Miami, FL Manager, Science & Environmental Content
Series Producer of “Changing Seas” South Florida PBS
Stony Brook University, NY
Distinguished Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, Stony Brook University.World’s foremost expert on lemurs.
Livingston, MT
Film Producer, TV host and Wildlife Conservationist
New York, NY
Actress, Author,
Philanthropist & Model
Vermont, USA
Co-founder: Greenpeace Founder: Sea Shepherd
Tampa, FL
Professional Soccer Player and
2010 MLS Cup Champion
Los Angeles, CA
Award Winning Actress and Producer
New York, NY
Author, Environmentalist and Filmmaker
Nairobi, Kenya
Award winning Journalist and filmmaker
Oakland, CA
Author, Aquanaut Explorer, Oceanographer, Founder of Mission Blue
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Founder, Elephant Nature Park
Los Angeles, CA
Author, Primatologist, Founder of Orangutan Foundation International
April 1934 – October 2025
Rest in Peace!
London, United Kingdom
Jane Goodall Institute
& UN Messenger of Peace
Harvard University, MA
Pulitzer Prize Winning Author, Biologist and Conservationist
Washington, D.C.
Founder of Ocean Doctor &
Director of Cuba Conservancy
Miami, FL Manager, Science & Environmental Content
Series Producer of “Changing Seas” South Florida PBS
Stony Brook University, NY
Distinguished Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, Stony Brook University.World’s foremost expert on lemurs.
Livingston, MT
Film Producer, TV host and Wildlife Conservationist
New York, NY
Actress, Author,
Philanthropist & Model
Vermont, USA
Co-founder: Greenpeace Founder: Sea Shepherd
Tampa, FL
Professional Soccer Player and
2010 MLS Cup Champion
Los Angeles, CA
Award Winning Actress and Producer
New York, NY
Author, Environmentalist and Filmmaker
Nairobi, Kenya
Award winning Journalist and filmmaker
Oakland, CA
Author, Aquanaut Explorer, Oceanographer, Founder of Mission Blue
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Founder, Elephant Nature Park
Los Angeles, CA
Author, Primatologist, Founder of Orangutan Foundation International
London, United Kingdom
Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute
& UN Messenger of Peace
Harvard University, MA
Pulitzer Prize Winning Author, Biologist and Conservationist
Washington, D.C.
Founder of Ocean Doctor &
Director of Cuba Conservancy
Christopher was an award winning producer and his animated film “Dream” won a 2017 Golden Lion for film and a Silver Lion for music at the 64th Annual International Festival of Creativity. He was an environmental and marine scientist. Has decades of experience in field work and research with multiple academic institutions and natural history museums. A former science and social studies teacher, later an administrator, he became the youngest principal of a public school in the state of Florida. While a graduate student, Christopher conducted fieldwork and research to study the Pleistocene Mega fauna and their fossils that were deposited over 10,000 years ago. His study of these extinct species informed his concerns for preserving biodiversity and was a significant factor in the founding of the WCFF. Christopher was one of the first scientists to conduct underwater vertebrate paleontology research and is a professional, advanced scuba diver with NAUI, PADI, SSI and NASDS.
Christopher founded the WCFF in 2010 using his life savings to get the organization off the ground and has maintained the operations since then. He was a philanthropic supporter of conservation organizations across the globe and was President of the International Exploration Society (IES), Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, member of the Ocean Geographic Society, friend of American Philosophical Society.
Lillian Gervais grew up in Philadelphia and worked as a teacher for decades guiding and inspiring future generations. She always had a deep love and affection for nature and wildlife which was passed down to her son, the founder of the WCFF, Christopher Gervais. When her son passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer, Lillian was determined to continue WCFF’s important mission of protecting wildlife along with her sons legacy. She currently lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband, Anthony, and serves as President of the WCFF.
Dr. Mauricio de la Maza-Benignos graduated with honors summa laude with a doctorate in Biology and Sustainable Development at the University of Nuevo León. He was awarded a Honoris causa doctorate from the “Claustro Doctoral Honoris Causa A.C.” for his contributions to science, arts and philanthropy.
He has an MA in Cinematography from the Higher School of Cinema and Multimedia ILUMINA with an honorable mention of excellence, an MBA from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom with an exchange program in Lyon, France, where he specialized in Strategic Planning. He has bachelor degree in Agricultural Engineering and Animal Science from the Monterrey Tech; as well as a Law Degree with honors of excellence from the TecMilenio, Mexico.
For the past two decades Mauricio has been a member (SNI 1) of Mexico’s National System of Researchers. In 2021 he received from the Costa Rican Government and community the “International Ray Tico Gold Award” as an artist, activist and scientist for an excellent career and professional excellence. In filmmaking he has over 50 international awards and nominations.
In 2020 he received the Conservation Award from the Arizona Game and Fish Commision. In 2015 he was awarded the University of Nuevo León research prize for the best research paper in the area of Natural Sciences during 2014 and also received the Dr. José Álvarez del Villar Award from the Mexican Ichthyological Society for the best doctoral dissertation. In 1994 he was awarded the medal of “Best Students in Mexico” by CONACYT and the Mexican Institute of Culture, given by the president to the best graduating students.
Mauricio has international experience in conflict analysis, structuring and search for solutions; conflict resolution; project management; and in the coordination of multicultural and multidisciplinary teams. I have artistic, administrative, social and technical skills, along with the appropriate knowledge and academic credentials to guide the development and implementation of projects that may include strategic planning, decision making, technical and administrative supervision of human resources, budget management, scientific research, legal studies, communication, extension and multimedia.
He considers himself a meticulous, affable, discreet, cautious and thoughtful person and applies his analytical skills when dealing with complex situations. Mauricio is respectful of other ideas and opinions and is motivated by challenges and performing specialized tasks, either on his own or as a member of a team. He has produced and directed fiction, experimental and documentary films, edited books, written book chapters and scientific publications in various academic fields and has also developed legal analysis and public policy work on freshwater, the natural environment and sustainable development
Pamela Aglaé Salinas Silva is a television journalist based in Monterrey, Mexico, specializing in social issues, urban development, and the environment. She has documented community-led conservation initiatives that have contributed to the recognition of Protected Natural Areas at the state of Nuevo León.
Her narrative approach blends rigorous research with deep respect for nature and for the people who work to protect it. Currently a reporter at Imagen Televisión, she joins the WCFF with the conviction that storytelling can help drive the protection of wildlife and ecosystems.
David Younkman, retired, spent his entire career advancing conservation and protecting the environment. David began his career with two decades at The Nature Conservancy, beginning as Ohio State Director and leaving as Vice President for Resources of the Latin America and Caribbean Program, where he developed TNC’s Adopt an Acre Program and their Parks in Peril Initiative. David also served as Executive Director for American Oceans Campaign and as Western Regional Director for the National Wildlife Federation. David spent twelve years at American Bird Conservancy (2009-2021), serving as Chief Conservation Officer and later as Vice President for the Western Region, where he helped establish ABC’s western programs to protect birds and their habitats. David received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Miami University and a Master of Science in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ian Redmond is a tropical field biologist and conservationist, renowned for his work with great apes and elephants. For more than 40 years he has been associated with Mountain Gorillas, through research, filming, tourism and conservation work.
Ian founded Ape Alliance in 1996 to encourage conservation organisations to work together.
Putting conservation principles into practice, he has led anti-poacher patrols, guided film crews and/or special interest tours into close encounters with gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, elephants and erupting volcanoes, and worked to support local conservationists during the horrors of Rwanda’s and D.R. Congo’s civil wars.
Under-cover investigations led him to play the role of a potential ape-buyer in order to infiltrate a poaching ring in Congo-Brazzaville and more recently a potential Coltan dealer in DRC. His work on behalf of animals was recognised in 1996 with the presentation of the PAWS Humane Achievement Award, at a ceremony in Hollywood, California.
He was appointed OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2006, served as Ambassador for the UN Year of the Gorilla 2009 and is currently an Ambassador for the Convention on Migratory Species. Ian is based in the UK.
Robert has been a life-long conservationist and lover of wildlife. Raised outside of Philadelphia he graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors Degree in Public Policy and International Relations. He went to work in the private sector for a couple of years before leaving and going to work for the government in Miami, Florida. During this time Robert began attending law school part-time at night graduating with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami with a focus on Environmental Law. He eventually returned to the private sector and to Pennsylvania where he currently resides. He enjoys the outdoors and contributes much of his time to various animal rescue and environmental charities.
