Rahul Chand is currently the Programme Coordinator for the Protected and Conserved Areas (PCA) Programme at IUCN Oceania. In this role, he leads the oversight of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) across Pacific Island Countries, with a focus on strengthening national capacities through the application of globally recognised tools, standards, and resources such as the IUCN Green List Standard and Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) frameworks.
With over 16 years of experience in the conservation sector, spanning both government and non-government organisations, Rahul has contributed significantly to biodiversity policy, planning, and implementation in the Pacific. Notably, he served as the Programme Coordinator for Fiji’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and was a key negotiator for the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) — representing Fiji from the Aichi Targets through to the historic agreement in Montreal. He initially served in this capacity on behalf of the Government of Fiji, and later as a representative of a specialised international organisation.
Rahul has represented Fiji in various high-level international fora, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council as the Pacific Representative, and as a Bureau Member for the CBD COP Meetings of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol. He has also served as the Chair of the Informal Advisory Committee on Capacity Building for the Nagoya Protocol, and as a member of the Informal Advisory Committee on the Clearing-House Mechanism for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Since joining IUCN, Rahul has led numerous capacity building workshops and technical training sessions across the Pacific region on the effective management of protected and conserved areas, using IUCN’s flagship knowledge products. Prior to joining IUCN he was employed at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme after a short stint with SPC as the consultant. He also spearheaded the inaugural regional conference on Traditional Knowledge and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Pacific, fostering meaningful dialogue among Indigenous knowledge holders, policymakers, and practitioners.
Rahul holds a Master’s in Environmental Law and Master in Environmental Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change, and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and currently pursuing his Phd in New Zealand. He is also a certified project management specialist and a member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ). His academic grounding and professional expertise have positioned him as a leading voice in biodiversity conservation, traditional knowledge systems, and environmental governance in the Pacific.
