Speakers
2025 Speakers
keynote speaker: Rob P. Clay
Rob P. Clay, Ph.D., is a migratory bird conservation expert with over 20 years of experience. Originally from the UK, his passion for Neotropical birds began during an undergraduate expedition to Paraguay in 1992, leading to Ph.D. studies on manakins in Costa Rica and Panama. Before joining WHSRN in 2014, Rob worked with BirdLife International, where he led programs for threatened species and helped establish the Southern Cone Grasslands Alliance. A co-founder of Guyra Paraguay, he is also involved in several key conservation initiatives across the Americas. Rob now lives in Asunción, Paraguay, where he monitors shorebirds at the Asunción Bay WHSRN site with his family.
Presenter: Jenell larsen temepel
Jenell Larsen Tempel, Ph.D., is a wildlife biologist based in Juneau, Alaska. Jenell’s background and Ph.D. research include fisheries and marine mammal work. It wasn’t until she joined the Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program at the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in 2020, that she began working on shorebirds and launched a project studying Red Knots in Controller Bay. In her role as the Endangered Species Biologist, she serves on working groups and recovery teams for threatened and endangered species, coordinates state responses to federal Endangered Species Act listing decisions and conducts research on Species of Greatest Conservation Need across the state. After working on Red Knots for 4 years, Jenell has become captivated by shorebirds and has plans to continue shorebird research projects in Alaska.
presenter: Erin Cooper
Erin Cooper, a Wildlife Biologist for the Forest Service, has lived and worked in Cordova for 24 years. Her work has ranged from shorebirds and waterfowl to mountain goats and moose with a focus on ecosystems of the Copper River Delta. Since 2001 she has been a core member of the Copper River International Migratory Bird Initiative, promoting international conservation for migratory birds and their habitats throughout the Pacific Flyway.
presenter: Dotty Widman
Dotty Widman has been teaching a variety of workshops in Cordova, Alaska through her craft store, The Net Loft, over the past 34 years of owning the shop. She enjoys translating botanical and natural history into fiber art interpretations using wool and yarn, and loves teaching and sharing new techniques as a means to encourage creativity and community.