to read some of these comments that CEC compiled as a farewell

e
e
Time for the sweeter
things in life
A small CEC memoire for CECILIA NIZZOLA-TABJA
CEC staff 1994-2014
T
”
U
A
O
I
B
L
“A CECI
n roots
ia
v
u
r
e
P
h
d, wit
l
r
o
w
e
h
o the
t
t
f
o
t
u
o
n
a
g
m
o
in
a w
reach
s
e
h
c
n
a
r
Cecilia is
b
life.
s, and
m
e
r
e
t
h
s
s
in
is
d
w
visite
and S
s
a
h
e
h
s
s
rie
many count
Cecilia has had
a rich life expe
rience, and has
spirituality, and
always been ope
inner growth. Fr
n to culture,
om her young ye
popularised yoga
religion,
ars of pioneerin
and meditation
g
the now very
practices, cham
before such idea
pioning vegan a
s even existed
nd other exotic
in Peru, she has
and remains ope
diets
moved to having
n to continuin
e
x
perienced it al
g these experien
l,
ces.
,
d dedication, and most of all
an
n
sio
pas
,
rt
hea
h
wit
it
s
she doe
dy, health-based restaurant
Whatever Cecilia wants to do,
en
tr
,
tic
nis
der
mo
t,
ran
vib
,
arted a small
started a family,
d
an
d
ban
warmth. Decades ago she co-st
hus
her
h
wit
d
an
erl
r. She moved to Switz
today thanks to her being
in Lima and it was hugely popula
are
ey
th
ls
dua
ivi
ind
ng
azi
am
e become the
’s
with two beautiful boys who hav
, and became the heart of CEC
CEC
N
IUC
e
th
d
ne
joi
she
1,
199
is. In
e members all across the
the Mother that she was and
th
of
e
lov
ng
ori
ad
e
th
g
nin
ensible and ear
operations, making herself indisp
world.
Cecilia is a powerful organiser and communicator. In her year
s with CEC she managed
to connect hundreds of members from across the world to
eachother, and to the
CEC. She has supported all the Chairs in her time with CEC
with absolute loyalty
and hard work.
If we had to c
arry on outlinin
g all of Cecilia
that make her
’s qualities
the wonderful
p
e
r
s
o
n she is, we w
endless pages.
ould fill up
This is why, we
will end here!
ABOUT
CEC
Biodiversity
Commission
Influence
Nature
Network
Communities
Listening
Cutting-Edge
Sustainability
Volunteers
Education
Impact
Dedicated
Warmth
People
IUCN
Policy
Knowledge
Climate Change
Value
Professional
Change
Global
Diverse
Experience
Strategic Communication
The times of
Partha
Sarathy
1991-1994
During the early 1990s, Partha had secured funding and was able to set up formal CEC
within the Secretariat, with Wendy Goldstein and Cecilia joining as support in 1991.
Everything was done in paper!
At this time the membership had a network of about 80 members!
When Cecilia joined, the Commission had just changed its name from “Commission on Education and Training” to the “Commission on Education and Communication” reflecting a desire
to widen the focus of the Commission for new approaches, and particularly into film, which
brought CEC to more cutting-edge forefronts!
This was a busy time for the small CEC office - producing publications such as A Guide to
Environmental Administration In Service Training, Youth in Environmental Action, New Ideas
in Environmental Education, and Planning Education to Care for the Earth.
This was also the beginnings of the CEC newsletter called at the time ‘Nature Herald’.
There was a CEC newsletter that Cecilia organised, as well as the CEC membership - all
recorded on paper!
This was also the start of regionalization, with a regional network created in Asia in
1993!
A little Anecdote from Frits, who was Deputy Chair at the time: “Once I tried to enrich
her function by taking her with me to the CEC LA members meeting in Ecuador in 1993,
because she was speaking Spanish and Wendy did not - after more than 20 years she went
again in a similar position! At the time remember Cecilia was amazed at the politics of the
national representatives! At the end, they pulled together and made an excellent meeting!
The times of
FRITS
HESSELINK
1994-2000
Hi Cecilia, remember we both went to Quito in 1995? We arrived there in the
early afternoon and went for a walk from our hostal to the beautiful old city
of Quito. On the way you were getting more and more nervous because of
potential pick pockets in the narrow old streets. In the end nothing happened.
In the evening we met with Ana Puyol for the first time. Later we met for
the first time with Juanita Castano, Suzana Padua and Denise Hamu. The
next day we had long and difficult discussions with the regional councilors
about our meeting. The ‘machos’ thought they could just take over our meeting. It drove Susana Calvo almost crazy and made her rethink the idea of
being half-Latin herself. In the end the Councilors agreed with our concept.
Thanks to your diplomatic mediation and soft language skills. It was one of
the many occasions during your tenure in which you proved your incredible
added value to CEC. I hope many more occasions will follow!
* moving from individual learning to also organizational and social learning
* moving from focus on educational processes
of informed decision making to also focus on
changing attitudes and behaviors of specific
key audiences with regard to clearly identified
environmental issues
* moving from environmental education as a
stand alone or autonomous intervention
to EE as an integrated part of an national or
local conservation policy or action plan.
The times of
2000 - 2006
DEnise
HAMU
Pr C
og EP
ra A
m
m
e
Eng
ag
in s peop ing
ust
ain le
ab
ility
t on
i
m
m
ld Su able
r
o
W
in
Susta pment
lo
Deve
Educatio
SD
n for
g
in
t
ca rea
i
un A
m ted
m c
Co ote
Pr
.
.
s
e os
v
Lo ot L
N
Clima
te
Chang
e
Secur and
ity!
Keith
Wheeler
20062012
I first met Cecilia at the World Congress in Montreal, where I remember a person
who was very welcoming to a new CEC member. She has always been the “mother” of the Commission. As I became the North American Chair, Deputy Chair, Chair
and Emeritus Chair, I have come to understand and appreciate that Cecilia is the
HEART of CEC. Wherever I have traveled for IUCN throughout the world - everybody
knows and loves Cecilia. This is truly amazing in this day and age, and CEC has
been blessed. In today’s world everything seems to boil down to transactional
conversations --- for Cecilia...there was always a warm smile, a caring thought,
a query about one’s family... she put the word FAMILY into CEC. As Chair, I found
her to be amazing at anticipating and not letting the details fall through the
cracks.... it was like she always had the radar on and could scout any incoming
issue away before it happened. She made the Chair (my predecessors and successors)
look great!
On a personal level Cecilia has become a great friend to Karen and I, and that
has extended to our families. We have enjoyed many meetings, meals, travel, and
fun along with all the hard and important work. IUCN and CEC will miss Cecilia,
but I know that the friendship that I have developed over 20 years will endure.
Cecilia--- best in all future endeavors --- with much love Keith and Karen!
You
t
Awa h
rds
!
l
iona
s!
Reg -Chair roups!
e
Vic ialty G
c
Spe
g
al
n
n
u
o
Yo fessi e!
Pro Forc
k
Tas
Na
Its ture.
No abou
t Lo t L
ss. ove
.
Human
ns
Dimensio
of
ity
Biodivers
Juliane
Zeidler
CEC Talks
Nature!
“On a recent visit to Gl
and, Julia gave me the lo
oks and told me: “Poor
Cecilia - she always is in
the office - one of the
first to come and
one of the last to leave!
”
years
o
w
T
!
u
o
y
s
is
m
bsolutely
a
o
s
l
il
w
I
s of
r
a
e
y
y
t
s
n
e
a
B
m
e
y
h
l
t
l
u
y
and hopef
r
e
h
Cecilia - simpl
t
e
g
o
t
best and
k
r
o
t
s
w
o
m
e
t
s
u
n
o
e
t
e
h
in
t
hing you
is
W
of exciting and
!
e
m
arm
o
c
e
h
o
t
t
d
n
n
io
a
t
c
T
a
d
n
n
io
that G a
e
v
r
e
s
joint conservat
e
d
u
o
Y
.
t
enjoymen
d
n
a
n
u
f
f
o
t
o
time !”Growing
a l
e
h
t
f
o
e
m
o
s
r
ast fo
membersh
chair ….. at le
i
20 1 2 - 20 1 4
China!
p!
MEMORIES FROM:
Gillian
MartinMehers
During my time with the team we had for a while 5 people working with us (Cecilia, Lizzie, Caroline, Nicole
and myself) and we really worked at the team development aspect. We enjoyed doing this using the
Strengthsfinder tool and other team tools like FIRO-B etc. and to develop the Getting Things Done system
for our team to learn about ourselves and how to work together best and most efficiently. We did this as
the Learning team so we could help other teams in the building with their productivity and learning, and
all of us, including Cecilia enjoyed using the tools for our team meetings, performance assessments, etc.
It was a really rich team time, and drew on our collective knowledge and particularly Cecilia’s excellent
understanding of IUCN and its people because her people skills are really wonderful and intuitive and this
gave some additional tools to use. At that time we were working with almost all of the major teams
in the building, and that also brought those teams closer to CEC and gave us opportunities to recruit
internally and to work with all the other communicators in the teams. When I started we even had whole
communication team meetings to share learning and experiences.
Because Cecilia is a people person, I think this was another rich period in her career at IUCN. We had
campaigns at that time, like the “Take Time to Talk” for which we made the small laminated cards
that everyone in the building kept by their desk if they wanted to talk to their colleagues and share
their thoughts and learning (I still see those signs in the building), we sponsored the Wednesday Free
Coffee morning which brought everyone in the building into the cafeteria for free coffee and we started
to programme that. Again as I was new, Cecilia’s good relationships with people in all the teams, who had
been there, offered us inside pathways with other teams built on trust and sharing and it gave us real
integration in the building and good access to everyone.
We also started our blog to talk about our learning in the building as a team in 2006, which Cecilia
contributed too, with her own comments and reflections (there are many blog posts from that time and
many good comments by Cecilia with her thoughts, and support). The blog had to be underground at first
because we were told not to do it with IUCN’s name, so we never mentioned IUCN but it remains a rich
record of the teams work at IUCN at that time (from 2006- 2008/9).
Remember the brochure that we worked on and took lots of photos together to make the montage, so it was
a fun team effort that she would remember?
Also, remember the presentation I gave in 2006 about CEC and new learning to introduce people to the
new technologies that CEC was working with (really the first in the building, the first wikis, blogs etc.)
there is a nice photo there of Cecilia, Lizzie and I and the messages on how to get involved with CEC and
all the cool things CEC was doing then is included. It was the time of the Deep Dive, new learning, the
Alexandria meeting etc.
MEMORIES FROM:
Wendy
Goldstein
Cecilia joined at the end of 1991 shortly after I joined IUCN. Cecilia worked part time at first and had
executive secretarial skills, diplomacy and fluent French, Spanish English - IUCN core languages, plus Italian.
The times were archaic in terms of communication, faxes or phone calls were the means of international
communication (no emails), no website....
When we started we were into a period of ‘Caring for the Earth’ being released around the world, and
requests for CEC to promote the message in education. In 1992 there were preparations for the Parks Congress
in Caracas, organising speakers and workshops.
There was a CEC newsletter that Cecilia organised, as well as the CEC membership - all recorded on paper...
Everything happened in CEC because Cecilia was there, she knew names, she remembered names, she had relations
with the members, she was the personal face of CEC, she cared for every volunteer who contributed to the
Commission, she is totally service oriented.
Cecilia organised everyone to get to the CEC steering committee meetings - logistics and outputs- reports,
kept minutes, bent over backwards to help our CEC volunteers ease of travel and comfort; Cecilia supported
the organisation of regional CEC meetings (East Africa, north America and NW and Eastern Europe in the early
90s) and the reports they published, their mail out to participants.
The CEC impetus to hold regional meetings in Europe, South America and Asia to advance strategies for
education for sustainable development had Cecilia organising them; plus the publishing of reports and their
distribution
Cecilia was involved in the set up of CEC stands at Congresses, provision of gifts (CEC pins, CEC paper),
the organisation of workshops at Caracas and Durban Parks Congresses, the theatre performance in Durban,
IUCN Congresses/ General Assemblies (Buenos Aires, Montreal, Bangkok, Barcelona, Korea, from travel to visas
to payments for dinners.
Cecilia was distressed at how the staffing support at IUCN had been cut back. She would speak for the
Commission, for the importance of this are of work for IUCN programme in staff meetings. Mostly she was
aghast at the way she was never approached by her “supervisors” in IUCN , how little interest they took in
CEC, how invisible CEC had become in HQ.
She has gone through so many shifts in direct line of supervision - The Environmental Education and
Communication programme was under ‘Strategies” under Communication, and later under capacity building, under
IUCN communication - Cecilia has weathered a disinterest in the organisation, an isolation and I would
think a sad time in seeing the HQ staff whittled away- once a team of 3 down to just her valiantly
providing service
Over the last decade she liked to talk regularly to Keith and to me occasionally to get some guidance,
second opinions or just a ‘listening’ ear.
I also remember her genuine surprise, shock and fear when Gillian introduced the paperless office and the CEC
‘library, archive and documentation’ had to be dismantled.
Cecilia has unfailing dedication and support for CEC. In Korea IUCN World Congress - Cecilia would sit up
till midnight to make sure all the communication, arrangements for the day, the follow up was all done.
L
O
V
C
M
H
EC:
E
O
T
R
I
F
W
Cecilia
(To th
e tune
Cecilia
of Sim
I wish, from d
on an
d Gar
Oh Ce you we eep in my
funkel
l
c
l
i
h
l
o
i
Cecilia
a
Ride s , I w n this eart,
)
i
s
As yo afe on t h you journey,
u roam he bre peace,
all that
eze,
You have shown us nding,
C
ecilia,
ma
de
oo
t
f
I wish rom d
no task is
,
O
ng
lo
h Ceci you welel ep in my
oo
t
is
no day
on th heart
Rid lia, I
As yeosafe on twish you is journe,y,
no trip is too far mething that you love
u roam he bre peace,
so
eze,
when your work is
Learn
k.
and
Cecilia ing so m
with whom you wor
le
op
pe
he
A
t
ve
lways always souch throu
lo
you
You s there w mehow gh the
d
an
,
us
io
E
ac
gr
ver yohould knoith a war near, years,
nd,
ki
so
g
in
be
r
fo
u repl w no- m emb
u
Thank yo
ace
one co race
C
horus
uld
.
ld
or
w
thoughtful.
he
t
ce in
en
er
ff
di
he
t
l
al
Res
You’ve made
Oh ypeonsibility,
Empat s we see Harmon
be missed.
You will certainly ty Chair of CEC, 2012-current
M
aximhizy and Cotnhese cleayrtoo
pu
De
,
on
Only t er too nected stren
Nancy Collet
he ver
ness gths in
y
you
b
e
st!
Choru
s
Dear Cecilia
Caring
for th
Its m
e
e
m
C
arried bers, CCEC
I remember our first communications while you
Now i the sh hair, an
L
were organizing my IUCN Young Professional
eave tths time toell throughd Committe
out th es,
e work relax
e year
Award. How quickly did you reply to my
to you
Choru
s
r peer
s
s
emails, in few minutes with a solution for
Fro
every question I asked. Since I know you,
To smp the slop
Oh it otting penes of the
whatever events we have in our grass root
And has be guins Matte
level at Palk Bay, immediately send to you
Side blovely to en quite aat Cape Prohorn
int
y side have s ride
pent it
to ask your suggestions to integrate it
Choru
s
with CEC objectives. You have been a main
F
ro
connecting point to our organization with
To Jme Egyptian
Tha kyll Is camel
CEC. Your retirement will be a big loss for
I justiland, Barlacnd & allibg acks
CEC and OMCAR. I really don’t know how I
Great must sa elona too ator sna
to hav y agai
ps
will get such friendly, quick responses from
e been n
Choru
t
here w
s
CEC hereafter. We will miss you Cecilia
ith yo
u
Learn
really...
i
n
g
Ceci
so
Alwaliya always much thro
You s ther someh ugh th
Vedharajan Balaji
Ever yshould kenwith a woaw near, e years,
ou rep ow no rm em
-one c brace
lace
Jubila
ould
t
As yo ion,
To tak u spread
e to th your
e bree wings,
Jubila
ze and
As yo tion,
I’m s
miling
To tak u spread
.
e to th your
w
e
i
n
b
reeze gs,
Lizzie
and I
xxx
’m sm
iling.
o rapido
t
c
a
t
on
c
i
m
e
s
a
b
a
o si se ac todos los viajes, los
om
c
es
ia
il
ec
C
e
n d
partido,
cama y un
a
Para mi la juonbillaacioCEC. Todo el trabajo cmom
un
es
n
ie
t
a
s
a
c
y directo c las risas. Ya sabes que en adrii d. Un fuerte abrazo y muchas
problemas ya mesa, caso que viajes a M as a todas las preguntas.
plato en l la atencion y las respuest
gracias por
N
o
th
ing was ever too
abrazo
es
l
a
n
io
c
a
N
Un beso y un
s
ue
rq
a
P
onomo
Organismo Aut
y
trouble for Cecilia.
Susana Ma Calvo Ro
Jefe de Servicio
Au revoir,
Tim.
[Dr Timothy Barker]
Apreciada C
ecilia
De parte d
Naturales de la familia de l
dedicacion e Colombia quere a conservacion d
mucho biene para con nuestro mos agradecerle e Parques Nacion
p
star de aq
a
ui en adeqeluaipo de Parquesor y todo su apoyo lyes
le deseamos
nte. Mil Gr
Roberto Par
d
a
o
c
ia
lo mejor y
A
s!!
ngel
Biólogo
Coordinador
Parques Nac Red Guacharos
ionales Nat
urales de C
olombia
Dear Cecilia,
It really has been a wonderful few years working with
you and CEC. I believe you have done a fantastic job,
and I am sure that all the CEC members who know you,
will miss you muchly.
Our paths will cross I know, and we’ll be able to catch
up over lunches often.
With much affection, Wendy (Price)
much
Cecilia,
a
d
a
a s .. .. t a n t a s
r
m
b
i
t
a
l
s
a
E
p
s
en poca
nidad
r
u
i
t
c
r
e
o
d
p
o
o
s
m
o
Co
no tuvim
e
u
s c os a s ,
q
a
n
u
m
A
r
i
.
t
s
r
a
a
s
p
co
y de com
s
de tu
o
n
o
r
d
e
r
c
e
o
u
n
c
o
e
c
r
de
un grato
o
d
r
a
u
g
e
siempr
ntigo” no
o
c
r
.
a
a
t
n
n
o
o
s
c
per
re pude
p
m
e
i
de esa
s
“
n
a
e
z
u
o
q
g
r
e
s
o
b
Sa
e no tod
u
q
y
,
o
i
c
e
tiene pr
lo creas,
o
n
e
u
q
suerte.
n
t r a ñ a r , a u s i g a m os
x
e
a
y
o
v
Te
ue igual
q
o
r
e
p
s
e
aunque
molesta.
e
t
o
n
i
s
ta del
s
n
o
u
d
p
a
c
a
i
t
n
s
e
u
com
!! !. .. d e s d e
r
jo
e
espeta
m
r
o
y
l
e
o
r
e
e
s
i
e
u
Te d
que te q
n
e
i
u
g
l
a
,
e
continent
mucho.
cilio
C a r l os M i
Argentina
Dear Cecilia,
I wish to thank you
for your support over
the past 22 years yo
u have worked with
CEC.
It was wonderful w
orking with you while
facing alot of chall
enges in your duties.
We have enjoyed your
service with the CEC
.
Let it be not the
end of the road, we
are
looking forward to w
ork with you in facin
g
the new challenges
CEC and IUCN will fa
ce.
I wish you all the
best in your future.
Warmest regards,
Mohammed Mugheiry
CEC Commission Membe
r
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Cecilia always has a warm word
and understanding for all the
questions posed to her and
has been so kind and helpful.
Wishing her all the best for the
future.
Sincerely,
Nicola
lumn of
o
c
e
th
n
ee
b
s
a
h
ia
il
ec
C
. I cannot
s
er
b
em
m
C
E
C
s
u
r
fo
CEC
er. I am
h
t
u
o
h
it
w
rk
o
w
r
u
o
e
imagin
upport she
s
e
th
r
fo
l
fu
te
ra
g
y
er
v
mile and
s
a
h
it
w
s
y
a
lw
a
e,
m
gave
being kind.
iness.
p
p
a
h
d
n
a
h
lt
ea
h
ia
il
I wish Cec
Abrazos.
ards,
g
re
t
es
b
d
n
a
u
o
y
k
n
a
Th
Juanita Castano
months after
w
fe
a
,
d
an
Gl
inator at IUCN, but also supported the
rd
oo
c
EC
C
he
t
as assistant to the Communication department g others starting the
b
jo
he
t
k
oo
t
Cecilia
arily working in munication with members, amon inted as head of
im
pr
as
w
I
.
N
C
I joined IU
Sarathy, in com CN, Wendy Goldstein was appo being a professional
ha
rt
Pa
,
EC
C
of
then-Chair
after I joined IU assistant. I recall Cecilia as recipes on the
hs
t
on
m
ix
S
.
er
changed
ex
ecame her
b
d
ia
an
CEC Newslett
il
k
ec
or
C
w
d
of
an
outside
I moved to my
ucation
environmental ed . Some of the staff socialized ipe. She remained at IUCN while d it was nice
ue
c
an
and warm colleag I still have her banana cake re in touch from time to time t endeavours
ed
ex
non-work e-mail. later. But through CEC we stay ish you well, Cecilia, in your n
w
s
next job 5 year act with a former colleague. I ing the CEC membership.
t
rt
still having con your professional way of suppo
r
hello;
and thank you fo
Kind regards,
Hosang
Joanna BoddensSenior Advisor
d
ent Studies
Research Dept. an nal Environment and Developm
io
Dept. of Internat y of Life Sciences (NMBU)
sit
Norwegian Univer
Cecilia do
the IUCN ing her amazing wo
WCC Barce
rk at
lona!
D’autres c
ontribution
suivre
s pourront
Bon diman
che
Felicite M
Chargee de angang
relations Communication et
avec les
Membres des
I am not only surprised but
really shocked to know that Cecilia
mam will no longer there as our
guardian! I can remember our
every communication since my
first membership news came
from her end in the year 2007.
She is such a positive and
encouraging lady I have rarely
seen in my 25 years career as a
conservationist! I sincerely believe
that she must have somehow
realized the core disappointment
of the conservationists, especially
from the developing countries.
Replying any inquiry, I respectfully
observed that quality. That is
rare of the rarest humanism, we
commonly observed. Arrogance,
hippocracy, domination are so
common phenomenon , where
Cecilia madam would be with us
in isolation. I convey my heartiest
regards and congratulations to her.
Samik Gupta
Dear Cecilia,
It was a pleasure to work with you for two and half years in the IUCN Secretariat supporting
the Commission on Education and Communication (CEC). During this time I was able to
see the complete dedication you gave to your job and the way in which you built such close
relationships with the members of the Commission and others throughout the broader IUCN
network. Your institutional knowledge is unmatched and a great asset to IUCN and the
Commission.
I really appreciated your ability to read people, even with a brief encounter or small amount
of information, you seemed to have a skill for analysing and summing up the situation and
can follow your ‘gut’ to the right outcome. It was great to work with you during the years,
experiencing together both highs and lows. With my family being so far away, it was good to
be able to share with you my own personal life milestones and the enthusiasm you shared
with me in welcoming the newest members to our family and for me to get to know your sons
as well.
I know that the CEC will always remain in CECilia even after you retire and I wish you all the
very best for your next chapter in life - I know you will continue to enjoy it!
With love and best wishes,
Rod, Luna, Edward and Emma Abson
XXxx
She is
a kind
,
ready
to do understandi
ng,
and,per
always
s
on who
h
that e as a word.
I can
very t
tell
i
m
Cecilia
e I wr
o
a
she al sking for so te to
wa
me
day or ys did it, n thing,
o
t
respons iming. Her s matter
en
ab
amazing ility and k se of
nowled
. So t
ge is
h
all yo
ur wor anks Cecilia
k.
for
Heidy f
rom Co
sta Ri
ca
na
i
t
s
u
s fa ios te
e
cilia ingo d do
e
C
Hola nto dom el mun
a
de s a siempre como tu
ig
bend ta gente ego aqui
i
u
neces hasta l minicana ro
o
ie
es un publica D a .no qu
e
s
en R una ca acto me a
h
s
t
tiene tu con UICN.muc a
l
r
perde falta en ones te
i
haces y bendic
salud s .
e
merec na Varela
i
Faust
Dearest Cecilia,
For me it has been more than twenty years since my first meeting with you, dear Cecilia
.Where? If I remember correctly- In Latvia. Or maybe in Estonia? Then four IUCN Congresses
(Montreal, Amman, Barcelona and Jeju) , Rio+10 World Summit In Johannesburg,, World Parks
Congress In Durban and numerous meetings In Gland and in several Europeans countries.
Four continents and Australia coming soon. The colourful map of the World with one very
constant point- characteristic: Cecilia’s warm smile. So warm that I can put the very
brave, new hypothesis. It is Cecilia’s smile the most responsible for the Global Warming!
Dear Cecilia -For me- very special memory is closely connected with your visit In Poland
1998 during the Commission meeting In Mikolajki- the Warsaw University Field Station at
Masurian Lake District. I have been so happy to have opportunity to show you a piece of
wild nature In my country. Unfortunately I have been so busy with some organization’s
duties as a host so I did not manage to take your picture on the background of
Masurians landscape. Anyway I easily can see you In the Masurian forest. Any time I wish
I can see you under my eyelids. I am sending you such landscape picture from the Masurian
Lake District with my secret - Only myself I can see you standing on the left side of
photo with your unique Cecilia’s smile. As always.
Anna Kalinowska
Cecilia Nizzola-Tabja is a name synonymous with IUCN to many, many members around
the world. Cecilia has provided the anchor and familiarity that always gives one a sense
of getting a very warm welcome, reminder and updates on IUCN) matters. I was actively
involved in IUCN matters towards the late 1990s and early 2000 and I attended the
IUCN World Congress in Amman, Jordan. The only Regional NGO in the South Pacific
at that time was the South Pacific Action Committee on Human Ecology and Environment
(SPACHEE) which was the sole IUCN member from Fiji Islands at that time. I was
President of SPACHEE then and the name I remember from then to date is Cecilia
Nizzola-Tabja and it is hard to imagine it not being there.
I have been involved with the Commission on Education and Communication and it
through the dedicated and efficient work and communications from Cecilia that I have
contiuned to be personally interested and supportively of IUCN’s vision and work. Today,
IUCN is physically present in Fiji having an office and working actively in and around
the South Pacific and it is to workers like Cecilia that have contributed in making IUCN’s
presence felt around the world.
Thank you Cecilia for keeping IUCN candle burning in our hearts and minds and
assisting our work in passing on this light to all we come in contact with in the
local communities in our part of the world. Enjoy you much deserved and well-earned
retirement. Form Fiji Islands IUCN CEC and SPACHEE, I say VINAKA VAKALEVU and
thank you so very much..from LEBA C. HALOFAKI-MATAITINI, Suva, Fiji Islands.
La presencia de Cecilia Nizzola Tabja en la Secretaría de la CEC de la UICN durante sus 22
años de funciones, siempre ha constituido para mí un símbolo de compromiso y eficiencia
institucional, así como garantía de virtudes profesionales y personales que han hecho que
toda la relación profesional directa e indirecta que he mantenido con la organización sea
eficaz, agradable y motivadora. Creo que su gestión ha sido significativamente favorable
para los fines de la Unión, la Comisión y la Membresía tanto por la ingente acción cumplida
como por la calidad de lo realizado y la forma en que lo ha hecho. Cecilia ha sido siempre
eficiente, y en todo ha puesto lo mejor del gran talento, conocimiento e intuición que le
caracteriza. También le ha sobrado tiempo y espacio para dedicar lo mejor de su prudencia,
paciencia, amabilidad y don de gentes para comprender las necesidades del sinnúmero de
personas e instituciones con las que le ha correspondido relacionarse y nos ha servido
con esmero y generosidad. Creo que su nombre merece ser reconocido por la sociedad de
conservación de todo el mundo que trabaja en torno a la UICN, y en particular de la CEC, y
quizá en otros ámbitos más, porque es un gran ejemplo de compromiso con la defensa de la
naturaleza y de las instituciones que luchan por salvar la vida en el planeta.
Marco Encalada, Corporación OIKOS, Ecuador.
Farewell to our Golden Liaison Officer
I was only a year old when you joined the CEC team, and “that is probably why I cannot
remember the welcoming occasion very well”, but whoever was present to welcome you to the
job, to say congratulations and to wish you all the best must be proud to see what you
have done every single one of those years of dedicated service. You were definitely the heart
of the commission; I wonder how you did it, exactly how you managed to keep everything going
so smoothly for such a long time, you should share the secret one of these years.
You and the entire CEC team welcomed young people to the commission. It was in your
dedication and willingness to share that we were all kept in the loop, so we never miss
out on important information some of which helped advance careers, motivate people’s work
or simply encourage young members of the commission to push further. As immediate leaders of
tomorrow, we truly are following in the footsteps of the best, privileged to have a point of
reference and that is why we will liaison better between our networks. As much as it was
probably overwhelming sometimes, being anxious about the result of all activities you had to
coordinate, “it was actually “a job well done! Congratulations and “tangi unene” (thank you
very much in my language) you did well!!
With appreciation
Hilma Angula- Namibia
ientôt.
b
e
t
i
a
r
t
e
r
a
endre t
r
p
ue
q
s
a
s
i
v
a
u
s
t
je
e
,
u
s
q
forme
d’année
n
e
’i
n
i
m
a
t
n
g
o
n
i
v
ent
m
ne
ilia
e
u
c
l
e
p
C
s
i
m
i
e
u
r
s
p
è
e
t
d
h
u
c
i
o
a été t
avec to
n
t
Ma très
c
o
i
, de
a
t
s
e
n
s
i
m
o
s
c
m
i
l
a
m
n
e
o
n
C
n
é
t
o
é
i
a
Pour avoir tu as accompli pour l ormément de profess considération
én
e
a
le travail qu . Tu as su démontré si acquis l’estime et l
us
ire
extraordina t de courage. Tu as a és. Bravo et merci!
e
oy
dévouement et celles que tu as côt
si
t
E
.
e
l
l
i
m
a
x
de ta f
s
è
r
p
de tous ceu
u
a
e
t
i
seras
ra
e
t
C
e
r
.
e
e
u
n
g
g
i
n
s
o
l
i
is-mo
use et
a
e
f
r
,
u
a
e
d
h
a
e
n
n
a
u
C
ite
au
Je te souha idais venir te balader
éc
jamais tu d laisir de te revoir.
p
Cecilia’s warmth crossed the
toujours un
Altantic Ocean, connecting me
d.
a
t
s
i
m
a
i
m
do
Te envio to
CEC over countless Skype calls
and e-mail messages, creating
a sense of community both
Querida Ce
professional and personal. What
cilia:
De corazon
a great voice! Special meetings
, GRACIAS,
por haberl
vida a nue
e dado brought us face-to-face, which
stra Comis
ion
Me quedo
con una i .
was even better. Working with
magen tuy
de mujer p
a
rofesional,
Cecilia was always a delight.
organizada,
colaborado
ra y cons
Cecilia, heartfelt best wishes fo
tante; y,
ante todo
, d
your health and happiness doing
encantado e una DAMA, culta
ra.
y
what you love in the years to
Un verdad
ero placer
come.
el haberte
conocido.
Susan Guthridge-Gould, CEC edito
Abrazos y
los mejore
s deseos
vida futur
para tu
a.
Sigamos en
contacto!!
!!
Mery Ruth
- CEC Bol
ivia
Jean Perras
In the course of my life I have
met only few, very few persons so
Hola a todas:
anos 90s,
ready and willing to help like Cecilia
Conoci a Cecilia en los
o de
Nizzola-Tabja. During several past
cuando desempene el carg
on
gi
re
ra la
presidente de la CEC pa
years - I must confess - she has
os
en
bu
uy
m
go
en
t
de Sur America,
become my chief and actually the
.
la
el
de
s
do
er
recu
only one firm liaison point in the
es sinonimo
Cecilia, el jubilarse no
nueva etapa
IUCN Headquarters. I dared to
de retirarse es solo una
la la vida
approach her with various requests,
privilegiada que nos rega
los frutos de and have received a positive answer
r
ge
co
re
a
os
m
sa
pa
e
nd
do
rminaron,
ge
,
os
am
br
m
se
e
qu
s
la
il
las sem
almost immediately - whereas even
el
e
nt
ra
du
n
ro
ie
ec
crecieron y flor
some of my old good friends have
a
en
ll
as
t
es
y
ho
,
jo
ba
ra
t
periodo del
nes por haber not reacted at all. Many, many
de sabidura y satisfaccio
thanks Cecilia! It sounds incredible
mplido metas
superado retos, haber cu
UICN. Yo me
en
la
el
that you do retire: enjoy now many,
hu
do
ja
de
r
be
ha
y
r conocido una many happy years of relaxation, you
siento orgulloso de habe
Te llevo
u.
t
o
m
co
a
m
da
a
un
y
a
person
deserve them! - Dr Jan Cerovsky,
en mi corazon.
Honorary Member of IUCN
Abrazos
Manuel Borrero Cedeno
Corporacion Redes
our ur
Y
.
n
o
i
act tible. Yo any
r
o
f
g irresis e so m
n
i
t
i
v
n
i
ia,
s itations ries’ mak g their
i
l
i
c
t
e
I
C
.
ice the inv ter sto ke sharin ion and
o
Dear
v
e
u
niq ils make newslet feel li dedicat nspired!
u
a
s
CEC tha kind e-mea next CEoCnservatioene,d for youcrommunity i
mos ls for th ted to ck you ind his great
‘cal le, dedicahts. Than p CEC, t
peop zing insig s to kee
ama ouragement
enc
es,
h
s
i
w
Warmrea Deri
And
I first got to know Cecilia as a staff member of IUCN Sri Lanka when I
attended Wendy [Goldsteins]’s extremely enjoyable and informative annual
Education and Communication staff meetings at Gland in the 1990s. Cecila
was always the most helpful and cheerful person then, and I cannot think
of CEC without her. After I left IUCN, Cecilia was a vital link that kept me in
touch with CEC. She has always been there supporting any work I did as a
commission member, whether to link me up with other members, or to get
any information or materials as need be. You knew she was always only an
e-mail away. Always helpful and prompt with her replies, it is sad to know
that there will be no more regular e-mails from her. In fact, I have an entire
folder for e-mails named Cecilia ! I wish her the very best in the future
and hope that she will continue to be in touch. Enjoy your retirement, Cecilia,
but you will be missed very much indeed.
From
Jinie Dela, CEC member, since 2000 and IUCN SL staff member since I
think 1994-1999.
Dear Cecilia,
and share
u
yo
of
ve
ha
I
e
ur
t
This is the best pic
hope you like
I
s.
es
n
ul
kf
n
ha
t
d
it with love an
it.
of your support
l
al
r
fo
k
n
ha
t
o
t
I would like
commodated
ac
t
ge
o
t
us
of
t
that helped a lo
s answering to
es
in
ad
re
ur
yo
,
EC
C
easily into
serving our
d
an
s
st
ue
q
re
s,
n
io
all of our quest
d love.
an
e
ar
c
h
it
w
k
or
w
et
n
moments we’ve
t
ea
gr
e
m
so
et
rg
fo
I will never
orges, the
M
in
n
io
at
rs
ve
on
c
shared, the deep
Jeju. I hope
in
er
n
in
d
st
la
he
bath in Budapest, t
you will have
as
e
ur
t
fu
he
t
in
to have more
more time from now.
ch
Love and keep in tou
Katalin Czippan
Un ramo de flores para ti, querida
Cecilia, en recuerdo del que amablemente
dejaste en mi casa, en Barcelona,
despues del Congreso de 2008.
Si siempre fue un gusto poder contar
contigo, con tu atencion directa,
amable y sencilla, para mi fue un placer
especial poder trabajar e intercambiar
contigo en el momento del congreso en
mi ciudad.
iTe deseo lo mejor de lo mejor en tu
nueva etapa!
Un beso,
Teresa Franquesa
Ajuntament de Barcelona
ia,
Querida Cecil
r toda tu
o
p
s
ia
c
a
r
g
Muchas
rabajo en
t
o
r
t
s
e
u
n
a
colaboracion
tenerte
e
u
q
i
t
n
e
s
pre
CCA en
la CEC. Siem
a
l
e
d
e
c
a
l
de en
como Oficial
UICN, era
a
l
e
d
l
a
r
t
n
la Oficina ce o de America Latina
acit
tener un ped os y darnos la
oyarn
cacion
u
d
alli, para ap
E
a
l
r
o
p
trabajo
mano en el
os paises.
r
t
s
e
u
n
n
e
Ambiental
seos para
e
d
s
e
r
o
j
e
m
Te envio mis
lmando de
o
c
a
ig
s
e
t
o
que el futur
exitos,
y
ia
r
u
id
b
a
s
lombia,
salud,
o
C
e
d
s
e
d
o
carin
Con todo mi
razo,
un fuerte ab
errero
u
G
z
e
d
u
m
r
e
Olga Maria B
Bogota
E
C
R
a
r
o
t
c
e
Dir
Hola tocaya
Cuántas veces nos habran enviado mensajes que
eran para “la otra Cecilia”!! Pero este mensaje, bien
seguro es para ti. Agradezco mucho haberte
conocido, eres una de las personas mas lindas
que hay en la UICN. Aprecio tu paciencia, tu
capacidad para escuchar, siempre abierta a todas
las iniciativas, y siempre, siempre, tu sonrisa - a la
vez que defiendes la Comision con determinacion,
como un pilar de la Tierra. Gracias por tu empatia
con todos nosotros, colegas de la UICN, miembros
de la CEC, y por haber cuidado y hacer latir el
corazon multicultural de la Comision durante
tantos años.
Un abrazo,
La otra Cecilia ;)
Cecilia Saura Drago
Assistant to the Director General and
to the Deputy Director General / Managing
Director
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature)
It’s been a consis
tent pleasure wor
king
with Cecilia. We on
ly met once at
What are we going to do without
IUCN HQ a few yea
rs ago but she too
you?. Be part of a global family as
k
considerable time
ou
t to introduce
CEC is only possible when there is
m
e
t
o
people and show m
at home, a careful and loving host.
e around the
b
ui
l
d
in
g. Since then she
You have been that for us.
has been a
Bringing all of us together, even
remarkably reliable
contact to spread
when we were distracted with our
the word about ev
ents here in Mont
daily duties
real
and elsewhere, and
she always gets b
You had the patience and dedication
ack
t
o
y
ou
in a pleasant and
to build and serve the network.
prompt manner.
Best of luck Cecil
Thank you for all your work and
ia in all the grea
t
things in your life
passion
t
o come!
Te deseo lo mejor
Dear Cecilia
Rosa María Vidal
MExico-CEC member
Dr. Peter Stoett
Dear friends,
Dear Cecilia
ised that we both
Until now I hadn’t real
ip with IUCN in 1991.
started our relationshst
of four Januarys
For me it was the fir nser
on and
at the Mount Elgon Co Uganvadati. While
Development Project in ed an IUCN
working there I attend ndy Goldstein
meeting where I met Wethe CEC, hence you
and thereafter joined .
became a familiar namer met in person, you
Although we have neve iendly figure, ready
have always been a fr personal note of
to respond and add aof us who reside
recognition to those ’ of the IUCN family.
somewhere on ‘the edgeare leaving but I’d
I’m sorry to hear you the very best for
like to wish you all
life after IUCN!
Yours
Paul
Dr Paul Vare
Dear Cecilia:
Please give Cecilia best wishes from
Belgrade, from me who is a member of the
Commission since 1996, when I came to
IUCN headquarters to my first ever meeting
of the CEC, discovering new World for me
and learning from people such as John
Smyth, Jan Cerovsky and others, when the
work of the CEC was coordinated by Wendy
Goldstein and Cecilia. Many times after
Cecilia was always supportive and responsive
so that I felt as there is always someone to
provide many useful answers and support.
It is difficult to imagine CEC without Cecilia
being there!
I like your idea of making surprise to her in
this way. Cecilia thanks and wish you enjoy
your retirement, wherever you are.
Best regards,
Violeta Orlovic Lovren
CEC and WCPA member
Serbia
World environmental communication and education without you working as hard as you
have in CEC and IUCN would have never been the same. We from all over the world, bu
specially from Central America, value your efforts, always efficient work and kind words
and help to us all every time we had a question or a dought concerning our work within
the framework of the Commission. We wish for you the best and thank you for every
minute and effort you have done to support the dreams, ideas and hopes of so many
people come true.
Un abrazo fuerte y lo mejor siempre,
Vivienne Solis Rivera
Dear Cecilia,
m China.
o
r
f
ther for
g
o
n
e
h
c
F
a
e
ia
J
n
w
is
o
n
k
is
Th
we have
d
n
a
t,
s
a
f
o
s
e
Time has gon
the
d
a
h
I
e
.
s
w
r
a
n
e
e
y
h
w
0
t
almost 2
e we spen
m
ti
l
u
f
r
e
d
n
o
w
the
still remember
n we
e
h
t.
o
w
p
e
t
o
m
ti
h
y
e
p
s
p
e
e
a
Ch
e of the h
m
s
d
in
m
e
r
t
n
Your retireme
style of
r as CEC
l
e
a
th
ic
e
d
g
o
to
th
e
d
e
m
k
r
d
o
w
atience an
p
,
e
c
n
e
ig
il
d
r
u
members. Yo
s and
m
r
a
w
ly
p
e
s
e
y
d
a
k
lw
r
a
o
e
w
n for lif
io
s
s
a
p
r
u
o
Y
.
e
impressed m
ague
e
ll
o
le
c
p
y
o
e
m
p
s
s
a
e
g
u
a
encour
having yo
f
o
d
u
o
r
p
o
s
am
around you. I
fe. So
li
’s
e
n
o
y
n
a
in
and friend.
beginning
w
e
n
a
s
k
r
a
m
Retirement
ou
pe to
y
o
H
to
!
e
f
s
li
n
t
o
ti
n
e
la
m
tu
e
a
r
congr
olorful reti
c
d
n
a
h
ic
r
g
in
on your upcom
live
g
n
o
L
e
!
a
th
in
h
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Best wishe
Dear Cecilia,
Thank you very much for all the long time
when you supported us, CEC members,
by your work. I have always appreciated your
professionality, reliability, patience,
endurance and also understanding for late
feedback. You have been doing really
great work.
For the next years I would like to wish you
good health,time for your hobbies, good
people around you and lot of joie de vivre.
Yours sincerely,
Alena Bauerova
consultancy
strategic planning, stakeholders engagement
THANK
Y
CECILI OU
A