I lead the multinational "Biodiversity & Forests" team at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Japan, where we conduct policy-relevant research on natural systems and our impact on them. For over 20 years I have gathered global experience in environmental management, science, and policy. My goal is to contribute to a more robust understanding of the environment, for the sake of people and nature, and to foster collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and stakeholders. I am an editor for Springer Nature's "Sustainability Science" and, since 2020, I have been hosting The Case for Conservation Podcast.