Refecting on The IUCN

When thousands of conservation leaders gather from across the globe, the operational challenge is as complex as the environmental issues they're solving. This October, the IUCN World Conservation Congress brought that reality to Abu Dhabi.

Every four years, this gathering convenes governments, Indigenous communities, scientists, and civil society under one roof. The ambition was clear. Turn decades of commitments into measurable action through the Abu Dhabi Action Plan.

Behind the scenes, a different kind of transformation was taking place. Multiple government entities, international organisations, and delivery partners needed to operate as one synchronised team across an enormous venue at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.

Trivandi developed and implemented the full operational framework for the event. This included support across all functional areas - from venue and logistics operations, to transport, accreditation, security, guest services and protocol.

Our approach focused on integration from day one. We established a C3 Centre (Command, Control and Coordination) that became the operational heartbeat of the Congress. This central hub connected all operations in real time, enabling rapid decision-making and seamless coordination across all functions. When challenges emerged, information flowed instantly between teams. Informed decisions happened quickly.

Months before opening day, we ran through scenarios, tested systems, and prepared for every contingency. Not because we expected things to go wrong, but because complex events demand that level of readiness. When Congress week arrived, that preparation showed.

Working alongside Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCaE UAE), Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation | مؤسسة سلامة بنت حمدان آل نهيان, and IUCN, we helped deliver an event that matched its global significance. The UAE demonstrated what environmental leadership looks like, and Trivandi was privileged to support that vision.