Expert Advisory Panel

Philip is the Africa Center Director for the where leads SEI’s research, policy engagement, and capacity strengthening on environment and development in Africa. He has interest in environmental policy, development, and international affairs with over 20 years of experience in applied research, project coordination, policy analysis, and university teaching.

His research and policy engagement covers diverse topics including biodiversity conservation, air quality, climate change, agricultural policy, water and land management, and integrated environmental planning. Philip has published and co-authored more than 50 publications. A , he holds a PhD degree in Geography with specialization in environmental policy from McGill University in Canada, an MSc degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and a BSc degree in Environmental Science from Egerton University in Kenya.

Joseph is a researcher at the University of Oxford focused on quantifying and improving the sustainability of the world food system. His research has been published in Science, BMJ, and New Scientist, and his data describing the environmental impacts of food products has been widely used, informing consumer, businesses, and government action.

He started the HESTIA project at the Oxford Martin School which aims to make a step-change in the quality and availability of data describing farms and their environmental impacts.

Lindsey Higgins is a climate scientist and communications specialist based in Sweden. She received her PhD in Physical Geography from Stockholm University, where her research focused on human-environment interactions related to climate change and freshwater resources.

Lindsey transitioned from academia because she was inspired to bridge the gap between scientific research and meaningful societal change, and today, she specializes in transforming complex information into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

Kavita is a conservation and sustainability expert. As the Founder of Dragonfly Advisory she advises on climate solutions, nature conservation, sustainable agriculture and corporate sustainability.

She is a Board Member of the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets (IC-VCM), TARA Climate, The Circulate Initiative, and TRAFFIC. She is a strategic advisor to Wollemi Capital on impact of climate investment.

She has been on numerous councils including the Tropical Forest Alliance, Global Commons Alliance, World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Food Security and Nutrition, Volans, and SustainAbility Inc.

Laí­s Fleury has twenty years of experience as a social entrepreneur and has been a Fellow of Ashoka Social Entrepreneurs since 2003. She co-founded the NGO Associação Vaga Lume, dedicated to promoting reading in rural communities in the Amazon region.

Over the last 8 years, Laí­s has been working for Alana, advocating for the right of every child to connect and have access to nature. She has coordinated Instituto Alana’s Children and Nature program for 6 years and currently serves as the Head of Partnerships at the Alana Foundation. Laí­s is credited as the signatory of the argument for the film “The Beginning of Life 2: Outside”, holds the position of Co-chair US for the global movement #Natureforall, is part of the executive council of ISGA and is part of the Expert Advisory Panel of the Earthshot Prize.

She also holds a postgraduate degree in the theme “The Time and Voice of Children: Anthropological and Poetic Listening to Childhood.”

As Senior Director, Global Policy and Advocacy, WWF International, Dr. Lin Li coordinates and leads cross-cutting policy and advocacy, represents WWF in multilateral fora and other policy dialogues, leads WWF International policy and advocacy team.

Her work focuses on elevating nature agenda to the highest-level attention and commitments and landing these leader’s commitments in multilateral fora decisions such as that of the CBD and SDGs. Her expertise covers areas such as biodiversity conservation on the ground, climate changes and technologies, policy advocacy at the highest-level, multiple stakeholder engagement and partnership mobilization, fundraising, program management and impact delivery.

Described by Sir David Attenborough as “a world authority from the frontline”, Niall McCann is a National Geographic Explorer, conservationist and award-winning broadcaster, with a particular interest in humankind’s relationship with nature.

In a career spanning over 20 years, Niall has spearheaded anti-poaching operations in some of the most dangerous countries on earth, led biological research expeditions to several un-surveyed parts of the planet, and achieved massive wins for nature conservation on three continents. Niall is the Executive Director of National Park Rescue, a direct-action conservation organisation protecting some of the most threatened national parks in Africa.

Pedro Hartung is the CEO of the Alana Foundation, a global organization rooted in Brazil that is dedicated to addressing critical worldwide issues affecting children’s rights, especially in the Global South, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, through impactful and systemic philanthropy and advocacy.

He earned a PhD in State Law from the University of São Paulo (USP) and has held positions as a Visiting Researcher at both the Graduate Program and the Child Advocacy Program at Harvard Law School, as well as at the Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg. Additionally, he serves as a Professor at the FGV Faculty of International Relations and is a Co-founder of the Advocacy HUB.

Emelyne Cheney is an environmental finance professional with a passion for finding new finance vehicles for climate and nature. As a Senior Director for Lestari Capital, she leads the development of innovative natural capital solutions for corporate sustainability in various sectors. Prior, she held management roles in the United Nations, focusing on forest and climate finance across Africa and Asia.

George Cusworth is a human geographer at the University of Oxford. His work focusses on the science and politics of food system transformation, with a particular focus on crop diversification and regenerative agriculture.

Jane is an ecologist and author with 30 years of experience of working internationally on natural resource management, with a special focus on water and wetlands. She became the first Executive Director of the Global Commons Alliance in May 2023.

Previously Jane worked for Wetlands International, as well as WWF in Europe and Australia. As CEO of Wetlands International, she enabled multi-stakeholder coalitions to conserve and restore wetland landscapes for biodiversity, human well-being and reduced climate risks and to bring the values of wetlands into the global agenda. Jane is committed to enable urgent action for an environmentally safe and socially just future.

Joanna Elliott is Global Conservation Director at Fauna & Flora, where she co-leads a large programme of practical conservation projects across 40 countries, including teams of technical experts on biodiversity conservation, climate change and business engagement.

Joanna is a business and environmental economist by background, with an economics degree from Cambridge University and an MBA from the London Business School. Based in Indonesia and then Kenya for more than 20 years, she has worked extensively with local partners across Africa and Asia to design and deliver locally-led nature and climate projects that directly improve livelihoods.

Joanna represents Fauna & Flora on multiple Boards and Steering Committees and is a member of the UK government’s Darwin Expert Committee.

Dr Abigail Entwistle is currently Senior Conservation Director at Fauna & Flora, jointly leading the organisation’s Conservation Programme. She holds a degree in Zoology from Oxford University, and her PhD research focused on bat ecology and conservation.

Over the last 25 years she has worked in conservation and community livelihood development from field site to head office, spanning four continents. She has a particular interest in community-led conservation and in conservation impact assessment, including approaches to this that are inclusive and capture bottom-up, partner and project driven impacts.

Adriana Dinu is an expert with 39 years of experience world-wide working at the interface of biodiversity conservation, climate change and sustainable development. She held senior management positions in United Nations Development Program at the global level as Deputy Director for the Bureau for Policy and Program and Director of Environment, supervising a portfolio of USD 6 billion in grant financing operational in 142 countries.

Prior to joining UNDP she worked with the World Bank as biodiversity expert, Fauna and Flora International in Central America and Southern Africa and IUCN in Eastern Europe, designing and implementing biodiversity conservation projects.

Amy is the Kaplan Senior Research Fellow in Felid Conservation and Professor of Wildlife Conservation at Oxford University, and has over 25 years experience working on large carnivores in Africa, specialising in human-carnivore conflict. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a PhD from University College London, and has published over 80 scientific papers and book chapters on large carnivore ecology and conservation.

She is a member of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, the Human-Wildlife Conflict Collaboration, the African Lion Working Group, the IUCN Human-Wildlife Conflict task Force, and is a National Geographic Explorer. She has received multiple awards for her work, including the Rabinowitz-Kaplan Prize for the Next Generation in Wild Cat Conservation and the St Louis Zoo Conservation Award.

Mr. Bruno Pozzi is the Deputy Director of the Ecosystems Division of the UN Environment Programme. He previously served as the UNEP Regional Director for Europe based in Geneva, covering 54 countries in the pan European region and the EU.
As a career diplomat, Bruno has over 20 years’ experience of international relations, diplomacy and politics and has worked across three different continents in a range of political, environmental and economic roles.
Bruno’s approach to multilateralism is shaped by three core convictions: First, is that the environment is an inherently political subject that sits at the heart of multilateralism. Second, is that sustainable development, peace and prosperity cannot be achieved without the centering of environmental considerations in development and socio-economic policies; and third, is the firm belief that economic transformation and innovation can, and must, be leveraged as key drivers of a sustainable future for all.

Experienced sustainability and business professional, deeply committed to work that delivers positive and lasting impact on people’s lives, communities and the environment, with extensive advisory experience working with private sector, government and non-profit organisations.

Lottie is passionate about protecting and restoring nature, regenerative agriculture and sustainable food and farming systems. She is a member of the Development Committee for the Royal Countryside Fund, supporting farm businesses and rural communities.

From December 2021 to December 2023, she was seconded from EY to the Sustainable Markets Initiative, as Chief Governance and Reporting Officer, working with a network of 200+ global CEOs and 20 Task Forces driving action and impact across a range of high focus sustainability areas.

Chris D Thomas is an ecologist, evolutionary biologist and conservation researcher based at the University of York in England. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, former President of the Royal Entomological Society, and founding Director (2019-24) of the cross-disciplinary Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity.

He is author of the acclaimed popular science book, “Inheritors of the Earth: How Nature is Thriving in an Age of Extinction”. Chris focuses on understanding the impacts of humanity – climate change, habitat transformation, biological invasions – on biodiversity, and seeks positive social and technological approaches to develop a sustainable Earth.

Frank Hiroshi Ling is Chief Scientist at the Anthropocene Institute. He is also a guest lecturer at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Ibaraki University, and was previously a research fellow at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and University of Tokyo.

He was also a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Science. His work has been cited in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. Dr. Ling received his PhD in Chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley and his BS in Chemical Engineering at Caltech and his MS at University of California at Santa Barbara.

Frederick is the Chief Executive Officer of GenZero. He oversees the strategic direction of the company and leads the execution of its strategies to achieve both climate impact and sustainable long-term financial returns.

Ioannis Binietoglou is an atmospheric scientist currently working as a remote sensing policy manager at Clean Air Task Force (CATF), a non-profit organization that promotes policies and technologies that reduce the impact of climate change.

His work focuses on supporting government and civil society to understand methane measuring technologies and thus support data-driven policies and emission mitigation action. Before joining CATF, Ioannis worked as a remote sensing scientist at public research institutes and the industry, developing ground-based remote sensing systems for atmospheric monitoring.

Jie Liu is currently the George B Geller Professor of Chemistry at Duke University. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Shandong University in 1987 and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University in 1996. His research interests include synthesis and chemical functionalization of nanomaterials, nanoelectronic devices, scanning probe microscopy, and carbon nanomaterials.

As a faculty member, Professor Liu has received the DuPont Young Professor Award, Outstanding Oversea Young Investigator Award from NSF-China, Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and Bass Professorship from Duke University for excellence in teaching and research. He is elected as a Fellow in AAAS (2013), APS (2014) and RSC (2013). He also serves as an associate editor for RSC journal Nanoscale between 2012 and 2018. He is currently an associate editor for Nano Research since 2019.

Antha N. Williams leads Bloomberg Philanthropies’ environment program. Under Williams’ direction, Bloomberg Philanthropies supports climate and environment initiatives to accelerate the transition from coal to clean energy, improve air quality, advance city and local climate action, protect ocean ecosystems, and help unlock sustainable finance.

Previously, Antha has led philanthropic and advocacy efforts supporting climate action, clean energy, and health care and immigration reform. She currently sits on the Boards of Directors of C40 Cities, Climate Imperative, ClimateWorks Foundation, European Climate Foundation, League of Conservation Voters, Oceana, and Oceans 5. Antha earned her degree from Dartmouth College and resides in New York.

Carrie is Director of Sustainability at British Airways where she has established sustainability as a central focus of the airline’s corporate strategy. With previous roles in International Airlines Group, NATS and Heathrow and Scottish Airports, her career-long focus on aviation sustainability reflect a deep passion for innovation and securing a net zero future for the sector.

Carrie is a Chartered Environmentalist, Fellow of IEMA and registered environmental auditor and independent Non-Executive Director of the Aerospace Technology Institute.

Chris is a results-driven, strategically focused, and internationally experienced executive leader with a 25-year track-record of building and transforming Fortune-500 and SME companies.
Bringing entrepreneurial and innovative energy in both Executive roles and as a Board Advisor and Chartered Director, the results have included an AIM listing, 4 trade-sales and a variety of SME Board Advisory roles.

Following 7 years in various Hitachi companies, Chris moved to Hitachi Europe as Chief Strategy Officer as an Executive Committee member responsible for the strategy and transformation of the Regional HQ, bringing together Hitachi EMEA’s Green, Digital, Energy and Transportation capabilities in EMEA to grow Hitachi’s role as a Climate Change Innovator.

Christian is Professor of Transport, Energy and Climate Change at the University of Oxford and Co-Director of the UK Energy Research Centre. His research aims to understand (1) the role of active travel (walking, cycling, micromobility) in meeting climate change and public health goals, (2) the role of lifestyle, technological and social change in reducing mobility-related energy demand and mitigating climate change, and (3) the design and evaluation of transport policy and interventions to meet net zero ambitions.

He has established an international reputation for his work on measuring and evaluating personal travel behaviour and its impacts on energy use, climate change and health.

Vincent is Senior Adviser for Ocean at United Nations Global Compact as well as director for Food Programme for the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a London based Charity. In 2020, Vincent led the “Seaweed Manifesto” in a call to scale up the seaweed support to support addressing the triple planetary crises and in 2021 founded the (1st global platform of seaweed stakeholders, 1 500 + members worldwide).

In 2023, Vincent released “Global Seaweed Coalition” (Legend Times), now a reference book on seaweed, awarded best environmental book of the year and translated in many languages.

Sara is a Director at The Audacious Project, where she manages the breakthrough science, ocean, and climate projects. Prior to Audacious, Sara supported research and discovery as a Program Officer at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

She pivoted to philanthropy after a postdoctoral fellowship in geochemistry at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Sara holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in oceanography from the University of Washington and a B.A. in life sciences from Rutgers University. At the core of Sara’s professional and personal life is curiosity, a passion for exploration, and deep appreciation for the natural world.

As Marine Director, Sophie Benbow leads Fauna & Flora’s marine programme, supporting implementation of the organisation’s marine portfolio globally across 19 countries. Sophie supports knowledge exchange and communication between Fauna & Flora’s marine projects and partners, and promotes external collaboration.

She has worked for Fauna & Flora for over ten years supporting marine project delivery and development across Asia, Africa and Eurasia, and previously led coral reef research and sustainable small scale fisheries management focussed in Madagascar.

Dr Hart has over 40 years’ experience in aquaculture working in a variety of positions in the commercial sector, government, research, lecturing, consultancy and the eNGO sector in both Australia and the United Kingdom. He has a BSc in Fishery Science and a PhD in flatfish larval rearing from the University of Tasmania and has been involved in salmonid, marine fish, abalone and rock lobster farming recirculation systems, development of aquaculture teaching courses and certification of sustainable and organic aquaculture in Australia and the UK.

He has published numerous papers on a diverse range of aquaculture issues and research. He was also a Director of SARF and the IFFO RS TAG and was on the Steering Group for the ASC Feed Dialogue.
Dr Hart has been working for the WWF since 2009 and was the Global Aquaculture Lead until 2017. His most recent work is focussed on impacts of fish and livestock feed ingredients within the global Food System and seaweed production.

Ralph Chami has over 32 years of experience as a financial economist, with 25 years at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He has also served as a consultant for the World Bank and for the private sector. He is the co-founder and CEO of Blue Green Future and Rebalance Earth and holds visiting professor positions at Williams College and the University of Victoria. He is an expert in a range of macro-financial topics including remittances, fragile states, financial inclusion, financial market development, banking regulation
and risk management.

Ralph recently retired from the IMF to work on climate change and nature and biodiversity loss, developing a new framework for valuing natural capital, fauna and flora, to build an equitable and nature-positive economy. He has developed the field of “Science-Based Finance” and is a sought-after speaker on developing nature-positive markets. His work on valuing natural capital has been featured at TED2022, TEDx Florence, NPR, CNN, NYT, National Geographic, Financial Times, The Economist, The Washington Post, WEF, among others, and in peer-reviewed journals.

Ralph has a BS from the American University of Beirut, an MBA in Finance and Statistics from the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. in Economics from The Johns Hopkins University. Ralph is a member of Planetary Guardians and IAPB, is Chief Economist for WAVE, and serves as senior advisor to a number of companies and NGOs.
including Colossal, Hinemoana Halo, and Ocean US.

Terry Tamminen is President/CEO of the non-profit “blue economy” hub AltaSea. In 2003, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him Secretary of California’s Environmental Protection Agency. He cofounded the Catalytic Finance Foundation, which works globally to deploy climate solutions at scale, and provides policy advice to 7th Generation Advisors, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Pegasus Capital Advisors, and the UN Green Climate Fund.

Terry’s books include “Watercolors: How JJ the Whale Saved Us” and “Cracking the Carbon Code: The Keys to Sustainable Profits in the New Economy”. The Guardian ranked Terry No. 1 in its “Top 50 People Who Can Save the Planet.

Karen is a co-founder and Executive Director of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), a unique multi-sector collaboration between the private sector, governments and civil society designed to build resilience in the regions and communities most vulnerable to ocean risk by pioneering finance and insurance products that incentivise investment into nature-based solutions.

She has spent her career working on ocean conservation, advocacy and policy, climate change and sustainable finance. She previously was CEO of Ocean Unite. Before that, she had roles as Senior Director for International Oceans at The Pew Charitable Trusts and, Head of Greenpeace International’s Political & Business Unit as well as its Oceans campaign.

She has spearheaded global campaigns to secure a new high seas biodiversity treaty, establish large marine reserves and sanctuaries, protect sharks and end illegal fishing and high seas bottom trawling. She also initiated the Global Ocean Commission.

Peter Bryant is a Program Director at Builders Initiative, where he leads environmental grantmaking, impact investing and strategic partnerships for the Builders Initiative Ocean Initiative. He collaborates with both internal and external stakeholders when crafting grants and impact investments that reflect key ocean themes, including sustainable fisheries, seaweed and shellfish aquaculture, ocean conservation, and climate resilience.

After a nine-year tenure, Peter transitioned from the Walton Family Foundation’s (WFF) Environment Program to Builders Initiative. At WFF, he managed grantmaking for ocean and fisheries focused on international locations, including Indonesia, Chile, Mexico, and Costa Rica. For over 20 years, Peter spearheaded partnerships, had oversight of marketing and communications, and directed freshwater and marine conservation programs for organizations like The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund.

David Booth is Professor of Marine Ecology at University of Technology Sydney, and Research Associate at Sydney Institute of Marine Science.

He researches how reef-fish ecology and fisheries respond to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts, in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Great Barrier Reef, including a 22 year dataset on tropical fish travelling down the East Australian Current past Sydney.

He studies seahorses and seadragons, and is global seadragon focus person and a member of IUCN Special Species Group for Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragons. He also researches the impacts and values of artificial reefs, from small reef enhancements adjacent to Sydney Opera House to global offshore oil and gas structures. He is a strong advocate for marine protection and a technical advisor to Plastic Oceans Australia.

Ernesto Jardim, a fisheries science expert, is the Fisheries Standard Director at the Marine Stewardship Council in London, UK. With over two decades of experience, he oversees a global team of 20 staff members, managing standard setting, project management, and scientific research.

Formerly a Senior Research Fellow at the European Commission Joint Research Center, his work influenced stock assessment methods and management strategies in European waters. Ernesto’s career spans roles at IPMA in Portugal, where he coordinated fisheries programs and chaired international working groups. Holding a Ph.D. in Fisheries Science, he’s authored several scientific papers and served as an editor. Fluent in multiple languages, he contributes significantly to sustainable fisheries management globally.

Adrien Vincent is the founder and president of Albatros Advisory, an advisory boutique specialised in the ocean sustainability space. Adrien is currently advising the European Commission and the UN Global Compact on their seaweed programs, respectively EU4Algae and the Global Seaweed Coalition.

Adrien also works with the International Panel for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS). He regularly works with ocean investment funds and start-ups on their impact journey towards a healthy ocean. Besides, Adrien is working with RespectOcean to set up a blue SME sustainability transition program. Finally, he is a Mentor at and .

Beyond his contributions to the business world, Mr. Uribe is deeply committed to environmental conservation. He currently serves as the President of the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation (FAICO) and has been actively involved with the Forever Costa Rica Association’s Board. As one of the founding members of the Marviva chapter in Costa Rica, he has played a pivotal role in advancing marine conservation efforts. Additionally, Mr. Uribe leads various other environmental initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development.

Mr. Uribe’s academic background includes a degree in business administration from Mc Gill University in Canada and graduated from Germain School of Photography in New York. He has also shared his expertise as a photography professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Universidad de Costa Rica.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Mr. Uribe is recognized for his diverse interests and accomplishments. He has been honored as “CRUSAder of the Year” (2019) by CRUSA Foundation, and Athlete of the Year by the Journalist Circle in Costa Rica. He is an avid photographer, helicopter pilot and scuba diver, reflecting his adventurous spirit and passion for exploration.

For the past five years, Daniel Schaeffer has lead Pew’s work on enforcement and technology as part of the efforts to end illegal fishing and joined the Trusts after 27 years in United States Coast Guard. He served as the head of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fisheries and Marine Protected Enforcement guiding the Coast Guard’s efforts to protect living marine resources through law enforcement activities. His experience spanned the full range of fisheries enforcement actions including over 350 at sea and dockside boardings, operational planning and oversight, policy development, drafting of regulations and intergovernmental cooperation. For over three decades he has been intimately involved with international fisheries enforcement in nearly every corner of the globe including multilateral meetings, treaty negotiations, as a member of United States delegations to various regional fisheries management organizations, U.S. Coast Guard representative to enforcement meetings, bilateral enforcement agreements, operational discussions and planning assessments and development of enforcement capacity.

Wesley Spindler is a catalyst for change, working with organizations around the world to reimagine the global economy into a circular, regenerative, and equitable one. As Managing Director and member of the Global Sustainability Leadership Team at Accenture, Wesley leads the firm’s global Circular Economy and Nature & Biodiversity agendas.

Her focus in all her work is to drive genuine sustainability transformation “ from strategy to delivery” with partners and companies across industries to achieve outcomes at the intersection of growth and sustainable innovation. She is a frequent public speaker, lead co-author of The Circular Economy Handbook (Palgrave, 2020), and Program Director of The Circulars Acceleration Network. Wesley has also been named as a 2024 Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

Finally, she is active in her regional community, supporting critical environmental initiatives on the livelihoods and well-being of individuals and positive outcomes for nature.

Ms. Zhang Ting Ting is a familiar face to many as she has been serving as the Director of Sustainability in Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) for the past months and we are excited for her to move into a bigger role as the Chief Executive Officer of SFC.

With a diverse background in architecture, design, supply chain, and e-commerce and with experience in global organisations as well as dynamic start-ups, Ting Ting previously held significant roles in global sourcing strategy at Li & Fung, a renowned fashion retail and supply chain conglomerate based in Hong Kong. Prior to that, she gained invaluable experience and training at Zaha Hadid Architects in London, where she focused on pivotal cultural projects.

In 2022, she became part of Arkki Singapore, where she currently holds an advisory position. In this role, she contributes to the implementation of an award-winning curriculum from Finland that seamlessly integrates sustainability with design-thinking coaching.

Judy Ledlee, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Duke University’s Design Climate program. Design Climate is a student climate tech incubator where future leaders create innovative triple bottom line organizations that generate positive environmental and societal benefits alongside financial returns.

Judy developed her passion for cleantech innovation during her doctoral studies at Duke University where she researched emerging water treatment technologies. From her work, she co-founded a startup for hydraulic fracturing wastewater recycling. After graduating, she continued her cleantech career in the water industry working for Evoqua (now Dupont and Xylem), Black & Veatch, and ZwitterCo.

Throughout her career, she’s continued working on entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial activities, and she enjoys passing on the entrepreneurial bug to new generations of students.

Dr Louise Anderson is a Materials Scientist (PhD) and Chemist (CChem) with over 7 years experience leading novel materials innovation and R&D teams in unique start-up environments. Louise has led the development of transformational technologies for a range of FMCG applications including sustainable packaging, cosmetics/personal care products, textiles and electronics.

Louise’s specialist areas of expertise include natural and biodegradable materials, seaweed, coatings and inorganic and polymeric materials. Louise has worked as Research Director for Notpla developing sustainable seaweed alternatives to traditional packaging materials since 2021. Louise is passionate about harnessing materials science for the creation of technologies that support the circular economy and the shift towards a waste free world.

Noah is an Industrial Designer and the Sustainability Lead in Nike’s Innovation Kitchen, responsible for blending sustainable materials, technologies and ideas into all of Nike’s advanced innovation efforts. He comes from a family of teachers, hippies and architects and feels most at home staring at the sea in a heavy fog.

Over the past fifteen years or so he has created products with Herman Miller, iRobot and Samsung among others.

Most recently, Noah created the Nike Space Hippie concept and together with a small group of renegade creatives, produced a line of shoes made almost entirely from trash. Embodying the design philosophy of progress over perfection, it was the next, radical step towards responsible product at Nike. Other fun programs are BILL the shoe cleaning robot and the ad campaign Bloom Over Doom!

When not trying to reinvent manufacturing, Noah creates practical problems by sailing wooden boats with his family in the waters around Portland, OR.

Fernanda is an activist, executive director of the Fashion Revolution Brazil Institute, and contributing sustainability editor at Vogue Brazil.

Since 2022, she has been a part of the non-executive board of Fashion Revolution Global and is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network, an initiative in partnership with the United Nations Partnerships Office (UN).

Ms. Bezawit Eshetu is a Circular Economy Specialist and a strong advocate of creating synergies and forging partnerships to maximize impact.

She has over 15 years of experience, specializing in environmental management, sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions, green growth, Circular economy solutions, policy dialogues, program design, and implementation. Working with different bilateral and multilateral partners like UN agencies, government entities, and private sectors has given her a whole rounded understanding of how to create inclusive fair, and sustainable solutions.

Bezawit holds a Master of Science in Botany/Plant Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry, both from Addis Ababa University. She is an Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy Pioneer, FLTC Africa program 2020 batch, executive team member at African Circular Economy Network, currently working as Regional coordinator at ACEN Foundation and founder at Circular Alternatives.

Claire Bergkamp is the CEO of Textile Exchange. Since joining in 2020, Claire has helped the organization to drive forward a collective climate strategy for the industry, grounded in holistic systems thinking on the interconnected impacts of climate, soil health, water, and biodiversity.

Prior to Textile Exchange, Claire was the Worldwide Sustainability and Innovation Director at Stella McCartney, leading the global environmental, human rights, and innovation strategy for the brand. Beyond helping to secure Stella McCartney’s place at the forefront of sustainable luxury, she played a leadership role in a range of industry initiatives too.

Richard Washington is Professor of Climate Science at the University of Oxford.

He is an expert in aerosols, particularly in mineral aerosol emissions and transport. His work also involves mechanisms of climate change relating to both rainfall and temperature. He has run numerous large field campaigns aimed at collecting data from regions key to climate but for which existing data is particularly sparse.

Ross has held roles as Head of Ventures at the Carbon Trust and Principal for Smart Energy for Europe at Frost & Sullivan. He holds over sixteen years’ experience in implementing large-scale innovation programmes and advising technology start-ups, corporates and governments on transformation and growth strategies.

The programmes Ross has designed and led have supported over four-hundred impact innovators across global markets to commercialise and scale their businesses. These include the UK’s largest climate tech accelerator for the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, and Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst Accelerator, one of the world’s largest accelerators for energy access technologies.

Anjali Mahendra is the Director of Global Research at World Resources Institute’s Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. She is an internationally known expert on the relationship between inclusive urban development and climate change, experienced in leading innovative research to inform policy and practice.

She has developed knowledge resources for cities, taught courses, led policy studies for U.S. government agencies and international organizations, and authored several publications on urban transportation, land use, and climate policies, particularly in the global South. Anjali serves on the U.S. Climate Security Roundtable, she has been an evaluator for the Ashden Foundation’s Sustainable Mobility Award, and an Expert Advisor for The Earthshot Prize in 2023 and 2024.

She holds Masters degrees (City Planning, Transportation) and a PhD (Urban and Regional Planning) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ulka Kelkar is Executive Director, Climate, WRI India. She is an economist with 25 years’ experience in climate change research, outreach and capacity building. She works on low-carbon development pathways, sub-national climate action, and just transition in small industry.

Kelkar is a co-chair of the fair share, equity, and justice working group of the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign. She was co-chair of the Think20 taskforce on clean energy and green transitions, an official engagement group of India’s G20 presidency. She has served on the Government of India’s long term low emissions development strategy task group on transport, national committee for carbon neutral village awards, and science technology and innovation policy thematic group on energy, environment and climate change.

She previously worked as a consultant climate assessment specialist for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Her research has been published in international journals and edited books, and she is a frequent commentator in the media on climate policy developments.

Dr. Boscolo has over twenty years of experience in climate services, focusing on the Water-Energy-Food nexus in regions including Africa, South America, the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. She develops to support energy resilience and renewable energy.

Her role includes membership on the scientific advisory board for several European Commission projects. Dr. Boscolo’s work bridges climate science with socioeconomic sectors, especially energy. She partners with stakeholders such as international organizations, public and private sectors, academia, civil society, and media.

Richard has been with Cleantech Group since 2008 as a Managing Director before becoming CEO in 2016. Richard has more than 20 years’ experience researching cleantech innovation, VC markets, and global start-ups. He is the driving force behind the annual Global Cleantech 100, a list of the world’s most promising private cleantech companies.

Before joining Cleantech Group, Richard ran the research team at Library House. Prior, he spent nine years building a broad-based finance and research background with leading financial institutions such as ABN AMRO, Barclays Capital and BZW in the City of London.
Richard obtained his MBA from Theseus Institute International Management Institute and his BA from the University of Cambridge.

Robinson Ejilah, a Nigerian professor of energy studies with a strong background in engineering and climate advocacy, dedicates himself to fostering international cooperation and inclusivity within the engineering field. His passion for sustainability extends beyond academia, as evidenced by his volunteer work with Academics Without Borders as a research advisor, on the board of directors of Engineers Without Borders-International, and his involvement on the prestigious Expert Advisory Panel for the 2024 Earthshot Prize.

His commitment to building a better future is evident in his efforts to strengthen research capabilities in developing nations, promoting responsible global engineering practices, and addressing environmental challenges.

Rose M. Mutiso is the Research Director for the Energy for Growth Hub. Her research interests are especially focused on energy transitions and emerging energy technologies in the African context.

Previously, Rose was a Senior Fellow in the Office of International Climate and Clean Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), where she led DOE’s engagement on technology and policy dimensions of energy access in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Prior to this, she served as an Energy and Innovation Policy Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Christopher A. Coons, where she co-authored several pieces of legislation that were signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Dr. Stephen Tay obtained his PhD from Imperial College London under the National Research Foundation Overseas Scholarship, and is currently an Associate Professor in the National University of Singapore (NUS).

For his significant contributions in the solar PV industry, he was awarded the “Young Green Building Advocate Award” in 2019 conferred by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority and the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC). Subsequently, he was elected to the SGBC Board in 2023.

Beyond the industry, he was also awarded the NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Award for excellence in teaching for three consecutive years from AY19/20 to AY21/22.

Dr. Sweta Chakraborty is a climate behavioural scientist who is regularly interviewed on major, international news media outlets (e.g. CNN, the BBC, MSNBC). Sweta is the CEO of We Don’t Have Time-North America, the world’s largest multimedia company for climate content development, broadcast, and distribution.

She is a partner at Pioneer Public Affairs and is on the steering committee of the Global Commons Alliance. She is an Independent Director at Lightbridge Corp. where she chairs their Environmental Impact committee and is on several advisory boards like the New York Academy of Sciences and Climate Power.

She is a book author from her time as a postdoc at Oxford University. She is a TEDx, SXSW, and globally recognized keynote speaker and consultant for several Fortune 100 companies.

Tara is a researcher at the University of Oxford, and the Director of TABLE, a platform for knowledge and dialogue on the future of food.

Tara’s work centres on the interactions among food, climate, health and broader sustainability issues; she has a particular interest in livestock as a sector where many of these converge. She is also interested in how knowledge is communicated to and interpreted by policy makers, civil society organisations and industry, and in the values that these different stakeholders bring to food problems and possible solutions.

TABLE is a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, the University of Mexico, the University of the Andes, and Cornell CALS.

Ted is a Vice President in Group Sustainability at CapitaLand Investment leading the Environmental Management & Innovation team. He is a registered Professional Engineer (Civil; Massachusetts, USA) and Singapore Permanent Resident holding both Masters’ and Bachelors’ degrees in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Stanford University.

Ted has twenty-four years of experience (eighteen in Singapore) in sustainability, development, project management, and environmental engineering. Previously he has led innovation, certification (Green Mark, LEAF, SITES), and Operational Environmental Monitoring & Management Plan implementations, in addition to being a Subject Matter Expert in ventilation & thermal comfort, water treatment, water recycling, and wastewater treatment.

Thomas is currently Division CEO of Keppel Ltd’s Data Centres & Networks Division. The Division focuses on building “smart, connected and green” DCs and submarine cable systems. Keppel is a global asset manager with deep operating capabilities in Connectivity, Infrastructure and Real Estate with $55 billion of asset under management.

Thomas’ career in Keppel group spanned across its offshore & marine, infrastructure, telecommunications, and logistics businesses. Prior to Keppel, he was with Vertex (UK), the venture capital arm of Singapore Technologies.

After graduating from Cambridge University, Thomas started his career in the Economic Development Board and Singapore Tourism Board which are economic development agencies within Singapore Government.

Julie Newman, Ph.D. joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013 as the inaugural Director of Sustainability for the institute, charged with launching the Office of Sustainability and she holds a lecturer appointment with the Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

Dr. Newman has been a pioneer in the field of campus sustainability and is responsible for founding the Office of Sustainability at Yale University and a founding member of the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute team. She works and lectures nationally and internationally seeking to find common ground and develop strategies to scale campus efforts.

Ke-Vin is the Head of Group Innovation at City Developments Ltd (CDL), a globally respected real estate firm known for its innovative and pioneering sustainability initiatives.

In this role, he spearheads innovation and venture capital strategies, driving part of CDL’s transformation roadmap. Ke-Vin leads CDL’s Enterprise Innovation Committee and multiple initiatives in Digital- and Customer-centric solutions.

Previously, he held engineering, project and asset management positions at Surbana-Jurong, CapitaLand, and Ascendas REIT. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Nanyang Technological University and is a certified Green Mark Advanced Accredited Professional from the Building and Construction Authority.

Mark Bowers is an Associate Director and the Materials Skills Leader at Arup based in London, a multi-disciplinary consultancy operating across the built environment.

Mark is a chartered engineer and materials scientist working on the application of materials in the built environment. As part of his role, he looks to understand how new technologies and innovations can be successfully applied in, and scaled up for application in, the built environment. Mark has worked across 5 continents through his career, leading teams in New York and London and delivered projects of all scales from domestic housing through to large infrastructure projects.

Dr. Mohammed Dahiru Aminu, Policy Manager for Methane Pollution Prevention in Africa at Clean Air Task Force, is renowned for his work in implementing robust regulations to reduce methane emissions across Africa’s oil, gas, and waste sectors.

His dedication and expertise were recognized when he won the 2020 Applied Energy highly cited article award. Dr. Aminu, an accomplished writer and advocate, explores critical topics such as energy, education, and developmental challenges. He has been an integral part of The Earthshot Prize Expert Advisory Panel since 2023 and continues to contribute significantly in 2024.

With a Ph.D. in carbon capture and storage, complemented by qualifications in petroleum engineering and geology, he remains a respected figure in environmental and energy research, continuing to make strides in climate change through research and advocacy.

Edgar Virgüez is an energy systems engineer affiliated as a researcher and deputy group leader at the Climate Energy Lab (Carnegie Science at Stanford), promoting the transition toward decarbonized electric power systems.

His findings have appeared in top-tier journals like Energy & Environmental Science, One Earth, and Applied Energy. Edgar has participated in 18 research or consultancy projects, working with organizations such as the World Bank, directing life-cycle assessments and cost-benefit analyses of integrating new fuels into energy markets. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Policy, and an M.A. in Environment from Duke University.

A chartered materials engineer working at Arup, Emily has a wealth of materials sustainability expertise, from embodied carbon and life cycle assessments through to ecotoxicity and biomaterials. Supporting clients around the world, across sectors, Emily’s work focuses on supporting client and project teams in understanding the holistic impacts associated with their work, and co-creating strategies to reduce this impact, for people and the planet.

Dr. Gerhard Salge is the Chief Technology Officer of Hitachi Energy. He joined Hitachi Energy’s predecessor in 1999, working within Corporate Research. From 2005 to 2014, he had several roles within the Medium Voltage Products Business Unit. In 2015 he became Global Head of Technology for Power Products, then Business Chief Technology Officer – CTO for Power Grids in 2016.

Gerhard Salge holds a MSc and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

Adam leads climate and energy efforts at Deep Science Ventures (DSV), with a focus on reversing global heating. DSV is a venture creator, combining available scientific knowledge and founder-type scientists into high-impact ventures. Current areas of focus include Negative Emissions Technologies, Decarbonising Transportation, Atmospheric Methane Reduction, Critical Minerals, Decarbonising Industrial Heating, Planet Positive Economics and Decarbonising Water.

Prior to DSV Adam has worked across multiple innovation-focused roles including Chief Commercial Officer at London-based, venture-backed start-up LabGenius, Portfolio Management at Cancer Research UK and Business Development and Innovation for Johnson Matthey. During these previous roles Adam focused on driving forward applied technologies in the fields of e.g. syngas conversion, energy storage, CCUS, machine-learning-enabled discovery and hydrogen generation.

Adam holds a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry and an MSci in Chemistry from the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, respectively.

Bronwyn Hayward is a Professor in Political Science at the University of Canterbury NZ. She served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Cities Scoping Report (2024), and co-led the IPCC Cities and Infrastructure chapter (2022).

She leads a 7-nation study identifying ways to support children’s low-carbon, wellbeing in cities with the University of Surrey UK and co-leads a New Zealand National Science challenge on Indigenous youth leadership in climate. A Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and Fellow of the NZ Royal Society, she won the Supreme New Zealand Women of Influence Award in 2022.

Caroline de Bossart (Lester) is a Director representing the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, an organisation founded by Jeremy and Hanne Grantham, where she advises on grants and investments into neglected climate solutions. She has a particular interest in carbon removal and geothermal, and is a board director for C-Trees, a non-profit organisation that tracks carbon for every tree on the planet; and Project Innerspace, a non-profit advancing next-generation geothermal technologies.

Prior to the Grantham Foundation, she was a growth-stage climate investor at CPP Investments, the C$500B investment arm of the Canadian pension plan, and a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. Caroline lives in the Canadian Rockies with her husband and husky.

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo is an economic diplomacy professional whose career spans trade & investment, finance & development, and public policy.

Kenewendo served as a Specially Elected Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry in Botswana where she increased investment, improved Botswana’s doing business environment, and negotiated key trade agreements as the Chairperson of the Southern Africa Customs Union Council of Ministers of Trade including the European Union EPA, The United Kingdom Post Brexit agreement and the African Continental Free Trade Area, etc.

She most recently has been part of driving non-state actor ambition in climate action and crafting solutions for unlocking quality, efficient & affordable finance for sustainable development in Africa and EMDE markets as the Special Advisor to the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions. Her and her team in collaboration with partners have been instrumental in the creation of USD 20 Billion UN compendium of Climate action projects, Africa Carbon Market Initiative; Working Group for Sustainability-linked Sovereign Financing of Nature and Climate; Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance and the Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation to mention a few.

Bruno is the Executive Director of , the AI for Earth nonprofit, where he focuses on making AI learn Earth with open-source, open-data and open for business. He co-founded and leads the project. Previously, Bruno co-founded and directed the at Microsoft. His past roles also include Vice President of Social Impact at Satellogic and Chief Scientist at Mapbox, emphasizing his extensive experience in data science and environmental technology.

Bruno’s authorship of “The science of getting to radical social and environmental breakthroughs” highlights his commitment to science for social good. Recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Bruno’s contributions to science and policy have been widely acknowledged.

Hannah Ritchie is Deputy Editor at Our World in Data. She is also a senior researcher in the Programme for Global Development at the University of Oxford, and an honorary fellow at the University of Edinburgh.

Her work focuses on how we can use data to understand the intersection of human development and environmental problems. She holds a BSc in Environmental Geoscience, MSc in Carbon Management, and PhD, all from the University of Edinburgh. Her research centres on climate, energy, air pollution, biodiversity, and the environmental impacts of food systems.

Hiba is a Principal and leads on nature investment activities. She has 17 years of international experience in finance. She has lived and worked in Stockholm, London, Sydney, and Abu Dhabi, where she held the post of COO Middle East at Respira International, an impact-finance business, was CEO and co-founder of Bydand Ag Partners and managed an initial portfolio of AUD $50 million and held posts as Director at New Hope Group and UBS. She has held a number of Advisory and Board roles.

Ivonne is a climate policy specialist based in Latin America with over a decade of experience in the civil and public sectors. She has worked in sustainable development programmes in Latin America and South-East Asia in close collaboration with youth and indigenous populations.

As Director for Climate Change and Environmental Policy for the British Government in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, she specialized in Climate Diplomacy and international mechanisms to address climate and biodiversity issues.
Ivonne currently works at the Secretariat of the National Adaptation Plan Global Network providing support and policy advice to countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on how to better adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Jeannette Arriola is a leading Mexican expert on indigenous and native peoples, contributing to the search for justice, respect, protection, and development for vulnerable indigenous communities.

With more than 28 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, she is the Founder and Executive President of Pro Mexico Indigena / Pro Mazahua Foundation, which aims to implement comprehensive actions focused on mitigating extreme poverty, social exclusion, and discrimination faced by indigenous peoples.

With her leadership, the Foundation has achieved that more than 300 thousand indigenous people of 11 ethnic groups in 9 states of the Mexican Republic are participating actors of their development with identity, in full respect of their worldviews, traditions, and ancestral wisdom.

She is the holder of the “Carlos Slim Helu Professorship for the Comprehensive Development of the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico” and holds a Ph.D. in Innovation and Social Responsibility from the Anahuac University, designing and evaluating socially responsible and sustainable strategies to address poverty in indigenous communities.

Jeannette has received numerous awards for her work, among them the “2020 Prize for Women’s Creativity in Rural Life” from the Women’s World Summit Foundation, based in Switzerland, recognizing her “rare creativity to enable the most rejected to be respected” giving guidance to multiple national and international actors on how to solve, in a sustainable way and from the root, each of the public problems faced by indigenous communities.

PhD Candidate in Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Alberta, and part of Future Energy Systems. His research aims to improve methodologies for assessing the impacts of environmental regulations and enhance survey instruments, especially those implemented in developing countries.

He has collaborated with interdisciplinary groups in Latin America and Europe to design and evaluate public policies affecting natural areas and non-human animals by providing insights into their effects and society acceptance. Currently, his research focuses on understanding the barriers faced by consumers in developing countries to adopt plant-based diets, as well as their support for a sustainable food system.

Dr. von Windheim is Professor of the Practice and Chair of the Business & Environment program in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. He is also a proven technology entrepreneur with extensive start-up and corporate experience focused on developing and launching products and services based on early-stage innovations in the physical sciences.

He was a co-founder and Vice President of Business Development of Cronos Integrated Microsystems (optical switch company acquired by JDS Uniphase), GM and Vice President of the JDSU MEMS Photonics Division, and CEO and founder of Nextreme Thermal Solutions (microscale cooling company acquired by Laird Technologies). Most recently Dr. von Windheim was co-founder and CEO of Tryrata, Inc., a Duke spin-out that developed automated tread wear measurement for vehicles (acquired by Bridgestone in 2023).

In his practice at Duke University Dr. Von Windheim works with faculty and students to identify, fund, and commercialize early-stage technologies that positively impact people, create a healthier planet, and generate an enduring profit.

Jon is CEO of BloombergNEF taking on this role at the end of 2013. BloombergNEF (BNEF) is a strategic research provider covering global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. BNEF assesses pathways for the power, transport, industry, buildings and agriculture sectors to adapt to the energy transition, helping commodity traders, corporate strategists, finance and policy professionals navigate change.

Jon joined New Energy Finance in 2008, which became BloombergNEF in 2010. Prior to 2008, Jon spent two decades in capital markets, the first decade at JPMorgan and then Accenture, the second decade as co-founder and CEO of a capital Markets management consulting firm, based in London and New York.

Mandy Nyarko MBE is an investor in the intersection of climate change solutions and inequality. She is Managing Partner of Sahara Impact ventures an early stage VC fund investing in climate tech solutions in sub Saharan Africa, and Co- founder of UK based ESG innovation consultancy Startup Discovery School who design incubators, accelerators and open innovation programmes for public and private organisations in the U.K. and Africa, focused on building startups addressing environmental and social sustainability issues.

She also leads Sustainable women network, a community focused on Women innovators and investors tackling the climate change emergency.

Monique is a writer and researcher who specialises in conflict resolution, consensus-building, multi-stakeholder relations and policy. She led and coordinated the African Leadership Initiative’s Project Pakati, which advocated for the continent’s leaders to address the governance gap with greater urgency.

Prior to this, Monique worked as a Policy Analyst at the Centre for Development and Enterprise, South Africa’s leading developmental think tank. Monique is completing her Masters in Organisational and Institutional Studies (Wits), has a BA Honours (with distinction) in Justice and Transformation (UCT) and a BA Undergraduate in Economic History, Political Science and English Literary Studies (UCT).

Pallavi Kunwar stands as a dedicated advocate for environmental preservation, sustainable development, and the ethos of ‘Leaving no one behind.’ With a robust academic background and diverse experience, including roles as a Laboratory Technician, Sustainability Fellow, Water Fellow, Technical Sales Engineer, and International Sales and Marketing Lead, Pallavi currently spearheads transformative projects as the General Manager for Engineers Without Borders Nepal.

Her career is deeply rooted in the belief in engineering’s capacity for humanitarian good, driving her unwavering commitment to addressing complex societal and environmental challenges. Armed with expertise in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Pallavi’s multifaceted skill set encompasses water treatment technologies, waste management practices, biodiversity conservation, and Social Entrepreneurship. Her fervent passion for innovative, sustainable solutions resonates in her tireless efforts to make a positive impact locally and globally.

Additionally, Pallavi’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through her founding of a social-for-profit company, operating at the intersection of environmental stewardship, community development, and cutting-edge innovation. Through visionary leadership and steadfast dedication to engineering for good, Pallavi continues to inspire and lead in the realms of environmental engineering and sustainability, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of positive change.

Sara is the director of Duke’s Master of Engineering in Climate & Sustainability where she empowers engineering leaders of the future with the technical knowledge and skills needed to innovate, design, and scale solutions to climate challenges.

Sara has led teams in design and construction of infrastructure and risk reduction projects – including the Governor Cuomo Bridge and the World Trade Center Flood Resiliency Program. Most recently, she was the Deputy Program Director for the FEMA Community Engagement and Risk Communications contract, working with communities to educate them about their risk and motivate them to take action to protect themselves.

Shirley Rodrigues has headed world-leading initiatives to tackle the climate emergency, reduce air pollution and restore nature in London and globally. Most recently this included the Ultra Low Emission Zone, the world’s largest clean air zone of its kind as well as programmes and inclusive policies to make London a net zero carbon city by 2030 and more resilient to climate impacts.

Previously she oversaw a global climate change grants portfolio at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), developing their first cities strategy and making grants to support climate action in China and Brazil and by international co-operation networks. She has held various executive positions in government in the UK.

She currently holds various roles including on the Our Common Air Commission, Breathe Cities Advisory Committee, and C40 Cities Board.

Shauna Sylvester, Senior Fellow of the Definity Foundation, Founder and Lead Convenor for Urban Climate Leadership (a project of MakeWay), is an award-winning social entrepreneur, facilitator and environmental leader with over 30 years executive experience working with nonprofits, cooperatives and post-secondary institutions.

Shauna is the former Executive Director of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue and co-founder of five initiatives: SFU Public Square, Renewable Cities, Carbon Talks, Moving in a Livable Region and the IMPACS – the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society. Shauna has a long history of working across sectors and with cities in advancing climate solutions.

Silvana Baldovino is a Peruvian environmental lawyer with more than 20 years of experience. She has led important processes related to the establishment of national protected areas in the Peruvian Amazon, land securing for Indigenous Peoples in the Peruvian Amazon, and international and national campaigns for environmental defenders.

She is director of the Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples Program in the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law. In this role, she has led a multiactor strategy that has allowed to secure over 3 million hectares of indigenous territories in the Peruvian Amazon. Silvana has also led the legal strategies that have allowed the creation of more than 10 national and regional protected areas.

Currently, Silvana is focused on strengthening the legal framework for the protection of isolated indigenous peoples and environmental defenders, as well as providing legal advisory to indigenous organizations and the Peruvian environmental agencies.

In 2023, she was awarded as Top Manager, within the APEC Business Efficiency and Success Target (BEST) Award.

Tom Rivett-Carnac is a political strategist, author and podcaster. He has spent more than 20 years working to address the climate and ecological crises.

Tom co-founded Global Optimism with Christiana Figueres after they left the UN in 2016. The organisation inspires individuals and builds transformative partnerships that tackle the climate crisis with the conviction, scale and speed that science demands. His responsibilities at Global Optimism include strategic roles across the philanthropic, non-profit and private sectors.

Tom is also the co-author of the international bestseller The Future We Choose and co-host of the award-winning weekly podcast Outrage and Optimism. Tom was Senior Political Adviser to the Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change Convention from 2013-2016, a position from which he helped co-develop the strategy that led to the landmark Paris Climate Agreement.

Vijaya Ramachandran is the director for energy and development at the Breakthrough Institute, a board member of the Energy for Growth Hub, and a nonresident fellow of the Center for Global Development. She is an economist whose research focuses on access to energy and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.

She has three decades of experience in public policy and academia, serving on the faculty of Duke University and Georgetown University, as well as working at the World Bank and in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Her work has been published in Foreign Policy, Nature, and other journals, and cited by over fifty media outlets including the Economist, the Financial Times, National Public Radio, and the Guardian. Vijaya has a PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University.

Xiomara Acevedo, Colombian climate, and nature activist, founded Barranquilla+20 to educate children, youth, and women for climate action and justice through leadership and community-led initiatives.

She is a member of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network and coordinator of the Women for Climate Justice initiative in Colombia, advocating for feminist climate justice. Over a decade, Xiomara’s work has impacted 32,000+ individuals, driving key climate policies regionally, including in Narií±o and Atlí¡ntico. Recognized as a leader, she was named one of the 50 women “rising stars” in ESG by Women of the Future. With a bachelor’s in international relations, she pursued postgraduate studies in climate change, cities, and leadership, and an MPhil in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge.