Prof. Franz Essl (University Vienna) is an ecologist whose work is focusing on improving the understanding of the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss in the Anthropocene. He has published more than 320 scientific articles, and several books. He is a speaker of the Austrian Biodiversity Council. His work has been recognized by including him in the list of „Highly Cited Scientists“ (since 2019), and he has been elected „Austrian Scientist of the year“ in 2022.

Isabelle serves as the director of the Botanical Gardens at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. Her role encompasses overseeing four prominent gardens across France: the Jardin des Plantes in Paris (20 hectares), the Arboretum of Versailles-Chèvreloup (200 hectares), and two smaller botanical gardens in the south of France: the Tropical Botanical Garden of Val Rahmeh in Menton and the Harmas Jean-Henri Fabre in Serignan-du-Comtat. Prior to this position, she held responsibilities for the historical gardens of The Louvre (Tuileries and Carrousel) as well as the Prime Minister’s garden at the Hôtel de Matignon. She holds a degree in Horticultural Engineering from the National Horticultural School of Versailles, along with a Ph.D. in Architecture. The historic artistry of french gardens, biodiversity and passing down well-maintained heritage to the next generation are guiding principles in her work. She is proud to contribute to the Museum mission « Emerveiller pour instruire et agir » (enchanting to instruct and act).

Dr Sanja Kovačić has worked as a senior collection curator in the Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, since 2000. Her area of expertise comprises Croatian flora, thematic ornamental plant groups (Iridaceae, Commelinaceae) and broad plant-lovers’ education via Garden’s publications, exhibitions and social networking. In the Garden, Sanja’s responsibilities include tropical and temperate glasshouse collections and thematic horticultural collections (Alpinum, Flower Spectrum, iridarium, peoniarium, hostarium, collections of tulips, dahlias, gladioli, etc.). She is the author of more than 250 professional, scientific and popular books, papers and brochures. As of late, Sanja has devoted most of her time on composing „Plethora of Plants“ series of articles: a systematic analyses of the Garden’s historic collections.

Santiago Madriñán is an expert in tropical biology with emphasis on botany, evolution and conservation of ecosystems. He is a Professor at the Departement of Biology at Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, and the Director of the Jardín Botánico de Cartagena “Guillermo Piñeres”. This Botanical Garden displays the diversity of the Colombian seasonally dry tropical forest and visitors will find plants from other tropical regions. Since completing his Ph.D. in biology at Harvard University, Santiago has been working on Systematics of the Lauraceae, Páramo plant evolution, DNA Barcoding, Economic Botany, History of Botany and more recently, conservation of the seasonally dry tropical forest. Santiago published numerous books and papers. From a Viennese perspective the book Nikolaus Joseph Jacquin’s American Plants: Botanical Expedition to the Caribbean (1754–1759), published in 2013 by Brill, is one of the most relevant.