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Pre-Conference Videos
Welcome to the UCL Sustainability Leadership Conference 2024
Join Mary McHarg, President of UCL Students' Union, as she introduces the inaugural UCL Student Sustainability Leadership Conference2024. This conference offers workshops, talks and networking opportunities, and is designed to upskilland empower studentsto become the next generation of sustainability leaders.
What's the secret to effective sustainability leadership?
Join Jason Clarke, Assistant Director of Sustainability at UCL, as he shares strategies for driving sustainability within a complex organisation. With a team of 12 professionals, Jason leads efforts to make UCL a sustainability leader in higher education. Learn about effective communication, problem-solving, and resilience in sustainability leadership.
Climate Changeand the Urgent Need for Action
Join Mark Maslin, aProfessor of Earth System Science at UCL, as he discusses the consequences of climate change, the importance of collective action, and the need for new sustainability leaders in response to the climate crisis.
What is climate justice?
Join Lisa Vanhala, a Professor of Political Science at UCL, as she explores the concept of climate justice and its importance in responding to the climate crisis. From addressing inequality in climate impacts, to amplifying marginalised voices, she underscores the importance of inclusive decision-making processes and the validation of diverse forms of knowledge.
Day One Thursday 18 April
| time | session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | REGISTRATION, TEA & COFFEE 📍 Break out space |
| 09:00 – 09:15 | WELCOME: Dan Hall, Sustainability Engagement Officer, UCL 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | Taking the temperature: What are the key trends and challenges for sustainability in 2024? A high-level introductory panel where speakers will address what sustainability means in their context, the headlines in the world of sustainability in 2024, and key challenges in the field across sectors. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
| 10:15 – 11:15 | Healthy spaces, sustainable spaces: what does sustainable urbanism look like? A panel discussion focused on the intersection of health and sustainability in the urban context, covering issues such as climate and health, liveable communities, air pollution, and sustainable cities. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
| 11:15 – 11:30 | BREAK 📍 Break out space |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Influencing and delivering national sustainability policy A panel discussion focussed on how policy is influenced and then delivered in the environmental context, featuring insights from those working with policymakers. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
| 12:30 – 14:00 | Networking lunch and a chance to meet our student-led sustainability societies Climate Action Society, MODO Fashion Society, In Aid Of UNICEF Society, Vegetarian and Vegan Society, Urban Farmers Society, Environmental Law and Life Science Society, and Green Economy Society. 📍 Refectory - Floor Two |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Leveraging finance for sustainability A panel discussion focused on the important role of finance in achieving sustainable development, featuring insights from both researchers and those working in the finance industry. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
Select one session from each time slot.
| time | Strand One | strand two | strand three |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15:00 – 16:00 | Challenges and solutions for global water sustainability. A session focused on water sustainability. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Main Room - Room 118 | Our plastic planet: problems and solutions A session focused on plastics, the challenges of removing plastics from supply chains, and highlighting some potential solutions. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Room 614 | Addressing the global biodiversity crisis A panel discussion on the global biodiversity crisis – some key context, drivers, and potential solutions. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Room 615 |
| 16:00 – 16:15 | BREAK 📍 Break out space | ||
| 16:15 – 17:15 | Sustainable food systems A panel discussion on sustainable food systems, focused on how we make the global food system fair and environmentally sustainable for all. Chair: Panellists 📍 Main Room - Room 118 | What would a sustainable energy system look like? A talk or panel discussion on what a sustainable energy system would look like, discussing the different proposed sources of sustainable energy. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Room 614 | Leading a sector: sustainable retail A discussion on how retail can be made more circular and sustainable featuring insights from industry leaders. Chair: Panellists: 📍 Room 615 |
Day Two Friday 19 April
| time | session |
|---|---|
| 08:45 – 09:00 | WELCOME TEA & COFFEE 📍 Break out space |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Leadership in the climate and ecological crisis A talk on what type of ‘leadership’ in a time of multiple overlapping environmental, social, and economic crises. Laurie Laybourn, Executive director, Strategic Climate Risks Initiative 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Sustainability communication workshop A workshop on how to effectively communicate with others about the climate and ecological crisis. Sara Mahdi, Science Communicator, Conservationist, Political ecology researcher, Research & Degrowth International and Autonomous University of Barcelona 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
Select one session from each time slot.
| time | strand one | strand two | strand three |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:45 – 12:45 | Innovation and entrepreneurship A session focused on experience-sharing and guidance for students who are interested in entrepreneurship in the sustainability context. Panellists: 📍 Main Room - Room 118 | Consulting for sustainability A session focused on providing an insight into working in sustainability consulting, and how to develop the skills needed to enter this sector. Chair: Saima Rasool, Head of Strategy, Two Billion Strong & COP28 UK Youth Delegate Panellists: Ibrahim Abdi, Senior Consultant, Purpose (Social Impact & Sustainability), Deloitte Global Amin Rirash, Sustainability Consultant, PwC 📍 Room 614 | Educating for sustainability using long-term thinking A workshop exploring how tools for long-term thinking can cultivate care for the future and inspire sustainability action in the present. Kate Greer, Senior Research Fellow, UCL 📍 Room 615 |
| 12:45 – 13:30 | LUNCH 📍 Refectory - Floor Two | ||
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Telling stories about sustainability A session focused on reporting on sustainability issues in the media. David Vetter, Senior Contributor, Forbes; Owner, The Climate Laundry 📍 Main Room - Room 118 | Building a sustainable business A session on carving a career path in the sustainable business landscape, from personal adaptation to pioneering new ventures. Mehdi Mohaghegh, Director, KPV Energy 📍 Room 614 | |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | It’s a culture shift: changing society through culture A panel discussion focused on shifting societal attitudes and perceptions through the power of the cultural sector. Chair: Elliot Arthur-Worsop, Co-Founder, Football For Future Panellists: 📍 Main Room - Room 118 | How to design a Net Zero Organisation An interactive workshop focused on the practice of designing better, more sustainable businesses. Leo Rayman, CEO, EdenLab 📍 Room 614 |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | BREAK 📍 Break out space |
| 15:45 – 16:45 | Workshop: Exploring the intersections of environmental justice A workshop focused on themes of environmental justice and how future sustainability leaders can bring this intersectionality into their work Samia Dumbuya, Climate Justice Advocate and Educator 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
| 16:45 – 17:45 | Taking the lead now: engaging in youth sustainability leadership A panel focused on highlighting how UCL students can take the lessons learned in this programme and put this into practice immediately by getting involved in youth sustainability initiatives. Chair: Mary McHarg, President, Students’ Union UCL Panellists: Talia Goldman, ESG Manager & Trustee, Colpac Jemima Robertson, Founder & CEO, Soapbox Citizens Cathy Yitong Li, Youth Adviser, UN Molly Easton, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Youngwilders Lola Fayokun, Co-Founder, Breath 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
| 17:30 – 17:45 | CLOSING REMARKS 📍 Main Room - Room 118 |
| 17:45 – 20:00 | NETWORKING DRINKS |
Speakers
| CEO, Watermarq Limited | I am the Founder and CEO of Watermarq, an early-stage company with a mission to break the status quo on how water is valued. My background includes ten years working as an emerging markets investment manager and a further fifteen years as a serial entrepreneur and academic. I have a master’s degree with distinction in water science, policy and management; and a doctorate in water risk, both from the University of Oxford. I am also part-time faculty at Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, where my research focuses on mobilising investment for sustainable development Additionally, I am Chair of Trustees at the Uptime Catalyst Facility, a registered UK charity that provides results-based funding to maintain rural water services in developing countries. |
| Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Resources | Alison is a biodiversity and natural capital scientist working across academia and the private sector. Her work uses novel and existing information to illustrate the multiple benefits that humans derive from nature. |
Amin holds a MSc degree in Urban Economic Development from UCL and a BEng in Civil Engineering from City, University of London.
| Senior Nature Analyst, Green Finance Institute | Amy Allan joined the Green Finance Institute in September 2022 to support the Green Taxonomy and Nature Programmes on workstreams related to sustainable agriculture. Amy has a research background focused on international development, impact investing and sustainable food systems. Amy holds a BSc in Global Resource Systems from the University of British Columbia, an MA in International Studies from Simon Fraser University and an MSc in Development Management and Applied Development Economics from the London School of Economics. |
| Political Adviser | Annabel joined Green Alliance in September 2023 as a political adviser leading on the Warm This Winter campaign which brings together more than 50 environment and fuel poverty organisations. Previously she managed C40 Cities work on climate budgeting, an innovative governance mechanism seeking to accelerate urban climate action. Prior to this, Annabel has worked in international climate diplomacy most recently representing UK young people at the youth engagement group to the G7. She has a BA in Human Science from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Environment, Politics and Society from UCL. |
| CEO, Ganddee | Antoine is the CEO of Ganddee, the mobile app helping you discover second hand, rental, refill shops and more. Antoine is a French computer science engineer turned entrepreneur living in London. Prior to starting Ganddee, Antoine worked in startups at different stages in Amsterdam and London and most recently, he served as Head of R&D at a London FinTech |
| Head of Sustainable Investing, Triton Partners | Ashim is Head of Sustainable Investing at Triton, a European mid-market buyout investor. Ashim and the ESG team focus on embedding sustainability across the full investment cycle - investor relations, sourcing investments catalysed by environmental and social themes, transitioning companies during ownership, and ultimately realising higher multiples at exit by bringing to market future-aligned, operationally de-risked businesses. Before joining, Ashim was a Managing Director and Global Co-Head of ESG at HSBC Global Research, with a focus on climate and energy transition. Ashim also held related roles at Newton Investment Management, PIRC and Magnetar Capital, supplemented by early-career experience from government and an NGO. |
| Research Manager – Climate Impacts & Adaptation, Wellcome Trust |
| Director, Repolywise | Bryan has recently finished his DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry from Oxford University. Currently, Bryan is leading efforts to build Repolywise, a pioneering plastic-to-propane technology developed by his research group, and a project fuelled by his passions for translating cutting-edge research into impactful solutions. His journey towards the entrepreneurship began with Innovate UK through the ICURe program to transition him to from the academic to commercial world. Recognized for his potential, Bryan has been awarded the Unlocking Potential - Begin £15K grant to further this endeavor, demonstrating his dedication to sustainability and innovation. |
| Agriculture and Food, World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) | I am currently working as an Associate, Agriculture and Food, at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Having graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in English Literature, I joined events and media company Informa PLC on a graduate training scheme. My interest in food systems grew as I undertook a number of roles in Informa’s food and nutrition businesses and volunteered with a number of food organisations, including Oxford Real Farming Conference and local community food centres. Now at WBCSD, I am enjoying using my private sector experience in the nonprofit space, working on communications, advocacy and events for our food and agriculture team. In my spare time, I can be found trying new vegan restaurants or getting out in nature. |
| Youth Adviser, UN |
| Senior Consultant - Climate & LCA, EcoAct | Chidi is a Senior Consultant at EcoAct. With over 9+ years' experience of leading and managing Product life cycle assessment across industries. His role includes Leading the implementation of LCA tools, Development of Product Life Cycle Assessment common methodologies, ESG strategies, Plastic reduction strategies, Waste management, and Circularity strategies. |
| Co-Founder, CapChar |
| Senior Consultant, Greengage Environmental Ltd |
| Modelling and Evaluation Manager, C40 Cities |
| Modelling and Evaluation Manager, C40 Cities | Dr. Christina Xiao, PhD, MPH, is an epidemiologist who has worked on issues at the intersection of health, environment, and climate change by assessing policies that promote human health and environmental sustainability. As C40 Cities' Modelling and Evaluation Manager, she is responsible for assessing and reporting the impact of cities’ climate actions, including their wider economic, social, and health benefits. In addition, she has worked as a consultant for local government and non-profit organizations, such as Sustrans and Impact for Urban Health to evaluate the impact of their sustainable and healthy transport interventions. She also has experience as a health policy consultant within the Health Division of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. |
| Founder of Loom Fashion | Founder of Loom: a circular fashion platform that connects you with designers to upcycle your clothes. My mission is to make upcycling easy and accessible for everyone. Second time founder in the sustainable fashion space. Worked in fashion for 10+ years in merchandising marketing, most recently managing the global outlet merchandising team at Burberry. |
| Steering Committee Member, Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty |
| Senior Contributor, Forbes; Owner, The Climate Laundry |
| Founder, Football for Future | Elliot Arthur-Worsop is a social movement and climate communications expert, founder and co-director of Football For Future, and listed as a 2023 Sports Industry NextGen Leader. Elliot has supported a variety of elite football organisations - from national leagues, to associations, clubs, players and brands - to engage with climate action in creative ways for internal and external stakeholders. 2023 highlights included a partnership with the Premier League and launching the largest ever player-led climate advocacy project, winning the Marcus Rashford award at the World Football Summit. Brighton fan! |
| Managing Director, ClimatePartner UK |
| Intersectional environmentalist and former Sustainability Coordinator at Julie's Bicycle | Enna is an intersectional environmentalist that works in the intersection global development and environmentalism. Previously, she worked in Corporate Social Responsibility at RSA Insurance Group and The BIG Alliance. Afterwards, she transitioned into the environmental space in the Arts and Culture sector as a Sustainability Coordinator at Julie's Bicycle. At Julie's Bicycle, she supported a cohort of 830 National Portfolio Organisations in Arts Council England's Environmental Programme with carbon accounting on the Creative Climate Tools and she lead and supported several aspects annual qualitative analyses that demonstrated the impact of programme. In 2022, she embarked on an MSc in Global Development and Environment at the University of Bristol, merging her passion for community development and place-based change in marginalised communities within the frameworks of environmental change. She traveled to Ghana, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of used clothes informal traders operating in Kantamanto market, one of the world's largest second-hand fashion markets. This investigation aimed to understand Accra's textile waste management using ethnographic methods, with a keen focus on bringing out the voices of marginalised workers in Africa and the global south. Now working on a freelance basis, on her Substack publication (can be founding by searching @ennauwaifo) and her magazine prototype (IG: @Enna_writes_), she writes beyond the paradigm of carbon accounting, quantitative methods and "expertise" leading the way. Through an unpacking for her international research, she emphasises cultural shifts in the ways we relate to nature, ourselves and to each other to foster inclusive, self-aware, co-produced and interdisciplinary environmental change efforts. She is at the beginning stages of setting up a consultancy to promotes this methodology and the Just Transition. |
| PhD Candidate - Governance and Sustainability, Kingston University London | Enoch Opare Mintah is a Ph.D. candidate at Kingston University London and an Associate Lecturer of Governance and Sustainability at the University of Lincoln, UK. His research interest and expertise revolve around ESG disclosures, Sustainability Reporting, Corporate Social Responsibility, Education for Sustainable Development, and Citizenship Education. |
| Head of Treasury Management & Sustainable Finance, UCL | Erin Squires is the Head of Treasury Management & Sustainable Finance for UCL. She covers investing and debt finance, working closely with UCL governance committees. She previously worked for the University of California Office of the President and was a public finance banker dedicated to higher education institutions and the public sector. Erin earned her MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Masters in Public Administration from New York University. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Duke University. Erin is passionate about financial stewardship in public service and environmental and social progress. She has volunteered with the London Doughnut Economics Action Lab and is an Advisory Committee member of the Institutional Investors Circle in London, which aims to provide improved investing insight and discussion for charities, endowments, and foundations. Erin is delighted to be part of the global community of UCL. She is a dual British and US citizen who has lived in Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Bosnia, and Argentina. She is a wide-ranging reader, traveller, and water sports enthusiast. |
| Complex Systems and Public Investment (University of Birmingham), and Director at Lyciar | Dr Amonya is a scholar on complex systems and public investment. For over two decades, he has taught and advised on infrastructure and public policy across the world. He led the governance theme of a UK development programme called Global Transport Knowledge Partnership that sought to bridge the chasm between policymaking and universities of Africa and South-East Asia. And he was Chair, Transport Systems Economics, PIARC. Now, he advises Fortune 500 companies in London and other cities on corporate strategy in the era of net zero. He also guides dialogue on PPP as a member of UNECE team of PPP experts. He is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow CIHT, and he holds a PhD in policy science. Dr Amonya is Honorary Senior Fellow (Complex Systems and Public Investment) at the University of Birmingham and Director at Lyciar. |
| CEO at Oxfordshire Greentech | Hannah Scott is the CEO of business network Oxfordshire Greentech, which aims to grow and support the county’s low-carbon economy. Hannah leads the organisation in managing and engaging Oxfordshire Greentech’s members, connecting them with funding, identifying new customers, technologies and business expertise as well as facilitating scale-up innovation with events, programmes and projects. She also works with key institutions across Oxfordshire to advocate for more ambition around net zero in strategies for the county, and is currently creating a number of sustainability programmes with organisations like Blenheim Palace, Activate Learning and Siemens. Having helped launch Oxfordshire Greentech in 2019 as a project officer with sustainability consultancy Bioregional, Hannah has now stepped into full-time leadership of the network and has delivered numerous successful events, commercial opportunities, and projects with climate and social impact. She is also an edie 30 Under 30 Class of 2023 winner, an initiative that aims to spotlight and support top UK sustainability professionals aged under 30, has spoken on the Leaders in Cleantech podcast, and recently co-founded the Climate Tech Supercluster which is bringing together innovation hotspots across northern Europe to encourage collaboration and accelerated investment into and deployment of climate solutions. |
| Senior Consultant, Purpose (Social Impact & Sustainability) at Deloitte Global | Ibrahim currently works at Deloitte Global where he supports Deloitte’s Purpose team in: designing and implementing purpose-led programs, advising social impact and sustainability leaders across geographies, and developing strategic partnerships aligned to sustainable development. Prior to this, he spent some time at NHS England delivering on the NHS’ aim to be the world’s first net zero national health service; and sustainability consultancy ERM, where he is worked with the world’s leading organisations to create innovative solutions to sustainability challenges. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography, and a masters degree in Climate Change from UCL. |
| Consultant Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Be Better Sustainability |
| Associate Professor in Biocatalysis and Biocatalyst Engineering, UCL |
| Director General, European Water Technology Accelerator |
| Assistant Director of Sustainability, UCL |
| Head of Business Engagement, WRAP | As Head of Business Engagement, Jen leads a team which is currently helping more than 250 businesses, wherever they are on their sustainability journey, to reduce their impact across food & drink, textiles and packaging. |
| Head of Sustainability, ITV | Jeremy Mathieu is the Head of Sustainability for ITV, leading on all things environment for the business. This includes developing our Climate Transition Plan and net zero roadmaps, navigating the changing reporting landscape, supporting our internal governance, building a culture of sustainability internally and externally through our content. |
| Founder, Provocative Human Ltd | An independent consultant, working at the intersection of environmental issues and business strategy to help business leaders transition parts of their organisations to weather the global challenges they are currently facing. This is achieved through business model disruption, supply chain engagement, product, and system design, thought leadership and the operationalisation of sustainability strategy. I have worked with various clients that include Google, UK Government, Target, IBM, Common Mission Project, OPLN, Products of Change, Fujifilm, Bravado International, 3M, Circle Economy, PYXERA Global and several mentor roles with start-ups and Not-for-profits. |
| Senior Research Fellow, UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education | Dr Kate Greer’s research focuses on environmental and climate change education, focusing particularly on its policy and related issues of justice. Kate’s environmental education career has spanned roles in government and non-government organizations in Australia and the Southeast Asia and Pacific region where she has worked an educator, project manager and organisation leader. |
Community of Women in Water
Policy Manager, UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources
| Marketing & Communications Director, International Water Association | With an academic background in biological sciences and international water law, Keith has for much of his career been the editor of international and UK-focused water sector magazines. More recently he has led the marketing and communications activity at IWA – a global membership association for professionals working to advance solutions to water challenges around the world. |
| Climate & Nature Manager | Climate & Nature Manager at Burberry for almost 5 years now, previously responsible for biodiversity, waste management, circularity and packaging within the Corporate Responsibility team and before that responsible for sustainable packaging and labelling within supply chain. The main focus right now is the creation of Burberry's Nature strategy building up on our biodiversity commitments from a couple of years ago. |
| Executive director, Strategic Climate Risks Initiative | Laurie Laybourn is executive director of the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative (SCRI), a new think and do tank that helps develop capabilities for securing a better world even as the environmental crisis escalates. He is an associate fellow at Chatham House, a visiting fellow at the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, and an associate fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). He is a trustee of the New Economics Foundation and sits on the board of the Economic Change Unit, an organisation he founded. Previously, he was Director of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change and has worked at the LSE, Oxford University, and the UK Parliament. Laurie regularly appears on television, radio, and in print. He is co-author of Planet on Fire: A manifesto for the age of environmental breakdown (Verso 2021). |
| CEO EdenLab | Leo is the CEO and founder of EdenLab. EdenLab is a global sustainability innovation consultancy. EdenLab helps make big companies more sustainable and sustainable companies bigger. Leo believes that we must work with and through companies to accelerate the transition to a post-carbon world. EdenLab works on commercialising sustainability for clients like Unilever, TUI, Danone, giffgaff, The Football Association and EDF Ventures as well as a number of promising ClimateTech firms working in carbon capture, biodiversity monitoring and waste upcycling. Previously he was CEO of Grey Consulting a management consultancy within WPP And previously CEO and Chief Strategy Officer of world famous ad agency Grey London. Leo gained a distinction in Business Sustainability Management from the Cambridge Institute of Sustainabiltiy Leadership has an MA from Oxford. He’s a domain expert adviser to Carbon13 the Cambridge-based venture builder for the climate emergency. Leo has recently lectured at The Saïd Business School, the London School of Economics, Oxford University and The Marketing Society. |
| CEO & Co-Founder, Yum Bug |
| Head of Sustainable Places, Bioregional |
| Co-founder, Purpose Disruptors |
| Pro Vice Provost for the Grand Challenge Theme of the Climate Crisis | Lisa is a Professor of Political Science and Pro Vice Provost for the Climate Crisis. Her current research focuses on climate change and human rights, the politics of climate change loss and damage and climate change litigation. |
| Environmental Policy Lead, the LEGO Group | Louise is the global lead on environmental sustainability for Government & Public Affairs (GPA) and plays a key role in the LEGO Groups sustainability ambitions with a strong focus on the circular economy, sustainable materials and climate change. Before moving to her policy role, she worked in the central Environmental Sustainability team and was responsible for engaging suppliers across the global business to drive down environmental impacts beyond the LEGO Group’s own operations. Louise believes passionately in working towards more sustainable futures for the LEGO Group’s key customers – children - and wants to see increased systems thinking and collaboration across businesses and industries. Before working for the LEGO Group Louise worked in the financial and legal sectors in a wide range of sustainability roles. She has a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of London, and an MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance from the University of Oxford. |
| Director, KPV Energy | Mehdi Mohaghegh, deeply involved in renewable energy, serves as a Director at KPV Energy GmbH, overseeing the full spectrum of solar PV projects from development and financing to selling electricity. At the helm of Solinovare, he's instrumental in developing engineering-based products that significantly enhance solar project efficiency and longevity. His work, embodying a blend of innovation and sustainability, reflects a strong commitment to advancing solar energy solutions. Through Solinovare, Mehdi contributes to the solar sector by improving operational performance and environmental impact, showcasing his dedication to the renewable energy landscape. |
| Research Fellow (Climate and Sustainability Programme), ODI | Michai Robertson is a Research Fellow within the Climate and Sustainability Programme at ODI. He is an experienced specialist and practitioner in national and international environmental law, policy and governance. The main focus of his work is on finance and financial systems especially in the thematic areas of climate change, ocean governance, and biodiversity. Currently, he is primarily involved with ODI’s work on sustainable finance and financial systems including climate finance, biodiversity finance and ocean finance, and with its Resilience and Small Island States Initiative. Previously, Michai worked within the Department of Environment of Antigua and Barbuda and was responsible for international and domestic environmental law and policy matters that includes climate finance, and loss and damage. He also acted as a primary Focal Point for the Department to the Green Climate Fund in its role as a direct access Accredited Entity. Michai has also served as a Senior Advisor (Finance) for the Alliance of Small Island States ('AOSIS'), a Lead Negotiator on Climate Finance for AOSIS, SIDS Board Member of the Adaptation Fund, Advisor to the SIDS Board Seat of the Green Climate Fund, an Alternate Member for the Latin America and Caribbean region on the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee, as well as SIDS Advisor and Member of the UNFCCC's Transitional Committee for the Loss and Damage Fund and Funding Arrangements. He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Environmental Law and Policy from University College London, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Oxford Brookes University. |
Programme Lead: Climate & Green Buildings
| Director, Future Nature Consulting | Peter is a green infrastructure strategist, policy-maker and practitioner. Following a 30-year career working for environmental NGOs, government agencies and London government he established his own practice in 2021. He advises both public and private sector clients on the policy and practice of green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, urban greening and biodiversity conservation in the urban environment. |
Directeur Général, European Water Technology Accelerator
| Finance Nature Lead, Climate Champions Team | Puninda Thind is Finance Nature Lead with Climate Champions Team focused on catalyzing and mobilizing finance sector action to address biodiversity loss and nature-related risks and opportunities. Puninda is deeply committed to building a sustainable, prosperous, equitable future. She has previously worked at the intersection of sustainable investing and climate resilience for 10+ years, where she helped organizations, including financial institutions, operationalize credible sustainability strategies. Puninda has contributed as a working group member to the UNFCCC Race to Zero criteria consultation process. She holds a Bachelors of Environment and Business (Honours) from the University of Waterloo and a MSc Sustainability, Enterprise, and Environment from the University of Oxford. She is also active in climate advocacy as a member of the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. |
| Senior Political Adviser and Climate APPG Lead | Robbie has been working to support political leadership on climate, energy and environmental issues for over five years. He has successfully campaigned for change at a local, national and international level. Robbie is a Senior Political Adviser at Uplift where he leads the Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change supporting cross-party MPs and Peers in advancing a just transition away from oil and gas production, including working with parliamentarians to oppose new oil and gas developments. Before this he worked as a Political Adviser at leading environmental think-tank Green Alliance. There he supported the organisations political advocacy and led the Environment APPG’s secretariat – where he helped grow the group to become the largest caucus of cross-party MPs and Peers working to promote environmental ambition within the UK Parliament. Previously Robbie led Schools and Youth Outreach at Hope for the Future supporting young people and teachers in encouraging their MPs to take greater action on climate and nature. He subsequently served as a Trustee on Hope for the Future’s Board for two years. Robbie has also worked at UK:100 supporting local government delivering their climate goals and advised the Teach the Future campaign in gaining political support support for their Climate Education Bill which is now Labour Party policy. Robbie holds a BA in Politics and Sociology with Employment Experience from the University of Sheffield. His dissertation ‘Understanding the Covid-climate nexus from the perspective of UK MPs’ included interviews with 13 Conservative and Labour MPs. |
| Independent Sustainability Consultant | Rosie Forsyth is an independent sustainability consultant, passionate about reimagining a more sustainable future in retail and hospitality. With over 13 years’ experience across both global and UK based retail and not-for-profit organisations, Rosie helps companies succeed at shaping and embedding long-term strategy into core business, to benefit customers, people and planet. Most recently as Head of Sustainability at Selfridges, Rosie oversaw the award-winning Project Earth programme, launching and driving industry-leading commitments to mainstream more sustainable products and circular business models by 2030. Rosie holds a BA Honours Degree in French and Spanish and an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London. |
| Senior Consultant, ERM | Ryan is leading work on nature and biodiversity, with a specialization in modelling for the environment. A chartered accountant, he is dedicated to bridging the gap between nature conservation and business strategy |
| Community Researcher, Repowering London | Ruth has over 10 years' experience in community development, community engagement, collaborative design and social action initiatives. Previously specialising in sustainable travel. She is a Newham resident and is currently working with Repowering London and Community Energy Newham - a community solar energy cooperative - on a participatory action research project to involve Newham communities in shaping and developing the cooperative. |
Samia is a freelance consultant, facilitator and community organiser focusing on community and movement building for climate justice. They are also currently a Master's student at UCL studying MSc Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions observing the flow and availability of global natural resources using tools from multiple disciplines, such as economics, political science, environmental science, engineering and more. Samia's background is centring community care and empowerment in their professional experience. They co-authored Towards Climate Justice: Rethinking the European Green Deal from a Racial Justice Perspective, a project led by Equinox: Initiative for Racial Justice - observing the ways climate policies can exacerbate global inequalities and racialisation. Samia has the drive to weave different approaches led by communities and green organisations to eliminate silos and uses learnings for community organising to make climate education more accessible and representative of the harsh realities faced by marginalised communities.
| Associate, Circular Economy Centre & Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge. | Samsurin brings over 20 years of industry, research, and teaching experience at the intersection of technological disruption, sustainability, and the circular economy. He teaches regularly on Executive MBA and Executive Education programmes. Samsurin is also co-founder of HyveGeo, a venture developing a unique bioengineering approach to address two grand challenges – boosting food security in arid regions and removing millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air. |
| Eden Greenspace Founder | Samuel is the Founder of Eden Greenspace, a social enterprise allowing individuals and businesses to support the world's most effective nature-based solutions, from climate mitigation to biodiversity and ocean plastic removal projects. All projects are carefully investigated in line with the UNEP's triple planetary crisis framework to verify their efficacy. Samuel has two degrees in Philosophy from Durham University (BA) and University College London (MPhil), specialising in the moral value of truth. He also has a keen interest in rewilding and the carbon offsetting market more generally. |
| Science Communicator, Conservationist, Political ecology researcher, currently at Research & Degrowth International and Autonomous University of Barcelona | Sara is a multidisciplinary researcher and political ecologist with a focus climate communication. In her work she mixes natural and social sciences, getting audiences to join the dots between climate change, race, inequality, and social justice. Sara has co-produced programmes at the Natural History Museum, debated economic growth at Channel 4, bridged the gap between urban researchers and policymakers at LSE Cities. Prior to finishing her MSc at UCL, Sara spent a decade as a conservationist in India, using communications to protect endangered species, help draft policy, fundraise, lead campaigns for tigers, engage with the public and policymakers, among much more. Sara is currently researching inequality x climate crises x justice at Research & Degrowth International and Autonomous University of Barcelona. |
| Projects Coordinator | Satyajit is the Project and Business Development Coordinator at Cambridge Cleantech. He graduated with a MA (Honours) in International Relations from the University of St-Andrews. With 2+ years’ experience in project management, business development and consultancy, Satyajit coordinates international projects and business development activities across the globe for the company especially, Cambridge Cleantech’s current expansion plans to Asia, in particular India and Sri Lanka. |
| Chief Strategy Officer, Alliance for Water Stewardship |
| Senior Programme Officer, Nature Economy, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre | Nature scientist at UNEP-WCMC, a global centre of excellence on biodiversity, working at the interface of science, policy and practice to help tackle the global nature crisis. PhD in renewable energy and biodiversity and over ten years of experience in environmental research, policy, and advocacy. |
| Celebrity Relations Lead, WWF-UK | Siobhan is an experienced celebrity and influencer manager in the entertainment industry, with more than a decade of experience working with top names in film, TV, and music as well as prestigious brands including The British Fashion Council, Kenzo, Roger Vivier, Represent, Mulberry, Selfridges, Swarovski, Armani Beauty, The V&A, & more. She joined WWF-UK in 2021 to lead the Celebrity Relations team, delivering celebrity and influencer strategies that align with WWF's goals throughout the year to create real-world impact. Siobhan plays a key role in developing campaigns and connecting celebrities and influencers that raise awareness on the triple challenge our world currently faces; meeting the world's food needs, tackling the climate crisis, and reversing the loss of nature. She’s spearheaded the award-winning WWF podcast Call of the Wild, featuring famous faces and environmental experts including Ellie Goulding, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Fearne Cotton, Kevin McCloud, Jayda G, Andy Cato, Poppy Okotcha, Richard Curtis, Txai Surui, Deborah Meaden, Maisie Williams & more who discuss lifestyle choices and encourage urgent action on climate change. Siobhan worked on the launch of Wild Isles, a BBC natural history series co-produced by WWF & RSPB and narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and the campaign running alongside ‘Save Our Wild Isles’. Siobhan's passion and network have made her a leader in a specialised field, dedicated to creating a world where people and nature can thrive. |
| Lecturer in development studies, UCL School of Public Policy. | Dr Simon Chin-Yee is a lecturer in development studies in UCL’s School of Public Policy. He has 20 years of experience in international cooperation and policy through multiple research roles within academia, as well as his work with the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Simon’s research is focused on climate change, conflict and vulnerable populations – with an emphasis on human security and climate justice on the African Continent and in Small Island States. Additionally, his research examines the global climate negotiations, understanding how norms, values and rules constructed within the global climate regime have an influence on national policies. His current research looks at the decarbonisation of the maritime sector in Eastern and Southern Africa. His project aims to support countries as they consider how to achieve GHG emissions reductions, including the co-development of concrete and realistic plans both for national and international decarbonisation actions, political buy-in for implementation of these actions, as well as capacity development within country. Simon attained his PhD in Politics from the University of Manchester, and has held research positions in the War Studies Department, King’s College London and the London School of Economics’ Middle East Centre before joining UCL. |
| ESG Manager & Trustee | Talia is the ESG Manager at Colpac, an award-winning paperboard food packaging manufacturer and designer, where she leads on multiple strategic projects including net zero and deforestation free supply chains. Prior to this, she spent five years working in political communication, nature campaigning, and sustainability at the European Parliament, the Cabinet Office, and as Co-Director of UK Youth for Nature (UK4N). She sits on the Boards of UKY4N and Global Canopy, a data-driven not for profit that targets the market forces destroying nature. Talia has a first-class BA in French and Russian from the University of Bristol and a first-class MSc in Environment, Politics and Society from UCL. |
| Culture Declares Climate and Ecological Emergency and Climate Museum UK | I am a researcher, trainer, and creative producer working at the intersections of culture, social justice, and the climate and ecological emergency. |
| Co-Executive Director of Greenpeace UK | Will is co-Executive Director of Greenpeace UK. Prior to this, as Head of Oceans at Greenpeace UK from 2015-22 Will led campaigns on sustainable fisheries, including working alongside low impact fishing communities; he founded and led their international 30x30 campaign geared to create ocean sanctuaries in international and national waters. Before that, he oversaw the launch of their first campaigns on plastic, helping reshape the global conversation about plastic waste away from litter to being one about reducing production, including authoring a book, How to Give Up Plastic, published by Penguin in 2018 and since translated into 12 languages. |
| Nala Earth, Chief Commercial Officer | Yoni has worked on a wide array of sustainability topics across nature and climate, specifically focusing on how data can enhance corporate sustainability. Nala Earth is a nature & biodiversity platform that provides companies with data and tools to report and mitigate nature risk. Prior to Nala Earth, he worked at natcap, Wayfair, and Bain & Company. |
