Meet our 2026 Speakers

Sheldon Whitehouse represents Rhode Island in the United States Senate, where he is fighting to position America as a leader in the clean energy economy and protect the Ocean State from the consequences of climate change. As Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW), Whitehouse takes on the fossil fuel industry and spearheads policies combatting the climate crisis and strengthening environmental protections. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Virginia School of Law, Whitehouse served as Rhode Island’s U.S. Attorney and state Attorney General before being elected to the United States Senate in 2006.

Helen is an experienced leader on international climate and humanitarian issues, with over 25 years in government and corporate engagement. Under her leadership, Climate Group has created coalitions of over 650 ambitious companies through initiatives such as RE100, EV100, 24/7 Carbon-Free Coalition, ConcreteZero, and SteelZero, which are crucial in sending demand signals to markets and policy-makers to drive the energy transition, as well as building the Under2 Coalition of state and regional governments, and Climate Week NYC. Helen sits on the board of the We Mean Business Coalition, and the Sustainable Development Capital Energy Efficiency Income Trust. Helen was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to the climate and was included in The Independent's Climate 100 List 2025.

Valerie Volcovici is a Washington DC-based reporter for Reuters who covers national environment and energy policy as well as global climate and pollution issues.

Cecilia Vaca Jones is the Executive Director of Breathe Cities, a global initiative delivered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities that supports cities to improve air quality and public health. She is a public policy leader with more than 25 years of experience in social development, urban policy, and cross-sector collaboration. Prior to joining Breathe Cities, Cecilia served as Ecuador’s Coordinating Minister of Social Development, leading integrated policies to improve outcomes for children, youth, women, Indigenous communities, older adults, and people with disabilities. She was also Executive Director of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, where she advanced early childhood development through innovative urban and public-space initiatives, and later served as Senior Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority. At Breathe Cities, Cecilia works with city leaders and partners around the world to accelerate evidence-based solutions that deliver cleaner air, healthier communities, and more equitable urban development.

Paschal Donohoe was appointed Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group in November 2025. An Irish national, he leads the institution’s Knowledge Bank agenda, shaping how the World Bank Group generates, manages, and deploys knowledge to advance the mission to fight poverty and improve quality of life in emerging markets and developing economies. As Chief Knowledge Officer, Mr. Donohoe oversees strategic engagement with governments, civil society, foundations, and philanthropic partners, ensuring that the World Bank Group remains a trusted global platform for proven solutions, policy guidance, and development innovation. His work supports the institution’s mission to deliver practical, scalable, and results-driven knowledge to sovereign and private sector clients alike. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Mr. Donohoe served as Ireland’s Minister for Finance and as President of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, a position to which he was first elected in July 2020 and subsequently re-elected, commencing his third term in July 2025. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the European Stability Mechanism. Over more than two decades in public service, Mr. Donohoe held several senior ministerial roles, including Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and Minister for European Affairs at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 2011 and served as a member of key parliamentary committees, including Public Accounts, EU Affairs, and Transport, and chaired the “Ireland’s Future in Europe” Parliamentary Committee. He was a member of Seanad Éireann (2007 - 2011) and also served as member of Dublin City Council (2004 - 2007). Before entering political life, he worked in Sales and Marketing for Procter & Gamble. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a degree in Politics and Economics, and attended St. Declan’s Christian Brothers School. In 2024 he was recognized as ‘European of the Year’ by the European Movement of Ireland. In 2025 he received the honor of ‘Chevalier Legion d’Honneur’ from the Government of France.

Sunya Norman is the Senior Vice President of Impact at Salesforce, where she leads the company’s global strategy across sustainability, responsible business, and corporate philanthropy focused on climate solutions and education. A results-driven executive operating at the intersection of innovation and impact, Sunya ensures these efforts deliver measurable business value, driving growth, enhancing brand equity, and strengthening long-term resilience in a rapidly evolving landscape. Sunya is a trusted advisor known for turning vision into action and mobilizing stakeholders to drive meaningful impact. With deep expertise across sectors, she extends her leadership to a broad impact portfolio, including business strategy and operations, corporate sustainability, stakeholder engagement, impact reporting, and purpose-driven marketing. She has led high-impact initiatives across Fortune 50 companies and mission-driven organizations, translating complex challenges into actionable strategies. Sunya serves on the board of American Forests, reflecting her belief that access to nature strengthens communities and economies. She holds an MBA from Presidio Graduate School and a BA from Brown University, and is energized by bringing people together, solving tough problems, and telling stories that inspire action.

Priti leads Sustainability and Technology at Princeton Digital Group (PDG), where she oversees the company’s sustainability function and drives its ESG strategy across the organization. She also drives PDG’s technology roadmap, aligning infrastructure innovation with the company’s growth and sustainability goals. Previously, Priti held leadership roles at Tata Power, one of India’s top renewable energy companies, and Tata Communications, a global digital infrastructure provider. She brings over 17 years of international experience across technology, infrastructure, and energy, blending engineering and business expertise to lead purpose-driven, cross-functional initiatives focused on sustainable growth and innovation.

Khaleefa Almheiri is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Masdar Americas LLC, which is responsible for originating, executing and managing Masdar’s activities and its renewables portfolio, including wind, solar and storage projects, in the Americas.

Erin Sikorsky is Director of the Center for Climate and Security (CCS) at the Council on Strategic Risks and author of Climate Change on the Battlefield: International Military Responses to the Climate Crisis (Bloomsbury, 2025). She previously served as Deputy Director of the Strategic Futures Group on the National Intelligence Council (NIC), where she co-authored the quadrennial Global Trends report and led the US intelligence community's climate security analysis. As founding chair of the Congressionally mandated Climate Security Advisory Council, she coordinated between the intelligence community and government scientific agencies. Over a prior decade as a senior intelligence analyst, she led teams examining conflict risks in Africa and the Middle East, earning the National Intelligence Analysis Award. Sikorsky is an adjunct professor at George Mason University, teaching a course she designed on climate change and national security. She is a contributing editor at Lawfare, a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the advisory board of Smith College's Center for Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability. She appears regularly on CNN, the BBC, and the Weather Channel, and has published in Foreign Policy, Survival, War on the Rocks, and The Hill. She holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a B.A. from Smith College.

Fiona Bennie is a Partner at Newton, where she leads impact and innovation across consumer goods and retail. Her twenty years across brands, NGOs, creative agencies and consultancies, from L'Oréal to Forum for the Future, has given her a rare view of how change happens, and how it doesn't. Previously a Managing Director at Accenture, she sat on the global sustainability leadership team, heading sustainable innovation and future of food across consumer industries. She led the firm's partnership with the World Economic Forum on the New Frontiers of Nutrition and champions novel foods and alternative proteins as a major unlock for the future food system, connecting start-ups, investors and corporates across the US and Europe. She joined Newton for how it operates: teams work alongside clients from factory floor to boardroom to unlock complexity. An outcomes-based model ties Newton's success to what implementation delivers, from cutting food waste to lowering freight costs to building the commercial case for resilience. Impact, both commercial and environmental, becomes the basis of a working partnership built on tangible results. Fiona lives on a farm in the English South Downs and grows food in her kitchen garden, the shortest supply chain she works with.

Bill McKibben is a contributing writer to The New Yorker, and a founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of 60 to work on climate and racial justice. He founded the first global grassroots climate campaign, 350.org, and serves as the Schumann Distinguished Professor in Residence at Middlebury College in Vermont. In 2014 he was awarded the Right Livelihood Prize, sometimes called the ‘alternative Nobel,’ in the Swedish Parliament. He's also won the Gandhi Peace Award, and honorary degrees from 19 colleges and universities. He has written more than twenty books about the environment, including his first, The End of Nature, published in 1989, The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at his Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened, and his latest book is Here Comes The Sun.

Danielle is a social sector executive who has spent her career scaling mission-oriented organizations, working closely with the private sector to effectively address social, environmental and climate issues. Currently, as Executive Lead, North America at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Danielle is focused on accelerating the circular economy and driving sustainable business practice in the US and Canada. Prior to joining the Foundation, Danielle held prior roles at the Aspen Institute's Business & Society Program and was the CEO of Common Impact, a nonprofit that pioneered corporate skilled volunteering, for more than a decade.

Felipe Arango has spent over 20 years advancing sustainable development as a social entrepreneur, activist, and educator, working across coffee, cocoa, produce, textiles, and floral supply chains. He brings deep expertise in environmental and sustainable finance initiatives. Felipe served as Technical Advisor and Pilots Lead for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), where he advanced a global framework for reporting on nature-related risks and opportunities, helping shift global finance toward nature-positive outcomes. Felipe co-founded BSD Consulting and led the organization as Global CEO for seven years, launching operations in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S. and delivering sustainable development solutions to major global brands and development agencies. He spent eight years as a lead auditor, trainer, and consultant at FLO-CERT and Fairtrade International, and he has partnered with rural communities, workers, and Indigenous Peoples across the Americas to strengthen their livelihoods. He now serves as CEO of Fair Trade USA. Felipe lives in Colombia and is a proud father to two daughters. He holds bachelor's degrees in political science and business administration from Boston University, along with accreditations from FLO-CERT, Social Accountability International, the Global Reporting Initiative, and Integrated Reporting, among others.

Damilola Ogunbiyi is the CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. With Mrs. Ogunbiyi at the helm, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has entered into working relationships with over 200 partners, supported over 100 countries globally, and secured commitments of more than USD 1.6 trillion in energy finance. She has practical on the ground experience, she initiated the Nigerian Electrification Project, a USD 550 million facility which is a joint World Bank and African Development Bank programme that to date has provided energy access to over 8 million people across Nigeria and implemented over 100 megawatts of decentralized energy projects supplying electricity to hospitals, schools, and government facilities. Mrs. Ogunbiyi is a member of the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, a member of the Global Leadership Council of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), an Advisory Board member of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and a member of the Climate and Environment Advisory Council of the European Investment Bank (EIB). She was part of the COP28 Advisory Committee and was Co-Chair of the COP26 Energy Transition Council (ETC). She is a global leader and advocate for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and is passionate about achieving SDG7, which calls for access to reliable, affordable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. Mrs. Ogunbiyi was recognized in the 2026 TIME Earth Awards, the 2025 Forbes sustainability leaders list, the 2024 TIME100 Climate list and is the recipient of the First Class Order of Zayed II from the UAE President in recognition of her contribution to the success of the climate conference, COP28. She also received the Think Global Leadership Award in 2026, the Global Female Leadership Impact (GFLI) Award in 2024 and the Energy Institute President’s Award for 2023.

Serge Abergel took office as Chief Operating Officer of Hydro-Québec Energy Services in 2021. This U.S. subsidiary is responsible for hydropower export initiatives to the New York and New England markets. Serge is based in New York State.

General Richard Nugee was commissioned into the British Army in 1986. He completed numerous operational tours and also specialised in personnel (HR) roles both for the Army and Defence culminating in Chief of Defence People (equivalent to Global HR Director for Defence). As his final role he wrote a Review of Defence's approach to Climate Change and Sustainability. He has since earned international recognition for bringing the implications of Climate Change and Sustainability to Defence and National Security sectors and has expanded this policy interest into delivery as the Chair, Director and Advisor of a number of renewable energy and environmental sustainability organisations. He is Chief Executive of the Scar Free Foundation, Chair of the Royal NAAFI Board, a strategic advisor to consultancies and organisations, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and is Patron, Chair and Trustee of a number of organisations such as Invictus Games UK2027.

Martina has over 25 years of experience in Environmental Policy and Programme Management, with a particular focus on energy, buildings, transport and sustainable cities, as well as partnership building. At the UN Environment Programme, she has served in different functions out of Paris and Nairobi, including in the Executive Office, heading UNEP’s work Transport, Bioenergy, Energy Policy, UNEP's work on on Cities and the Secretariat of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, and now heading the Secretariat of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Before joining UNEP, Martina worked on Trade and Environment and Economic Instruments in the Area of Environmental Protection with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the European Commission and the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development. She is a fully qualified lawyer specialised in environmental law.

Laura Cozzi was appointed the International Energy Agency’s Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks in 2023. She leads and co-ordinates the IEA’s work on energy sustainability, encompassing energy technology policy and climate change. She is also the Agency’s Chief Energy Modeller and in this capacity co-leads the World Energy Outlook, the IEA’s flagship publication series. Ms Cozzi joined the IEA in 1999 as a junior analyst in the World Energy Outlook team. She has co-led many editions of the Outlook and led multiple special reports. Prior to joining the IEA, Ms Cozzi worked for the Italian energy company ENI S.p.A. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Polytechnic Milan and a Master’s degree in Energy and Environmental Economics from Eni Corporate University. Ms Cozzi was awarded an Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Cavaliere dell’ordine al merito della repubblica italiana) in 2025 and she was elected as a member of the National Academy of Technologies of France in 2024. She has also received honorary doctorates from Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology and from the Polytechnic University of Milan.

Jorge Moreira da Silva has led UNOPS—the UN’s implementation arm—since 2023. Under his leadership, UNOPS delivers infrastructure, procurement and project management solutions in more than 130 countries and territories, with two thirds of its 2025 project work delivered in special or fragile situations. Appointed by the Secretary-General, he leads the UN Task Force for the Strait of Hormuz. From 2013 to 2015, he served as Portugal’s Minister for Environment, Energy and Spatial Planning, introducing reforms in carbon taxation, renewable energy, electric mobility, water services, waste management and nature conservation. He participated in negotiations on the Paris Agreement and the European Union’s 2030 climate and energy framework. As a Member of the European Parliament, he authored the legislation that created the European Union Emissions Trading System, the world’s first major compliance carbon market. From 2016 to 2022, he led the OECD Development Co-operation Directorate and was Head of the Development Assistance Committee Secretariat, advancing standards for sustainable development finance and aligning development cooperation with the Paris Agreement. He previously taught at the University of Porto and Sciences Po and chaired the Platform for Sustainable Growth. He trained as an electrical and computer engineer and holds a postgraduate degree in senior management.

Angela currently serves as the Executive Director for North America at Climate Group. She brings over two decades of political and policy management experience, including several years in problem-solving, campaign-driven, solutions-focused work on climate, clean energy, clean cars and protecting natural resources, most recently as Undersecretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. Prior to CNRA, Angela served as Chief Executive for River LA, Deputy Chief of Staff at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and led climate and environment outreach for the Obama White House as Associate Director for Public Engagement of the White House Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ).

Christie Ulman is the president of Sequoia Climate Foundation, where she oversees the foundation’s efforts to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, guides its investments in rapid decarbonization, and leads its strategy of impact-driven philanthropy. Prior to joining the foundation, Christie served as the climate director at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) in London, and also worked on climate issues at the highest levels of the U.S. government—including at the Department of Energy, the Treasury Department, and the White House. She has also lived in Spain and Thailand, where she worked in public health and education, assisting with disaster relief from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Christie holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a BSc from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with honors.

Samantha Grassle is Senior Director of Partnerships & Policy at Elemental Impact, where she operates at the intersection of climate innovation, capital markets, and public policy. She leads strategic partnerships with corporates—particularly hyperscalers and large industrial players—to advance offtake opportunities and integrate emerging climate technologies into real-world operations. In parallel, she shapes investor relations strategies that mobilize private capital into early-stage and first-of-a-kind projects. Her work focuses on solving one of the core challenges in climate: bridging the gap between innovation and large-scale deployment. Samantha designs and leads initiatives that connect Elemental’s portfolio companies with commercial customers, investors, and policymakers, creating pathways to bankability and accelerating adoption. She also drives policy engagement to ensure that regulatory frameworks and public funding mechanisms are aligned with market needs, enabling more efficient and scalable climate investment. Across her role, Samantha collaborates closely with entrepreneurs, investors, and institutional partners to build new platforms for deployment—bringing together catalytic capital, project expertise, and cross-sector coordination to unlock high-impact opportunities.

Manish Bapna is the president and chief executive officer of NRDC, one of the world’s largest and most influential environmental organizations. With more than 800 lawyers, policy experts and scientists as well as over three million supporting members, NRDC is confronting the interlocking climate, health, and nature crises facing the world today. Prior to joining NRDC, Bapna’s leadership roles have focused on scaling solutions at the intersection of the environment and human development. He served as a senior economist at the World Bank, where he designed and implemented rural development projects in Asia and Latin America then as executive director of the Bank Information Center (BIC), a nonprofit that works to protect the rights of local communities and the environment then as executive vice president and managing director of the World Resources Institute (WRI), a world-class research organization dedicated to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature, and stabilize the climate. Prior to joining the World Bank, Bapna was a strategy consultant for McKinsey & Company in the financial services and technology industries. Bapna holds master’s degrees in business and political and economic development from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT.

Professor Corvaro currently serves as Special Envoy for Climate Change of the Italian Government, a position he has held since 2022. In this role, he represents Italy in high-level international climate processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as G7 and G20 working groups, contributing to multilateral dialogue and international climate cooperation. His mandate places particular emphasis on the Mediterranean region and the European Union. In parallel with his institutional role, Professor Corvaro is a Professor at the Università Politecnica delle Marche, with an academic background in energy systems and environmental engineering. His work bridges scientific research, public policy, and international diplomacy, supporting science-based, inclusive approaches to climate action, resilience, and sustainable development.

Professor Kaveh Madani is a leading environmental scientist and policy expert, known for his interdisciplinary work on complex human-natural systems. He specializes in integrating mathematical, economic, and systems models to inform environmental and human security policies. He is currently the Director of the United Nations University Institute of Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), known as the UN Think Tank on Water, and a Research Professor at the City College of New York (CCNY). Professor Madani is the author of the Global Water Bankruptcy Report and is known for developing the “water bankruptcy” concept. He is the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize laureate, the world’s most prestigious award for outstanding achievements in water. Between 2017 and 2018, he was the Vice President of the UN Environment Assembly Bureau.

Wouter Vink is a Director in the Energy Platform at Systemiq. He leads the company’s work on the decarbonisation of cement, concrete, and clinker, with a focus on the impact of transition strategies on existing assets and construction practices. His main theory of change is to drive system transformation through focused, targeted multi-stakeholder coalitions (e.g., the Zero Emission Port Alliance). Wouter has also led analytical work on the energy transition in other hard-to-abate sectors, including heavy-duty trucking, iron & steel, and cement & concrete. He has collaborated with multiple cement companies on decarbonisation roadmaps and implementation strategies, in partnership with GCCA, ECRA, and the LC3 Project. His broader work includes the direct electrification of heavy and specialised equipment—such as container handling machinery and inland vessels—as well as addressing power grid expansion and congestion. Before joining Systemiq, Wouter was part of McKinsey’s Sustainability Insights team. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics and an MBA. He brings both a practical background—having grown up on a farm—and an analytical mindset to his work. He is also the co-creator of the GigaWatt board games (Power Play for the Future and Energy Revolution), designed to build understanding of the energy transition through play.

As President of Commercial HVAC Americas, Holly oversees a leading thermal management, building technology, and energy services business that creates innovative solutions while helping customers leverage their facilities to achieve their organizational goals. Since joining Trane Technologies in 2016, she has held executive roles as President of Life Science Solutions, General Manager for Data Center Precision Cooling, Head of Marketing and Head of Strategic Sales & Operations. She has spent over 25 years in the industrial and technology markets across virtually every vertical and customer segment.  Prior to her time at Trane Technologies, Holly held executive leadership roles in general management, M&A, strategy, product management and marketing for Corning, Eaton and Intel.  She has served on several corporate, industry and nonprofit boards, including LiquidStack, Littelfuse, Well Buildings Institute Health Committee for Stadiums and Arenas, Davidson Day School, University of Wisconsin Diversity in STEM Committee and 50/50 Women on Boards’ Executive Committee. She is a STEM advocate and has received numerous industry awards for driving entrepreneurism, diversity and sustainability. Holly holds a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.

Daan Walter, Principal, Ember. Daan leads strategy research on the future of energy at global energy think tank Ember, forecasting the rapid growth of electrotech (solar PV, batteries, EVs and digitization) and analyzing its strategic implications for companies and countries. Before joining Ember, he was a Principal at RMI, leading global research into batteries, efficiency, and minerals demand. Earlier at McKinsey he co-founded and led the Sustainability Analytics team, advising governments and Fortune 500 companies on the energy transition.

Jordan Diamond is President of the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), an independent research and education center working to strengthen environmental governance in the United States and around the world. Jordan has spent her career advancing practical, evidence-based approaches to some of today's toughest environmental challenges. She previously led UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, has been recognized by the American Bar Association, and was elected to the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

Heather McGeory is Vice President of Energy and Sustainability at CoreWeave, where she leads energy strategy and execution for one of the fastest-growing AI infrastructure platforms. Her work focuses on securing power required to scale data centers. Heather specializes in originating and closing energy deals that enable data center growth in constrained and rapidly evolving power markets. She works directly with utilities and counterparties to structure long-term power agreements, navigate regulatory processes, and align commercial outcomes with grid reliability and decarbonization goals. In parallel, she leads CoreWeave’s approach to clean energy—integrating renewable procurement, emerging energy solutions, and utility partnerships into the company’s expansion strategy - enabling the next wave of AI while managing cost, carbon, and system constraints. Prior to CoreWeave, Heather held senior roles at Fifth Wall and the We Mean Business Coalition, where she advised global companies, investors, and coalitions on climate strategy, sustainable finance, and market development. Across these roles, she has consistently operated at the intersection of capital, policy, and infrastructure.

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal is the global leader of Climate & Energy at WWF and the chair of the IUCN Climate Action Commission. He has more than 35 years of experience in environmental law and policy. He served as Minister of the Environment of Peru (2011 to 2016) and President of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP20 in 2014.

Emma Cox is a sustainability and finance leader with over 35 years corporate and public sector advisory experience and is a qualified chartered accountant and chartered management consultant. Emma Cox has recently joined Climate Group’s UK Board of Trustees. Previously she was Global Climate Leader and UK partner at PwC, responsible for driving the development and delivery of leading-edge climate solutions to clients around the world and representing PwC on external climate and nature related issues and platforms. She is a visiting fellow at Oxford Saïd Business School’s Centre for Corporate Reputation. Emma was Head of Purpose for PwC UK and led both its client facing and internal sustainability and climate change teams. Her experience is based across the private, public and NGO sectors, focusing on the need for systemic solutions to address the intertwined challenges of climate, nature and inequality. An engineer and accountant by training, she previously set up and co-led PwC UK’s structuring services deals practice and was Head of People for PwC’s Advisory practice. She was a founder member of PwC UK’s Diversity Council and a Trustee of the PwC Foundation.

Mariane currently leads policy development and implementation on reducing embodied carbon in public construction projects in New York State. She co-drafted Governor Hochul’s Executive Order #22: Embodied Carbon Guidelines (2023), and the New York State Buy Clean Concrete Guidelines (2023), which set global warming potential (GWP) limits for all concrete procured on major State projects for the first time. She also leads work on implementing the Decarbonization and Climate Resiliency Design Guide for State buildings, which was developed with NYSERDA, and leads state-wide, interagency working groups on both topics. She has over 20 years of international experience in sustainability and climate solutions. Mariane holds a Masters in Science in Culture and Society from the London School of Economics, and Bachelor of Arts in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge.

Based in New York, Nathan comes from Google, where he served as Head of Global Sustainability Programs and Partnerships, leading work at the intersection of consumer products, circular design, and environmental impact. In his role as Chief AI and innovation Officer, he spearheads the development of innovative solutions and strategic partnerships across each pillar of the Foundation's work. Nathan brings more than 20 years’ experience spanning corporate and NGO strategy, innovation, policy development, and program management. He previously held positions at the Clinton Foundation and Carbon War Room. Nathan is a current doctoral student at the University of Oxford where his research focuses on AI for Sustainable Urban Development and he completed his MBA focused in Sustainability at Yale University.

Secretary Serena McIlwain was confirmed in March 2023 as the 11th Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, where she leads the state’s efforts to protect public health, safeguard natural resources, and advance Maryland’s ambitious climate and environmental goals. Before joining Governor Wes Moore’s cabinet, Secretary McIlwain served as Undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. She brings more than 30 years of federal, state, and legislative experience, with a career that uniquely bridges large-scale operations and high-impact environmental and energy policy. Early in her career, Secretary McIlwain built deep operational expertise, managing complex organizations with billion-dollar budgets. Midway through her federal service, she transitioned into senior policy leadership roles in the energy and environmental sectors, serving at both the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Her roles included Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Assistant Secretary in DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy, as well as Assistant Regional Administrator for EPA Region 9, based in San Francisco. Across six presidential administrations and service in both the executive and legislative branches, including as a Congressional Fellow—Secretary McIlwain has built a reputation for results-driven leadership, organizational excellence, and pragmatic problem-solving. As Secretary, her priorities include positioning Maryland to meet its nation-leading climate targets, strengthening environmental protections while addressing long-standing environmental injustices, restoring and protecting Chesapeake Bay, and leading a high-performing agency grounded in accountability, equity, and public service.

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP was sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister on 23 May 2022. He has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Representatives. As Infrastructure Minister and Communications Minister, he delivered nation-building projects, connecting the country through thousands of kilometres of roads and rail, and rolling out the high-speed fibre National Broadband Network. He was widely recognised for his ability to bring stakeholders, businesses, and communities together to deliver projects that boosted the economy, enhanced productivity, and improved Australia’s quality of life. Anthony was first elected to the Australian Parliament as the member for the Sydney seat of Grayndler in 1996. In 2019, he was unanimously elected as the Leader of the Australian Labor Party. Anthony grew up with his mother, Maryanne, in a council house in Sydney. As he watched his mum juggling the challenges of life on a disability pension, Anthony came to understand the power of a parent’s love in the face of hardship – and the power of government to change lives for the better. This knowledge still drives him today - both as Prime Minister and as a father - as he works to building a stronger Australia to hand to his son Nathan’s generation.

Paul Polman is an internationally recognised leader in sustainable business and a co-architect of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As CEO of Unilever (2008-2019), he proved that purpose-driven strategies deliver exceptional results. Through board roles, impact investments, and his bestselling book Net Positive, Paul continues to inspire responsible leadership and drive global progress towards a sustainable future. Thinkers50 named Paul and his co-author Andrew Winston 1st in its 2025 Ranking, recognising their lasting influence on business and management.

Danya Hakeem is the Chief Operating Officer at Elemental Impact, a nonprofit investor that helps advance innovative technologies with deep environmental and local impact. She oversees the organization’s investment, partnership, and operational functions and has directed more than 100 investments in companies including Fervo Energy, Nitricity, and Nth Cycle. Earlier in her career, she worked in food policy, community organizing, and documentary production for National Geographic and Discovery Channel.

Chris Ninnes was appointed CEO of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) in October 2011. Before joining the ASC, Chris was Deputy CEO and Director of Operations at the Marine Stewardship Council from 2006 to 2011, where he led the expansion of the MSC's technical and commercial work. From 2003 to 2006 Chris was Vice President of MRAG Americas, which followed his appointment as Technical Director for MRAG Ltd from 1996 until 2002. Chris worked for the UK Department for International Development from 1983 to 2002 where he advised on seafood industry development issues in Africa and the Caribbean. He has also been a professional inshore fisherman.

Lena Hansen is RMI’s chief program officer for Geographies and Strategy. A member of the senior leadership team, she leads RMI’s geographic portfolio of programs, strategic insights team, and overall organizational strategy, helping connect work across the organization to accelerate the global energy transition. Lena brings more than 20 years of experience developing, testing, and scaling high-impact efficiency and clean energy solutions. Prior to her current role, Lena served as chief strategy officer, chaired RMI’s Strategy Council, and served on the board of Canary Media. Based in Beijing, she served as managing director of RMI’s China program, leading a team that advised and supported China’s energy transition energy system-wide. Lena also led RMI’s US electricity program, focusing on utility business models and the integration of renewable and distributed energy resources into the grid. She cofounded RMI’s Electricity Innovation Lab (eLab), a multi-year collaboration of power-sector leaders working to unlock transformational solutions, and supported many electric utilities and regulators to customize and implement key solutions. Lena has co-authored many key reports and articles at RMI, including RMI’s 2011 book Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for a New Energy Era, a roadmap for an economically grounded transition to a low-carbon US energy system.

Robyn Scott is CEO and Co-Founder of Apolitical. Apolitical is the world’s largest online network of public servants, with a mission to make governments smarter. It is used by half a million public servants and policymakers across 170 countries, providing governments with the tools, skills and networks they need to be effective. Prior to Apolitical, Robyn founded several social enterprises in Southern Africa and worked at the Financial Times. She serves on the board of Invisible Technologies, one of the world’s fastest-growing AI companies. Robyn's advisory roles include with the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance, the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council on Govtech and Digital Public Infrastructure, and the World Bank’s Working Group on AI in the Public Sector. She also serves on the investment committee of 100x, the London School of Economics’ impact accelerator. She was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Gates Cambridge Scholar. She holds a BSc in Bioinformatics from Auckland University and a Master's in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge, where she graduated with distinction. She has written a bestselling memoir about growing up in Botswana during the AIDS epidemic.

Jason Walsh is the Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA). Under his leadership, BGA has won significant victories at the state and federal level, including landmark industrial policies and investments in infrastructure and climate legislation passed by the 117th Congress. Walsh has more than twenty-five years of experience at state and federal levels in policy development and advocacy in a range of issue areas—including climate, clean energy, and economic and workforce development—and as a coalition organizer and manager.v Walsh previously served in the Obama administration, as the Director of the Office of Strategic Programs in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and as a Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Domestic Policy Council, where he led Obama administration’s efforts to align and scale up federal investments in workers and communities impacted by the shift away from coal in the power sector. Walsh holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute. He is also a graduate of the AFL-CIO’s Organizing Institute.

Dr. Noel Hacegaba is the Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Long Beach, a world leader in supply chain innovation, customer service and environmental sustainability. He is responsible for advancing the Port’s pioneering projects and programs and elevating its leadership position in the global trade arena. Each year, the Port processes nearly 10 million container units carrying $300 billion in goods that power the local, regional and national economy by supporting nearly 3 million jobs. Dr. Hacegaba leads a team of 600 staff and manages an annual budget of $834 million. He also oversees the delivery of a $3.3 billion capital improvement program, the largest of any port in the nation. He began his 15-year Port career as Executive Officer to the Board of Harbor Commissioners, advancing to Chief Commercial Officer, then Chief Operating Officer prior to his appointment as CEO. Dr. Hacegaba is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he earned degrees in economics (BA and MA), business administration (BS) and planning (MPL). He also earned his doctorate in public administration from the University of La Verne.

Jaclyn Whittal is a meteorologist, climate journalist, storm chaser, and founder of One Earth Communications, a climate communications company helping organizations translate complex climate and risk science into stories that build understanding, trust, and action. Over nearly two decades, Jaclyn has reported from some of the world’s most extreme weather and climate events, including violent tornadoes, Category 5 hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and extreme heat. Her fieldwork has taken her from the Canadian Arctic to Everest and the Atacama Desert, where she has explored the intersection of extreme weather, climate change, and human resilience. A Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and The Explorers Club, Jaclyn brings deep scientific knowledge, frontline reporting experience, and a powerful storytelling lens to climate conversations. She was named one of the Top 50 Women in Sustainability globally in 2025, recognizing her leadership in advancing public understanding of climate risk and resilience. Through One Earth Communications, Jaclyn works with organizations, leaders, and communities to make climate science more accessible, actionable, and human. For NYC Climate Week, she brings a grounded perspective on how stories from the front lines can inspire better decisions in a rapidly changing world.

Paola Bauche Petersen Secretary of Environment and Territorial Development of the Government of the State of Jalisco Paola Bauche is a biologist who completed her studies at the University of Guadalajara and holds a postgraduate degree in Geography from McGill University in Canada. For the past 20 years, she has worked with public sector organizations, the federal government, academic institutions, and as an independent consultant on natural resource management, conservation financing, and climate change. She is known for her notable work at the National Foresty Commission (CONAFOR), where she designed and operated the program “Local payment mechanisms for environmental services through concurrent funds.” She has channeled more than 40 million pesos in funds to the state of Jalisco for strategic issues such as sustainable livestock farming, carbon markets, watershed management, and river restoration, to name a few. For more than 10 years, she was in charge of the Executive Management at the Northwest and West Fund (FONNOR, A.C.), through which she was able to obtain resources and strengthen capacities for the conservation of natural resources. Since december 2024, Paola Bauche has held the position of Secretary of Environment and Territorial Development for the State of Jalisco (SEMADET).

David Calabrese is Executive Vice President of Daikin U.S. Corporation, bringing more than 30 years of experience spanning corporate leadership, government affairs, public policy, law, and association management. He leads Daikin's engagement on key policy and advocacy priorities in the United States, working at the intersection of business, government, and industry. His career includes experience in the federal government, private legal practice, corporate government affairs, and leadership roles in nonprofit trade associations. He has also served on several government advisory boards and brings extensive experience in developing strategies and building partnerships across the public and private sectors. At Daikin, he works to advance dialogue on policies and solutions that support energy security, resilience, and the transition toward sustainable buildings and energy systems.

Benoît Faraco is a French expert in environmental and climate policies, currently serving as Ambassador for Climate Negotiations, Decarbonised Energy and Climate Risk Prevention. Appointed in June 2025, he previously spent five years as an advisor to the President of the French Republic on energy, environment, transport and agriculture, working tirelessly to translate the Paris Agreement into concrete public action.

Stephanie is a Technology & Innovation Senior Associate at BloombergNEF covering clean, baseload power. By looking at investment trends, customer partnerships and project pipelines, she tracks the commercialization of next-generation nuclear and geothermal technologies. She also covers climate-tech startups, with a particular focus on emerging technologies in the power sector, by tracking venture capital investment trends and contributing to the annual BNEF Pioneers competition which identifies game-changing technologies or innovations in climate tech. She has prior work experience at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency doing federal oversight of air permitting, and she worked in NYC government advancing energy efficiency. Stephanie has an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Chicago.

Cimarron Nix is Chief Sustainability Officer at Nike, Inc., where she leads the company's Sustainability and Responsible Supply Chain strategy. She works across the enterprise to advance Nike's sustainability ambitions while helping build a more resilient, responsible and responsive value chain. Since joining Nike in 2017, Cimarron has held leadership roles spanning human rights, responsible sourcing, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Global Apparel and Accessories Manufacturing, leading Nike and Jordan Brand's global apparel and accessories manufacturing network across 26 countries.

Ambroise Fayolle has been Vice-President of the European Investment Bank since 2015. He oversees the Bank’s climate action and environmental activities, energy efficiency and EIB Global operations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific. Before joining the EIB, he held senior positions within the French Ministry of Finance, including Chief Executive of Agence France Trésor, and represented France on the Boards of the IMF and the World Bank. A graduate of ENA, Sciences Po Paris and the Sorbonne, he has devoted much of his career to international finance, development and climate action.

Dr. J. Nadine Gracia is the President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), a nonprofit, nonpartisan public health policy, research, and advocacy organization in Washington, DC committed to promoting optimal health for every person and community and making prevention and health equity foundational to policymaking at all levels. Dr. Gracia is a nationally recognized leader on the intersection of climate impacts, public health, and health equity. She has extensive experience in federal government, the nonprofit sector, academia, and professional associations. Dr. Gracia served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director of the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In that capacity, she directed departmental policies and programs to end health disparities and advance health equity, and provided executive leadership on administration priorities including the Affordable Care Act and My Brother’s Keeper. Previously, she served as Chief Medical Officer in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, where her portfolio included emergency preparedness, environmental health and climate change, global health, adolescent health, and the White House Council on Women and Girls. Prior to that role, she was appointed as a White House Fellow at HHS and worked in the Office of the First Lady on the development of the Let’s Move! initiative to solve childhood obesity. A first-generation Haitian-American, Dr. Gracia is active in many civic and professional organizations, including the Aspen Global Leadership Network, the International Women’s Forum, Women of Impact, and the National Social Action Commission of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She serves on the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health, the Milken Institute Public Health Advisory Board, the Common Health Coalition, and the National Academies Roundtable on Obesity Solutions. Dr. Gracia is also on the Board of Directors of Vaccinate Your Family.

Frank Reig is Voltera's Chief Executive Officer, leading the company as it builds the infrastructure backbone for autonomous vehicle fleets across North America. He is responsible for the company's strategy, growth, and execution as Voltera develops purpose-built hubs that power the next generation of mobility. Prior to joining Voltera, Frank was Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Revel, where he transformed the company from a startup into a leader in electric mobility and charging infrastructure through multiple market expansions, product launches, and funding rounds. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles in the energy and corporate sustainability sectors, bringing deep experience at the intersection of energy, transportation, and infrastructure to accelerate the future of autonomous mobility.

Alex Dewar is a core member of BCG’s Energy and Climate & Sustainability practice areas. He serves a diverse range of energy clients on strategy, portfolio, and operational topics while also serving industrial and financial sector clients to assess the risks and opportunities presented by climate change. Alex also leads the firm’s work on carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and engineered carbon removals (CDR) topics. Since joining BCG in 2009 Alex has worked across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. From 2017 to 2021 Alex was a Senior Director at BCG’s Center for Energy Impact (CEI) and he currently leads the CEI’s work on energy and climate policy. Outside of BCG Alex has served in multiple policy advisory and think tank roles including on the Natural Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee at the US Department of Transportation.

Mike leads a portfolio of global campaigns that secure climate commitment and action from the world’s most influential companies: from driving action towards zero carbon grids (RE100, Smart Energy Coalition and the 24/7 Carbon-Free Coalition), to growing demand for electric vehicles (EV100) and low carbon materials (SteelZero and ConcreteZero). He is also co-lead of the We Mean Business Coalition’s Electric Advantage programme, and a Director of ResponsibleSteel where he chairs the Finance and Risk Committee. Mike has worked with companies across the world on climate and sustainability issues since 1998, spending more than a decade at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), including as Director of Executive Programmes and Director of Strategy & Communications. Before joining CISL, he was Chief Operating Officer of AccountAbility where he led the development of the AA1000 framework for sustainability accounting and reporting. Mike started his career as a business consultant for the COBA Group, following studies in politics, philosophy and economics at the University of Oxford, and international relations at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

Phil is Chief Scientist at Spark Climate Solutions, a non profit dedicated to supporting the development of emerging, high-impact climate fields to enable a pathway to a safer future climate. Before joining Spark, Phil served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he helped to inform and implement President Biden’s climate agenda. Prior to rejoining government, he was President and Executive Director of the Woodwell Climate Research Center (formerly Woods Hole Research Center), which helps to manage climate change through use-inspired research. In the Obama administration, Phil served as a Senior Policy Analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and as a Senior Advisor in the US Global Change Research Program. Before joining the White House, Phil was Chief Scientist at Climate Central, a climate change communications organization. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Phil was a Senior Scientist and Deputy Division Leader, and led research on impacts of climate change in California and the US west. He holds a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Harvard in astronomy and astrophysics and a PhD in applied physics from Stanford. Phil enjoys cycling and playing with his dog, Rosie.

Justin Worland is TIME's senior correspondent covering energy and climate change and the founder of Future Proof, TIME’s platform for navigating the changing energy and climate economy. For the past decade, his reporting has explored how climate change and the energy transition are reshaping the world around us. His weekly column reaches nearly half a million subscribers. In 2022, Worland was named the inaugural Climate Journalist of the Year by Covering Climate Now. He previously served as the journalism fellow at the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute and is currently the Outrider Foundation fellow at TIME. Worland is a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations and was a founding steering committee member at the Uproot Project, a non-profit that works to diversify environmental journalism.

Shivakumar is a global advocate for sustainable steel production, with a background in metallurgical engineering, renewable energy, delivering large scale global engineering projects and expertise in climate finance. At ResponsibleSteel, his work intersects global industry engagements, policy, and transition finance to advance low-carbon, responsible steelmaking. He engages with steel value chain, governments, to drive demand-side action and align industry with climate and social goals. Shivakumar bridges technical, policy and financial domains to support a just, global transition in one of the world’s most essential industries.

Since becoming California’s 34th Attorney General, Rob Bonta has taken on the biggest challenges of our time — gun violence, fentanyl, the lawlessness of the second Trump Administration, attacks on healthcare, deception peddled by Big Oil, the state’s housing crisis, and greedy corporate giants. Before serving as Attorney General, Bonta spent more than eight years serving in the State Assembly, where he authored nation-leading legislation to make our communities safer and more affordable, and to ensure government institutions work for all people. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Attorney General Bonta worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco. Bonta was sworn in on April 23, 2021, becoming the first person of Filipino descent to serve as California Attorney General. Born in Quezon City, Philippines to a native Filipina mother and a father born and raised in California, Bonta immigrated to California as an infant.

Emma Cox is a sustainability and finance leader with over 35 years corporate and public sector advisory experience. She is currently a Trustee of Climate Group and a visiting fellow at Oxford Saïd Business School’s Centre for Corporate Reputation, focused on the importance of systems thinking to drive effective, scalable action on the intertwined challenges of climate, nature and inequality. An engineer and chartered accountant by background, she was formerly Global Climate Leader and UK partner at PwC, responsible for driving the development and delivery of leading-edge climate solutions to clients around the world and representing PwC on external climate and sustainability related issues and platforms.

Mete Coban MBE is the Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy. As the youngest Deputy Mayor in London’s history, he leads the capital’s work on climate action, clean energy, air quality, nature recovery and climate resilience. Prior to joining City Hall, Mete served as a Councillor and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport in the London Borough of Hackney. Elected at the age of 21, he was the youngest elected Councillor in Hackney at the time. Over three terms in office, he delivered a £61 million Green New Deal and pioneered Hackney’s Community Energy Fund, helping local organisations generate community-owned renewable energy. Mete is best known for founding My Life My Say, the youth-led charity dedicated to increasing democratic participation among young people. Through the Give an X campaign, he helped register more than 488,000 voters ahead of the 2024 General Election, making it the largest youth voter registration campaign in British history. In 2020, Mete was awarded an MBE for services to young people and democracy. He currently serves as Chair of ReLondon and is a Trustee of My Life My Say, the London Marathon Foundation, King's Trust International and C40 Cities.

Prabhu Pingali is a Professor of International Development Economics at Cornell University, and the Founding Director of the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI). He was Chair of the Governing Board of ICRISAT, a CGIAR Center focused on dryland agricultural systems. Prior to joining Cornell, he was Deputy Director, Agricultural Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2008-13), and Director of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2002-08). In addition, he worked with the CGIAR for 15 years from 1987-2002, first with IRRI in the Philippines and then with CIMMYT in Mexico. Dr. Pingali is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the Indian National Science Academy a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), India’s National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA), and the African Association of Agricultural Economists and a former President of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE). He is globally recognized for his research and policy contributions focused on the nexus of hunger, poverty and environmental sustainability. Prof. Pingali has written 15 books and over 200 journal articles and book chapters. He is the recipient of the 2025 M.S. Swaminathan Award for Leadership in Agriculture.

Manjyot is a climate policy professional specializing in international diplomacy, multi-stakeholder engagement, and private sector action. Growing up in Bhopal, India, the City of Lakes that endured a gas tragedy in the 80’s, Manjyot was drawn to solving the environmental and climate crises with a deep recognition of the impacts to vulnerable communities and fragile ecosystems. At the Global Methane Hub (GMH), she serves as the regional lead for Asia. Manjyot manages a cross-functional strategy to scale the Hub’s three sectoral programs – energy, waste and circular economy, and agriculture – across India, East and Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. She engages with key policymakers, international organizations, and civil society organizations on global diplomacy and multilateral cooperation to integrate methane mitigation in national and global climate priorities. She enjoys convening partners, building the infrastructure and capacity of grassroots organizations, and fostering platforms for South-South collaboration. Previously, Manjyot held pivotal policy and climate alliances building roles at World Wildlife Fund-US (WWF), the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES). Manjyot holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from American University, Washington, D.C., and a master’s in sustainability from the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University.

Liz Chatwin serves as Vice President, Sustainability and Global Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) at AstraZeneca. In this role, she oversees the company’s bold approach to climate action and investments in nature and biodiversity, including its flagship Ambition Zero Carbon program. With nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Chatwin brings deep expertise across geographies, functions, and therapeutic areas. Since joining AstraZeneca in 2006, she has held numerous leadership positions, including Country President for Australia and New Zealand, as well as Korea. Most recently, she acted as the Global Franchise Head for Enhertu and Breast Cancer in AstraZeneca’s oncology business unit.

Charlotte joined Wellcome in March 2025. She supports transformative research investments, public engagement and policy influence, making significant global impact across Wellcome’s three Solutions programmes: Climate and Health, Infectious Diseases and Mental Health. Prior to joining Wellcome Charlotte was Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of Research and Evidence at the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and previously the Department for International Development (DFID) – a secondment from her academic position as Professor of Global Health and Development at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Over her academic career she has led large multi-disciplinary and multi-country research programmes, including on infectious disease epidemiology, HIV prevention, and gender-based violence, often working with communities and countries most impacted by health challenges. During her nine years in UK Government, Charlotte headed the Research and Evidence Directorate, including teams managing major portfolios of investment in health, climate, agriculture, clean energy, gender, conflict and humanitarian research. In her role as Chief Scientific Advisor she served on SAGE during the Covid pandemic, provided science advice to FCDO ministers and seniors, and helped shape national and international health policy. As joint head of the UK’s Science and Technology diplomatic network, she has represented the UK in international policy and research engagements, including G20 Science and Innovation meetings in Brazil and India.

Tanya Singhal is an industry expert and thought leader in the renewable energy and climate tech space with over 18 years of experience. As the Vice President, Country Head – India at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, she leads efforts to accelerate India's clean energy transition across grid modernisation, battery energy storage, distributed renewables, and innovative financing. At the heart of this work is a defining ambition: making round-the-clock renewable energy a reality for every Indian one that the Global Energy Alliance is uniquely placed to deliver, bridging philanthropy, policy, and private capital. With a background in strategy consulting at BCG and as an IIT Delhi alumni, she founded SolarArise. At SolarArise, Tanya raised and deployed over Rs 2000 Cr capital to build a portfolio of half a GW of 7 largescale grid-connected solar plants across multiple states in India - core investment by the European Investment Bank (EIB’s arm GEEREF based in Luxembourg) and Kotak Mahindra’s managed infrastructure fund from Singapore. She led SolarArise’s investment strategy and ensured each asset was cashgenerating. She managed the portfolio return with financial engineering coupled with operational excellence to balance risks. After eight years of leading SolarArise, Tanya successfully orchestrated an exit for the investors by selling the firm to an Infrastructure Trust (InvIT) listed on the London Stock Exchange as one of the first Indian renewable InvITs to be listed on the LSE and gave a successful exit to its investors. She has collaborated with government and industry stakeholders to shape India's renewable energy policies through close collaboration with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). She is a prolific writer and has written many opinion pieces on climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable economic growth and has been a speaker at Parliament panels, BloombergNEF Summit, universities and multiple industry forums evangelizing climate tech. She actively participates in Milaan, an NGO that empowers underprivileged adolescent girls to pursue professional excellence & is helping build Mynzo Carbon - MyNetZerO, an AI-driven climate tech solution. Her accolades include recognition in - Fortune 40 under 40 - Business World Sustainability Businessperson of the Year 2023 - Asia's Most Influential Women in Renewable Energy - Business World's 40 under 40 - Power 100 - 2022, 2021, 2019 Outside of her professional pursuits, Tanya has diverse interests. She is an advanced scuba diver, a passionate cyclist, and an enthusiast of Hindi classical music and ukulele.

Aimee Witteman, Chief Impact Officer at Urban Land Institute. Previously, Aimee served as a senior leader at Rewiring America and as an appointee at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she worked on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. She has also held leadership roles at the Energy Foundation, Climate Imperative Foundation, and the McKnight Foundation, where she designed and led its Midwest Climate & Energy program. Earlier in her career, she led the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

Betty Cremmins is a global partnerships builder who works at the intersection of government and industry to accelerate climate action through sustainable supply chains.

Eva Riesenhuber is Global Head of Sustainability at Siemens, where she leads sustainability as a strategic driver of business transformation across industrial, infrastructure, grid, and mobility sectors. She focuses on scaling decarbonization and circularity through digitalization and AI, helping customers build resilient value chains, accelerate adaptation, and unlock growth opportunities in a rapidly changing world. With a multidisciplinary background spanning law, finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, venture capital, and investor relations, Eva integrates sustainability into business strategy, innovation, and portfolio decisions. She works closely with executive leaders and boards to navigate regulatory complexity and position sustainability as a source of competitiveness, resilience, and long-term value creation. Her areas of expertise include industrial and infrastructure decarbonization, the energy transition, circular product design, AI-enabled sustainability, and value-chain resilience. She is also passionate about building collaborative ecosystems that advance sustainable infrastructure and societal progress. Eva serves on the Supervisory Board of Siemens Mobility and on the Sustainability Council of Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). She holds a doctorate in International Public Law from Goethe University Frankfurt and LL.M. degrees from NYU School of Law and Université Paris Nanterre. She was recognized as one of the TOP100 Most Influential Women in German Business from 2022–2025 and named to the TIME100 Climate Leaders list in 2025.

Patty is Director of the Food and Agriculture Program at ClimateWorks Foundation. Patty brings decades of experience in leading philanthropy on climate, energy and food systems transformation. Previously, Patty led the climate and health portfolios at the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, was the founding COO at the European Climate Foundation (ECF), and helped launch Energy Foundation China.

Mads Christensen is the Executive Director of Greenpeace International and a lifelong environmental advocate. Inspired by Greenpeace’s ability to catalyse change, he joined Greenpeace Denmark as a youth volunteer in the 1990s. Since then, he has worked across the global network, including 15 years as Executive Director of Greenpeace Nordic. He has led bold missions, from securing the release of the Arctic 30 to contributing to the historic UN Ocean Treaty, and has worked closely with Indigenous and frontline communities from the Amazon to Greenland. Three decades in, he’s still driven by what first drew him to Greenpeace: non-violence, direct action, and its uncompromising independence from political or corporate influence. He takes pride in being part of a global movement, powered by the strength of millions who stand behind it. His vision, rooted in patience, persistence, and hope, is of a green future where power shifts from private profit to the common good and environmental justice. Mads serves on the board of GAME, an NGO working for social change through youth-led street sports and culture in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Bernhard is the Director Global Accelerator and Ventures at the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP). Since he created the Global Accelerator in 2015, it has become one of the Worlds biggest impact startup accelerators, offering 18 annual programmes. Prior to starting the Accelerator, Bernhard co-founded the award-winning ShareTheMeal app that crowdsources funding for WFP and has delivered over 329 million meals for hungry children worldwide. His previous experience includes creating WFP’s Business Innovation Unit and working as a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Mindy Lubber is the CEO and President of the sustainability nonprofit Ceres. She has been at the helm since 2003, and under her leadership, the organization and its powerful networks and global initiatives have grown significantly in size and influence. As a global thought leader, Lubber has inspired capital market leaders including some of the world’s largest institutional investors and corporate boards and executives to factor responsible investment and business practices into their overall strategies. She regularly speaks to high-level global and national policymakers on the need for stronger climate policies that accelerate the transition to a more just and resilient economy. She is frequently quoted in mainstream business and financial news outlets and pens columns for Forbes.com and Reuters.com on a variety of sustainability topics. In 2015, Lubber helped catalyze the necessary business support to get the historic Paris Agreement across the finish line, leading Vogue Magazine to name her a “Climate Warrior.” Prior to Ceres, Lubber served as a Regional Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She also founded Green Century Capital Management and served as the director of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group. She resides in the Boston area.

Ed Crooks joined Wood Mackenzie in 2019. Based in New York, he covers the full range of commodities, technologies and sectors, with a particular focus on climate policy, economics and the energy transition. He writes Wood Mackenzie’s popular Energy Pulse newsletter, analysing the latest developments in the world of energy, and also hosts Energy Gang, one of the world's most popular energy-focused podcasts. Before Wood Mackenzie, Ed was an award-winning energy editor for the Financial Times, first in London and then in New York. He joined the FT in 1999 as economics editor. He previously worked as an economics correspondent for BBC News, a reporter for Investor’s Chronicle magazine, and an economic researcher at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He has also served on the UK government’s Sustainable Development Commission.

Aaron J. Johnson is Senior Vice President of Local Customer & Community Engagement and serves as PG&E’s Chief Sustainability Officer. In this role, he is responsible for sustainability, local performance, and advancing support for PG&E’s hometowns. Previously, Johnson has held a variety of leadership positions at PG&E. He was Vice President of the Bay Area Region, accountable for delivering high-quality customer service, safety and reliability of regional operations. Johnson was also Vice President, Wildfire Safety and Public Engagement in Electric Operations, with responsibility for improving operational practices and situational awareness to mitigate wildfire risk. He also served as Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions, overseeing customer and clean energy programs, including PG&E's entry into the electric vehicle charging business. Earlier in his career, he worked in energy procurement, shaping renewable energy policy and leading solar and wind development. Prior to PG&E, Johnson worked at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as energy advisor to two Commissioners and was a member of the senior management team. Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in optical engineering from the University of Rochester and a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of New South Wales in Australia. He also serves on the Oakland Workforce Development Board.

Dr. Mercy Berman DeMenno is a Distinguished Scholar at New York University and an expert in risk, regulation, and resilience. A political economist, her current research, teaching, and thought leadership focus on climate-related financial risk, regulatory and market transition strategies, and the implications for financial resilience and economic prosperity. Dr. DeMenno advises financial institutions, central banks, foundations, and regulators at the local, national, and international levels on climate risk management and finance. The author of more than thirty articles and government reports, including foundational work on climate-related systemic financial risk, she has served on a number of boards and committees, including for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, New Mexico’s green bank, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Dr. DeMenno holds a PhD and an MA from Duke University and an MBA and a BA from the University of New Mexico.

Jeffrey A. Smidt serves as Senior Vice President of Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC), Industrial segment, at UL Solutions, a position he’s held since January 2021. He leads UL Solutions’ Industrial TIC business to help our Built Environment, Energy and Industrial Automation, Engineered Materials, and Advisory customers achieve global product compliance. Smidt joined UL Solutions in 2004 and previously held numerous positions, including VP/GM of Energy and Power Technologies VP/GM of the Appliances, HVAC and Lighting division VP/GM of Energy and Industrial Systems General Manager of the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) division and various operations management roles focused on process and systems optimization. Prior to joining UL Solutions, Smidt worked for several years in profit and loss management and business consulting, including positions at BearingPoint Consulting Inc. and Arthur Andersen LLP. Smidt earned a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Drake University.

With an educational background in law, Ms. Li Dan joined CREIA in 2007 and has long‑term experience in research on renewable energy industry, policies and legislations. Under her leadership, CREIA, serving as a platform connecting government, industry, academia and research institutions, has won wide recognition from energy authorities, relevant enterprises and international organizations. At present, she is facilitating Chinese renewable energy producers and energy‑consuming enterprises to innovate diverse business models, so as to achieve broader and larger‑scale deployment of renewable energy.

With nearly two decades of experience in the life sciences sector, Johanna C. Jobin is a corporate responsibility leader with a track record tackling complex issues at the intersection of global health, climate and business. At Takeda, Johanna leads environmental strategy across climate, nature and product sustainability. She is advancing ambitious goals, including net-zero operations by 2035 and a net-zero value chain by 2040. Johanna works to embed sustainability across operations and the value chain, connecting environmental performance with human health and business value. She also drives collaborations to advance a more sustainable health care ecosystem, including Takeda’s first-of-its-kind work with Boston Medical Center to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from medical waste. Johanna oversees environmental regulatory compliance and disclosures, contributing to Takeda’s recognition on the CDP Climate A List for four consecutive years. Before joining Takeda, Johanna held leadership roles across operations and corporate affairs at MilliporeSigma and Biogen, spearheading award-winning programs focused on business and the environment. Johanna serves on several boards and advisory councils, including the Museum of Science, MassBioEd, Project Green Schools, and Environmental League of Massachusetts. She lives in Boston with her husband and children, who inspire her commitment to a healthier, more sustainable world.

Hannah Safford is Associate Director of Climate and Environment at the Federation of American Scientists. She most recently served as Director for Transportation & Resilience at the White House Climate Policy Office, where she managed key pillars of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic climate agenda. Hannah’s work and commentary has been featured on MSNBC and Al Jazeera, as well as in Nature, PNAS, and others. Hannah holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Davis, as well as an MPA in Public and International Affairs, an M.Eng in Environmental Engineering and Water Resources, and a B.S.E. in Chemical and Biological Engineering, all from Princeton University.

DJ Gerken is President and Executive Director of the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), where he has spent more than 20 years protecting the South’s environment through litigation, advocacy, and organizational leadership. Since joining SELC in 2004, he has led the Asheville, North Carolina office, served as interim leader of the Nashville office, and directed SELC’s legal programs before becoming President and Executive Director. His work has included protecting natural places and rural communities, addressing industrial pollution, holding fossil fuel projects to the law, cleaning up coal ash, and protecting forests and rivers across the South. DJ earned his J.D. and Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, following a B.A. from Davidson College. Before joining SELC, he clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and practiced litigation at Shea & Gardner in Washington, D.C. Today, he leads SELC’s work to protect clean air and water, preserve natural resources, reform the South’s energy sector, and advance climate solutions across the region.

Dr. Mauro Atalla is the senior vice president and chief technology and sustainability officer at Trane Technologies, where he leads engineering, technology, innovation, and sustainability. With over 25 years of experience in the industrial sector, he has held significant leadership roles in both the aerospace and buildings industries. Previously, as the engineering and technology leader at Collins Aerospace, he led a global team of 21,000 engineers. Dr. Atalla holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Duke University. He is an ASME Fellow and has received awards from Virginia Tech and SAE International for his contributions.

Steven Carlini is the Vice President of Innovation and Data Center for Schneider Electric. Steven is responsible for developing integrated solutions and communicating the value proposition for Schneider Electric’s data center segment including enterprise and cloud data centers. A frequent speaker at industry conferences and forums, Steven is an expert on the foundation layer of data centers which include Power & Power Distribution, Cooling & Technical Cooling, Rack systems, Physical Security, DCIM Management solutions that improve availability and maximize performance. Steven has been responsible for guiding the direction of many industry changing products and solutions that solve real customer problems or give businesses competitive advantages. Steven holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and an MBA in International Business from the CT Bauer School at the University of Houston.

Marek Pruszewicz is CEO if Dialogue Earth, a media non-profit which reports on the impact of climate change on lives and livelihoods across the Global South. He was an editor and senior manager for BBC News for 16 years and has spent the last decade working at senior level for a number of NGOs and social enterprises.

Jesper is the Chair of The B Team and a Senior Advisor to the IKEA Foundation. Previously, he served as CEO of Ingka Group I IKEA from 2017 to 2025. With decades of experience embedding sustainability and equality into business practices, Jesper’s leadership is central to The B Team’s efforts to catalyze business action to address the biggest challenges facing people and the planet. Additionally, he is chair of the Earthshot Prize, vice-chair of the UN Global Compact Board, serves on the global board of directors of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and is a Distinguished Fellow with the World Economic Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate.

Mattias Frumerie is Sweden's Climate Ambassador and Head of Delegation to the UNFCCC. Ambassador Frumerie has helped shape Sweden's climate diplomacy and is a strong advocate for accelerating the transition through clear policy direction to faciliate deployment of the solutions that business can provide across energy, transport, industry and food systems. Sweden's key messages for global climate action is urgency and opportunity.

Joshua Amponsem is a climate justice strategist and institution builder whose work challenges philanthropy, policy, and markets to move beyond risk avoidance toward shared responsibility, youth led power, and locally rooted systems change. He is Co Executive Director of the Youth Climate Justice Fund, Founder of Green Africa Youth Organization, and former Climate Lead at the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth. For the past 13 years, Joshua has worked with climate movements around the world to advance intersectional climate action, build institutions, and shift resources toward communities closest to the realities of climate injustice. Named one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans, Joshua has delivered a TED Talk on the inequality of climate work and how to fix it, and serves in advisory and governance roles across leading international climate organizations. He is on the Boards of Climate Resilience for All and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, and advises organizations including Quadrature Climate Foundation, TED Countdown, and UMI Fund. He has also led or contributed to the design of major global climate and innovation platforms, including the Africa Climate Innovation Challenge, the Afri Plastics Challenge and the first ever UN Youth Climate Summit.

Dr. Gerhard Salge is an Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at 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. Dr. Salge holds an MSc and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

Mr Ashish Khanna has over twenty-six years of experience leading energy sector development in the private and public sectors in more than fifteen developing countries in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has unique experience working in the solar sector across the entire value chain, ranging from project conceptualisation to resource mobilisation, financing, bid process management, and project implementation. As the former Head of the World Bank’s West and Central Africa Program, he led the Mission 300 for energy access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. He has also worked as the Program Leader in the Middle East and North Africa, leading the program that enabled private sector investment of USD 20 billion in the energy sector for the first time in Egypt. In India, as the Lead Energy Specialist at the World Bank, he worked with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy on policy and regulatory reforms to enable private sector engagement in solar. Born and raised in India, he has experienced first-hand the basic human need for energy access and the constraints of developing countries in achieving the same. He believes that the success of the International Solar Alliance requires a strengthened organisation with the right skills and accountability framework to earn the respect and trust of countries and their agencies in designing and implementing solar pathways for energy access and transition. Mr Khanna has dual post-graduate degrees in Management and Public Administration. While pursuing his master's in public administration, he was recognised as a Littauer Fellow for Global Leadership Potential at Harvard Kennedy School.

David serves as Counsel for Powering America's Commercial Transportation, a association focused on accelerating the deployment of accessible and reliable charging infrastructure to support the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle market. He is a legal partner at the Venable LLP law firm in Washington, D.C. He focuses his practice on complex legal and policy issues surrounding autonomous mobility, electric vehicle transportation, micromobility, healthcare, and labor classification. David has significant experience developing policy strategies for autonomous and electric vehicle transportation, building business-government relations, and securing federal contracts and grant opportunities for his clients.

Sofie Runius Cederberg is Director Group Sustainability at SKF, where she leads the company's sustainability agenda across climate action, circularity, responsible sourcing, sustainability reporting, ratings and sustainable finance. She works closely with SKF's businesses and functions to integrate sustainability into strategy, operations, innovation, and commercial activities. In this role, she supports SKF's net-zero transformation, supply chain decarbonization efforts, climate-related stakeholder engagement, and the company's participation in international sustainability initiatives and climate forums.

Laurel Blatchford is a senior partner and director at Delivery Associates, a global social impact consultancy, where she leads the firm’s philanthropy practice and advises governments, nonprofits, and philanthropies across the United States and globally on program design, delivery, and implementation. She leads DA’s work in housing and community development and supports the firm’s sustainability and economic mobility practice areas, fostering innovation and building new partnerships with a focus on long-term investments at the state and local levels as federal policy and investments evolve. Most recently, she served as Chief Implementation Officer for the Inflation Reduction Act at the US Department of the Treasury, leading a cross-functional team responsible for $270 billion in clean energy tax credits and a $60 billion modernization of the Internal Revenue Service. Prior to her most recent federal service, she served as a Managing Director at Blue Meridian Partners and before that, as President of Enterprise Community Partners, where she led the organization’s program, policy and innovation teams. From 2009-2013, she served as Chief of Staff to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and as Executive Director of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force. She also held senior roles in New York City government during the Bloomberg Administration. Blatchford is a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute’s Center for Local Finance and Growth and a senior advisor to Renaissance Philanthropy. She serves on the boards of Fountain House and the American Flood Coalition. Her writing includes “Getting to Effective Government,” coauthored with Xavier de Souza Briggs (Brookings, 2025). She holds a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Williams College. She lives with her family in Washington DC.

As a dedicated leader for energy-efficient technologies and best practices, I excel in fostering connections and driving innovation in the industrial sector. My professional journey spans across the United Arab Emirates, Germany, and Switzerland, providing me with a rich and diverse global perspective. With strong presence at global events as well as the International Energy Agency’s Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, I have managed with the Energy Efficiency Movement to drive Energy Efficiency collaboration cross industries to implement solutions at scale. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Marketing Management from the University of St. Gallen. With this solid educational foundation and extensive international experience, I am committed to advancing the future of energy-efficient solutions.

Since 2003, the spirited and passionate Stephanie Abrams has covered every type of severe weather. In the field, she has covered hurricanes, tornadoes, heat waves, flooding, snow, and fires. Her enthusiasm for educating, and sharing life-saving information and stories of survival has taken her across the country and overseas. Her creativity has spanned across numerous shows including "Abrams and Bettes" and "Wake Up with Al" and her current role as a co-host of AMHQ (“America's Morning Headquarters”). Stephanie is also the co-host of the first national TV talk show about climate, “Pattrn,” which airs weekends at 1pm ET on The Weather Channel. Previously, Stephanie was a morning meteorologist at WTXL-TV in Tallahassee, FL. A native of Wellington, FL (near West Palm Beach), she graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in meteorology from Florida State University. She also earned a bachelor's degree in geography with a minor in mathematics from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, where she graduated with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Stephanie is a member of the National Weather Association and American Meteorology Society. She holds the AMS seal of approval and was president of the North Florida chapter of the AMS from 2002-2003.

Jaclyn Whittal is a meteorologist, climate journalist, storm chaser, and founder of One Earth Communications, a climate communications company helping organizations translate complex climate and risk science into stories that build understanding, trust, and action. Over nearly two decades, Jaclyn has reported from some of the world’s most extreme weather and climate events, including violent tornadoes, Category 5 hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and extreme heat. Her fieldwork has taken her from the Canadian Arctic to Everest and the Atacama Desert, where she has explored the intersection of extreme weather, climate change, and human resilience. A Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and The Explorers Club, Jaclyn brings deep scientific knowledge, frontline reporting experience, and a powerful storytelling lens to climate conversations. She was named one of the Top 50 Women in Sustainability globally in 2025, recognizing her leadership in advancing public understanding of climate risk and resilience. Through One Earth Communications, Jaclyn works with organizations, leaders, and communities to make climate science more accessible, actionable, and human. For NYC Climate Week, she brings a grounded perspective on how stories from the front lines can inspire better decisions in a rapidly changing world.

Bernadette Woods Placky is an Emmy Award-winning meteorologist, climate science communicator, and network builder with more than 25 years of experience translating complex science into stories that move people and institutions to act. As Co-Founder and Lead Strategist of Talking Climate Collaborative, she brings a proven model for scaling climate communication through trusted, professional messengers. Bernadette is best known as the driving force behind Climate Matters at Climate Central, where she served as Chief Meteorologist and Vice President of Engagement. She built Climate Matters into the most widely used climate journalism tool in U.S. local television — growing a network of more than 3,000 meteorologists and media professionals across the country and measurably increasing climate coverage in local news markets nationwide, including conservative and rural markets where traditional climate messaging had never broken through. She also cultivated partnerships with media organizations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and government agencies, and represented Climate Central at major global platforms including UN Climate Conferences, Aspen Ideas: Climate, and Climate Week NYC. Before Climate Central, Bernadette spent more than a decade as a TV meteorologist — starting in Fayetteville, Arkansas, moving to Lexington, Kentucky, and eventually Baltimore, Maryland, where she became the first female meteorologist in her station’s history and earned an Emmy for Best Weathercaster. At TCC, she applies the same approach that worked for meteorologists: identify a specific, trusted professional audience, build the tools they actually need, deliver them in the workflow they already use, and measure the result. TCC is now scaling that model to health professionals, faith leaders, educators, and rural communities. Bernadette is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation, and has been elected to the AMS Council. She serves on the National Academies Board on Atmospheric Science and Climate, and as an advisor for C-Change Conversations, the Watershed Institute’s Advisory Board, and the Princeton Wrestling Club Board. She holds a B.S. in Meteorology with a minor in French from Penn State University.

Kevin L. Matthews is the Head of Electrification at First Student and is responsible for the strategy that will drive the development and deployment of all electrification initiatives and technologies. First Student is the largest operator of school buses in North America with over 48,000 vehicles in its fleet. Further, First Student is the largest operator of electric school buses in North America. Kevin has worked in the environment sector for more than 30 years. He has served as the managing director of the sustainability sector at National Strategies, LLC, as well as served as the co-project director of the Clinton Global Initiative EV School Bus project, that demonstrated Total Cost of Ownership of electric units could reach parity with fossil fuel school buses. Kevin holds a BA from Hendrix College and an MPA from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Heather Clark is CEO of the Housing Multiplier Project. She founded the Housing Multiplier Project after leaving the Biden White House, where she oversaw U.S. building sector climate policy. Heather comes from a background in affordable housing where, as a developer, she pioneered some of the most ambitious decarbonization and clean energy projects in the country to benefit underserved communities. Heather is also a Senior Fellow at MIT and CEO of Biome Studio. She serves on the board of Let’s Build Homes and the Refrigerant Emissions Elimination Forum, and is a member of the CRREM Technical Council.

Vance Culbert is the Secretariat Manager of COFFIS and a Senior Policy Advisor with the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) Energy Program. He works on global fossil fuel subsidy reform through finance, energy security and climate policy approaches. He also works to directly support countries on their energy transition, linking energy security objectives to domestic plans for increasingly diversified, affordable local energy mixes. Vance also supports the Santa Marta process Workstream on macroeconomic transitions. With over 20 years of experience across development, humanitarian, and climate policy, Vance has steered intergovernmental processes toward agreement and implementation across the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. He has built coalitions connecting technical support with political momentum — including linking COFFIS to broader platforms.

Carl Nasman is an award-winning television anchor and correspondent with BBC News and a leading voice in climate reporting. Based in Washington, D.C. he’s hosted Future Earth, a BBC program highlighting climate solutions and launched the Future Earth weekly newsletter. He anchored BBC’s coverage of the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, where he interviewed innovators including Bill Gates. His reporting has taken him to the front lines of our warming world – from flash floods in Texas’s hill country to the destruction of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. Carl hosted Climate Week’s opening ceremony in 2023 and is honored to be returning this year.

Rob Bartrop leads AirTrunk’s Social Impact and Community team across all markets. AirTrunk is a leading hyperscale data centre provider, enabling the growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East. In his role, Rob oversees AirTrunk’s social impact program and community partnerships, working closely with key stakeholders to deliver initiatives that create meaningful, lasting impact. He plays a central role in ensuring AirTrunk delivers on its commitments to the communities where it operates, building strong relationships, creating shared opportunities and supporting initiatives that make a genuine difference. Before joining AirTrunk, Rob has held senior leadership roles in renewable energy and technology companies working across Australia, The United States and Singapore, including leadership roles at First Solar, SOURCE Global and as a consultant with the Asian Development Bank.

Caroline Skipsey sits on Polecat’s leadership team and is a key strategic advisor to clients across industries, governments and international organisations. Expertise in implementing strategic data & intelligence across complex themes and into global organisations. A strategic partner to clients and partners working across heavy industry, energy, consumer, pharma and financial services monitoring the complex business, economic and political landscape across stakeholders, with expertise in thematic areas such as climate, energy transition, human capital, low carbon/decarbonisation, trade and economic headwinds, supply chain issues and societal risk. Helping executives and board members manage and report data, horizon scan across key markets and assess performance and risk with ease through AI-powered data and analytics. Passionate regarding empowering teams and growing awareness and action in response to the increasingly complex economic, political and broader stakeholder landscape.

Ray Minjares is an international expert in vehicle emissions control policy and commercial vehicle electrification. He joined the International Council on Clean Transportation in 2007, first leading its research into the climate impacts of non-CO2 pollutants such as black carbon. With a background in public health, he led multiple ICCT studies that quantify the global health impacts of road transport emissions, including the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal. He established the Global Industry Partnership on Soot-Free Clean Bus Fleets with UN Environment, securing commitments from leading truck manufacturers to commercialize the cleanest vehicle technologies in the world’s most polluted megacities. And he co-founded the Zero-Emission Bus Rapid deployment Accelerator with C40 cities, securing thousands of zero-emission buses across Latin America. Since 2020 Ray has served as a Director of the Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program, shaping ICCT research to electrify on-road commercial vehicles across major markets. Ray is based in the ICCT San Francisco office and serves as its Managing Director.

Emma Stewart, Ph.D. represents Climate Spring, a social enterprise supporting screenwriters and filmmakers globally to transform our cultural response to the climate crisis. Climate Spring provides script consultations as well as financing to grow the pipeline of compelling films and television series that reflect the transition to a clean economy, as well as the current climate and nature crises. Prior to that, she founded Netflix’s Sustainability Department as the Netflix Sustainability Officer, where she led the cross-company effort to decarbonize operations at speed, support creators who choose to represent sustainability in their film/series/games, and spotlight sustainability stories for the hundreds of millions of consumers who seek them. Previously Emma founded Autodesk’s Sustainability Solutions department at design software giant Autodesk and consulted for Fortune500 companies from within global energy company ENGIE, venerable global think tank World Resources Institute, and corporate sustainability consultancy BSR. She has served on the Board of the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED) and software startup Ecomedes and was a member of faculty at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and Stanford Graduate School of Business where she created and taught “Intrapreneurship for Sustainability”. In 2010, she was selected as a Fellow of The Aspen Institute.