Dr Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo a national of Benin, and a Canadian Citizen. She has a wealth of experience in international development and 30 cumulative years managing complex initiatives across Africa, in Latin America, and Canada with a focus on the environment, community livelihood and gender equality. She has worked with a range of international organizations developing, managing or mobilizing resources. As the first female forester in West Africa, Dr. Biao pioneered ground-breaking initiatives including participatory management of protected areas. 

Dr. Biao is Joining UNFF from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi where she served for over Six (6) years as the Director and Regional Representative for Africa. She worked with Canadian Crossroads International as the Director of Programs. She also served the Canadian Centre for international Studies and Cooperation as the Regional Director for Africa, as well as with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Regional Office for West Africa. She worked for 7 years with a private sector organization.

Dr. Biao served as Benin’s Minister of Environment and Nature Protection as well as Acting Minister of Family and the Child.

She holds an M.Sc. in Forestry economics, a PhD in Public Policy and Administration and numerous other certificates for which she gained academic accolades. She has won the Global Women’s Leadership and Green Future Leadership Awards and named Commander of the National Order of Merit.