Shamma is one of seventeen inaugural members of the IUCN Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). The first of its kind, the YAC was launched in April 2024 to support the implementation of the IUCN Youth Strategy across the Union. The YAC is comprised of youth from across the globe, each bringing their own diverse experiences to support meaningful youth engagement in IUCN’s policies, processes and programmes. Get to know Shamma and other YAC members as we introduce them.
Hi everyone, my name is Shamma Alkhoori and I am one of the IUCN Youth Advisory Committee members! I am currently a Youth and Community Analyst at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD). I first joined the EAD in 2018 as a volunteer supporting the Agency’s outreach programmes. Not long after, I was promoted to School Outreach Programme Specialist, where I had the opportunity to lead one of the EAD’s flagship projects – the Sustainable School Initiative. I also hold a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and sustainability from Zayed University, and I am passionate about environmental protection and inspiring future generations to protect our planet.
In 2019, I was selected as a UAE youth delegate at COP25 in Spain in recognition of my performance in the Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) Pioneers programme under the Youth 4 Sustainability initiative by Masdar.
One of my greatest contributions to the field of sustainability would have to be my involvement in developing e-Green, the first e-learning platform dedicated to the environmental sector in the Middle East. This platform helps students and teachers access to high-quality educational resources on environmental topics.
Developing innovative environmental initiatives and being able to participate in climate events at a global scale truly reflects my deep passion for the environment and the importance of building a sustainable future.