PAJE Founder Rosalind Helfand is a speaker, moderator and facilitator with broad expertise covering intersecting environmental and social themes. Some of her past engagements include:

WORKSHOPS & DIALOGUES FACILITATION

National Biodiversity Dialogue: Why US States, Cities and Organizations are Working Together and Engaging to Connect Local and Global Action

Facilitator and presenter for this national workshop with governmental and non-governmental representatives from about 20 US states co-hosted by CalGBA, IUCN, ICLEI USA, NCEL, GYBN USA, Point Blue Conservation Science and California Environmental Voters, 2026.

Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) and Advancing Feminist Civic Space

Facilitator for this interactive dialogue and co-creation session with the Feminist Movements and Leadership Action Coalition, which is convened by UN Women, 2025.

Advancing Gender-responsive Rio Conventions Synergies

Presenter and co-organizer for this workshop co-hosted at the UN campus in Bonn, Germany by the three Rio Convention Secretariats and UN Women, 2025.

Regional Conference — Equality in Climate Action: Planning for a Gender Inclusive Future in Africa

Facilitator and moderator for sessions during this multi-day convening, co-hosted by UN Women, UNFCCC and UNDP, of Gender and Climate National Focal Points, NGOs and UN agencies at the UN Office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2024.

California Takes Action on Biodiversity: A Roundtable Discussion at COP 15

Convened by CalGBA, the California Natural Resources Agency and California Environmental Voters at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal in 2022, Rosalind co-moderated and spoke at this event.

Environment and Equity Workshop

Facilitator for this Pardee Rand Tech + Narrative Lab Conclave program, 2021.

Feminism, Birding & Unexpected Models for Community Based Change

Speaker and workshop facilitator for the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles.

Creating Successful Coalitions Across Organizations

Workshop facilitator for the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles.

RIO CONVENTIONS & GENDER

Achieving Gender-responsive Rio Conventions Synergies

Moderator of this panel and working paper launch hosted by UN Women and the Government of Mongolia at the UNCCD COP16, 2024.

Putting Care at the Centre of Land Governance and Management

Panel speaker in this discussion hosted by Oxfam International at the UNCCD COP16, 2024.

Women’s Land, Coastal and Water Rights: From Global Commitments to Local Actions

Panelist in this discussion hosted by the CBD Women’s Caucus, UN Women and others at the CBD COP16, 2024.

Uncovering Gender Norms in Climate Policy: Making the Case for Change

Moderator and facilitator for this discussion hosted by the Nordic Council of Ministers at the UNFCCC COP28, 2023.

Making BENELUX Climate and Energy Policies Feminist and Decolonial

Moderator of this discussion hosted by Oxfam Belgium and WECF in the Benelux Pavilion at UNFCCC COP28, 2023.

CALIFORNIA GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY ALLIANCE: SUBNATIONAL & LOCAL LEADERSHIP

Local Action, Global Impact: How California Cities Can Advance Biodiversity

Co-presenter, on behalf of CalGBA, with Chance Cutrano of the Resources Renewal Institute at a meeting of the League of California Cities Policy Committee, 2026.

From State Action to Global Impact: Strengthening Biodiversity Through American Local Legislation

Panel speaker for CalGBA at this IUCN World Conservation Congress program organized by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, 2025.

Cali to Cali: How California is Implementing the KM-GBF to Protect Marine Biodiversity

Moderator of this discussion co-hosted by CalGBA, IUCN, NRDC, Point Blue Conservation Science and Resources Renewal Institute at CBD COP16, 2024.

California Takes Action on Biodiversity: A Roundtable Discussion at COP 15

Convened by CalGBA, the California Natural Resources Agency and California Environmental Voters at the CBD COP15 in 2022, Rosalind co-moderated and spoke at this event.

Stakeholder Collaboration: Getting California Involved in International Efforts

Co-presenter at the UC Berkeley hosted Conference on Environmental Conflict and Cooperation, 2022.

Stakeholders Weigh In: California & the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

California environmental organizations and the California Natural Resources Agency discussed priorities for the state’s input to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. This was organized and led by Rosalind Helfand and co-hosts California State Assemblymember Laura Friedman and California Environmental Voters.

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

Fulfilling the True Vision of Beijing (and Rio): A Whole-of-Society Approach to Gender and Environment Data

Speaker on this panel hosted by UN Women, IIED and partners at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, 2025.

Assessing Linkages and Mapping Opportunities for the Feminist Action for Climate Justice Action Coalition

Speaker in this program co-hosted by UN Women and partner organizations in conjunction with the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, 2025.

Driving Land Restoration in Rural Communities Through Feminist Climate Justice

Panelist in this discussion hosted by Green Hope Foundation at the 67th Commission on the Status of Women, 2023.

OTHER GLOBALLY FOCUSED ENGAGEMENTS

The Impact of Pollution and Biodiversity Loss on Women

Panelist in this discussion hosted by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 2025.

Getting Girls to School! Hopes & Challenges Locally & Globally

Panel curator and moderator for “Cooking Oil” the play in Los Angeles.

Graphic Novels Tackling Social Justice & Global Conflict

Panel curator and moderator at LitFest Pasadena.

OTHER CALIFORNIA ENGAGEMENTS

Biodiversity and Community Resilience

Speaker at this Orange County Federal Infrastructure and IRA Funding Accelerator event, 2024.

Biodiversity and Combining Environmental Advocacy with Women’s Political Leadership

Speaker in this panel event hosted by the Heart of L.A. Democratic Club, 2024.

Climate Fact vs. Climate Fiction

In this literary podcast interview, Rosalind discusses her vision for integrating climate change and environmental justice discussions into the Omega Sci-Fi Project, and her work addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.

Sustainable Storytelling

Panel speaker for the Hollywood Digital Climate Summit.

The Nature of Justice: Meeting the COVID-19 Challenge for People and Planet

Presented and led an independent, virtual interactive discussion promoted by the West Hollywood Women’s Leadership Network.

On Fire: California Crisis + Planetary Fixes

Presented on solutions to local to global environmental issues at Rita House in Los Angeles.

Citizen Science as Community Service

Presented at the Citizen Science for Conservation Symposium, Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

Roe v. Wade Anniversary Reproductive Justice Programs

Spoke at and emceed reproductive justice discussions with the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESENTATIONS

Citizen Science as Pioneering Social Innovation

Presented at Girton College, University of Cambridge.

iNaturalist as a citizen (community) science engagement tool

Presented at the Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge.