Cate Owren is a women’s rights and gender equality specialist with nearly 20 years of experience working at the unique intersections of gender and environment issues. She has extensive experience working across global, regional, national and more local levels on policies, programming and practice that aim to address gender gaps and improve equality outcomes in tandem with environmental outcomes; she has specific expertise in gender-responsive sustainable development policy frameworks, including as related to climate change and biodiversity. Having joined IUCN in 2013, Cate currently oversees the gender team programme portfolio, which includes a wide range of knowledge development and dissemination efforts; capacity building and technical support; policy guidance; and gender integration across the Union, including with state and non-state members. Prior to IUCN, Cate was the Executive Director of the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), a women’s global advocacy in New York. She has degrees in Socioeconomic Development, Theater and English Literature. She has traveled, lived, or worked in more than 30 countries.