Dr Alix Willemez is widely sought after as a motivational speaker because she unites scientific expertise with a compelling personal narrative of resilience. An environmental consultant, author, international speaker and the founder and chief executive of Mamafrica, she has devoted her career to improving both planetary and human wellbeing. Through Mamafrica, the foremost healthcare information platform in West Africa, she has helped thousands of families access reliable guidance and nearby medical support. Her work focuses on resilience and optimism in humans and in nature, shaped by nearly twenty years at the forefront of climate finance and environmental law.
Her understanding of strength and uncertainty began early. At the age of nineteen, she survived a severe plane crash, an experience that formed the foundation of her perspective on hope and recovery. She commenced her career in natural resources consultancy, progressing through roles that supported renewable energy initiatives and advised governments on marine and environmental policy. Her responsibilities expanded as she served as Deputy Bureau Chief for State Action at Sea and later as Policy Advisor to the General Consul of New Zealand. She went on to work as an expert advisor to the United Nations, the Government of Caledonia, WWF and other significant organisations, building a strong reputation across the environmental sector. Alongside these appointments, she lectured in operations management, sustainable development, European law and business management, contributing to academic programmes in Morocco, Caledonia and the United States.
Her leadership in global environmental governance is marked by notable achievements. She became a member of the World Commission on Environmental Law, an expert for the United Nations World Ocean Assessment, and an advisory board member of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative. She completed a Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge, founded Mamafrica, and joined the Global Environment Facility as an environmental and climate finance specialist within the African Development Bank Group. As an author, she has written five children’s books on the ocean, a book on money and an academic volume examining the legal frameworks of sustainable development.
These combined experiences underpin her impact as a motivational speaker. Dr Willemez links the resilience of ecosystems with the resilience required in human lives, translating complex ideas in law, finance and ecology into accessible insights. Having lived and worked across continents, she communicates with clarity across cultures and inspires audiences to act with purpose, courage and optimism.
