Minister of Environment Protection of Kazakhstan

- Prof. Dr. Rupert MacLean, Director, Centre for Lifelong Learning Research and Development,

UNESCO Chair in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Lifelong

Learning, Hong Kong Institute of Education

- Prof. Dr. Gigi Tevzadze, Rector, Ilia State University, Georgia


19:00 – 19:45

Venue:

Cultural performance - Georgian National Song and Dance Ensemble

Rustaveli Theatre, 17 Rustaveli Ave., Tbilisi

20:15 – 22:15

Venue:

Official Reception on behalf of the Government of Georgia

Garden of Roses, 61 Aghmashenebeli Ave., Tbilisi

Friday, September 7, 2012

10:00 – 11:20 Plenary Session IV: Capturing Progress: Endorsing Good Practices Chaired by H.E. Mr. Keshab Man Shakya, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology of Nepal

10:00 – 10:15 Keynote speech by:

Prof. Dr. Fernando Reimers, Director, International Education Policy Programme, Harvard

Graduate School of Education, USA

10:15 – 10:50 Panelists:

- Dr. Gerald Farthing, Chair of ESD Steering Committee, UNECE

- Ms. Christine Affolter, Vice-President, Head of Secretary, ENSI

- Dr. Carl Lindberg, Former Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Education and Science of

Sweden, Member of UNESCO’s High Level Panel on ESD

- Dr. Cam McKenzie, Principal, Amaroo Environmental Education Centre, Australia, Vice

President of the Australian Association for EE

- Ms. Khatia Dekanoidze, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia



11:35 – 13:30 Plenary Session V: ESD Looking Ahead and Beyond 2014 Chaired by Ms. Dali Khomeriki, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied



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Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia, former Minister of Education and Culture of A/R of Abkhazia, Georgia

11:35 – 11:50 Keynote speech by:

Prof. Dr. Günter Pauli – Founder, Zero Emissions Research Institute (ZERI)

11:50 – 12:30 Panelists:

1. Mr. Alexander Leicht, Head, ESD Section, UNESCO

2. Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, Chief, Environmental Education and Training Unit, UNEP

3. Dr. iur. Lothar Albin Guendling, Attorney and International Advisor, Germany/Luxemburg,

Trainer and Moderator, UNITAR

4. Prof. Dr. Overson Shumba, Copperbelt University, Zambia, member of the DESD Monitoring

& Evaluation Experts Group

5. Mr. Mario Salomone, Secretary General, the WEEC Network

6. Ms. Sandra Roelofs, First Lady of Georgia


13:00 – 13:30 Statements by Observers

13:30 – 15:00

Venue:

Lunch

Restaurant Kala, Hotel Sheraton Metekhi Palace

15:00 – 18:00 Plenary Session VI: Adoption of the Conference Outcome Document Chaired by the President of the Conference

15:00 – 16:15 Discussion and Adoption of Tbilisi+35 Outcome Document


16:30 – 17:40 Discussion and Adoption of Tbilisi+35 Outcome Document (Cont.)

17:40 – 17:50 Other Business

17:50 – 18:00 Closing of the Conference

20:00 – 22:00

Venue:

Farewell Dinner in Open Air Lounge accompanied by Live Music, Band

Hotel Radisson Blue Iveria, 1 Rose Revolution Sqr., Tbilisi

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Departure of Delegates



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ANNOTATIONS to the Provisional Agenda

1. Plenary Session I – Launching of Tbilisi+35

Thursday, 6th

September, 09:30-13:30

The Conference will be opened by the Minister of Environment Protection of Georgia H.E. Mr. George Zedginidze

and he shall preside until the President for the Conference has been appointed. The opening ceremony will be

followed by the welcome speeches of H.E. Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia and partners of the

Conference, UNESCO and UNEP and the appointment of governing body of the conference (President, Vice-

Presidents, Chairs of the sessions and Secretary). The President of the Conference then will introduce the Agenda

and the Rules of Procedure as set out in the present document to the delegates. The major part of the first Session

will provide forum for country statements (5 minute speeches). Pre-registration as well as prior submission of a

request to make a statement at the high-level segment is required before Friday, 17 August 2012. The high-level

delegates (Ministers) will be invited for a group photo.

Sequence of the Country statements:

1. H.E. Mr. Mohammed Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Environment and Forests of Bangladesh

2. H.E. Mr. Vladimir Tsalko, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Republic of

Belarus

3. H.E. Mr. Blaise Onesiphore Ahanhanzo Glele, Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development

of Benin

4. H.E. Mr. Pehin Dato Suyoi Haji Osman, Minister of Development of Brunei Darusslam

5. H.E. Ms. Glynis Roberts Ministry for Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development of Grenada

6. H.E. Mr. Robert Montgomery Persaud, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Republic of

Guyana

7. H.E. Mr. Samuela Alivereti Saumatua, Minister for Local Government, Urban Development, Housing &

Environment of Fiji

8. H.E.Mr. Mohammdizadeh, Vice President and Head of Environment Department, Islamic Republic of Iran

9. H.E. Mr. Nurlan Kapparov, Minister of Environment Protection of Kazakhstan

10. H.E. Dr. Salah Al-Mudhhi, Chairman and Director General, Environment Public Authority of Kuwait

11. H.E. Mrs. Catherine Gotani Hara, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Management of Malawi

12. H.E. Ms. Mariyam Shakeela, Minister of Environment and Energy of Maldives

13. H.E. Mr. Keshab Man Shakya, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology of Nepal

14. Mr. Hugo Von Meijenfeldt, Acting Director General Environment and International Affairs, Special Envoy

for Climate Change, The Netherlands

15. H.E. Mr. Jong-Soo Yoon, Vice-Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea

16. H.E. Dr. Yousef A.I. Abu Safieh Sarah, Minister of Environmental Affairs of Palestine

17. Ms. Beata Jaczewska, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of the Environment Republic of Poland

18. H.E. Mr. Alfred Ladu Gore Umba, Minister of Environment of South Sudan

19. H.E. Mr. Clifton Clayton Fitz Roy Burgin, Minister of Health and Environment, St. Vincent and the

Grenadine

20. H.E. Mr. Bruno Maria Carmelo Oberle, State Secretary and Director, Swiss Federal Office for the

Environment, Swiss Confederation



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21. H.E. Dr. Mamia Elbanna Zayani, Minister of Environment of Tunisia

22. Mr. Sedat Kadioglu, Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Republic of

Turkey.

2. Plenary Session II – Evolving Vision from Tbilisi to Tbilisi (1977-2012)

Thursday, 6th

September 2012, 15:00 – 16:30

ESD has evolved as the result of several international platforms, including but not limited to the UN Conference on

the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972); the First Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education

(Tbilisi, 1977); the International Congress on Environmental Education and Training (Moscow, 1987); the UN

Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992); the International Conference on Environment

and Society: Education and Public (Thessaloniki, 1997); the World Summit on Sustainable Development

(Johannesburg, 2002); the 4th International Conference on Environmental Education (Ahmadabad, 2007); the

UNESCO World Conference on ESD (Bonn, 2009); and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio De

Janeiro, 2012).

ESD is often seen to be related to different contents infused in education, including to health, human rights,

multicultural, disaster risk reduction, climate change, development, biodiversity, food security, global citizenship

and much more.

The aim of the Session is to trace back the origins of EE and to take stock of the major points of international

declarations in EE and ESD, particularly the role of the 1977 Tbilisi Declaration, reflect on the major highlights of

the development of ESD since the Tbilisi Conference and finally to scrutinize the-state-of-the-art vision on EE and

ESD from Tbilisi to Tbilisi (1977-2012).

A short five-minute Documentary on Tbilisi 1977 gives the highlights of the Tbilisi Conference of 1977. Presented

shot by the Soviet Union it is one of the few archived documents to bring the visual memories of the Conference up

to date.

Plenary Session III – Rio+20 and Green Economies in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty

Eradication: New Challenges for Education

Thursday, 6 September 2012, 16:35 – 18:00

At the turn of the decade of the 21st century, we should acknowledge that despite continuous efforts of the

international community to effectively combat global challenges, results are still unevenly distributed around the

world. Persisting and emerging challenges of sustainable development and education, including but not limited to

poverty, unequal access to schooling, uneven distribution of resources and opportunities, increased pressure on the

carrying capacity of ecosystems and climate change put a greater pressure and burden to international community.

As already recognized on several international forums, development of a green economy can prove a major tool for

sustainable growth. Transition to a greener world brings new challenges for education - to make education more

holistic, inclusive, lifelong, skills-based and transformation-oriented so that to result in a tangible change in

people’s attitudes towards valuing sustainability, increasing public participation, pursuing sustainable consumption

and production patterns and re-skilling the labor force.

This Session aims at examining the major stipulations and highlights of the Rio+20, discussing the importance of the

green economy in achieving sustainable growth and finally observing how education systems respond to SD

challenges at all levels of education, through new forms of teaching and learning, and in formal, non-formal and

informal education.



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3. Plenary Session IV – Capturing Progress: Endorsing good practices

Friday, 7 September 2012, 10:00-11:20

As a response to the global SD challenges, the year of 2005 marked the beginning of the DESD offering all major

stakeholders an opportunity to come together and start international conversation for establishing and implementing

a 10-year global agenda of ESD (Resolution 57/254 of the UN General Assembly, 2002).

DESD as well as international agreements before and after DESD, re-emphasized that education was a major tool

toward sustainable development. However, this recognition put a new task to education – to review and reassess

education systems, make them more inclusive, accessible for all and at all ages, ensure that education is continuous,

lifelong and holistic as well as learner-oriented empowering people with key competences and skills for positive

social transformation and behavior changes. To this end, acknowledge the importance of sharing best practices,

fostering cooperation and partnership at all levels and between all stakeholders, ensuring participation, developing

systematic national policies for ESD and promoting innovation, research, technology and scientific excellence and

many more.

WHERE ARE WE NOW? - This sessions reflects on the major achievements toward ESD and brings together some

of the best practices from around the world, including but not limited to achievements in developing national

policies, new forms of teaching and learning strategies, curriculum development, informal and non-formal education

practices, partnership and involvement of stakeholders, fostering research and innovation, ICTs and education, etc.

4. Plenary Session V – ESD Looking Ahead and Beyond 2014

Friday, 7 September 2012, 11:35 - 13:30

Reflecting on the previous sessions, it is evident that there is a solid progress of the global community toward ESD.

There are lots of achievements, endeavors, programmes, policies and initiatives of the governments, international

organizations, NGOs that have to be recognized, replicated and more importantly shared. Nevertheless, the progress

is still unevenly distributed and millions of the citizens of the world still face persisting challenges of living in abject

poverty, facing social injustice, lacking educational opportunities, poor health, gender inequality, disparities between

rural and urban development, climate change and unsustainable use of resources and many more.

The Session will encompass discussions on such issues as, the increasing role of the media, ICTs and other

innovative settings of learning, institutionalization of EE and ESD commitments at the national level, the leading

role of governmental authorities toward ESD, the role of education in National Environmental Action Plans,

international mechanisms for transferring knowledge, technologies and financial resources, perspectives for the

expansion international educational exchanges and partnerships, incentives for tertiary educational institutions to

join the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative and the issue to integrate EE and ESD in global education and

development agendas, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Further, the session touch upon on

monitoring mechanism of ESD, legal frameworks and relevance of feasibility study.

The major goal of this session is to define pathways beyond 2014, discuss and agree on what efforts have to be

ensured in order to fully capitalize on the global deliberations to progress toward ESD.

The Session will be ended by the statements of the non-governmental organizations, attending the Conference as

observers.

http://www.un-documents.net/a57r254.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly



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Sequence of the Statements by Observers:

1. Environment Online (ENO)

2. Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)

3. Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (RECC)

4. Center for Investment, Sustainable Development, Management and Environment (CISME)

5. Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)

6. Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

7. Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)

8. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

9. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

10. EU Delegation

5. Plenary Session VI: Adoption of the Draft Outcome Document

Friday, 7 September 2012, 15:00-18:00

This final Session aims to summarize the work of the Conference and to reflect on its findings.

All main issues raised and discussed on previous Sessions shall be reproduced in the Outcome Document of the

Conference.

The preliminary draft of the Outcome Document is prepared by organizers in close cooperation with the partners and

respective international ESD experts from all parts of the world. The Draft Outcome Document, for participants’

input and recommendations has been uploaded to the official webpage of Tbilis+35.

The final Draft Outcome Document reflecting all comments and proposals made before and during the Conference

shall be discussed clause by clause during the final Session and presented for adoption by the governmental

delegations. The Draft Outcome Document shall be adopted and decision shall be made by consensus.

Adoption of the Tbilisi Draft Outcome Document will be followed by the closing of the Conference.

http://www.linkedin.com/search?search=&currentCompany=C&company=CENTER+FOR++INVESTMENT%2CSUSTAINABLE+DEVELOPMENT%2C+MANAGEMENT+%26+ENVIRONMENT+%28CISME%29&sortCriteria=R&keepFacets=true



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INFORMATION NOTE for Participants

Online Registration for the Conference

Registration for Tbilisi+35 is made online through the official Conference website:

www.tbilisiplus35.ge. The registration form includes Conference registration and registration for Side

Tours. When your conference registration has been processed, you will receive confirmation by email.

If you encounter any difficulties while registering online, please download the application form

(PDF/Word) to your hard drive. Once completed, please send it electronically to the following address:

[email protected]. Each country representative other than Heads of State or Government and

Ministers/Deputy Ministers shall submit nomination letters from their respective Ministries upon

registration but not later than 6 August 2012.

On-site Registration Tbilisi+35 Information Desks will be located in the arrival terminal of the Tbilisi International

Airport. Registration Desks will be available at the hotels with respective signs/logos. Please, kindly

register upon arrival to the hotel on September 4 and 5 or at the Conference venue on September 6

and 7.

Each participant will be issued a Delegate ID badge for access to the meeting venue and all

related cultural events.

Conference Venue The Intergovernmental Conference, Environmental Education for Sustainable Development:

Tbilisi+35 will be held at the Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel in Tbilisi. The hotel is located in the

heart of the historic district, just minutes from the flourishing political, business, and entertainment

center, and 15 kilometers from Tbilisi International Airport.

Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel 20 Telavi str., Tbilisi, 0103

Georgia

http://www.sheraton.com/tbilisi

Working Language The Conference will be held in English.

Paper-smart Policy

Please note that the Conference is planned to be paper-smart. Use of any type of paper during the

Conference will be minimized. Therefore, all the Conference related documents among them the

Conference Agenda and the Draft Conference Outcome Document will be distributed in e-version. In this

regard, the delegates are kindly recommended to use the e-versions in their PCs or bring their own paper

copies if strictly necessary.

http://www.tbilisiplus35.ge/

http://tbilisiplus35.ge/downloads/Registration_Form.doc

http://www.sheraton.com/tbilisi



13

However, the printing facilities will be provided in the Conference lobby and the conference staff are able

produce a copy for you if requested at least 3 hours in advance. Thank you for following the Conference

paper smart policy.

Working Hours The estimated daily working hours of the Conference will be from 09:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00.

Exact schedule is to be determined. The final conference agenda will be posted to the

Conference website at: www.tbilisiplus35.ge.

Documentation and Adoption of Tbilisi+35 Outcome Document

The following documents will be presented to the Conference for adoption:

a. The Conference Agenda

b. The Tbilisi Communiqué

The zero draft Tbilisi Communiqué will be uploaded for public input to the Conference website at:

www.tbilisiplus35.ge by 13 August 2012. Adoption of the documents will be done by consensus. If no

consensus is reached, decision shall be taken by a majority of those members present and voting.

Draft Recommendations and Amendments

Delegates who wish to submit their recommendations on the draft Communiqué are requested to send

their comments in English not later than 1 September 2012 to the Conference Secretariat. Please note that

recommendations/comments received after the deadline shall not be considered.

When applicable the comments/recommendations on the draft Tbilisi Communiqué will be negotiated

with the respective party. The integrated text will be submitted to the Conference Expert Group

comprised of the international EE/ESD experts, representatives of the Conference Secretariat and the

partner organizations for final review of the Draft Tbilisi Communiqué by the delegations. The finalized

draft shall be distributed among the participants prior to the Conference commencement.

The focal point for the issues related to the Tbilisi Communiqué is Dr. Eka Siradze

Legal Advisor. E-mail: [email protected].

Presidency and Secretariat

The governing body of the conference (president, vice-presidents, chairs and secretary) will be appointed to

represent all three partners of the conference as well as participating countries.

The Conference will be led by the Conference President or either of the two Vice-Presidents.

Sessions II-V will be led by Chairs. In total four Chairs will be appointed.

The work of the Conference will be arranged by the Secretariat led by the Secretary of the Conference,

appointed thereto.

No delegate may take the floor without obtaining the permission from the President or Session Chair.

Observers and Other Participants



mailto:[email protected]



14

Observers at the Conference are either invited persons or representatives of invited organizations, including

NGOs. Observers have the right to speak only on the invitation of the President of the Conference and/or

Chair of the Session; they shall have access to the documents of the Conference.

Advance Communication of Speeches and Statements; Proceedings of the Conference

When prepared speeches or statements are to be made by high-level delegates during the Conference, it

is essential that their texts (in English) are sent in advance to the Secretariat at: [email protected].

The Secretariat is responsible for recording of the plenary sessions of the Conference and publishing the

proceedings of the Conference, which at least shall contain:

the lists of participants (members and observers);

the verbatim record of the plenary sessions of the Conference;

the Speeches of high-level Delegates;

the resolution of the Conference.

The proceedings of the Conference will be uploaded to the Conference official website at:

www.tbilisiplus35.ge.

Bilateral Meetings Delegations seeking bilateral meetings during Conference hours should contact the Conference

Communications Officer at: [email protected] at least two weeks prior to the commencement of

the Conference.

Financial Assistance Please note that delegates from developing countries and countries with economies in transition may

apply for funding to participate in the Conference including covering the costs of visas, flights, and

accommodation. The Government of Georgia will provide financial support for a maximum of two participants from

each developing country and country with economy in transition on a first come first serve basis (the

Minister/Deputy Minister plus one delegate from each country).

Please note that the financial support does not cover DSA, health and travel insurance.

Accommodation Rooms have been reserved for all Conference participants at specially negotiated rates at the following

hotels:

Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel o 20 Telavi Str.

o Tbilisi, Georgia

Radisson Blue Iveria Hotel o 1 Rose Revolution Square

o Tbilisi, Georgia

Holiday Inn Hotel Tbilisi

o 26 May Square





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o Tbilisi, Georgia

KMM

o Tbilisi, Georgia

Diamond

o Tbilisi, Georgia

Betsy

o Tbilisi, Georgia

The Conference Secretariat will arrange hotel bookings and provide further details about

accommodation to every guest after confirmation of participation.

Transportation From the Tbilisi International Airport to the Hotels: Information Desks will be set up in the Tbilisi

International Airport. Transportation will be provided upon arrival for all participants from the

airport to their respective hotels (for the hotels please check the section on accommodation above)

and also upon departure. You will find Conference support staff in t-shirts with Tbilisi+35 logos and

an Information Desk set up in the airport arrival terminal. Conference participants will be welcomed

by Tbilisi+35 Secretariat representatives who will accompany them to their respective shuttles.

From Hotels to the Conference Venue: Complimentary shuttle services will be provided from the

hotel to the Conference. Conference support staff in t-shirts with Tbilisi+35 logos will provide

further information on shuttle schedules.

Shuttle schedule:

4.09.2012 - 20:00 - Dinner at the Restaurant - In

the ''Metekhi Chrdili''

"Metekhi Chrdili"

Holiday Inn Sheraton Radisson KMM Betsy Diamond

19:20 19:45 19:30 19:40 19:30 19:40

5.09.2012 Tour to Mtskheta - 16:00


15:00 15:00 15:40 15:20 15:20 15:20

5.09.2012 Tbilisi City Tour - 15:00


14:00 14:00 14:40 14:20 14:20 14:20

5.09.2012 Tour to Signagi


10:00 10:00 10:40 10:40 10:25 10:20

6.09.2012


08:40 09:10 08:50 09:00 08:50 09:00



16

6.09.2012


09:00 09:40 09:10 09:30 09:10 09:30

Funded participants are kindly requested to submit boarding passes to the Secretariat staff

upon arrival and send scanned copies of the boarding passes after departure.

Insurance Conference participants are advised to arrange their own health and travel insurance prior to travelling

to Tbilisi. The Conference Organizers will not assume any responsibility for accidents, losses or

damages.

If you arrive from or transit through countries with risk of yellow fever virus transmission you

are required to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. A vaccination certificate is required

from travelers who have been in or have passed through any of following countries from South

America, the Caribbean or Africa: Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname,

Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African

Republic, Chad , Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,

Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria,

Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda.

Formalities for Entry into Georgia

Visitors travelling to Georgia may need a visa for entrance. YOU ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO

CHECK THE LINK BELOW FOR DETAILS SPECIFIC TO YOUR COUNTRY. A list of

countries exempt from visa requirements for entry to the territory of Georgia can be found from the

official webpage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of

Georgia: http://mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=96. For those who require visa assistance, arrangements (including of cost related issues) will be made

by the Tbilisi+35 Conference Secretariat in advance to collect the visa upon arrival. Should you require a letter of invitation please notify the Tbilisi +35 Conference Secretariat in

advance, and please mail a colored scanned copy of your passport to the Conference Communication

Officer, Ms. Sophio Bujiashvili: [email protected].

Cultural Events, Side Tours and Receptions A number of cultural events and side tours are planned for participants during the Conference, including

excursions, a traditional music concert and a classical music evening. Participants are kindly asked to

register for the side tours in advance.

5 September

11:00-

19.30

Side Tour to Signagi (full day)

Archeological Museum, Georgian Wine Degustation

Lunch

14:00-

19.30

Side Tour to Mtskheta (half day) Historical Monuments, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th Century),

Jvari Church (6th Century), Renovated City

http://mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=96




17

15:00-

19.30

Side Tour in Tbilisi (half day) Old Tbilisi, Georgian Art Museum, Occupation Museum, Sulfur Baths

The detailed information about the side tours as well as the video tour of the side events can also be

checked at the official website for Tbilisi+35 www.tbilisiplus35.ge.

Meals Group meal arrangements have been made by the Tbilisi+35 Secretariat for Conference

participants. All breakfasts are served by respective hotels. Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Lunch (Dress Code – Casual)

The Conference participants who arrive early on September 4, including the Expert Group members will

be offered lunch at the Hotel Holiday Inn (Time: 12:00 – 13:00; Location: Hotel Holiday Inn

Tbilisi, 26 May Square, Tbilisi)

Dinner (Dress Code – Business Casual)

Traditional Georgian Dinner (Time: 20:00 – 21:00; Location: Restaurant In the Metekhi Shadow, 29

Ketevan Tsamebuli Ave., Tbilisi)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012 Lunch (Dress Code – Casual)

Conference participants who do not participate in excursions will be offered lunch at respective hotels.

For those participating in side tours:

Sighnaghi – lunch will be provided during the tour;

Tbilisi – lunch will be provided in respective hotels before the tour;

Mtskheta - lunch will be provided in respective hotels before the tour.


Welcome Dinner with Georgian traditional Cuisine accompanied by traditional Georgian

music (Time: 20:00 – 23:30; location: “Tbilisis Zghvis Clubi, Tbilisi Sea)

Thursday, September 6, 2012 Lunch

Provided at the Conference Venue (Time: 13:30 – 15:00; Location: Sheratoni Metekhi Palace Hotel,

Narikala 2).


Official Reception on Behalf of the Government of Georgia (Time: 20:00 – 23:30; location: Garden

of Roses, # 61 Aghmashenebeli Ave., Tbilisi).

Friday, September 7, 2012 Lunch

Provided at the Conference venue (Time: 13:30 – 15:00; Location: Sheratoni Metekhi Palace Hotel,

Hall Kala).


Farewell Dinner at an open air lounge accompanied by live music, band (Time: 19:00; location: Hotel

Radisson Blue Iveria, #1 Rose Revolution Sqr., Tbilisi).




18

Medical Services and First Aid Medical and first aid services will be available on the Conference premises. Medical services may

also be provided by hotels. In case of an emergency, please dial: 112.

Credit Cards, Currency and Foreign Exchange The Georgian currency is the Lari (GEL). Foreign exchange bureaus and banks will provide the

necessary information and measures of exchange rates and transfer. It is possible to change foreign

currency into Lari in the main city hotels. Current exchange rates can be found at: www.nbg.ge. The

following credit cards are accepted: VISA, Master Card and (in some areas) American Express

(restricted).

Weather Weather in September in Tbilisi is generally comfortable with moderate precipitation levels.

Average temperature varies from +18°C to +30°C. If participating in excursions, warm clothes and

solid shoes are advisable.

Time Zone The standard time zone is GMT/ UTC +4 hour.

Electricity and Sockets The electrical currents in Georgia are 220 Volts, 50 Hertz; the plugs are as shown in the

illustration below.

Security Tbilisi is a safe city and violent crime is very unusual. However, petty theft is not uncommon.

Normal precautions should be taken, including keeping track of your wallet or other valuables on

crowded buses and trains. The police are extremely helpful. As a rule, the city police are intermediate

in spoken English so you can rest assured they can assist you in case of trouble.

Contacts In case of further questions please contact:

Ms. Sophio Bujiashvili (Communications Officer)

Cell: +955591913125

Phone: +995322727222

Email: [email protected]

http://www.nbg.ge/




19

Fax: +9953227272

Conference SPEAKERS

Christine Affolter is the Vice President and Head of Secretariat at ENSI (Environment & School

Initiatives) and Coordinator of COMENIUS multilateral network CoDeS (School and Community

collaboration for Sustainable Development) since 2011 to 2014. Prior to her current position, she worked as

a teacher and Project leader in Teacher In-service Training, Bern (to 1998). From 1998 she was the manager

of the regional centre of environmental education for the German speaking part of Switzerland, Foundation

for EE Switzerland. Till 2006 Ms. Affolter was the Head of Department (CAS-Studies), University for

teacher training, Solothurn/Switzerland. Her areas of expertise include teaching, adult education and

oorganisations management and development.

Elene Chumburidze is a 12th grade student at Tbilisi 186 Public School. She is actively involved in

school events and is an elected head of the school student self-governing unit. Elene represents students’

interests in the School Board of Trustees and raises different problems and spearheads number initiatives to

the school administration. She also participates in various social activities and environmental campaigns. Her

hobbies include hiking and singing.

Khatia Dekanoidze is the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia. Prior to her current position,

she was the Director of the National Examination Center. Since 2007 to 2012, Mrs. Dekanoidze worked as the

Rector of Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. She served as a senior counselor of

the Embassy of Georgia to the USA, Canada and Mexico during 2006–2008. Since 2004 to 2006, Mrs.

Dekanoidze was the Head of Administration in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She held the same position in

the Ministry of State Security of Georgia during 2003- 2004. Mrs. Khatia Dekanoidze also worked as an

advisor on foreign policy issues of the Department of Foreign Policy Analysis in the State Chancellery of

Georgia since 1999 to 2000. Prior to that position, she worked as a program assistant of the Red Cross

Organization at Tbilisi Regional Office. Mrs. Dekanoidze has graduated from Tbilisi State University in 1999

and earned her diploma in International Relations. During 1997-1998, she took part in Civic Education Project

initiated by the Central European University, (Budapest, Hungary) and was awarded the Certificate in Policy

Analysis. From September 2002 to November 2003, she also took an internship in Policy Analysis at RAND

Cooperation, Washington DC.

Gerald Farthing is currently the Acting Deputy Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy. Gerald

has been the Deputy Minister of the Department of Education since July 2004. Prior to this he was the

Assistant Deputy Minister, School Programs Division, and prior to that the Director of the Schools’ Finance

Branch. He is also the Chair of the Public Schools Finance Board which is responsible for overseeing and

administering the provincial school building capital program. Gerald has four university degrees, the last one a

Ph.D. in public policy and government from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He

started working for the Manitoba Government in 1984 and joined the Department of Education in 1988.

Gerald is an advocate for the development and promotion of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in

Canada. Manitoba is the lead jurisdiction in the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada’s (CMEC)

international work on ESD and represents CMEC on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe



20

(UNECE) Steering Committee on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). In April 2011, Gerald was

elected as Chair of the UNECE ESD Steering Committee. The UNECE Steering Committee constitutes the

principal decision-making body for the activities on the Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development

in the UNECE region and is responsible for giving guidance and strategic direction to the implementation of

the Strategy.

Lothar Guendling is Dr. iur., Rechtsanwalt (Attorney) in Germany and Luxemburg, with office seat in

Luxemburg. For more than 30 years he is specialising in environmental law and governance issues and combines

academic and practical experiences. He is teaching international, European and comparative environmental law and

has advised governments in many parts of the world in environmental law and institution-building. He has been

leading major environmental institution-building projects as Team Leader and Resident Twinning Advisor. He is

advisor and faculty member of the United National Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) Environmental

Law Programme. Currently he is also international advisor to the Grigol Robakidze University Institute for Public

Law and Administration and its Research Centre for European Environmental Law in Tbilisi, Georgia. He is

convinced that sustainable development and the greening of our economies will be achieved only when these ideas

have eventually reached civil society and are internalised by citizens, organizations and businesses. For many years

we know it but we still need to say: Attitudes must change, and for this education is the key.

Charles Hopkins is currently the UNESCO Chair at York University in Toronto, Canada where as well as

lecturing in the graduate program, he coordinates an international network of teacher education institutions from 70

countries collaboratively working upon the reorientation of elementary and secondary teacher education to address

sustainable development. Hopkins is a senior advisor to UNESCO and the UN University. Within Canada, Hopkins

is the Chair of the Board of the John Dearness Environmental Society. He is also a founder of the Sustainability and Education Academy

(SEdA) which is a collaborative professional development program designed to assist senior education officials and leaders in reorienting school

systems to address sustainability. Previously, Charles was a teacher, a principal, a superintendent of curriculum and a regional superintendent

with the Toronto Board of Education. He has been involved in EE since the 1960’s and at one point was the Director of Canada’s first

residential EE Centre. A long time leader in the fields of education, and ESD, Hopkins has lectured and presented papers in over 70 countries.

He is the author of a textbook on ecology, of numerous book chapters, journal articles and has appeared in television documentaries dealing with

education, the environment, and sustainable development.

Macharia Kamau Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary and the Permanent Representative of

Kenya to the United Nations in New York, is also the Vice President of UNICEF Executive Board. He has

previously served as Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the

United Nations Office in Nairobi with triple accreditation to UNON, UNEP and UN HABITAT. Ambassador

Macharia Kamau has a long career with the United Nations. He has a 24 year track record of senior assignments in

political, development and policy work, strategic planning, negotiation and UN reform at UNDP, UNICEF and

UNTAG. He has spent 7 years as United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative, 6 years as United

Nations Children Fund Representative and 3 years as the Chief, UN and External Relations, Office of Executive

Director, UNICEF. He has extensive consultancy experience including with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,

UNAIDS, African Child Policy Forum and a Senior Associate with Africa Policy Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.

Ambassador Kamau has vast professional experience in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and

North America. He is the in-coming Vice-President of the United Nations General Assembly (67th Session).

Nurlan Kapparov is the Minister of Environment Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan since 2012. He was actively involved in

social and community activities. He co-found the Republican Physics and Mathematics School (RPMS) Alumni Fund and has been its long-time

contributor (1999). Also, he organized the Harvard Club for Central Asia (HCCA) and became its first President

(2003). Prior to his current position, he worked as an entrepreneur, when he found Accept Corporation, first

European-looking retail Shop in Kazakhstan, which by 1997 developed into a large corporation with a wide range of

business in electronics, telecommunications, agriculture, wholesale and retail trade (to 1997). From 1997 he was the

President and CEO of Kazakh National Companies: “KazTransOil” and “KazakhOil” (currently “KazMunaiGas”).

In 1999 he started working at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan as the

Deputy Minister, where he was responsible for monitoring of the oil and gas sectors. From 2000 to 2001 he served

as the Chairman of North Caspian Operating Committee (Kashagan) and Head of the negotiations team of

delimitation of Caspian Sea between Russia and Kazakhstan. In 2003 he and his co-workers found Lancaster Group,

a diversified holding company operating in various industries such as mining, oil and gas services, industrial sector,

financial services and hotel hospitality. Since this year till 2012 he worked as the Chairman of Lancaster Group.

During this time, between 2003 and 2005 he also served as a Director of PetroKazakhstan.



21

Vera Kobalia is the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development since 2010. Ms. Kobalia has been

responsible for executing vital reforms in identified strategic areas such as tourism, transport, construction and

industry. She is one of the initiators of developing Green Economy in Georgia. In 2004, Vera Kobalia graduated

from British Columbia Institute of Technology in Canada, School of Business Administration and Information

Technologies. In 2004-2008, she worked at various Canadian companies in marketing and management roles. In

2008, she returned to Georgia to start a non-profit organization "Coalition for Justice" and in a relatively short time

she managed to turn the attention of international community to the issues of protecting the rights of refugees in

Georgia.

Alexander Leicht is Chief of the Section of Education for Sustainable Development, UNESCO, Paris, France.

Before joining UNESCO, he was Head of the German Secretariat for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development at the German

Commission for UNESCO in Bonn for almost seven years, where he also led the organizing team for the preparations of the UNESCO World

Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in 2009. He also worked three years as a university teacher

in Hungary and the United Kingdom and was initially trained as a teacher, with a graduate diploma in literature, at

the University of Marburg, Germany. During his studies, he also spent a year at the University of Massachusetts at

Amherst, USA. He holds a PhD in North-American Studies from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Carl Lindberg is Member of UNESCO´s High Level Panel on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable

Development from July 2004 to January 2011. He was a Deputy State Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Science from 1994 to 2004. In

January 2012 he became Doctor Honoris Causa at Uppsala University. In addition, he is Special Advisor on ESD

to the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO from November 2005 and Member of the Board of Baltic

University Programme from 2007. Dr. Lindberg was Chairman of the Swedish National Committee on ESD 2003-

2004 that organized the international conference “Learning to change our world” on ESD in Gothenburg, Sweden in

May 2004. Dr. Lindberg initiated and is responsible for the Conference on ESD organized by the Swedish

Presidency of the Nordic Minister Council in Sweden, June 2003. He was Head of the Swedish Government´s

Delegation at the Dakar Conference on Education for All in April 2000. Furthermore, Dr. Lindberg was one of two

Chairpersons in the International Committee responsible for the Baltic 21 Education Action Plan 2000 – 2004.

From 1984 to 1986 he was Vice President in the Swedish UN Association.

Cam Mackenzie is currently the Vice President of the Australian Association for Environmental Education

and the Principal , Amaroo Environmental Education Centre within the Queensland Department of Education,

Training and Employment. In 2011 Cam was awarded the Queensland Government Department of Education and

Training Australian Day Medal. Also in the same year he was awarded the Environmental Educator of the Year by the AAEE. Since 2003 Mr.

Mackenzie has represented Queensland on the National Environmental Education Network, National Environmental Education Council. He

served as the Australian representative on the international Environment and School Initiatives network. Cam was appointed the principal of the

Bunyaville EEC with Education Queensland in 1991 until 2005. From 1998 to 1999 Cam was the Vice President, of the Queensland State Wide

Network of Environmental Education Centres. From 2000 to 2002 and 2007 - 2011 he was the National Treasurer -

Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE). From 2001 to 2004 he was the Chairperson of the

Mountains to Mangroves Corridor Committee and was the president of the North West Brisbane Branch of the

Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. Cam is a member of the United Nations Commission for Sustainable

Development Education Caucus. Furthermore, Cam is a judge on the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways

Awards, Queensland Premiers Sustainability Awards and the National Banksia Awards for environmental

leadership.

Rupert Donald Iain Maclean is the Director, Centre for Lifelong Learning Research and Development,

UNESCO Chair Professor of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Lifelong Learning and Chair

Professor of International Education. Prof. Maclean joined the Hong Kong Institute of Education in 2009. Previous appointments include

foundation Director, UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Education, Bonn, Germany; Director, Section for Secondary Education,

UNESCO Headquarters, Paris; Acting Director, UNESCO Principal Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok; Chief, Asia-Pacific



22

Centre of Educational Innovation for Development (ACEID), UNESCO Bangkok; and UNESCO Chief Technical Advisor for a United Nations

project to strengthen and upgrade teacher education throughout Myanmar. His work in education, particularly concerning skills development for

employability (TVET), is well known from his numerous published books, chapters in books, articles and reports. Prof. Maclean was appointed

an Officer in the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List on June 2011 for distinguished service of a high degree to humanity at

large through his work as an international academic and professional working to improve education in developing countries, particularly through

the UNESCO.

Munaaba Flavia Nabugere is the Minister of State for Environment and the Woman Member of

Parliament of Kaliro District, Uganda. She is a Lawyer by profession and holds Honours Degree in Law at

Makerere University. Masters of Philosophy in Law in Zimbabwe. Hon. Flavia is also an accomplished social

entrepreneur with interest in sustainable development and Environment Conservation. She has participated in several

conferences on sustainable development including Cop 17 in Durban and the United Nations Conference on

Sustainable Development (Rio+20). She has keen interest in green economy. Past engagements include lecturing in

Gender and Law, Human Rights and Gender violence, Legal Expert Consultant under Nordic Consulting Group,

CEO of Public Defender Association of Uganda. She also served in the Ugandan Judiciary for 15 years as a judicial

officer from the level of Magistrate Grade I through the ranks as Chief Magistrate to Registrar/Inspector of Courts.

Gunter Pauli is a pioneer in business, science, education and the arts. He started a dozen companies but is best

known for the successful launch of biodegradable soaps manufactured in the world's first ecological factory (1992)

taking market share from multinationals without advertising. However, he realized that he relied on palm oil, and his

success motivated many to shift to this raw material unknowingly causing millions of acres of rainforest to be cleared

to plant palm. He resigned from all business activities and embarked on the design of new business models where the

good is cheap and the indispensable is free (1994). He has documented nearly 200 cases, and has personally been

involved in a dozen. His findings were concluded in "The Blue Economy: 100 innovations - 10 years - 100 million

jobs" - A Report to the Club of Rome, supported by UNEP (2009). The Report has been translated in +30 languages.

He embarked already in 1994 on the design of a new learning system reaching out to teachers and children, centered

on fables. In 2005 UNESCO invited him as a keynote on the occasion of the launch of the Decade of Education for

Sustainable Development. By 2012 over 80 million copies have been distributed in multiple languages.

Mahesh Pradhan is the Chief of UNEP's Environmental Education and Training Unit (EETU) within the Division of Environmental

Policy Implementation (DEPI) since January 2011. Within EETU, Mahesh oversees the development of the Global Universities Partnership on

Environment and Sustainability (GUPES), which was launched on the margins of the World Environment Day 2012. He is UNEP’s focal point

for the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), which was launched during Rio+20. He is actively involved in regional environmental

education networks, such as the Mainstreaming Environment and Sustainability in African Universities (MESA), Environmental Training

Network (ETN) for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Regional University Consortium on Environment for Sustainable

Development (RUC) for Asia and the Pacific. Prior to this, Mahesh has more than 16 years of experience as UNEP's Regional Environmental

Affairs Officer for Asia and the Pacific, based in Bangkok, where he coordinated the nexus issue of environmental education.

Fernando Reimers is the Ford Foundation Professor of International Education and Director of the International Education Policy

Program at of the Global Education Innovation Initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is also an Affiliate Faculty at the

Harvard Law School and teaches at the Harvard Extension School. His research focuses on educational innovation, global education and on the

impact of policy, leadership, curriculum and professional development on the quality and relevancy of education to develop twenty first century

skills and expand opportunity for socially disadvantaged children and youth. He has designed and led a number of innovative graduate and

executive education programs and curricula and recently led the design of the World Course, a Global Studies Curriculum for the Avenues

School. He is a Founding Director of the Phalen Leadership Academies in Indiana, a network of innovative charter schools providing 21st

education to disadvantaged students.



23

Sandra Elisabeth Roelofs, First Lady of Georgia is a translator of French and German by education

(Brussels, 1991), she met and married the Georgian lawyer Mikheil Saakashvili and joined him to New York where

she worked at Columbia University and later on for a Dutch law firm. She founded a charity organization

(www.soco.ge) in 1998 focusing on vulnerable families and esp. mother and child health. Recent projects comprise

rare diseases and rehabilitation of disabled persons. In 2005, Mrs. Roelofs published her Dutch autobiography "First

Lady of Georgia - the Story of an Idealist" which got translated in Georgian, Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish, Polish

and English. In 2011, she launched the national campaign “Don’t Worry, Be Healthy!” which is promoting healthy

life style nation-wide and got the DEVCO Communication Award 2012 by the European Union. In 2011 she was

nominated WHO Goodwill Ambassador for health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and represents

Georgia at the Global Fund’s Board for 2012-2013. As of 2012 she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Global Health Policy at the London School

of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Besides her native tongue Ms. Roelofs is proficient in French, English, German,

Russian and Georgian, learning Polish.

Mario Salomone has an important role at international level in the field of sustainability/ environmental

education as General Secretary of the WEECs, World environmental education congresses, that were been held in

Portugal, Brazil, Italy, South Africa, Canada, Australia; the next WEEC will be held in Morocco (2013). Mario

Salomone is Assistant Professor of Environmental Sociology at Department of Human and Social Sciences

University of Bergamo (Italy) and member of the Italian UNESCO Scientific Committee of United Nations

Decades of Education for Sustainable Development (UN-DESD). Mr. Salomone is also member of the Board of

‘Aurelio Peccei Foundation’ (Italian section of Club of Rome). As member of the International Task Force on

Education for Sustainable Consumption supporting the UN Marrakesh Process, in the years 2007-2008 Mario

Salomone coordinated a research for the Marrakesh Process Task Force on the best practices for sustainable

consumption.

Kartikeya V. Sarabhai is the Founder Director of Centre for Environment Education. CEE is the Nodal

Agency for implementation of UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development in India. He is associated

with UNESCO and in 2007 organized the ‘Tbilisi plus 30’ International Conference at Ahmedabad, India.

Member of the Indian delegation to UN Conference on Environment and Development at Rio,1992 and World

Summit on Sustainable Development at Johannesburg, 2002, he was co-author of India's report for UNCED. He

has been associated with IUCN and is Vice-Chair of the Indian National Commission. He is a member of the

Earth Charter International Council and a Trustee of the Gandhi Ashram which is setting up the definitive Gandhi

Heritage Portal. In 2012, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest

civilian awards in recognition of his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of Environmental

Education.



24

Michael J. Scoullos is Environmental Chemist (MSc, DSc) and Oceanographer (PhD). Professor at the

University of Athens, Director of the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and holder of the UNESCO Chair

on Sustainable Development Management and Education in the Mediterranean. He represents the European

Parliament in the Executive Bureau of the European Environmental Agency (EEA). He is the Team Leader of the

Capacity Building Component of the EU Progamme Horizon 2020, Chairman of International Panel of Experts of

the World Bank for the Red Sea – Dead Sea Conveyor, President of MIO-ECSDE (Mediterranean Information

Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development), Chairman of the Global Water Partnership-

Mediterranean (GWP-Med), Honorary President of the EEB (European Environmental Bureau), etc. Furthermore,

Professor Scoullos is a Member of the European Academy of Sciences. He authored many books and of more

than 400 articles. He is the President of the Greek National Committee of MAB/UNESCO. He was appointed by UNESCO as the author of the

background document of Tbilisi+10, Moscow 1987. He organized/ chaired the UNESCO workshop for Re-Orienting EE towards ESD, Athens

1995 and the UNESCO Tbilisi +20 International Conference of Thessaloniki 1997. He is the Deputy Chairman of ESD Steering Committee and

Chairman of the Expert Group on ESD Competences of UNECE. Professor Scoullos coordinates the UN Type II Initiative MEdIES, which

currently networks more than 4.000 EE/ESD educators and the Network of Mediterranean Universities on Sustainable Development with

emphasis on ESD. He was awarded the Medal of the City of Paris, the “Simon Bolivar medal” of UNESCO and has received many other

important distinctions.

Overson Shumba served, since 2007, as a member of the UNESCO Monitoring and Evaluation Expert

Group (MEEG) on the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD 2005-2014). He teaches at the

Copperbelt University, Zambia where he currently coordinates the Environment, Industrial, and Chemical

Research. Before joining the Copperbelt University in 2008 he was with the University of Zimbabwe (1990-2007)

where he earned Associate Professorship. Prof. Shumba is a former W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow (tenable at

Iowa State University, USA) and German Academic Exchange Services Fellow (tenable at the University of

Muenster, Germany). Over the more than 20 years in higher education, he has been involved in environmental

science and science teacher education projects and programmes. A more recent focus in his research is

mainstreaming education for sustainable development principles and concepts in curriculum and instruction for

science education.

Madam Anyaa Vohiri is the current Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer of the Environment

Protection Agency of Liberia. She is the proud recipient of the 2011/2012 Marsh Award for Conservation

Leadership, Marsh Christian Trust, U.K. She is the Former Head of Mission, Fuana & Flora International- Liberia.

She holds a Juris Doctorate and a Certificate in Environmental Law. Madam Vohiri served as Legal Advisor to the

National Environment Commission of Liberia which later became the Environment Protection Agency of Liberia.

She is one of the lead drafters of the Environment Laws and the Act Creating the Environment Protection Agency

of Liberia. She has contributed immensely to the promotion of conservation in Liberia. She has worked as an

International Consultant for many years. In her capacity as Executive Director of EPA, she is currently the GEF

Operational Focal Point in Liberia.



25

Tbilisi+35 EXPERT GROUP

Natalia Arkania is Head of the Analytical Group of the Tbilisi+35 Secretariat and Deputy Head of the

Integrated Environment Management Department, MoEP. Natalia has over eight years of professional

experience in the field of international affairs and sustainable development in the U.S. and Georgia. In 2007

she won the U.S. Department of State Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship and in 2009 graduated with an

M.A. in International Development from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California. During

her fellowship Natalia worked with the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships at the United

Nations Secretariat in New York. After graduation, she worked on the capacity & institution building and

innovation programs with the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation, based in the Washington,

D.C. area. Upon her return to Georgia she worked as a Research Fellow and Project Manager with the

Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies and the Swedish International Development

Agency. She has led a number of educational programs in sustainable development. Prior to her fellowship,

she served as a diplomat for the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Georgia. She has also authored publications in

her field of expertise and teaches a Master’s Degree course in theory and practices of international development.

Rusudan Chanturia is Education Expert in the Analytical Group of the Tbilisi+35 Secretariat. She

works for the United Nations Associations of Georgia (UNAG) as Deputy Chief of Party of USAID’s

Advancing National Integration in Georgia Project, implemented by UNAG. In 2007–2009, Rusudan

Chanturia studied at Columbia University in the City of New York (USA) and earned her Master’s Degree in

International Education Development and Policy within the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and

Open Society Institute’s targeted Programme. In 2002, Rusudan graduated from the Tbilisi State University

with a Master’s Degree in American Studies. In 1998-2002, she completed a Bachelor’s program at the

Department of Western European Languages and Literature at Tbilisi State University. She is an alumnus of

the programs of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS), Georgian-European

Policy and Legal Advice Center (GEPLAC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India. In 2010-2012, she

worked for the World Vision International in Georgia as a Manager of UNDP and EC-funded Projects. In

2002-2010, she worked at the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Tbilisi State University and

International Education and Resource Network - iEARN USA.

Lothar Guendling is Dr. iur., Rechtsanwalt (Attorney) in Germany and Luxemburg, with office seat in

Luxemburg. For more than 30 years he is specialising in environmental law and governance issues and

combines academic and practical experiences. He is teaching international, European and comparative

environmental law and has advised governments in many parts of the world in environmental law and

institution-building. He has been leading major environmental institution-building projects as Team Leader

and Resident Twinning Advisor. He is advisor and faculty member of the United National Institute of Training

and Research (UNITAR) Environmental Law Programme. Currently he is also international advisor to the

Grigol Robakidze University Institute for Public Law and Administration and its Research Centre for

European Environmental Law in Tbilisi, Georgia. He is convinced that sustainable development and the

greening of our economies will be achieved only when these ideas have eventually reached civil society and

are internalised by citizens, organizations and businesses. For many years we know it but we still need to say:

Attitudes must change, and for this education is the key.



26

Frans Lenglet is Director of the Swedish International Centre of Education for Sustainable Development

at Gotland University. He received his PhD in International Development Education from Stanford University.

For almost 40 years he has made contributions to educational reform, distance learning, international university

cooperation, management training, agricultural extension, project management and evaluation, in association

with a variety of institutions, including universities, the World Bank, ILO, UNESCO, Sida and the Netherlands

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Frans Lenglet is

currently working on identifying, designing, testing and disseminating appropriate and effective content,

approaches and methods of “learning for sustainable change”, empowering individuals, communities and

organizations to reach and act on sustainable choices about the cultural, social, economic and bio-physical

conditions affecting their own livelihoods and well-being as well as those of other people and future

generations, within planetary boundaries.

Cam Mackenzie is currently the Vice President of the Australian Association for Environmental Education

and the Principal , Amaroo Environmental Education Centre within the Queensland Department of Education,

Training and Employment. In 2011 Cam was awarded the Queensland Government Department of Education and

Training Australian Day Medal. Also in the same year he was awarded the Environmental Educator of the Year by

the AAEE. Since 2003 Mr. Mackenzie has represented Queensland on the National Environmental Education

Network, National Environmental Education Council. He served as the Australian representative on the

international Environment and School Initiatives network. Cam was appointed the principal of the Bunyaville EEC

with Education Queensland in 1991 until 2005. From 1998 to 1999 Cam was the Vice President, of the Queensland

State Wide Network of Environmental Education Centres. From 2000 to 2002 and 2007 - 2011 he was the National

Treasurer - Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE). From 2001 to 2004 he was the

Chairperson of the Mountains to Mangroves Corridor Committee and was the president of the North West Brisbane

Branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland until recently. Cam is also a member of the United

Nations Commission for Sustainable Development Education Caucus.

Rupert Donald Iain Maclean is the Director, Centre for Lifelong Learning Research and

Development, UNESCO Chair Professor of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Lifelong

Learning and Chair Professor of International Education. Professor Maclean joined the Hong Kong Institute of

Education in July 2009. Previous appointments include foundation Director, UNESCO-UNEVOC International

Centre for Education, Bonn, Germany; Director, Section for Secondary Education, UNESCO Headquarters,

Paris; Acting Director, UNESCO Principal Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok; Chief, Asia-

Pacific Centre of Educational Innovation for Development (ACEID), UNESCO Bangkok; and UNESCO Chief

Technical Advisor for a United Nations project to strengthen and upgrade teacher education throughout

Myanmar. His scholarly work in education, particularly concerning skills development for employability

(TVET), is well known from his numerous published books, chapters in books, articles and reports. He is

recognised internationally as a leading change agent in educational innovation for development. Prof. Maclean

was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List on 13 June 2011.

for distinguished service of a high degree to humanity at large through his work as an international academic and

professional working to improve education in developing countries, particularly through the UNESCO.

Yoshi Nagata is Associate Professor of Department of Education, University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo. His

research is devoted to alternative or sustainable form of education with a special interest in holistic approaches to

implement and evaluate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and others. He is a member of the

Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Group (MEEG) of UNESCO, and contributes to creating monitoring and

evaluation systems especially from Asia-Pacific perspectives. He also served as an expert to promote ‘HOPE

(Holistic, Ownership-based, Participatory and Empowering)’ methodology, an endogenously developed ESD

monitoring and evaluation approach under the initiatives of ACCU (Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO),

and as an editor of the project report, Tales of HOPE II with a variety of case studies in Asia and the Pacific. He is

the author of Alternative Education: Global Perspectives Relevant to the Asia-Pacific Region (Springer). His other

publication includes articles on the issues of ESD. He is a board member of the Japan Association for International

Education, and a council member of the Development Education Association and Resource Centre (DEAR) in Japan.



27

Mahesh Pradhan is the Chief of UNEP's Environmental Education and Training Unit (EETU) within the

Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) since January 2011. Within EETU, Mahesh oversees the

development of the Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES), which was

launched on the margins of the World Environment Day 2012. He is UNEP’s focal point for the Higher Education

Sustainability Initiative (HESI), which was launched during Rio+20. He is actively involved in regional

environmental education networks, such as the Mainstreaming Environment and Sustainability in African

Universities (MESA), Environmental Training Network (ETN) for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the

Regional University Consortium on Environment for Sustainable Development (RUC) for Asia and the Pacific.

Prior to this, Mahesh has more than 16 years of experience as UNEP's Regional Environmental Affairs Officer for

Asia and the Pacific, based in Bangkok, where he coordinated the nexus issue of environmental education.

Manana Ratiani is a consultant at the National Center for Teacher Professional Development and a FP of ESD at the Ministry of Education

and Science of Georgia. At the same time she is a teacher of geography at the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. In 2004 she

received her PhD in the analysis of the educational system in Georgia. From the very beginning of the reforms in the education sector, Ms. Ratiani

started to work at the National Curriculum and Development Center and contributed to the development of several main normative documents,

such as National Curriculum and Teachers’ professional standard. She has authored the SD courses in the curriculum. She initiated students’

integrated projects competition in SD. From 2005 to 2008 Manana was an editor of the newspapers “Dialogue” and “Dialogue +”. For 10 years she

was a professor at the Tbilisi State University. She develops ESD competences document as an expert of the Expert Group on ESD Competences of

UNECE. She authored more than 50 books and articles. Manana also is a coordinator of the newly established Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE

Georgia) that promotes education for sustainable development in formal and non-formal education.

Kartikeya V. Sarabhai is the Founder Director of Centre for Environment Education. CEE is the Nodal

Agency for implementation of UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development in India. He is associated with

UNESCO and in 2007 organized the ‘Tbilisi plus 30’ International Conference at Ahmedabad, India. Member of the

Indian delegation to UN Conference on Environment and Development at Rio,1992 and World Summit on

Sustainable Development at Johannesburg, 2002, he was co-author of India's report for UNCED. He has been

associated with IUCN and is Vice-Chair of the Indian National Commission. He is a member of the Earth Charter

International Council and a Trustee of the Gandhi Ashram which is setting up the definitive Gandhi Heritage Portal.

In 2012, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian awards in

recognition of his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of Environmental Education.

Michael J. Scoullos is Environmental Chemist (MSc, DSc) and Oceanographer (PhD). Professor at the

University of Athens, Director of the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and holder of the UNESCO Chair on

Sustainable Development Management and Education in the Mediterranean. He represents the European Parliament

in the Executive Bureau of the European Environmental Agency (EEA). He is the Team Leader of the Capacity

Building Component of the EU Progamme Horizon 2020, Chairman of International Panel of Experts of the World

Bank for the Red Sea – Dead Sea Conveyor, President of MIO-ECSDE (Mediterranean Information Office for

Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development), Chairman of the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean

(GWP-Med), Honorary President of the EEB (European Environmental Bureau), etc. Furthermore, Professor

Scoullos is a Member of the European Academy of Sciences. He authored many books and of more than 400 articles.

He is the President of the Greek National Committee of MAB/UNESCO. He was appointed by UNESCO as the author of the background

document of Tbilisi+10, Moscow 1987. He organized/ chaired the UNESCO workshop for Re-Orienting EE towards ESD, Athens 1995 and the

UNESCO Tbilisi +20 International Conference of Thessaloniki 1997. He is the Deputy Chairman of ESD Steering

Committee and Chairman of the Expert Group on ESD Competences of UNECE. Professor Scoullos coordinates the

UN Type II Initiative MEdIES, which currently networks more than 4.000 EE/ESD educators and the Network of

Mediterranean Universities on Sustainable Development with emphasis on ESD. He was awarded the Medal of the

City of Paris, the “Simon Bolivar medal” of UNESCO and has received many other important distinctions.

Overson Shumba served, since 2007, as a member of the UNESCO Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Group

(MEEG) on the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD 2005-2014). He teaches at the Copperbelt

University, Zambia where he currently coordinates the Environment, Industrial, and Chemical Research. Before

joining the Copperbelt University in 2008 he was with the University of Zimbabwe (1990-2007) where he earned



28

Associate Professorship. Prof. Shumba is a former W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow (tenable at Iowa State University, USA) and German

Academic Exchange Services Fellow (tenable at the University of Muenster, Germany). Over the more than 20 years in higher education, he has

been involved in environmental science and science teacher education projects and programmes.



29

Thea Siprashvili is Chief of Party for the Tbilisi+35 Secretariat. She holds a Master’s Degree in International

Education Policy from Harvard University (USA, 2008) and has been actively involved in educational reform for almost

15 years. She has experience both in teaching, administration as well as education policy planning and consultancy. She

has worked as Assistant Professor at Tbilisi State University (Signagi Branch), for Professional Education Programs at

Harvard University, served as research consultant for Career Center of Harvard Graduate School of Education (USA)

and Teacher Professional Development Center (Georgia). In 2008-2012 she worked at various administrative jobs at the

Ministry of Education and Sciences of Georgia and the Ministry of Environment Protection of Georgia. She has been

involved in sustainability studies for the recent years and is a co-author of National VET Strategy of Georgia as well as

part of the working group for Environmental Education for Sustainable Development (National Strategy and Action Plan

2012-2014) of Georgia.

Eka Siradze works as Legal Advisor in the Analytical Group of the Tbilisi+35 Secretariat. She is a Professor of

international public law and law of the sea at the Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Faculty of Law) for more

than 10 years. She received her PhD in Public International Law from the Tbilisi State University and LLM in

International Maritime Law from International Maritime Law Institute, Malta. In 1994-2000 she worked in the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia in International Law Department and in various positions was responsible for

bilateral treaties of Georgia. Dr. Siradze continued her work both in public and private sectors, mostly dealing with

international law and international relations, including international environmental law. In 2011 she was the Advisor

on international affairs of the Director of the Batumi State Maritime Academy and led various bilateral and

multilateral educational projects. In 2009-2011 She was EU SASEPOL Project (development of a common security

management, maritime safety and ship pollution prevention project for the Black and Caspian Seas) local expert in

Georgia and in this capacity appeared to be co-author of various national legislations. In total Dr. Siradze has more

than fifteen years of professional experience in legal drafting in international and national levels. She also has good

experience in participating at various international high-level conferences.

Mirian Vilela is the Executive Director of the Earth Charter International Secretariat and the Center for

Education for Sustainable Development at UPEACE. She is coordinating the newly established UNESCO Chair on

Education for Sustainable Development with the Earth Charter. Over the years she has lead and facilitated numerous

international workshops, courses and seminars on values and principles for sustainability. Prior, Mirian worked for the

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in preparation of the 1992 UN Earth Summit

and at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). She actively participated in the 2002

World Summit of Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, and the 2012 United Nations Conference on

Sustainable Development/Rio+20. She is a member of the UNESCO Expert Reference Group for the DESD. Mirian

holds a B.Sc. in International Trade and a Master´s Degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy

School of Government, where she was an Edward Mason Fellow. She is originally from Brazil.

Jiang WU, planner and 1st class registered architect of China, now the Vice President of Tongji University,

Shanghai. He is the Vice Chairman of Shanghai Architecture Society, and the Steering Council Member of the

Architecture Society of China (ASC) from 2003. In 2012, he was selected as the Chairman of Global University

Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES). Prof. Wu is also the editorial committee member of

several top academic journals such as TIME + ARCHITECTURE (Tongji University), WORLD ARCHITECTURE

(Tsinghua University), URBAN PLANNING FORUM (Tongji University) and PUBLIC ARTS (Shanghai

University). Prof. Wu was educated in China. He got his degrees of Bachelor, Master and Doctorate from the

College of Architecture and Urban Planning in Tongji University. He has been teaching History and Theory of

Architecture, Urban Design, and Historical Preservation in Tongji University from 1986 to 2003, and has been the

CF visiting scholar in the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University from 1996 to 1997. In the past 20 years,

Prof. Wu has published more than 10 books and more than 60 articles in his research fields. From 1998 to 2001, he

was the Deputy Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning in Tongji University, and from 2001 to

2003, he was the Assistant President of Tongji University. From 2003 to 2008, Prof. Wu was the Deputy Director General of Shanghai Municipal

Urban Planning Administration Bureau.



30

International Organizing Committee

1. Mr. George Zedginidze, Minister of Environment Protection of Georgia (MoEP)

2. Mr. George Khachidze, Former Minister of Environment Protection of Georgia (MoEP)

3. Ms. Natalia Arkania, Deputy Head, Department of Integrated Environmental Management (MoEP); Head

of Tbilisi+35 Analytical Group

4. Ms. Nino Gokhelashvili, Head, International Relations Division, Department of Environmental Policy and

International Relations, MoEP

5. Ms. Thea Siprashvili, Chief of Party, Tbilisi+35 Secretariat

6. Ms. Eka Siradze, Legal Adviser, Tbilisi+35 Secretariat

7. Ms. Soo Hyang Choi, Director, Division of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, UNESCO

8. Mr. Alexander Leicht, Chief of Section, Education for Sustainable Development, UNESCO

9. Mr. Bernard Combes, Information Officer, Education for Sustainable Development, UNESCO

10. Mr. Jan Dusik, Acting Director and Regional Representative, UNEP Regional Office for Europe

11. Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, Chief of Environmental Education and Training Unit (EETU), UNEP

12. Mr. Wondwosen K. Asnake, UNEP/Regional Office for Europe (UNEP/ROE).

Tbilisi+35 Secretariat

1. Ms. Thea Siprashvili, Chief of Party

2. Mr. Vasil Modrekelidze, Deputy Chief of Party

3. Ms. Natalia Arkania, Team Leader, Analytical Group

4. Dr. Eka Siradze, Legal Adviser

5. Ms. Rusudan Chanturia, Education Expert

6. Mr. Davit Aladashvili, Protocol officer

7. Ms. Sophio Bujiashvili, Communications Officer

8. Ms. Ketevan Esakia, Logistics officer

9. Mr. Sergo Parulava, Website coordinator

10. Ms. Ana Datiashvili, PR and Marketing Coordinator

11. Mr. Vasil Gagnidze, Procurement Officer.














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www.tbilisiplus35.ge/www.moe.gov.ge

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Tbilisi+35 Conference Programme