Chilean Fauna Seminar: Where Conservation Meets Creativity
- Maria Jose Andrade
- Oct 28
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 4
Three Visionary Leaders Unite to Inspire the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards
Join us for an extraordinary day of learning, creativity, and action for Chilean wildlife conservation.
In an unprecedented gathering, three remarkable conservation leaders from across the globe are coming together to share their expertise, passion, and innovative approaches to protecting Chile's unique biodiversity. From Antarctic gateways to global conservation networks, these changemakers are bridging continents and generations in the fight to preserve our planet's most vulnerable species.
Meet Our Featured Experts
Katia Macías Díaz: Empowering Youth for Antarctic Conservation
Born and raised in Punta Arenas, one of the world's five Antarctic gateway cities, Katia Macías has transformed her proximity to the frozen continent into a powerful force for youth engagement and environmental leadership.
In 2019, Katia was selected as Chile's representative for the Antarctic Cities Youth Expedition (ACYE 2020), chosen from nearly 100 international applicants. She spent a transformative week at Base Profesor Julio Escudero on King George Island, visiting international research stations and witnessing firsthand the critical scientific work being conducted in Antarctica.
Following her expedition, Katia co-founded the Antarctic Youth Coalition (AYC), a groundbreaking initiative connecting young people from five Antarctic gateway cities: Punta Arenas (Chile), Ushuaia (Argentina), Cape Town (South Africa), Hobart (Australia), and Christchurch (New Zealand). By 2023, she had successfully established AYC Punta Arenas as an official foundation, serving as its President and creating a platform for interdisciplinary youth engagement in Antarctic conservation, combining science, art, law, education, technology, communications, and tourism.
An English teacher with six years of experience working with secondary students, Katia has consistently integrated environmental awareness into her educational practice. In 2025, she relocated to Hobart, Australia, where she is now leading the establishment of the AYC Hobart chapter through a collaborative project funded by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR), in partnership with the University of Tasmania, the City of Hobart, and AYC Punta Arenas.
In her workshop, you'll discover:
The critical role of Antarctic fauna in global ecosystems
How young people can become effective environmental leaders
The unique connections between Chile and Antarctica
Pathways to meaningful involvement in polar conservation
Polly Cevallos: Three Decades of Global Conservation Impact
A Chilean-born visionary who has spent 30 years at the forefront of wildlife conservation, Polly Cevallos stands as a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and cross-cultural collaboration in environmental stewardship.
Born in Santiago to a multicultural family, with her father from Iquique but with Ecuadorian and English descent and a Danish mother, Polly's love for animals began early, nurtured by her father's shared passion for dogs. After moving to Australia at age 13, she pursued her calling in zoology rather than veterinary medicine, driven by her deep sensitivity to animal welfare.
Her defining moment came in 1993 when, as a marketing manager at a Sydney zoo, she invited Dr. Jane Goodall to Australia for the zoo's 75th anniversary celebration. Jane stayed at Polly's home, and their nightly conversations about changing the world led to Jane's pivotal question: "Why don't you start the Institute in Australia?" In 2006, Polly took that leap, founding the Jane Goodall Institute Australia, serving as its first CEO for over five years.
Polly later served as a Director on the Global Jane Goodall Institute Board for six years, expanding the organization's reach and impact across continents. Throughout her tenure, Jane Goodall became not just a mentor but a close friend, enriching Polly's already profound commitment to conservation.
One of Polly's most celebrated achievements is co-authoring the internationally acclaimed book "RED: Rescue Endangered by Design" (Rescue Endangered by Design). This innovative publication highlights 17 endangered species, from chimpanzees to three-toed sloths to blue whales, and features 33 ingenious designs and knitting patterns created by an international team of designers, each inspired by these animals. The book uniquely combines conservation education with creativity and craftsmanship, encouraging readers to knit and create projects while raising awareness about wildlife protection.
In 2024, her groundbreaking work was recognized in the TVN documentary series "10 chilenas que están cambiando el mundo" (10 Chilean Women Who Are Changing the World), celebrating her contributions to conservation and environmental education leadership.
Join Polly for a special hands-on origami workshop featuring Chilean animals, created in collaboration with the award-winning designs of Eggpicnic, the celebrated Chilean-Australian design studio founded by designers and birders Camila De Gregorio and Christopher Macaluso. Based in Canberra, Eggpicnic has gained international recognition for their work devoted to wildlife conservation, with their striking public art installations illuminating iconic landmarks including the Australian Parliament House and all four pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during Vivid Sydney.
In this inspiring session, you'll explore:
Proven strategies for effective wildlife conservation
How art and design can drive species protection and public engagement
Hands-on origami creation with Chilean animal designs
Success stories and lessons learned from three decades in conservation
The intersection of creativity, innovation, and environmental action.
Rosario López: Bringing Chilean Fauna to Life Through Art
An accomplished visual artist with deep roots in both Chile and Australia, Rosario López (known as Rosa) transforms the connection between art and nature into a powerful tool for conservation awareness and community engagement.
Raised in Santiago in a family of ten siblings, Rosa discovered her artistic calling at an early age. Always drawing in her school books, she pursued her passion formally, earning degrees in Visual Arts with a specialization in printmaking and Pedagogy in Secondary Education from Universidad Finis Terrae in Chile.
In 2012, Rosa moved to Australia, where her artistic practice flourished. As both an abstract and figurative artist, she draws inspiration from her Chilean heritage, everyday scenes, color, movement, landscape, and the human figure. Her work is characterized by structural compositions that emphasize balance, movement, and color, utilizing acrylics and Chinese ink on cotton paper and canvas to create a distinctive style featuring grayish greens, pinks, and bold vertical and horizontal lines.
Rosa's artistic excellence has been showcased in prestigious venues including solo exhibitions at Bondi Pavilion Gallery (2015) and 371 Gallery (2018) in Sydney. She participated in the ARP Artists Residency Program (2014-2015) and studied Drawing at the National Art School. Beyond her gallery work, Rosa is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Carrybou Australia, launched in 2020, and has taught at The Nest Creative Space Art Studio.
Rosa's approach to art is deeply process-oriented and community-focused. Growing up in a large family instilled in her a profound understanding of community dynamics and collective creativity. For Rosa, every day presents a new opportunity to add something meaningful to a blank canvas or continue work in progress, a philosophy that mirrors the ongoing, collaborative nature of conservation itself.
In Rosa's painting workshop, you'll create your own artwork featuring three emblematic Chilean species, all originally illustrated by Rosa:
🦦 El Chungungo (Marine Otter - Lontra felina) The world's smallest marine otter, the Chungungo inhabits Chile's rocky coastal waters from extreme northern Chile to Cape Horn. Endemic to the South American Pacific coast, this adorable carnivore faces endangerment due to habitat loss, fishing net entanglement, and pollution. With a population estimated at only a few thousand individuals, conservation efforts are critical to its survival.
🐧 El Pingüino de Humboldt (Humboldt Penguin - Spheniscus humboldti) This charismatic seabird nests along Chile's northern coasts and is instantly recognizable by its distinctive black-and-white collar and pink facial patches. Listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, Humboldt Penguins face numerous threats including overfishing of their primary food sources (anchovies and sardines), climate change impacts on ocean currents, habitat disturbance, and entanglement in fishing gear. Chile hosts the majority of the world's breeding population, making conservation efforts here particularly crucial.
🦩 El Flamenco Chileno (Chilean Flamingo - Phoenicopterus chilensis) A majestic bird with vibrant pink plumage, the Chilean Flamingo inhabits high Andean lakes, salt flats, and coastal lagoons from central Peru through Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. The most abundant flamingo species in South America, it serves as an indicator species for wetland health. These remarkable birds filter-feed on algae and small invertebrates, and their distinctive coloring comes from carotenoid pigments in their diet. Protecting Chile's wetland ecosystems is essential for the survival of this iconic species and the countless other organisms that depend on these fragile habitats.
Take home your three hand-painted illustrations as lasting reminders of Chile's incredible biodiversity and your commitment to its protection.
Event Details
📅 Date: Sunday 09/11/2025
📍 Location: Taronga Zoo, Sydney.
🕥 Workshop Times: 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM
🎤 Featured Talk: 1:00 PM
Special Bonus Experiences
🦅 Free Flight Bird Show Experience the majesty of Chilean raptors in action! Our free flight bird show will feature native birds of prey demonstrating their natural behaviors and hunting techniques. We're hoping to feature the iconic Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)—the world's largest flying bird and a sacred symbol in Andean cultures. With its impressive 3-meter wingspan and crucial role as nature's cleanup crew, the Condor represents the wild spirit of Chilean fauna.
🎟️ Exclusive Offer for Early Registrants: The first 50 people to arrive to the workshops will receive a complimentary ticket to return to the zoo—extending your opportunity to connect with wildlife and continue your conservation journey!
Why This Seminar Matters
Chile is home to extraordinary biodiversity, from the Atacama Desert's extreme adaptations to the Antarctic Peninsula's marine ecosystems, from temperate rainforests to high Andean wetlands. Yet this natural wealth faces unprecedented challenges: climate change, habitat fragmentation, pollution, overexploitation, and human-wildlife conflict.
This seminar brings together three distinct but complementary approaches to conservation:
Youth Leadership & Community Engagement (Katia Macías) demonstrates how empowering young people creates lasting change and builds a generation of environmental stewards.
Strategic Conservation & Global Networking (Polly Cevallos) shows how established organizations, mentorship, and international collaboration can drive systemic change and protect species at scale.
Art as Conservation Tool (Rosario López & Eggpicnic collaboration) proves that creativity can break through barriers, inspire action, and make conservation accessible and engaging for all ages.
Together, these approaches create a comprehensive model for 21st-century conservation—one that combines science, education, community action, policy advocacy, and cultural engagement.
Who Should Attend
This seminar is designed for:
Educators seeking innovative ways to integrate environmental education into their curricula
Young professionals passionate about conservation careers and leadership
Community organizers working on environmental initiatives
Artists and designers interested in conservation communication
Families wanting to instill environmental values in the next generation
Students exploring career paths in environmental science, education, or advocacy
Conservation practitioners looking for fresh approaches and international perspectives
Anyone who loves Chilean wildlife and wants to contribute to its protection
No prior experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity, creativity, and commitment to making a difference.
Beyond the Workshops: Building a Movement
This seminar is more than a single-day event—it's an invitation to join a growing global movement of individuals committed to protecting Chile's natural heritage. You'll leave with:
✨ Practical skills for conservation education and community engagement✨ Inspiring connections with like-minded individuals and experienced mentors✨ Concrete actions you can take immediately to support wildlife protection✨ Beautiful handmade art as tangible reminders of your commitment✨ Access to resources and networks for continued learning and involvement.
Connect With Us
Follow our speakers and stay engaged with their work:
Katia Macías Díaz
Instagram: @misskatiapuq @antarticyouth.coalition
Polly Cevallos
Linkedin: Polly Cevallos
Rosario López Donoso
Website: www.rosalopezart.com
Instagram: @rosalopezart
Eggpicnic
Website: www.eggpicnic.com
Instagram: @eggpicnic
Together, we can ensure that Chile's extraordinary fauna thrives for generations to come. Join us in celebrating, learning about, and taking action for the species that make our country unique.
Conservation starts with connection. Connection starts here.
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