Joan Carling is an Indigenous leader and environmental defender with decades of experience advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, land protection, and climate justice across local to international platforms. She currently serves as Executive Director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) and has held  roles including Secretary-General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and as a UN Permanent Forum expert member. In recognition of her lifelong advocacy, she received the UN Environment’s Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) and the Right Livelihood Award (2024).