Hanying Li

Dedicated, Passionate, Focused.

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What was your motivation or inspiration to become a CEC member?

The work of CEC gives me a sense of fulfillment, especially when I see how its educational campaigns affect children.

What advice do you have to advance the conservation agenda?

Education must link to behavior change to achieve conservation goals. Education has never been emphasized enough in conservation work. It is not simply about spreading the knowledge — it must lead to behavior change.

Tell us more about yourself.

I am a development professional with a strong interest in environmental education, communications, and public campaigns gained over a period of 20 years.

My professional career includes 15 years of experience working in China on policy advocacy, communications, and project implementation, and five years experience promoting sustainable conservation in the Asia Pacific region.

I started my career with China Environmental Protection Foundation (CEPF), the first non-profit organization dedicated to environmental protection in China, where I was in charge of international cooperation, education, and public relations. During my time at CEPF, I supported high-level legislative dialogues between the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the National People’s Congress of China (NPC), as well as governments in other countries, in order to develop China's environmental policies and regulations. I also worked collaboratively with the State Environmental Protection Administration on bilateral policy formation.

In 2008, I joined the IUCN in the Asia region to work with Mangroves for the Future Initiative (MFF), a regional multi-partner program with the goal of promoting coastal ecosystem rehabilitation and long-term sustainable management in the Great Indian Ocean Area after the 2004 Tsunami. Based in Thailand, I was actively involved in the managerial and technical oversight of the program, especially the Small Grants Facility. In 2011, I was promoted as the IUCN Northeast Asia Program Coordinator and Acting Head for IUCN China, where I was in charge of program/project development, fundraising, and membership enhancement. I also managed IUCN China Program office, where I was responsible for country profile development, donor cultivation, stakeholder coordination, etc.

I hold a M.S. degree in Organizational Management from the School for International Training, VT, U.S.A., and a B.L. degree in International Political Sciences from Peking University, China.

Appointed as a CEC Steering Committee member for 2013-2016, I have started assisting CEC to develop its strategy for a closer collaboration with China with a focus on nature education. I act as a bridge to introduce nature education experience to China through the CEC network, especially on training courses, training modules, and training materials. I work with relevant government departments, NGOs, and business to improve the capacity of professionals, so that to place policy influence at high level on nature education.

What are you working on now?

I am currently involved in the following projects:

1. The development of the first nature interpreters training manual for Beijing forest system.

2. Environmental education training for youth ambassadors on environment,

3. Capacity training for governmental officials, NGO professionals, school teachers, and CSR managers.

4. Fundraising for CEC activities in China.