Pooven Moodley from South Africa is an international Human Rights and Environmental Lawyer, strategist, and visionary founder of the Earthrise Collective, dedicated to transforming law and governance to align with ecological and cosmic realities. He is Co-lead author for Chapter 2 of the landmark IPBES Global Assessment, which formally recognizes the pivotal role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in terms of their knowledge and conserving biodiversity and sustaining life on Earth.

Previously the long-time Executive Director of Natural Justice, Moodley has spent over two decades at the forefront of social and environmental justice. His work backs up Indigenous and local communities globally, securing land rights, protecting biocultural heritage and ecosystems, and challenging extractive economic paradigms.

Moodley’s profound insight lies in the evolution of law—from customary systems rooted in place, to contemporary human rights frameworks, and toward an emerging understanding of “cosmic law”: principles of balance, reciprocity, and interconnection that govern all life. A trusted bridge-builder between ancient wisdom and global policy, he brings a rare combination of pragmatic legal strategy and deep philosophical vision.

At the Forum, he will share this wealth of knowledge, exploring how law can shift from an instrument of dominion to a covenant of care, essential for weaving a just and regenerative future.