RewirEd Summit Speakers

Irina Bokova, born on 12 July 1952 in Sofia (Bulgaria), has been two terms the Director-General of UNESCO from 2009 to 2017.

As Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova was actively engaged in the adoption of UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, including the role of culture and the protection of the world’s cultural heritage, as well as advocating for the critical role of science for development.

She was particularly active in promoting intercultural dialogue, mutual respect and cultural diversity, defending cultural heritage in conflict in Mali, Syria and Iraq and in denouncing extremists’ destruction of heritage as a tool of war, which lead to the adoption by the UN Security Council of several land mark resolutions on the link between maintaining peace, security and the protection of cultural heritage.

She has received state distinctions from more than 40 countries and is Doctor honoris causa of leading universities across the world, such as King’s College and University of Edinburgh, UK, University of Geneva, Switzerland, Paris-Saclay, France, Boston University, US, Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Tonji University, China, Kyung-Hee University, Republic of Korea, among others.

In 2016 Irina Bokova was on the Forbes list of the most influential women.

In 2020, she was elected International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and in 2021 – Honorary Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences (WAAS).

In 2022 she was elected Patron of the International Science Council.

Currently, she is Member of the Board of “Ban Ki Moon Centre for Global Citizens”, Chair of the Governing Council of the UN University of Peace, Costa Rica, Member of the Leadership Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), New York, Member of the Concordia Leadership Council, New York, lecturer on cultural diplomacy and sustainability, SciencesPo, Paris, among other activities.

Dr. Amel Karboul, Cheikh Oumar ANNE, Minister of Education in Senegal, is the visionary CEO behind The Education Outcomes Fund, a groundbreaking UN-hosted trust fund dedicated to enhancing the education and employment prospects of 10 million children and youth living in poverty. The EOF’s mission is to build partnerships across public, private, philanthropic, and social sectors, mobilizing funding, evidence, and innovation to pay for sustainable impact at scale. This approach radically improves the effectiveness of spending and drives systemic change.

With over 25 years of distinguished leadership as an entrepreneur as well as in corporate, political, and non-profit spheres, Amel is recognized for her dynamic presence, innovative prowess, and a sharp ability to perceive the broader landscape. Notably, she made history as Tunisia’s first female Minister of Tourism, playing a pivotal role in guiding the nation through a transformative period post the Arab Spring, culminating in Tunisia being honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015. Her exceptional service to her country and compatriots earned her the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal (Commandeur de l’Ordre de la République Tunisienne). Amel is deeply committed to nurturing a new generation of responsible leaders and closing the gap between private, public, and civil sectors to address global challenges, particularly in the fields of Technology, AI, Climate, and Education. Her TED talk on the ‘learning generation’ vividly encapsulates this passion. With a steadfast devotion to advancing gender equality, Amel actively mentors women leaders and and championed inclusivity in her cabinet, setting a powerful example. In addition to her leadership role, Amel is an award-winning executive coach and has been a vital member of DukeCE’s faculty since 2006 orchestrating transformative leadership development journeys for senior leaders.

She holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and is distinguished by a Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring from Oxford Brookes University. Furthermore, she holds a certificate in Executive Master of Public Administration from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). In 2023, Amel achieved a Masters in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) from Oxford University, earning distinction. Amel’s illustrious career has seen her in critical leadership roles including at The Maghreb Economic Forum, Mercedes-Benz, and DaimlerChrysler.

Her expertise was honed further as a senior consultant at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Beratergruppe Neuwaldegg and she was the founding CEO of Change, Leadership and Partners (CLP) helping organizations and executives navigate transformations. Amel is a recognized and published thought leader in written and digital media. She recently published the 2nd German edition of her book, Coffin Corner, outlining a new leadership culture suited to the complexity and dynamics of the 21st century. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Amel takes pride in being a devoted mother of two. She finds solace in yin yoga and mindfulness practices, cherishes deep conversations, and is profoundly moved by the splendor of art, architecture, nature, and poetry. Her multifaceted passions reflect a life deeply enriched by beauty and purpose. As a native speaker of Arabic, French, English, and German, she enjoys living a global life while maintaining a deep connection to the Island of Djerba.

Hamoon Ekhtiari is the CEO of FutureFit AI, a leading innovator using AI to bridge gaps in workforce development and career mobility. FutureFit AI partners with multinational companies and governments to provide individuals with an intelligent “GPS For Your Career,” harnessing AI to guide upskilling, reskilling, and career transitions. Their latest innovation, Career Copilot, is an AI career assistant providing personalized, scalable career guidance and job transition support globally. Their work has been featured in and recognized by the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Review, US & UK Governments, and the Future of Work Prize.

Hamoon previously led the future of work strategy for a large telecom and technology company and was the Founding Director of a leadership, skills, and innovation academy at one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs. He also founded a social enterprise, helped build Deloitte’s consulting business in the Caribbean, and taught as adjunct faculty.

Hamoon is a member of the Governor General’s Leadership Conference, an AdR Fellow at the University of Cambridge, a recipient of the University of Waterloo’s Alumni Achievement Medal, and a Canada Millennium Scholar. In every endeavor, his vision is grounded in harnessing technology to unleash human potential and build more audacious futures.

Mr. Conrad Omalikeh Sackey serves as The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and doubles as The Chair of the Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission.

Prior to his current roles he was The Chief Executive Officer of the Windsor Fellowship, a national education charity; Head of Information and Advice at Anglia Ruskin University; Strategic Manager, London East Connexions Partnership, a sub-regional partnership that coordinated integrated student support in Education; and an Additional Inspector of the Office of Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills in the United Kingdom.

He holds a MA in Education from University College London, Institute of Education; B.Sc. (Econ) Hons from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone; and is a Chartered Director, Institute of Directors, UK. He also has a number of professional qualifications in Educational Management, Teaching, Careers Guidance and Company Direction.

Additionally, he is a Board Member of the African Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Member of Institute of Directors, and a 2008 Travelling Fellow of Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy was sworn in as Minister of State in the Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates in February 2008. She was appointed to her current role as UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation in February 2016.

Her Excellency is additionally responsible for managing the UAE Vice President’s Office of Political Affairs.

Her Excellency holds the post of Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

Her Excellency chairs the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, which leads the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE, aligning them with the UAE’s national development priorities.

Her Excellency also serves as Chairperson of Dubai Cares, a philanthropic organisation that aims to improve access to education in developing countries.

Prior to her position as Minister of State, Her Excellency served as Commercial Attaché, and subsequently Deputy Chief, of the UAE Embassy to the United States of America in Washington D.C. Her Excellency holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations and French from Tufts University, and a Master’s from Harvard University.

Dr. Plamen Russev is a venture capitalist, futurist and philanthropist with 30 years experience in tech (with several exits) and investment world.

He is committed in investing and supporting proven, high growth, revenue generating, technology-enabled businesses generating social and environmental change alongside.

Back in 2009 he has established what is known today as the most competitive and large scale growth stage innovation platform www.FoundersGame.org for picking the best of the best impact innovators globally and supporting them one of the world’s biggest funding awards of $6M (six million US Dollars)

Over 250 VC investors score over 5000 growth companies (generating social and environmental impact) from 140+ countries per year and only 10 make it to the finals (read more about the Davos Winter Grand Finals).

Marco Springmann is a Professor in Climate Change, Food Systems and Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a Senior Researcher on Environment and Health at the University of Oxford. He conducts multi-disciplinary research that connects food systems, climate change, and public health. His research has been published in leading journals, including Nature, Science, The Lancet, the BMJ, and others. In addition, he has contributed to high-level reports, including those of the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems, the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, the Global Nutrition Report, and the UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report.

Minister Acuil was the first woman to serve as the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in August 2019 until March 2020

Minister Acuil is the first women to lead a South Sudan University appointed in November 2020 as Chairperson of University of Bahr el Ghazal;
Since 2005, Minister Acuil has served as Presidential Advisor on Gender and Human Rights, Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare and Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster Management;
Her long and impressive history of public service began during a challenging time in her life. During the civil war in Sudan, she spent years as a refugee in Kenya with her children. Following the death of her husband, Minister Acuil went on to continue her education and become a fierce advocate for peace, gender equality and human rights;
Minister Acuil became active in a number of organizations, training others in conflict resolution and advocating for peace. She is a founding member of the Sudanese Women Association of Nairobi and the Sudanese Women Voice for Peace. These experiences, coupled with her degree in political science, led to her participation in eventual peace negotiations between the North and South. She gained international recognition for these efforts to promote peace and development in her war-torn nation when she was awarded the InterAction Humanitarian Award in 2002;
Awut Deng Acuil has been Minister of Education and Instruction for South Sudan since early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on education globally and further exacerbated existing barriers to education in her country. Not one to balk in the face of challenge, Minister Acuil continues to champion for the rights, protection and education of young and future generations of South Sudan;
As the Minister of General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Acuil is supporting new initiatives in education with partners that aims to open the doors to learning for children throughout South Sudan who have been too-often excluded – girls and boys affected by conflict, students with disabilities, and pastoralist children who herd.

Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima leads the Ministry of education in Malawi across the Basic, Secondary, Tertiary education subsectors. She ensures the development and implementation of the Ministry’s overall strategic goals as espoused in the National Education Sector Plan. She previously served in the portfolio of Deputy Minister in the Ministries of Education and Agriculture.

She is a Human Resource and Marketing Practitioner with over 12 years of comprehensive experience.

She obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration from Temple University, Fox School of Business & Management (USA).

She is currently a Member of Parliament for Kasungu North East Constituency.

Minister Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima is the Minister of Education of Malalwi and has made significant contributions to the public education sector in the Republic of Malawi. With a strong background in economics and governance, Minister Wirima has been a driving force behind various initiatives, especially those aimed at promoting growth at the nexus of national development and education within the country.

Elected as Minister of Education in 2023, Minister Wirima has since embarked on a successful journey in public service. She has played a pivotal role in implementing policies that have led to substantial improvements in education sectors, including developing sustainable school infrastructure and the national project for accreditation of all programs by the National Council for Higher Education and alignment with the Malawi 2063 vision to bolster inclusivity and self-reliance. Her dedication to fostering an inclusive and sustainable education system has further strengthened Malawi’s quest in transforming their education system.

Lawyer specialized in Education Law and New Technologies. Author of the books “Régimen jurídico de la educación privada” (Ed. San Miguel, 1995), “Régimen jurídico de las instituciones educativas de gestión privada” (Ed. Homo Sapiens, 2014), “Nuevo Código Civil y Educación” (Amazon, 2016), “Flipped Learning. A Guide to Turn Your Classroom Around” (Ed. Logos, 2018), “Pedagogies for High Sports Performance” co-authored with Martín Mackey (Ed. Homo Sapiens, 2021) and “Knowledge is Shared. Conversations on Education and the Future.” (Ed. De las Misiones 2022).

Creator of www.gestionprivada.com. Educator and educational technology consultant. TEDxYouth Posadas licensee and responsible for the TED Ed Clubs Program in the province of Misiones.

He has designed and led Plataforma Guacurarí, Educational Innovation Program of the Ministry of Culture, Education, Science and Technology of the province of Misiones from December 2015 to December 2019.

She created and leads the Innovation High School project in Posadas (MECyT). Founding member of the International Faculty of the Flipped Learning Global Initiative Top 40 Learning administrators and tech coaches worldwide. Founding member of FanIOT the first Argentine factory of IOT nanotechnology and educational robotics kits and HAMELBOT Fábrica Misionera de Movilidad Sustentable y Robótica Avanzada + IA.

He attended Insukamini Primary School for grade 1 to 7 and then Mpopoma High School for his secondary education. He enrolled with the National University of Science and Technology for his tertiary education where he studied Bachelor of Commerce Management with Finance and later Master of Science in Finance and Investment with the same institution.

He is a Zimbabwean politician and Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry.He is a member of the ruling party, Zanu PF, and a member of parliament for Bulilima East Constituency. He is also the Chairman of the ZanuPF party for Matebeleland South Province. He is the former Minister of Industry and Commerce.

He is a former lecturer at Lupane State University’s Department of Accounting and Finance. He is also a former Regional Manager (Mat South) at National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board.

An advocate of Namibia’s conservation work at international platforms such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), World Wide Fund for Nature Inc (WWF), Integrating Wildlife, Markets and Conservation World Trust (IWMC).

Successfully engaged and Lobbied European Parliamentarians through the European Intergroup on Biodiversity, Hunting and Countryside, and other platforms on the Ban of Trophy Hunting which culminated in the UK putting aside the plan for a total ban and other EU Member States starting the dialogue on the subject matter.

João Costa was born in Lisbon in 1972 and he lived and grew up in Setúbal.

He graduated in Linguistics from the University of Lisbon Faculty of Letters.

He has a PhD in Linguistics, from the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, (1998) and was visiting researcher at MIT.

He is Chair Professor of linguistics at the Nova University of Lisbon School of Social and Human Science.

He was Director of the Nova University of Lisbon Faculty of Social and Human Science until November 2015.

He was President of the Scientific Board of Social Science and Humanities of the Science and Technology Foundation until November 2015.

He was Secretary of State in Prime Minister António Costa’s 1st and 2nd Governments.

He was member of the National Reading Plan’s Scientific Board, the National Committee of the International Institute of Portuguese Language, and the Camões Institute Advisory Board.

He was President of the Portuguese Linguistics Association.

He has been guest professor at several universities in Brazil, Macau, Spain, Holland, and Italy.

He is on the editorial board of several international linguistics reviews.

During the course of his research activity on syntax, the acquisition and development of language and educational linguistics he published several articles, chapters in books, and books.

Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya is the current Minister of Environment of the Republic of Rwanda. Prior to her appointment in November 2019, she served as the country’s Ambassador to Russia from 2013 and was the Rector of the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) from 2011 to 2013. She has also held several other ministerial positions, including Minister of Gender and Family Promotion (2008-2011), Minister of Education (2006-2008), Minister of State in charge of Higher Education (2005-2006), and Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Scientific Research (2003-2005).

Dr. Mujawamariya holds a PhD in Physical-Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology-IIT Roorkee, India. She is passionate about conserving the environment and developing natural resources efficiently to achieve sustainable growth for Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation.

Rossieli Soares nasceu no dia 9 de outubro de 1978, em Santiago, no Rio Grande de Sul, filho de Antonio Zacarias da Silva e Valdeni Terezinha Soares da Silva. Formou-se em Direito na Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), em 2003. Em 2008, iniciou a sua jornada pela educação como diretor de Planejamento na Secretaria de Estado da Educação e Qualidade do Ensino do Amazonas (Seduc-AM).

No período de 2012 a 2016 foi secretário de Estado de Educação no Amazonas e presidente do Conselho Estadual de Educação do Amazonas, onde obteve grandes resultados na rede pública de ensino, e vice-presidente do Conselho Nacional de Secretários Estaduais de Educação (Consed).

Em maio de 2016 saiu do cargo de titular da pasta da Educação no Amazonas para assumir o cargo de Secretário da Educação Básica no Ministério da Educação (MEC). No mesmo período, foi nomeado conselheiro da Câmara de Educação Básica do Conselho Nacional de Educação (CNE), no qual participou diretamente da política de reformulação do Novo Ensino Médio e da finalização e homologação da Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC) das etapas da educação infantil e do ensino fundamental.

Em 2017, concluiu o mestrado profissional em Gestão e Avaliação Educacional pela Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora.

Desde então, Rossieli está em constante trabalho pela melhoria da educação brasileira. Foi assim que em 2018 se tornou ministro da Educação do Brasil, aos 39 anos, homologando durante a sua gestão a BNCC da etapa do ensino médio.

Atualmente é Secretário da Educação do Estado de São Paulo, uma das maiores redes públicas de ensino do País.

Rossieli é casado com Meglen Cristina Valau da Silva e tem um filho.

O principal objetivo de Rossieli é e sempre será o de continuar levando ensino de qualidade para todos os cidadãos e tornar o Estado de São Paulo referência em educação para todo o país, lugar que é seu por natureza. A educação é sua causa.

For 25 years, Melanie Sany has been at the forefront of designing, steering, and assessing workforce development and education initiatives in over 25 countries. Her mission is to advance workforce and livelihood development, with a focus on equipping youth with the work readiness and green skills and market support services necessary for success in a dynamic marketplace.

Currently, Sany leads EDC’s International Youth and Workforce Development Team, overseeing the design and execution of high-impact systemic initiatives. She brings a unique blend of private- and public-sector perspectives and is adept at deploying multi-sector strategies in social innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business growth; formal and nonformal education; technical and vocational training; system strengthening; and capacity-building of community-based organizations.

Sany spearheads Our World, Our Work, a 10-year initiative focusing on the intersection of climate action, youth, and employment. The initiative aims to accelerate youth employment and entrepreneurship in a green economy.

Sany holds an MBA from the Audencia Nantes School of Management and an MA from the Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée, both in France. She is fluent in French and English.

Honorable Nura Mustafa Mukhtar is the State Minister of Education, Culture, and Higher Education for Somalia, and a distinguished member of the country’s 11th Federal Parliament. She holds Master’s degrees from Kampala International University and Makerere University in Uganda, and a Bachelor degree from SIMAD University, Somalia.

Before embracing the challenges of the political arena, Mrs. Mukhtar dedicated nearly a decade to humanitarian endeavors. One of her most notable contributions is the instrumental role she played in the re-establishment of the National Commission for Refugees and IDPs in Somalia in 2014. As a staunch advocate for the rights and welfare of displaced children, she has built strong collaborative ties with United Nations agencies and the Somali government.

In her legislative capacity, Hon. Mukhtar is driven by a vision to revitalize Somalia’s educational landscape, preserve its rich cultural heritage, and set new benchmarks in higher education. Recognized both within Somalia and on the global stage, Mrs. Mukhtar’s unwavering dedication to humanitarian causes, governance, and education has solidified her reputation as a leading force in Somali progress.

Genevieve Nunez Kebe is the Senior Policy Advisor for Education at the International Rescue Committee and has over 20 years’ experience across several sectors in the areas of Advocacy, Project management, Partnerships, Business Development, and Communications.

Prior to her current role, she was a Technical Advisor to the Senegalese Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation. She worked previously at the Africa Development Bank as the Coordinator of Presidential Youth Advisory Group.

Geneviève also served as Partnerships Director and Regional portfolio Manager at the British Council.  Her work at the British Council spanned across sub-Saharan Africa where she led strategic projects in Education, Entrepreneurship and skills development. Before joining the British Council, Genevieve was Country Director at EXP, a South African Marketing agency where she developed Direct Marketing and communication strategies for the world largest FMCGs.

She holds an MBA from ISM and a master’s degree in business management from the UPEC University in Paris.

I was born on the 14th January, 1961 in Port Loko town. I did my primary schooling in Port Loko and attended Our Lady of Guadalupe School for Girls in Lunsar. I attained form five. With my catholic upbringing, I live to respect, work relentlessly and put value in every human being especially women and children.

I am a trained and qualified teacher with Teachers certificate, High Teachers certificate, Bachelor in Education. And Masters in Applies/Descriptive Linguistics in Njala University. I have served for 28 years in the teaching field. As a teacher, I worked with both boys and girls but my priority was girls viewing their deteriorating situation during those trying times. I am not being bias at all but trying to influence the girls to work hard and raise their level of understanding that they too have the capacity like the boys.

I joined politic 2018 and became Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education up to date.

Laura joined the END Fund in April 2019. In her role, Laura focuses on promoting the important disease elimination work of the END Fund by developing meaningful relationships and partnerships, providing excellent stewardship to private investors, and identifying new funding opportunities.

Laura is passionate about making a difference in the public health sector. Prior to joining the END Fund she spent eight years raising awareness and funds in both Europe and the US for blindness prevention in Africa, South East Asia and Latin America. She’s also been volunteering in a women’s health clinic in Haiti.

Prior to working for INGOs, Laura worked in the private sector on lead acquisition, client retention and digital strategies in Finance and Education.

Laura grew up in France and lived in the UK for 10 years, where she earned a Bachelor Degree in Marketing and Communications from the University of Greenwich, in London. She is now based in NYC.

Sofia is a 19-year-old education and food security advocate of Quechua heritage from Peru. She advocates for climate education with Mock COP as a campaign coordinator for the Latin America and the Caribbean region and serves as a director at Ollas Sostenibles, a youth-led project that works for water-energy-food security in peri-urban areas of Lima and is the recent winner of the MIT Solv[ED] Youth Innovation Challenge 2023.

Deline Ramiro, a 24-year-old Rwandan refugee now in Kenya, is a passionate advocate for education and accessible energy in Africa. She plays a pivotal role in an organization providing digital education to youth and refugees at the Kakuma refugee camp. Deline’s journey began as her family sought refuge in Kenya following the Rwandan genocide. Despite numerous challenges, she completed her high school education and even received a university scholarship. However, she chose to give back by teaching at the camp’s primary school where her educational journey began. Deline focuses on bridging the digital divide, especially for women facing challenges in refugee camps. Her digital skills courses encompass basic computer skills and online work opportunities, empowering refugees and enhancing their self-sufficiency. Deline’s dedication and impact were acknowledged with a prestigious Presidential Award at the 2023 YES Youth Summit. Her story is a testament to resilience and the potential of one individual to bring about positive change in their community and the world.

Daniela Gissara is a global changemaker committed to building an equitable world for children with disabilities. At Perkins School for the Blind, her technical expertise mobilizes partnerships
that transform education systems around the world. She is an expert educator and vision specialist with a Masters in International Development, and Specialization in Low Vision and a
Teaching Degree in Visual Impairments. She is also a graduate of the Educational Leadership Program. Her work has been cited internationally as a gold standard for inclusive learning
design. Daniela has presented on health and education advocacy to the United Nations and at global conferences in 10 countries.

Dr. Turk has a PhD in the Foundations of Education and a Master’s degree in Sociology focusing on TEVT programs for women from the University of Jordan.

Dr. Rana Al Turk brings to HEIG 30 years of experience in international development and work to support Jordan’s youth and the education sector, and over a decade of experience leading USAID-funded programs in Jordan and the region. She was the Chief of Party and Country Director for the International Youth Foundation (IYF) of Jordan, managing Youth for the Future program, which supported more than 100 education, training, and employability projects for youth. As country director, she helped IYF expand across the MENA region. She also managed two USAID-funded activities for CHF International in Eritrea (Entrepreneurship Development Program and Jordan (Rural Community Cluster Development Program. Dr. Turk served as Senior Advisor to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratization to develop policies for innovative employment for youth, including the support of TVET and entrepreneurship programs. She is presently leading a German KFW-funded fact-finding study to design a local entrepreneurship program in Jordan in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labor. Dr. Turk led market studies for the Jordan Chamber of Industry to establish the Chamber’s first Employment Unit to promote local economic development for youth and women. She also developed the guidelines and life skills training package for UNICEF Jordan. In Egypt, Dr. Turk provided gender-focused capacity strengthening and strategic planning to women’s business associations to promote women’s engagement in business growth

David Ramos is the Acting Head of Sustainability for HSBC Bank Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. He has 18 years of working experience as a sustainability practitioner, having worked in consultancy companies linked to sectors as chemical, manufacturing and working closely with the public administration and governmental bodies. He has also worked in a complex supply chain environment in a fashion leading multinational in Spain, where he initiated their sustainability programme. He has now worked in the Finance sector in Middle East for seven years. He holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences by the University of Cordoba (Spain) and a Master’s Degree in International Environmental Sciences by the LUND University (Sweden).

EY Global Corporate Responsibility Leader
As EY Global Corporate Responsibility Leader, Gill leads implementation of the EY Ripples program to help drive sustainable inclusive growth in our communities, as well as overseeing efforts to embed social and environmental value creation more deeply in everything we do.

A native South African, Gill moved to Sydney, Australia, where she joined EY in 2010. There, she spent six years with Advisory and Financial Services before joining the global Digital team, helping to develop and package new digital service offerings.

Combined with experience at Unilever and then the Standard Bank Group in South Africa, launching new services for the underbanked, this explains her passion for innovating new models and collaborations that can help accelerate the creation of social and environmental impact at scale.

After experiences as president of an NGO and within a Minister cabinet in France,
Gilles Vermot Desroches joins Schneider Electric in 1998. His primary mission was to create and develop the Schneider Electric Foundation, under the aegis of Fondation de France, the Sustainable Development Department, the impact investing funds and since 2021 the Corporate Citizenship department. He is also in charge of Institutional Affairs.

Within this position, he was responsible for writing the Principles of Responsibility in 2004, creating a Diversity Department in 2005, Health & Safety in 2006, a global initiative to help reduce fuel poverty in OECD countries and access to energy elsewhere in the world, and two business initiatives on access to electricity and educational products.

In addition to his responsibilities, he is an advisor to the Conseil Economique Social et Environnemental, Chairman of the NGO “100 Chances 100 Emplois”, Vice-Chairman of Global Compact France (which he chaired until 2022), Climate Chance and Comité 21. He is Co-Chairman of the MEDEF Youth Commission and coordinator of “1pacteClimat”. Member of the CODEV of the Greater Paris Metropolis.
He is also CEO of the Collectif pour une économie plus inclusive.
He chaired the Scouts et Guides de France until 2016.

He is the author of 2 books: “Le Printemps des Millenials” and with Fabien Mathieu “Profit & Plant: How Innovation can help build a better world”.

Omar Abdulaziz Alkhan is the Head of the Centre for Business Studies and Research at Dubai Chambers which is an innovate Think-Tank for the organisation and a part of the Business Advocacy Sector. The centre leverages quantitative and big data as well as research possibilities applying AI for business research to the benefit stakeholders in the Dubai business community.

Omar holds a Bachelors of Science and a Masters degree in Business & Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology (F.I.T).

Omar has started his career in 2003 at HSBC Bank Middle East in the world of commercial banking and moved to Dubai Chambers in 2007 with a wealth of experience in the fields of business advocacy, customer service, trade facilitation, and most recently international relations.

Before his current position, Omar is proud to have led and grown the International offices initiative for from 2014 to 2023 as its’ Executive Director growing Dubai Chambers Offices across Africa, China, India, CIS & Latin America.

The initiative, now transformed to Dubai Global, is now under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan an Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, with a new ambitious target of having 50 International Offices that promote expansion of Dubai businesses and attraction of FDI into Dubai. Omar is proud of this validation and to have had the honour to be the general manager of Dubai Global before moving to his exciting new role.

Avinash Persaud’s career unusually spreads across finance, academia and public policy.

He was a former senior executive of J. P. Morgan, UBS, State Street and GAM London Ltd and former Chairman of Elara Capital PLC and RBC Barbados. He is a non-exec director of Proven Investments Limited.

He is a former Governor, London School of Economics and 2010 President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He was elected Trustee of the Global Association of Risk Professionals and the Royal Economics Society. He won the Jacques de Larosiere Award in Global Finance from the Institute of International Finance and was voted one of the top three public intellectuals in the world on the financial crisis by an expert panel. He is Emeritus Professor of Gresham College in the UK.

He was Chairman, regulatory sub-committee of the UN Commission on Financial Reform; Chairman, Warwick Commission on Financial Reform; Chairman, Financial Services Commission of Barbados; Member of the UK Treasury’s Audit and Risk Committee and the Pew Task Force to the US Senate Banking Committee; Visiting Scholar at the IMF; Distinguished Advisor, Financial Sector Law Reform Commission of India; and Chairman, CARICOM Commission on the Economy.

H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg is the CEO and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Cares, a UAE-based global philanthropic organization that launched RewirEd Summit in 2021 as its flagship platform advocating for transformed education systems as a core enabler for a sustainable future for people and planet.

Under his strategic direction and leadership, the Summit has quickly earned its place as the voice of the global education sector that unites new and unlikely allies in a collective effort to rewire education through concrete action.

Owing to his relentless efforts towards establishing Dubai Cares as a prominent global philanthropic organization, Dr. Al Gurg is highly regarded across various global boards and leadership networks within the education and development sectors as a vocal champion of early childhood development, school health and nutrition, girls education, connectivity, youth empowerment and skilling, Education in Emergencies, public-private sector partnerships as well as research.

In 2022, Dr. Al Gurg was recognized by UNICEF for his unwavering commitment to making the world a better place for children and youth. In 2019, he was named a “Change-maker” by Save the Children during the celebration of their centennial anniversary. Dr. Al Gurg was also recognized by UNESCO in 2017 as well as by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in 2016.

Prior to joining Dubai Cares, Dr. Al Gurg devoted 12 years to various senior management roles in consumer and corporate banking. He was also a member of the UAE’s National Anti-Money Laundering Committee.

Dana Musaffar is a dynamic Palestinian youth based in Ramallah City, driven by a passion for environmental sustainability. At 23 years old, she proudly graduated in 2023 from Birzeit University with a degree in Urban Planning Engineering. Dana currently holds a position at the Engineer Association in Ramallah, where she actively contributes to initiatives aimed at enhancing urban environments.

Her academic journey was fueled by a deep-seated interest in addressing environmental and climate change issues. Choosing urban planning as her field of study, Dana aspires to play a pivotal role in devising strategies to improve the overall environmental landscape.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Dana is the visionary founder of the Keesi initiative, a project dedicated to eco-friendly reusable bags. Launched in 2021, Keesi represents her inaugural venture, and she envisions expanding her efforts to undertake more impactful projects in the future.

Dana Musaffar is a trailblazer committed to making a positive difference in her community and beyond, leveraging her expertise in urban planning and her innovative initiatives to create a more sustainable and eco-conscious world.

I’m part of Youth 4 TPNW AS MY activism spectrum as a complement of different issues in terms of Human rights that have correlation with Climate Change and health, that’s the reason because we could get alliances with Nuclearban in Austria, the organization that sponsored and promote the Treaty for Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons , we could contribute to a Youth Letter for TPNW and we will contribute in the Second Meeting of Party in New York. I was a Civil Society delegate with Y4TPNW in 1 MSP and we will continue to contribute as a partner in LATAM of this organization. I’m collaborating in a volunteer project of research about the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant and its risks, directed by Dr  John Reuwer.

I consider that transition plans start to be suddenly a valid option for the EU during  war conflicts, however, limitations for well being protection in environmental conditions  as low temperatures can promote a regression to gas dependence. Some alternatives in renewable energies will probably be applied as main sources with fossil fuels shortage and I can see this context as an opportunity for our mission.

Another goal that I started to develop is promoting programs focused in SDG and scientific research around high poverty level locations. With the support of Teach the Teacher initiative in 2021 and 2022 (photos) we could start with climate education expansion. We understand the importance of political and international institutions in policy making spaces to get new innovated goals like adapting climate change in the academic curriculum and have a positive effect in environmental protection laws like I did it with my participation as a technical team of environmentalist movement to stop the extractivism and mining project in the Amazon region of Ecuador. In the global affairs approach, I have had successful relations with  academic and international institutions. We have got successful agreements of funding management and youth programs potential with Caribbean programs like HEY Campaign from UNICEF-ASHLEY LASHLEY FOUNDATION coalition in Barbados and international UNFCCC support that talk about. I’m Focal Point in LATAM of this initiative that wants to work in health-climate change relation and the side effects and causal consequences in sustainability and well-being of marginalized communities . Other collaborations that we could get during the last three years are with Pontifical Cathoic University of Ecuador as Coordinator of Volunteer program and SOA coordination (Sustainable Ocean Alliance).

Ana Romero joined Wellington College in 2014. In her role as Head of Sustainability, Global Education Coordinator and Tutor, Ana inspires a vast number of students and staff in her work concerning sustainability and global education across and beyond school life. She is responsible for building international partnerships, networking and collaboration with third-party organisations. She works closely with staff and students in planning, implementing and evaluating projects and initiatives that aim to develop new competencies and learning experiences on climate change, global education and sustainability.

Before joining Wellington College, Ana has worked for many years as an advisor in climate to local governments in Latin America, as well as an environmental expert for international NGOs in the field of environment, climate change and global citizenship. Her first attendance to COP was in Poznan, Poland (COP14) as member of the Climate Action Network International (CAN). Since 2019 (COP25), Ana is a senior advisor to the Mexican Government on the international climate negotiations providing expertise in Capacity Building and Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE).

Ana holds a B.A. in International Politics (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) and a M.Sc. in International Environmental Sciences (Lund University, Sweden). She is a triathlete and ultra/marathon-runner.

Khaled is a true futurist who believes in the power of sustainability and technology in driving positive change. With an entrepreneurial spirit and future-forward mindset, Khaled has led organizations and launched ventures that are contributing towards a brighter future.

Today, Khaled is the Group CEO of BEEAH Group, a position he has held since August 2009. Under his leadership, the organisation evolved from a leading waste management business in Sharjah, to an international holding company serving UAE, KSA, Egypt and beyond.

His perspective on merging sustainability and digitalization has led to exponential growth, regional firsts, and made a transformative impact on quality of life across global markets.

From championing Sharjah’s zero-waste journey through the UAE’s only end-to-end, integrated waste management business, to pioneering clean energy innovations for the region, in the form of the UAE’s first waste-to-energy plant he has overseen efforts to build a net-zero future in the UAE.

Khaled’s strong passion for innovation, keen interest in artificial intelligence, and drive for digitalization has shaped BEEAH’s growth as a technology-driven organization, including the establishment of BEEAH’s iconic new headquarters. As the first fully AI integrated building in the region, he strategized an ‘Office of the Future’; working closely with world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects to create a blueprint for tomorrow’s sustainable, smart cities.

He also spearheaded BEEAH’s diversification into the digital field launching digital ventures, such as EVOTEQ, re.life, and a JV to develop Sharjah’s first Tier 3 data centre. Under his leadership, BEEAH has become the sustainability partner for key cities in KSA and Egypt.

Sharon Armstrong is the Director General, Social Development Bureau in Global Affairs Canada. Prior to that role, Ms. Armstrong was posted to Canada’s Permanent Delegation to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, as Deputy Permanent Representative (2018-2023).

Ms. Armstrong joined the government of Canada in 1996, working to advance Canada’s international interests related to economic and social development, human rights and humanitarian affairs. Initially with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and now Global Affairs Canada, Ms. Armstrong has undertaken a various assignments managing bilateral development assistance programs in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Prior to representing Canada at the OECD, she served at the Embassy of Canada in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 2015-2018 as Development Director. Her previous postings include La Paz, Bolivia (2002-2004) and Geneva, Switzerland (2008-2012).

Ms. Armstrong’s work in multilateral contexts includes being seconded to the WHO to support the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health, co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Canada and President of Tanzania. Ms. Armstrong holds a master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the Université de Genève, Switzerland and a bachelor’s degree in International Development from the University of Guelph, Canada.

Danah Dajani is currently the Senior VP Programs and Partnerships at the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education and oversees the Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund. With over 19 years of management experience in youth development, education to improved livelihoods, designing and managing strategic philanthropy and Islamic Philanthropy. In addition to practical experience in building partnerships and managing relationships with wide array of stakeholders across the MENA region. Danah holds two Masters: one in Social Research from the University of Bath and one in Gender and Development from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. Danah is a Chevening scholar and an Eisenhower fellow.

I was born the son of a lawyer, destined to follow in my father’s footsteps from as early as one year old. However, something went awry.

After completing Liceo Classico and while studying Law and Economics, I purchased a saxophone, and everything changed. I became a professional jazz musician, and it took me ten years to complete my university studies.

In the meantime, I also developed a passion for Education and began teaching music and Law and Economics, exploring ways to enhance Learning. As part of this pursuit, I have published books on Law and Economics for Italian schools, revolutionizing the pedagogical approach.

From 2016 to 2022 I served as the Head of School of H-International School, a revolutionary environment that fosters the confrontation of some fundamental paradigms in one’s life: Education, personal growth, professional and career development.

Since 2016 I’m Head of Academics and Pedagogical Innovation of the H-FARM Education Group, and I’m always studying, researching, seeking and trying new approaches to Education based on Human/ity and the application of technologies.

Koen Timmers is Executive Director of TAG. TAG is a non-profit based in USA, working on climate education.

In 2015 he launched the Kakuma project in which 525 educators across 6 continents offer free education to African refugees via Skype. In 2020 he built his own 2 schools in the camp in partnership with UN Refugees Agency.

Koen launched the Climate Action Project involving 4.4 million students and teachers across 157 countries which were endorsed by the Dalai Lama, Prince William, Charlize Theron and covered by national media across 45 countries.

Koen has been working with WWF, UN Environment Programme, NASA, UNHCR, LEGO, Cartoon Network, Microsoft, National Geographic to name a few.

He’s author of the book “Game Changer”. Koen spoke about Climate Education and Technology Enhanced Learning in Washington, Beijing, Paris, Moscow, Vienna, Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, at the European Parliament, and TEDx.

Zakri Abdul Hamid is a distinguished professor at UCSI University, Malaysia and currently holds the distinction of being the fifth holder of the Tun Hussein Onn Chair in International Studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia. He is chairman of Atri Advisory, a consulting company advising governments and international organisations on sustainable development and is currently the Pro-Chancellor of two universities in Malaysia, namely Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris in Tanjung Malim and Multimedia University in Cyberjaya. He is the joint-chairmen of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), chairman of the Business Council on Sustainable Development, Malaysia and chairman of the National Biodiversity Roundtable.

He was the Science Adviser to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and former Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies, United Nations University. He is the founding Chair of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and former member of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board. Zakri is one of the original negotiators of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. He is an emeritus member of the Global Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN); former member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Scientific Advisory Board and presently a vice-chair of the governing council of the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries. Recent appointments include ambassador and science advisor to the Campaign for Nature and founding fellow, International Science Council. Zakri is a senior fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Among the awards he received are: 2019 National Academic Laureate; 2019 UN Malaysia Award; 2018 Midori Biodiversity Prize; 2017 ASEAN Biodiversity Hero, and the 2015 Merdeka Award, and the 2014 Zayed International Prize for the Environment.

Liana Ghent is Director of ISSA, the Early Childhood network for Europe and Central Asia. With more than 30 years of leadership experience, she has specialized in areas of network-development, catalyzing system change, mobilizing movements, partnership-building and sustainability in the non-profit sector. Under her leadership, over the years, ISSA has expanded its programmatic portfolio and grew significantly in scope and reach, with member organizations from all corners of Europe and Central Asia, united for a shared purpose on behalf of young children. Before ISSA, she served as Co-President of the Civic Education Project (CEP), an organization working to reform higher education in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. She served on several boards, including the Consultative Group for Early Childhood Care and Development and the Leadership Council of the Global Compact for Early Childhood Development. Currently, she is a member of the Executive Leadership Council of the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) and WHO’s Advisory Group for the Nurturing Care Framework.

Maja Groff, Esq., is an international lawyer based in The Hague, and is Convenor of the Climate Governance Commission, which seeks to propose high impact global governance innovations adequate to meet the climate challenge. She also serves as Senior Treaty Advisor at Integrity Initiatives International, as well as on The Canadian Task Force Against Global Corruption. As a Principal Legal Officer, she has assisted with the development and servicing of multilateral treaties for more than a decade, also working at various international criminal tribunals (ICTY, STL), teaching at the Hague Academy of International Law and was a Visiting Professor at Leiden University, Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (2020-2022). She has worked on a wide range of existing and potential global treaties addressing contemporary human rights issues and cross-border legal cooperation, conducting extensive liaison work with international organisations, professional associations, NGOs and convening international legal expert groups to develop new international legal norms. She holds degrees from McGill (civil law and common law), Oxford and Harvard Universities, and is an attorney admitted to practice in the state of New York, formerly working in corporate law. She has served on the Governing/Advisory Boards of BCorp Europe and ebbf, organisations devoted to ethical business, and is a NOW Partner. She was a winner of the 2018 New Shape Prize, and is a co-author of the 2020 book, Global Governance and the Emergence of Global Institutions for the 21st Century.     

Ryan is a consultant of the Asian Development Bank. Previously, he worked for Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc. as a Technical Coordinator of Project Upturn which provides a menu of climate adaptation practices in the Philippines. He was also involved in the climate justice campaign of Greenpeace.

Ryan was part of the 2013 inaugural cohort of Teach for the Philippines. He volunteers for different environmental initiatives and speaks at various events where he talks about sustainability and climate action. Ryan completed MSc Climate Change and International Development at the University of East Anglia in the UK as a Chevening Scholar.

Kamran Robert Kardan is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge E, headquartered in Dubai. He founded Knowledge E in 2012, with the aim of providing unique, professional and high-quality services to information professionals in the Middle Eastern region and beyond.

Kamran is also heading Knowledge E Networking Services based in Dubai as well as the Knowledge E Foundation and Knowledge E UK LTD, both based in the UK.

Kamran has 20 years of experience working in the publishing industry on both the publisher and agency front. Working closely with some of the top consortia, libraries, ministries, hospitals and corporations within research and education in the region, he has experienced the birth and growth of many digital libraries. Driven by his interest in learning societies, he has initiated and participated in the completion of various special development projects.

Kamran holds a BSc in Engineering, an MSc in Marketing with a thesis on ‘Open Access publishing business models’ as well as an MBA from the University of Manchester with a dissertation on ‘The application of Business Model Canvas in university research offices’.

Kamran has an interest in community development and plays an active part in the Knowledge E Foundation, a community interest corporation focusing on supporting education and research based projects across the globe, with a focus on developing countries.

Mr Ndellejong Cosmas Ejong is the Global Technical Lead for Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis at Sightsavers. He played a key advisory role in the DFID (UK Government) funded project ; Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ASCEND). Prior to his current role, he served as NTD Programme Officer at the Cameroon Country Office and later got promoted to NTD Surveillance and M&E Manager for West and Central Africa. He also held a technical role in the implementation of our SHIP Liberia project funded by Dubai Cares.

Before joining Sightsavers in 2015, Mr. Ndellejong worked for the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon where he served as Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the HIV Control and Roll Back Malaria programmes. He was later appointed Regional NTD Coordinator for the Southwest Region of Cameroon in 2009, where he supervised projects for WHO/APOC (African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control), as Temporary Advisor. He is a Cameroon born Canadian based in Calgary, Canada and holds a Master of Science degree in Medical Microbiology and Parasitology and a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Buea in Cameroon. He is currently undertaking PhD studies in Public Health.

Kim Foulds is the Vice President, Content Research & Evaluation at Sesame Workshop, the media and education nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street. She oversees research and evaluation on Sesame Workshop’s co-productions and community engagement interventions across the globe. Using a variety of methodologies to support projects throughout their development and working with academic and research institutions to evaluate efficacy, Kim works to translate data to provide specific recommendations to maximize the impact of Sesame Workshop’s multimedia content.

Kim holds a Ph.D. in Education and a M.A. in African Studies from University of California, Los Angeles, and a B.A. in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College.

Will Wale currently works as one of two UK Department for Education Youth Focus Points for Sustainability and Climate Justice, where he works with the DfE to provide youth voice, feedback and engagement on their strategy for sustainability in education. He has previous experience in youth networks within the UK, focussing on engaging young people with empowering programmes and overcoming climate anxiety and apathy. He is currently also a student at the London School of Economics.

Sister Zeph, who founded her own school for underprivileged children in the courtyard of her home at just 13, is the winner of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2023, organised in collaboration with UNESCO and in strategic partnership with Dubai Cares. 

Sister Zeph founded her own school for children whose parents cannot pay fees. She worked eight-hour days to fund the school, then taught students for another four hours, and then stayed up at night teaching herself. Twenty-six years later, the school, now housed in a brand-new building, provides free education for more than 200 underprivileged children. Many of her students from humble background have gone to work for her education and empowerment foundation while others have gone on to very successful professional careers.
As well as running the school, she runs self-defence classes for girls, having herself been attacked and threatened. She also provides financial assistance to families choosing between educating their children and paying their bills, and runs a vocational centre that has helped more than 6,000 women gain skills in ICT, textiles, and the English language.

Dr. Hanan Morsy is the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme) and Chief Economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Dr. Morsy has a wealth of cross-country experience and vast expertise in leading top-quality policy and development work and building strong partnerships, working in international organizations and the private sector. She has published on a wide range of economic and development issues and led a number of major flagship publications.

Prior to joining ECA, Dr. Morsy was the Director of Macroeconomic Policy and Research at the African Development Bank between 2018 and 2021, where she provided thought leadership on economic issues and oversaw the production of rigorous analytical work that strengthened the Bank’s policy dialogue and operations across its member countries.

Dr. Morsy worked previously as Associate Director and Lead Economist for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Region at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London between 2012 and 2018. In that role, she established and headed the economic analysis and policy advisory services for the new region of operation, led country missions, and developed country strategies.

Prior to that, she worked at the International Monetary Fund between 2003 and 2012 in various capacities across different departments, including, Fiscal Affairs, Middle East and Central Asia, European, and Monetary and Capital Markets. She led and contributed to work on exchange rate assessments, fiscal vulnerability, financial and macroprudential policies. She has extensive experience in both IMF program and surveillance work across a wide range of countries from developing, to emerging, and advanced economies.

Dr. Morsy holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the George Washington University, USA, and a master’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Davis, USA. She is from Egypt.

Shreya is a passionate Nepali socio-climate justice activist. She is one of the Campaign Coordinator at Mock COP. Her efforts are reflected in her work with a diverse group of young people across the world to champion the meaningful participation of young people in decision-making spaces and in lobbying for quality climate education.

She was the former Network Coordinator at Nepalese Youth for Climate Action and is a present Board Member of Clean Energy Nepal. She is also an active member of YOUNGO and the Contact Person for the NDCs working group.

Shreya was recognized as the climate change champion by UNICEF South Asia. She was recognized as EE 30 under 30 for making a remarkable difference through environmental education and her story has been featured in two books “Stone Soup for a Sustainable World” and “50 Girls Saving Our Planet.

Lennart Kuntze is the inaugural Global Head of Climate Education and Leadership at Teach For All. He has worked in climate change and environmental sustainability for over 10 years, including as project manager at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and UN Environment Programme, where he worked with countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America on their transition towards a green(er), (more) inclusive economy. More recently, Lennart spent 2 ½ years researching and teaching at Harvard University. During this time, he co-instructed a new course on Teaching Climate Change and co-led a community organizing project around climate storytelling & public narrative with several local chapters of the Sunrise Movement. Lennart holds an undergraduate degree from University College Maastricht (Netherlands) and graduate degrees in Public Policy (from United Nations University) and Public Administration (from Harvard Kennedy School).

Wendy Kopp is CEO and Co-founder of Teach For All, a global network of organizations in 61 countries working to develop collective leadership to ensure all children can fulfill their potential. Prior to launching Teach For All in 2007, Wendy founded and led Teach For America – which has proven to be an unparalleled source of long-term leadership for expanding opportunity for children in the United States – for 24 years. Wendy led the development of Teach For All to be responsive to the initiative of social entrepreneurs around the world who were determined to adapt this approach in their own countries.

Wendy is the author of A Chance to Make History: What Works and What Doesn’t in Providing an Excellent Education for All (2011) and One Day, All Children: The Unlikely Triumph of Teach For America and What I Learned Along the Way (2000). She holds honorary doctorate degrees from 15 universities and is the recipient of numerous awards including the WISE Prize for Education (2021), the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2008), and the Schwab Foundation’s Outstanding Social Entrepreneur Award (2003).

Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and resides in New York City.

Esther Gacigi is an educator with over two years experience working in underserved communities in Kenya to improve the quality of education. She currently works at Mukuru kwa Njenga as a climate educator working to build the agency of teachers, students, and the community to take climate action. She is also a co-founder of the Pan-African Climate Education (PACE) Network, a collaborative network that aims to connect educators in Africa and enhance their ability to engage learners in climate education. Esther believes that there is no quality education without climate education and thus works to ensure that children in Kenya have access to climate education.

As both an entrepreneur and an executive, Kevin has spent his career at the nexus of the private and public sectors, spanning the education, technology, human capital and international
development spheres.

Prior to joining Generation Unlimited as CEO in 2021, Kevin served as the CEO of Right To Play — an international development organization to protect, educate, and empower children and youth.

At the age of 27, Kevin founded his first company, TeachAway, a job-matching and professional development platform for teachers. TeachAway expanded its EdTech and JobTech offerings with Skooli, an online tutoring platform, and Klassroom, a USA-accredited e-learning provider of K-12 teacher licensure.

Before Right To Play, Kevin spent 15 years in the international and higher education sectors, most recently leading Canada’s top-ranked MBA program at the University of Toronto as the Managing Director.

Kevin’s academic background includes a Doctorate in Business Administration from IE Business School, where his research focused on entrepreneurship; a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University; and an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction from the University of Toronto, where he majored in Philosophy and History.

Nicholas Kee is a multi-hyphenate. He is the co-founder and CEO of Kee Farms, a regenerative ocean farm network focused on growing seaweed, oysters, and other oceanic organisms with the aim of reducing greenhouse gases and increasing biodiversity in oceanic ecosystems. Prior to this, he was the Co-founder and Executive Director of Next Gen Creators, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting software development, digital literacy skills employment and tech-entrepreneurship for youths in the Caribbean. Nicholas is also the Jamaica Youth Ambassador to the Commonwealth, a UNICEF U-Reporter, and a member of the World Bank Solutions for Youth Employment Coalition.

Nicholas is an active community leader focused on AI Ethics & Regulations, Sustainable Development, and Digital Awareness & Literacy. Since the beginning of his career, he has launched companies in the sectors of education, marketing, insurance, and 3D printing. He has worked with NASA, CERN, Red Cross International, and the United Nations on renewable energy-related projects and policy reform for developing countries and refugee camps. He spends his time consulting with various government agencies and private organizations throughout the diaspora to help implement technological solutions into their societies. He hopes to bring climate change action and mitigation to the forefront of the Caribbean so that its people can participate meaningfully in this circular blue economy.

Nick Ireland is Director of Climate Change. He leads a Division focusing on accessing and channelling climate finance to least developed countries. With over 25 years’ experience in international development working in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean he has extensive experience in both humanitarian and development programming. For over a decade he has focused on advancing both school safety and climate change. A founding member of the Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector (GADRRRES), Nick has worked extensively on the interlinkages of disaster, climate change and education in both policy and programming practice.

Ms Jun Morohashi joined UNESCO in 1999 and started her career in Social & Human Sciences Sector (1999-2007). She then worked in Education Sector as Programme Specialist in Peace, Human Rights and Global Citizenship Education (2007-2014) before serving as Chief of Education Unit at UNESCO Port-au-Prince Office (2014-2016), and then as Head of Executive Office & Regional Programme Coordinator at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education in Bangkok. In April 2020 she came back to HQ-based Section of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and as of September 2022, she is Chief of Section for ESD.

I’m Ayda Ghonim, a 23-year-old entrepreneur from Souf refugee camp in Jerash, Jordan. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in law and I run an innovative online candle-making business. Beyond entrepreneurship, I lead workshops for young people and women, teaching them to craft their own candles. My passion for empowerment has led me to conduct these workshops aimed at equipping youth and women with the skills to create their own candles. My competencies in digital literacy, professional growth, and life skills are the result of extensive and varied training programs, workshops, and hands-on projects. I am deeply involved in community service, contributing to initiatives focused on environmental sustainability, social welfare, and the promotion of arts and culture. Skilled in communication and interpersonal relations, I excel in the development and delivery of educational presentations, comprehensive reports, and rigorous research. My commitment to collaboration has been demonstrated through effective teamwork across multiple projects. My leadership qualities are particularly evident in my work with youth, leading projects that foster development and effect tangible change within Souf camp and the wider community.

The core values of Honesty, Authenticity, Integrity, and Faith are my guiding principles. Honesty, to me, means embracing truth and sincerity. Authenticity is about being genuine and undisputed in origin. Integrity is a manifestation of strong moral principles, while Faith instills a belief that things will fall into place. These values became deeply ingrained during a management lecture and have since guided me through life’s decisions, both easy and challenging.

In my second university year, I volunteered for the Red Cross Lebanon-Beirut, enhancing my organizational and communication skills within a renowned humanitarian team. During my final year, I interned at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), gaining insight into international policy-making.

Post-graduation, my passion for community service led me to roles at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and The American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), where I served on the UNICEF WASH Project. As the WASH Manager at Nabad for Development Association, I undertook diverse responsibilities, refining my administrative and managerial skills.

Eager to contribute, learn, and grow, I am confident that my experiences equip me for new challenges. I look forward to expanding my knowledge and skills in your esteemed organization.

Gabriela Ramos is the Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, where she oversees the institution’s contributions to building inclusive societies. Her mandate includes tackling economic inequalities of income and opportunity,
and promoting social inclusion and gender equality. She also oversees the youth support agenda, promotion of values through sport, fight against racism and discrimination, and ethics of science, including of neurotechnology and the internet of things. She has overseen the development and adoption of the first global instrument to promote the ethics of artificial intelligence, adopted by acclamation in 2021 by UNESCO’s General Conference.

She also launched the Global Forum against Racism, to catalyse the political support that member countries have given to this cause. On gender, she has advanced several initiatives, particularly to combat gender stereotypes and biases, including in new technologies. She also leads the Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme to help UNESCO Member States strengthen the connection between research and policy and between knowledge and action. She has overseen the publication on “Inclusive and resilient societies: equality, sustainability and efficiency”

Previously, Gabriela Ramos worked as Cabinet Director and Sherpa for G20/G7APEC at the OECD, contributing to increasing the OECD’s global impact and leading key initiatives such as “Inclusive Growth”, “New Approaches to Economic Challenges”, “Climate Change and Growth”, the gender equality strategy and work on well-being and children. At the G20,
she contributed to the international reform for fair tax systems; the adoption of the gender-quota (to reduce the labour gap) and the establishment of the W20; and the adoption of the principles of artificial intelligence, among others. She also oversaw Global Relations and the OECD’s membership enlargement process.

She is a member of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) for 2022,
an independent advisory body that develops recommendations on gender equality issues across the entire G7 agenda. In 2019, she launched the Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) platform, bringing together 40 multinational companies committed to reducing inequalities. Previously, she was Director of the OECD Office in Mexico and Latin America where she supported reforms in education, telecommunications, gender and health.
She was a member of the Mexican Foreign Service.

In 2013 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Ordre du Mérite) by the President of France. Her work to promote gender equality has earned her several awards including from Forbes and Apolitico. She has been a Fulbright and Ford McArthur Fellow. She is an alumna of Harvard University’s Masters in Public Policy and Universidad Iberoamericana’s BA in International Relations. She is a board member of the “Paris Peace Forum”; the “UNICEF Advisory Board”; as well as the “Lancet Commissions on COVID and on Men’s Violence against Women”, and member of the Danone “Entreprise à Mission” Committee.

Amy is Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer at Tribe Impact Capital, where she leads on the definition and execution of impact across the business. Amy is an environmental scientist by training with over 29 years’ experience in corporate sustainability and impact investing. Before co-founding Tribe, Amy headed up sustainability teams at both Bank of America and Microsoft, as well as advising some of the world’s largest companies on sustainability whilst at PwC and EY. Amy sits on the board of B Lab UK. She is also an Advisor to the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network and Greenheart Consulting. She sits on the Global Steering Group of the Global Ethical Finance Initiative and the Investment Committee of The Blue Cross.

Abdul Matheen, holds a Masters Degree in International Law from the University of Paris and a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Emirates Aviation University, serves as the co-founder and CEO of Project You an Expo Live Educational Social Enterprise that has impacted over 7000 learners since its founding in 2019.

He also serves as a Global Youth Ambassador for Education. He provides consultation to governments and international educational organizations on a variety of topics, including strategy, curriculums, youth employment, upskilling, and the creation of purpose-driven organizations.

Pimer Peace Monica is the Founder and Executive Director of Nile Girls Forum, a young women led organisation working on leadership and governance, sexual and reproductive health and rights, climate justice and economic development.

Peace is the Partnership Lead for the Alumni Committee of the Mastercard Foundation Uganda She is a youth advocate for encountering hate speech, a campaign by United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and the African Union.

She is the Board Chairperson for the Edu Child Foundation Uganda and the Advisory Board member of Green Deal Global. A Queens Commonwealth Young Leader, a member of the Generation Democracy Network of the International Republican Institute.

She is a USAID/GUIDE fellow 2023. Peace is a Ugandan youth named among 40 under 40 elite, inspirational Ugandans 2019 and 2020 by ‘The New Vision’.

She is a Certified professional in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, by centre for SET SRHR jointly delivered by The International Institute of social studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rutgers and Makerere University of Public Health.

Zambian by birth, Carmela Anna Murru holds a Masters’ Degree in Political Sciences, with a focus on International development and Africa. She is currently the Global Strategic Advisor Partnerships at VVOB, education for development, working out of Zambia, but covering VVOB partner countries in Africa. With VVOB, she has also served as Zambia Country Programmes Manager, providing the Ministry of Education with technical assistance to strengthen teacher professional development at systems level, in line with VVOB’s approach. Her role in the organization is to engage in international education focused networks, foster and build partnerships and programmes that cut across country specific interventions. On behalf of VVOB Anna currently co-chairs the Teacher Task Force thematic group on Pre-Primary teachers and facilitators together with UNESCO. She is also the VVOB focal person on the GPE Africa 19 KIX Hub.

Deline Ramiro, a 24-year-old Rwandan refugee now in Kenya, is a passionate advocate for education and accessible energy in Africa. She plays a pivotal role in an organization providing digital education to youth and refugees at the Kakuma refugee camp. Deline’s journey began as her family sought refuge in Kenya following the Rwandan genocide. Despite numerous challenges, she completed her high school education and even received a university scholarship. However, she chose to give back by teaching at the camp’s primary school where her educational journey began. Deline focuses on bridging the digital divide, especially for women facing challenges in refugee camps. Her digital skills courses encompass basic computer skills and online work opportunities, empowering refugees and enhancing their self-sufficiency. Deline’s dedication and impact were acknowledged with a prestigious Presidential Award at the 2023 YES Youth Summit. Her story is a testament to resilience and the potential of one individual to bring about positive change in their community and the world.

Professor John Thwaites AM is a Professorial Fellow, Monash University, Chair of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Chair Climateworks Centre and Chair of The McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership.

John is Chair of the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group to the Australian Minister for Environment, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP.

He is a Co-Chair of the Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (“SDSN”) launched by the Secretary General of the United Nations to provide expert advice and support to the development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. He is also the Chair of the SDSN Association, which operates the SDSN network around the world.

John was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for “significant service to the environment and to the people and Parliament of Victoria in the 2021 Australia Day Honours.

John Thwaites was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1999 until his retirement in 2007. During this period, he held various Ministerial portfolios including Minister of Health, Minister of Environment and was Victoria’s first Minister for Climate Change. In these portfolios he was responsible for major reforms in social policy, health, environment, and water.

Raakhi Williams is Chief of Strategy, Planning and Accountability at Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the UN’s Global Fund for Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises. She oversees delivery of the Fund’s ambitious Strategic Plan which aims to raise $1.5 billion and reach 20 million crisis-affected children and adolescents by 2026. Raakhi leads the Fund’s work on climate, risk and safeguarding and is also responsible for ECW’s $40 million Acceleration Facility which invests in innovation and global public goods for the sector.

Raakhi spent a decade working for the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID now FCDO) in varied roles including DFID Representative in Somalia, Acting Deputy Head of Office in Nigeria, Head of Humanitarian, Peacebuilding, UN Funds and Programmes at the UK Mission to the UN and Deputy Head of COP26 Delivery. Prior to this, Raakhi worked at the Social Mobility Foundation supporting the educational aspirations of adolescents from low-income households and sat on the board of Y Care International – the YMCA’s youth-focused development agency.

Sulieman MLEAHAT is the Education Program Director for American non-profit, ANERA. Mr. Mleahat studied in the UK where he gained a BA (Hons.) and a master’s degree in International Development, with a focus on international education and primary health care. He has worked for nearly 30 years in the international development sector, 22 of which have been spent in the field of international education. To date, Mr. Mleahat has worked with six NGOs and has, over the past two decades, developed a specialism in early childhood development (ECD), managing innovative programs in Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan and across the Middle East.

Since joining ANERA in 2010, he has overseen the development of 220 kindergartens; training of 1,000 preschool teachers; development and distribution of 30,000 children’s reading packs; training of 15,000 parents and improved the care and education for over 15,000 preschool children, annually. He also oversaw the development of first national preschool education curriculum in Palestine.

Dana AlHosani has dedicated her career to catalyzing individual and collective social impact. She is currently the Assistant Director of Strategy and Partnership at NYU Abu Dhabi and was formerly managing Student Engagement, Leadership, and Class Year Experience. She was responsible for developing and managing leadership programs for undergraduate students which included sustainability leadership and practices. She is also the co-chair of the Executive Sustainability Steering committee, leading institutional commitment toward greater environmental stewardship. Her passion for sustainability sparked during her undergraduate, focusing her research on Climate inaction in the UAE among the youth.

Michel joined RiverRock in 2013 as CEO and Partner. He is responsible for setting the strategy and direction and allocating capital to the group, he also assumes the day to day leadership and high-level decisions on firm management. He chairs the Executive Committee of the Firm and sits on the Investment Committee.
Michel brings almost 40 years’ experience of Corporate and Investment Banking and utilises this expertise to lead the 50 strong professionals at RiverRock to deliver investment expertise.
Prior to RiverRock, Michel was CEO of the Corporate and Investment Banking Division of Société Générale where he was a member of both the Executive Committee and Management Committee of Société Générale. His focus was on increasing profitability and transforming the culture of the division in the post-financial crisis period.
Previously, Michel was Chairman and CEO of Bear Stearns International, where he was credited for the growth and increased profitability of Bear Stearns’ operations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He started his career at Banque Paribas, where he led the creation and development of the Derivatives Division, eventually leaving as Global Head of Fixed Income for BNP Paribas in 2000.
He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Finance and is a graduate of the Institute of Business Administration of the Sorbonne (IAE).

Dr. Priya Joshi is a Senior Researcher at the GEM Report, UNESCO. She leads on two key issues: non-state actors in education and how education contributes to sustainable development. On education’s role in the SDGs, she has highlighted the need for intersectoral evidence, research and partnerships, and the importance of professional capacity building across all sectors to meet the SDGs. The policy paper on climate change and education is geared towards developing evidence-based recommendations on education for climate action, and is directed to education and non-education audiences.

She recently coordinated the conceptualization, research and partnerships around the South Asia regional report on non-state actors in education; and the GEM Report Fellows and their policy-oriented scholarly outputs. She has provided thematic research expertise on diverse topics and engages in strategic dissemination and relationship building.

Her personal research focuses on the system-wide consequences of private schooling growth and has been published extensively. Her backgrounds are in education policy (PhD, University of Pennsylvania), public policy and economics (MPA, Princeton  University; A.B., Amherst College). She previously held research positions at the IMF (Research Officer, Western Hemisphere Department), and has done consultancies at the World Bank (Human Development network) and UNICEF (Social Protection team).

Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG, has worked for more than 20 years as an environmental attorney and advocate, focusing on international and domestic environmental public policy and law.

Kathleen has held senior positions with the National Audubon Society, the Environmental Law Institute, two U.S. Olympic Organizing Committees, as well as holding a senior position in a prestigious law firm, working in journalism and alongside various offices of the UN.

During her tenure as Chief Wildlife Counsel for the National Audubon Society, Kathleen directed several programs, including its international trade, migratory species, and biodiversity policy initiatives.

Kathleen Rogers has received numerous awards — she was named one of 2010’s top working mothers by Working Mother magazine and featured as Power Player of the Week on Fox News Sunday.

Under Kathleen’s leadership EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO) has grown into a year-round policy and global facing activist organization. Spanning 192 countries and embracing new constituencies – especially youth and all forms of diversity. EARTHDAY.ORG’s primary focus in 2024 will be PLANET VS. PLASTICS, part of which is taking on the fast fashion industry. As well as championing climate education on all school curriculums around the world to deal with climate change.

Dr. Karina Montilla Edmonds is a globally recognized visionary leader in the field of innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Academies and University Alliances at SAP, a multinational software corporation with offices worldwide.

Prior to joining SAP, Karina was the Global Lead for Cloud AI at Google where her primary role was to facilitate research collaborations in AI between Google Cloud and top academic researchers. Karina came to Google from California Institute of Technology where she served as executive director for corporate partnerships; and previously served at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory which is operated by Caltech for NASA. She also worked in the Obama administration, where she was appointed the first technology transfer coordinator at the U.S. Department of Energy and served as a member of the White House Speaker Bureau to promote STEM careers to women and girls.

Karina earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in Aeronautics from California Institute of Technology and her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Rhode Island. She has been a life-long advocate for women and historically underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

Karina is a member of the Board of Directors for Dragonfly Energy and also serves on several non-profit boards including, the Pasadena Educational Foundation, University of Rhode Island, and IU Group, a holding company behind IU – International University of Applied Sciences, Germany’s largest private university group. Karina also serves on the Advisory committee for the Engineering Directorate for the National Science Foundation (NSF). She has received numerous national recognitions and awards and is a registered U.S. Patent Agent.

Karina is a thought leader and inspirational speaker on diversity, inclusion and women in tech.

Pierre is arriving from Mozambique where he was occupying the function of Deputy Country Director for the last 3 years.Pierre was co-leading a medium office of 450 staff and 7 field office responding to the challenges related to an insurrection in the Northern part of the country, assisting more than 1 million IDPs, responding to the consequences of cyclone and natural disaster, and implementing a changing live portfolio in nutrition, school feeding, resilience and adaptation to climate change. Pierre was instrumental for the preparation of the second generation of Country Strategic Plan in Mozambique (June 2022 to June 2027).

Pierre Lucas started his WFP career with Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) first in Ethiopia in 2003 then as regional VAM officer for West Africa in WFP’s Regional Bu- reau in Dakar. In 2008, Pierre was seconded to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he was involved in the creation of the crisis center (CDC) in Paris. He served as Deputy Head of the humanitarian situation center of CDC and was deployed as hu- manitarian adviser to various large-scale emergencies including Cyclone Nargis in My- anmar in 2008 and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Passionate about aeronautics and new technologies, Pierre rejoined WFP in logistics aviation where he occupied various position in Niger, Western African countries and Ethiopia. He was the coordinator of the WFP Aviation service in Ethiopia where he managed activities such as the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), air drop operations in South Sudan, drone projects, and capacity strengthening initiatives.

Pierre was instrumental in opening a humanitarian and logistics corridor for the response to Ebola pandemic in West Africa (2014-16). More recently, in 2020 he was one of the architects and managers of the Addis Ababa Logistics Hub for the response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Pierre holds a MSc in Tropical Agronomy from the National Center for Agronomic Stud- ies (CNEARC) in Montpellier and in environmental health engineering from the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health (EHESP) in Rennes.

His passions include light aviation and photography. He is a commercial licensed pilot and a pilot instructor.

He speaks French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Amharic.

Dr. Nada Berrada is a youth scholar, international development practitioner and researcher who is passionate about advancing education and workforce solutions for youth and addressing pressing climate concerns globally.

For the last ten years, Nada has championed initiatives to improve youth livelihoods. Her advocacy includes serving as a youth delegate at the 75th United Nations General Assembly and as an African Union Youth Champion. In the latter role, she participated in discussions on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to enhance educational opportunities and entrepreneurship for girls and women. Nada is also part of a network of young women leaders from over 40 African countries working at the intersection of girls and women’s education and climate change through the African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa (AU/CIEFFA).

Nada is also dedicated to youth and climate causes. Currently, she helps manage the Youth and Workforce Development Team and Climate Initiative at the Education Development Center (EDC). Within EDC, she is part of the team that spearheads “Our World Our Work,” a 10-year mission to meaningfully integrate at least 1 million young people into the green economy and empower them toward climate action.

Before her current role, Nada conducted ethnographic research unraveling the complex granular interplay of social, political, emotional and economic factors that shape young people’s lives in Morocco. Her expertise and research in youth, education and workforce development across North Africa and the Middle East have been recognized, with publications at OECD and presentations internationally. Additionally, she has shared her knowledge and expertise by teaching for five years at Virginia Tech’s Department of Political Science.

Berrada holds a PhD in Political Science and Sociology and an MA in Public and International Affairs both from Virginia Tech, and a BA in Political Science and Economics from University Mohammed VI Polytechnic in Morocco.

Ole Thonke is the Undersecretary for Development Policy at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to this, he has served as ambassador for the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, Pakistan and Bolivia and Head of Department at the Ministry. Thonke holds a Master of Economics from the University of Copenhagen (and is Knight of the Order of Dannebrog).

Working with Innovation, Fintech and Hackathons for Impact, Love Dager is a serial entrepreneur from Stockholm, Sweden and Co-Founder of Hack for Earth: the annual hackathon competition for innovation on climate change at the United Nations conference on Climate Change COP28 in Dubai. Hack for Earth works to find the best ideas around the world and help them become real solutions for the good of society. By using hackathons, Hack for Earth creates impact and engages a global audience in its mission of citizen-driven innovation.

Temilade Salami is a climate education and communications professional. She is the founder and Chief Executive Director and Founder of “EcoChampions”, one of Africa’s largest networks of young environmentalists and activists, leading environmental change through climate education, leadership and advocacy. In this capacity, she has designed, developed and managed various sustainability programs and projects across 26 African countries. Her work supports the integration of Climate Education into Africa’s education system, and she has authored various environmental books to bridge the climate education gap in Africa.

Dr. David Moinina Sengeh serves as the Chief Minister and the Chief Innovation Officer of the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone. As Chief Minister, his role is to serve as adviser to the President and Vice President, and to work with the other Ministries, Departments and Agencies to deliver on the Government’s agenda. Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Sengeh served as Sierra Leebone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education from 2019 to 2023.

Internationally, Dr. Sengeh serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report and is a member of the executive committee of the Board of the Global Partnership for Education. He also serves as co-chair of the technical committee for UNESCO’s High-Level Steering Committee for Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, and served as chair of the advisory board for the 2022 Transforming Education Summit.

Dr. Sengeh has been recognized as a senior TED Fellow, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, an Obama Foundation Africa Leader, a National Geographic Explorer and in Forbes 30 Under 30 in Technology. Prior to joining the Sierra Leone Government in 2018, Dr. Sengeh was a Research Manager at IBM Research Africa, leading a healthcare team that designed and implemented AI-enabled systems for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of disease.

Dr. Sengeh obtained his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Biomechatronics where he developed award-winning technology for human augmentation in designing comfortable prosthetic interfaces. He attained his bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences from Harvard College.

Dr. Sengeh holds several patents and has published academic and popular articles across the fields of education, healthcare and augmentation, and artificial intelligence. He has spoken to audiences globally on topics related to digital governance, education, youth innovation and inclusion, prosthetics design, the fourth industrial revolution and more.
His first book “Radical Inclusion”, was published by MacMillan as part of Melinda French Gates and Flatiron Books’ Moment of Lift Books in May 2023.

Outside of his work duties, Dr. Sengeh is a husband, father of three, afrobeat rapper, clothing designer and sports enthusiast.

Samah Elsayed is a Programme Officer at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future. At IRENA she leads activities related to renewable energy education, including the Energy Transition Education Network, a new cooperation platform to accelerate education and skill building for a sustainable energy future. Other areas of focus involve the development of renewable energy curriculum and teaching resources as well as the delivery of training courses for students and young professionals. Prior to joining IRENA, Samah worked at the World Resources Institute (WRI) as a research analyst.

Gauri Singh is the Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency. Ms. Singh brings more than 30 years of experience in policy, advocacy and project implementation within the field of renewable energy and sustainable development from India and the internationally.

Prior to joining IRENA, Ms. Singh worked within India’s federal government and at the apex level within provincial government. Federally, she was responsible for leading the development of the National Solar Mission of India policy in 2010, an early policy framework designed to drive solar power development across the country. At the Madhya Pradesh provincial Government, Ms. Singh steered rural development providing strategic planning and implementation guidance across the state for large initiatives. Her work involved poverty reduction and sustainable development within rural communities.

Previously, Ms. Singh was also Director of Country Support and Partnerships (CSP) at IRENA. She was responsible for regional and country level initiatives and for spearheading partnerships with regional energy and economic organisations

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the School System and Student Finance)
Baroness Barran MBE
Biography
Baroness Barran MBE was re-appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education on 27 October 2022.
Prior to this she was:
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the School and College System) at the Department for Education from 21 September 2022 to 26 October 2022
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the School System) at the Department for Education from 17 September 2021 to 20 September 2022
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Civil Society) at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 26 July 2019 to 17 September 2021
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the School System and Student Finance)
The minister’s responsibilities include:
regulatory review and overall approach to academisation
intervention in underperforming schools and school improvement
academies and multi-academy trusts
school governance
Education Investment Areas
free schools
faith schools
independent schools
school capital investment (including pupil place planning)
school efficiency and commercial policy
departmental data strategy
student finance (including the Student Loans Company)
safeguarding in schools and post-16 settings
counter extremism in schools and post-16 settings
home education and supplementary schools
departmental efficiency and commercial policy

Since December 2019, Dubravka Šuica is Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography. Mrs Šuica a Croatian politician from the city of Dubrovnik, where she served for two terms as its first female mayor and was awarded the 2006 World Mayor Award. Dubravka Šuica entered politics in the 1990s as a Member of the Croatian Democratic Union and served as a Member of the Croatian Parliament and Vice-Chair of the EU Integration Committee. Between 2004 and 2009 she was a Board Member of the Union of the Association of Towns and Municipalities of the Republic of Croatia. During ten years she was the Vice-President of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. From 2013 to 2019 Dubravka Šuica served as a Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee. In June 2019, Šuica was elected as first Vice-Chair of EPP Group in the European Parliament. She is currently acting as Vice-President of EPP and Vice-President of EPP Women.

I am a new law student at ULS with a diverse background in civic engagement and leadership. I’ve completed a youth-led initiative course by ANERA with the support of Cezar’s Project, contributing to my personal growth and skills in communication, self-awareness, and organization. Involved in the “Together We Rise” project, my friends and I, addressed the issue of suicide, emphasizing support for youth and spreading positivity. I participated in Model United Nations conferences and the Arab Girl Summit which showcased my interest in global issues, leadership, feminism, and climate change. Certified in a workshop at AUB, I’ve joined the Technical Cohort on Advancing Adolescent Girls and Young Women’s Leadership in Climate Change, supported by UNICEF and Karama.

Entrepreneurially, I’ve participated in Injaz Lebanon’s CP2023 project, launching “BondLine,” a sustainable business selling handmade eco-friendly products. This venture not only highlights my innovation but also focuses on employing artisans and contributing to poverty alleviation. As a member of the non-profit organization Dawn of Right, I contribute social and legal articles to raise awareness on sensitive topics. Overall, I’m dedicated to personal development and making a positive impact on society, aspiring to be a strong young woman influencing change.

Sean Carroll is an international humanitarian and development leader with nearly 40 years’ experience working in more than 70 countries on five continents. As President and CEO of Anera (formerly American Near East Refugee Aid), Sean leads a staff of 150 in Lebanon, Palestine (West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem), Jordan and Washington, DC, delivering over $150 million of humanitarian and development assistance annually to refugees and vulnerable communities in the Middle East.
Previously, Sean had leading positions at Creative Associates International, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Club of Madrid, the US Congress, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). He’s worked also for the World Food Programme, the European Commission and the Center for Immigration Policy and Refugee Assistance (CIPRA). He served in the Obama Administration as chief of staff and COO at USAID; for six years as director of programs for the Club of Madrid, a leadership alliance that includes 106 former presidents and prime ministers; and for 13 years at NDI in various roles, including as chief of mission for the West Bank & Gaza, living two years in East Jerusalem, where his twin children were born. He’s been called a “father of Palestinians”.
Sean earned a bachelor’s in foreign service from Georgetown University and a master’s in international public policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Sean serves on several boards, including at InterAction, as Treasurer of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD), and as chairman of both Creative Frontiers and Grant Assistant.ai; and is an advisor to the Club of Madrid and Takreem.

Ban Ki-moon is a South Korean diplomat who was the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) from January 2007 to December 2016. Before becoming UNSG, Mr. Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. As the eighth UNSG, Ban Ki-moon’s priorities were to mobilize world leaders around a set of new global challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and increasing pressures involving food, energy, and water. He led the efforts for the landmark Paris Climate Agreement and, under his leadership, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda were created.

Ban Ki-moon currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens which seeks to empower youth and women to become active global citizens in creating a sustainable future for all. In addition, he currently holds over 20 positions, including the Presidency and the Chairmanship of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and Chairmanships of the Global Commission on Adaptation, the Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee, and the BOAO Forum in Asia.

Nicholas McKinlay is the Director of Programmes at the Aga Khan Foundation, based in Geneva, Switzerland. Nick has had a varied and extensive career in senior management, including social services, refugees and asylum, change management, technology and non-profits, fundraising, media and communications, humanitarian aid and international development.

He has lived in India, China, South-east Asia and Europe, and has had assignments in numerous settings across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He has an undergraduate degree in Human Psychology and Social Policy and was awarded an MBA with distinction from the University of Liverpool. Nicholas has also completed advanced management and leadership courses at Babson College, the Indian Institute of Management and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Nikhil is a social entrepreneur working on climate education and leadership among youth and children in India. He started his career as a Petroleum Engineer with a leading Oil and gas Company in India. Still, he later transitioned to work in the climate space, considering the urgent need to work on climate adaptation and action at the community level. He served as a fellow with Teach For India and was awarded the ‘Transformational Teaching Fellow’ award. He has received ‘Wipro Earthian Educator’ and was selected among 100 ‘Local Pathways Fellows’ globally for sustainability initiatives. He co-founded ElemenTree with a vision to empower 1 million children in India with climate knowledge, skills and capacity by 2030. He was selected in the ‘InnovatED’ (Innovation in Education) cohort 2022 to develop his organisation and strengthen its impact proposition.

A quintessential gentleman who embodies the spirit of per’ excellence, Hon. Ababu-Terrah Namwamba, EGH is a soft-spoken political leader, an accomplished legal mind and a competent Government technocrat.

Presently serving as the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy & Sports, Kenya, on his back is an array of academic and professional accolades.

He is a University of Nairobi Bachelor of Laws graduate and post-grad legal luminary of the American University, Washington DC where he pursued his master’s vaulting out into the career world as a reputable attorney.

Fitted on his crown is a myriad of imitable career achievements; once a Young Global Leaders inductee by the World Economic Forum-WEF (2009), a former decade-long Member of Parliament, a Political Party Leader, Government Minister, just to mention but a few.

Hon. Ababu’s splendid career trajectory has so far been capped by the Elder of the Burning Spear – the highest Presidential honorary Award bestowed on a civilian, by Kenya’s third President, The Late. H.E. Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki.

A mentor to thousands through a dozen initiatives, Hon. Ababu Namwamba is additionally an avid reader and writer and is a sports and art enthusiast.

Jennifer Chammas is based in Dubai and serves as Regional Head of Sustainability for HSBC Commercial Bank “CMB” in MENAT. Her current remit is to support middle market and large corporate customer to accelerate the transition in their own operations and their supply chain, as well as supporting the new economy businesses to grow. Jennifer has 11 years of diverse banking experience with HSBC with roles spanning across private banking, investment banking coverage, trade finance and strategy in New York, London and currently Dubai. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance) from Boston University. In 2018, she graduated in the top 10% of her MBA class at New York University (Stern) where she specialized in Leadership, Change Management and Strategy. Jennifer was born in Lebanon and moved to Boston at the age of 15 due to political turmoil. She is fluent in English, Arabic and French.

Nicole Iseppi has dedicated her career over two decades to advocating for the acceleration of global energy transition. She currently holds the position of Managing Director of Global Energy Innovation at the Bezos Earth Fund. Nicole’s career journey has been marked by a series of impactful roles within the energy sector.

Prior to her current position, Nicole spent more than 12 years as an executive at ENGIE, a prominent multinational utility company. During her tenure at ENGIE, she held key positions, serving as a Senior Executive Advisor and Managing Director for Operations & Performance for Global Transformation. Her role at ENGIE was instrumental in driving the company’s evolution toward sustainable energy practices.

Before her time at ENGIE, Nicole served as a Senior Advisor and International Project Manager for Global Energy Infrastructure at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). While in Japan, she was entrusted with the important responsibility of advising and coordinating the establishment of Japan Carbon Finance (JCF), a green financial institution launched by the Japanese Ministry of Finance.

Nicole’s contributions extend beyond her professional roles. She was appointed by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to co-lead a global renewable initiative. Additionally, she held a position on the Management Committee of Terrawatt Initiative (TWI), an independent global non-profit foundation established as a result of the COP21 Paris Agreement.

Nicole’s commitment to advancing solutions for the global energy transition is further evidenced by her independent appointment to various industry advisory committees and boards. Her expertise and dedication have earned her recognition from her peers, including multiple international awards within the industry over the last decade.

In 2022, Nicole received an Honorary Fellowship from Monash University in recognition of her outstanding contributions to international sustainable energy development and transformation. This accolade stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to a more sustainable and energy-resilient future.

Dr. Heike Kuhn is Head of the Education Division at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ, Bonn/Berlin).

Ms. Kuhn holds a Ph.D. in Administrative Sciences from the University of Speyer (Germany) on “The Social Dimension of the European Community”. She is a fully qualified lawyer, having studied in Germany, Italy, USSR, Great Britain and the USA.

She has worked for more than 30 years in European and multilateral development cooperation, human rights, financing and programming and human resources with longstanding experience in leading and managing multilateral negotiations at European and UN level, lately with the European Commission, Global Partnership for Education –GPE– and Education Cannot Wait –ECW– (since June 2023 co-chair of the ECW’s Executive Committee together with Norway). Before, she served as Executive Board Director to the International Fund of Agricultural Development in Rome/Italy, also in charge of the World Food Programme (2007-2011).

Ms. Kuhn is interested in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, building a more equal, inclusive and sustainable world for all.

Donald Sedlock is Director, Global Development for JA Worldwide, one of the world’s largest NGO’s reaching over 15 million students in 115+ countries equipping young people with the skillsets and mindsets to build thriving communities.

During his 17-year career Don has held leadership positions with NGO’s at the local, national, and global level with a focus on assuring the delivery of high-impact experiential education programs to young people.

Don oversees the development and cultivation of philanthropic partnerships focused on Financial Capability, the SDG’s, Work Readiness, and Entrepreneurship.

Don is dedicated to assuring all young people have access to innovative and effective educational experiences and is passionate about advancing JA’s mission around the world.

Gillian Caldwell is USAID’s Chief Climate Officer and serves as a Deputy Assistant Administrator overseeing the Energy, Environment and Infrastructure teams. In this role she is responsible for coordinating our climate and environment work across the agency. Gillian is an attorney and has been working to protect human rights and the environment throughout her career and has been widely recognized as a leading social entrepreneur. Prior to joining the Agency, she served as the CEO of Global Witness which has a focus on tackling climate change and deploys investigations into corruption and natural resource extraction to drive systems change worldwide. From 2007-2010, she launched and led 1Sky, a highly collaborative cross-sector campaign with over 600 allied organizations to pass legislation in the US to address the climate crisis.

Derek Madsen serves as the inaugural Chief Development Officer for Anera, an INGO dedicated to serving the needs of refugees and other displaced people in the Levant. His entire career has been dedicated to organizations and movements that serve the most vulnerable. Previously he led fundraising and strategy for CommonBond Communities, a US based regional housing organization, and prior to that spent nearly fifteen years with the YMCA. Derek specializes in the development of strategic initiatives and the cultivation of th resources needed to implement them. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Nonprofit Management from Hamline University.

Headquarters, joined UNICEF in 1995.  Starting his career as a Junior Professional Officer with UNICEF, he brings over 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian programming in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Jenkins served as the UNICEF Representative, Jordan, from 2014-2019, and Deputy Director, Division of Policy and Strategy in UNICEF Headquarters from 2009-2014.
From 1995-2009, Robert Jenkins served with UNICEF in programme and management positions in Uganda (1995-1997), Bangladesh (1997-2000), Myanmar (2000-2003), India (2003-2006) and Mozambique (2006-2009).

Mr. Jenkins serves on several executive boards including Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait and Global Education Monitoring Report, and the Board of the International Institute of Educational Planning (IIEP).

Mr. Jenkins holds a Doctor of Education Degree, University of Bath and a master’s degree, London School of Economics. Mr. Jenkins is married and has a daughter and a son. He is a Canadian citizen.

Alia is an energetic, people and goal-oriented individual who is passionate about connecting people, building bridges and creating opportunities. She values sincerity, striving for excellence and enjoying each learning process. Her enthusiasm and genuine interest in people enables her to initiate, drive and collaborate with different people by initiating, designing and delivering different engagement schemes resulting into favorable outcomes of multiple projects and change programs. This got materialised through her establishment of the very first youth council within HSBC and more.

In the past 5-years, her experience with customer experience across MENAT has expanded her knowledge and experience created vast opportunities of delivering on world class experience, with covering several roles across the organisation up to her current role covering MENA within the Global Investor Access in HSBC MSS, being the first and only young Emirati in the role.

Additionally, Alia holds a Bachelor degree in International Relations from University of Sharjah with highest honors and a Master degree in Strategic Leadership from the Abu Dhabi University. She is a self-driven learner who undertakes academic work and research as a core element towards knowledge expansion and continuous growth.

Her passion for growth, leadership development and innovation is ceaseless. She thrives to fulfill key areas to increase the knowledge base of International Relations holistically, raise the cultural knowledge through influential figure, and create a societal impact of value that will contribute to the UAE’s progress in global competitiveness.

Taha is CEO and co-founder of Goodwall – a skills-based social network for Gen Z to learn and earn, connecting over 2 million youth to learning and earning opportunities. Taha’s mission is to empower the next generation to unlock their potential and positively impact society. Taha is a Board Member of Generation Unlimited, the largest partnership to connect youth to opportunity, hosted by UNICEF. He is a WEF Technology Pioneer, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization. He studied Economics at the University of Lausanne and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford.

Professor Izael Pereira Da Silva is a renewable energy specialist with over 20 years of experience in research and academic leadership. He is a Professor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Strathmore University where he also spearheads the UNESCO/UNITWIN chair on climate change resilience and sustainability.

He holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Science (MSc) in Electrical Engineering, with a specialization in Power Systems, from the University of Sao Paulo, as well as a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Electrical Engineering, with a specialisation in Power Systems and Telecommunications, from the Federal University of Parana.

A qualified engineer, he is a member of several engineering societies within and outside Africa such as the Council of Engineers in Energy Transition (CEET). He is also an Accredited Energy Auditor with Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), and a Certified Energy Manager with the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Over the years, he has worked with government ministries, development agencies (like GIZ, Sida, the World Bank, etc) and industry stakeholders (within and outside Africa) in research and research-related projects, to deepen the linkage between industry and academia.

His research interests are renewable energy, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), energy efficiency, climate change mitigation and adaptation, demand-side management, energy conversion, energy utilisation and conservation, renewable energy technologies, and renewable energy policies. He has written and published extensively in these areas.

During her 17 years of experience with WFP, Carmen Burbano de Lara has focused on supporting governments to improve the nutrition, education and wellbeing of children. Specifically, she is interested in tackling the interrelated issues of malnutrition, poor health and learning and in strengthening the national safety net systems designed to address these issues.

She has held management positions in Peru, Rome, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania; and provided temporary support to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti and Nepal. Ms. Burbano de Lara is WFP’s world expert in school feeding. In this capacity, she has advised the governments of China, Colombia and Kenya, Ghana, among others, often in partnership with the World Bank. She is the co-author of the most influential publications on school feeding over the last ten years including “Re-imagining school feeding: a human capital investment in health, education, social protection and agriculture” (2018); “The School Feeding Sourcebook” (2016); and “Rethinking School Feeding” (2009), published by the World Bank. She has authored WFP’s flagship publication “The State of School Feeding Worldwide” (2013) and conceived and drafted WFP’s Global School Feeding Policy (2013). Prior to assuming her current position in July 2018, she was WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Peru. She has also worked in UNDP’s Executive Office.

Carmen is Ecuadorian and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and Bachelor in Latin-American Studies and Comparative Literature from New York University.

Dr. Rebecca Granato is Associate Vice President at Bard College and the Director of the Open Society University Network’s Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives, which develop and deliver connected learning programming in communities affected by displacement. She also represents OSUN as the co-chair of the UNHCR Global Task Force on Third Country Education Pathways and as a co-lead on the 15by30 Multistakeholder Pledge in the lead up to the Global Refugee Forum. Her current research focuses on the impact of higher education on the ways in which refugees conceptualize their futures, as well as on the tangible impact that they have on their host communities. Dr. Granato also serves an Associate of Bard’s Institute for Writing & Thinking, which delivers pedagogical professional development globally, from Myanmar and Kenya to Germany and Kyrgyzstan. Following undergraduate and graduate studies at Bard, Oxford, and CUNY, she received her PhD in Global History from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada.

Alexandra van der Ploeg is Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP globally. Alexandra is responsible for setting the strategic direction of CSR focused on bringing to life SAP’s higher purpose of “helping the world run better and improving people’s lives” through strategic partnerships and programs that deliver sustainable social impact and long-term business value. In this function, she also oversees corporate giving, volunteerism, and the development of multi-stakeholder partnerships for which Alexandra has a particular passion.

Alexandra joined SAP in 1999. She started with SAP Switzerland in charge of management development and over the course of the next ten years held various managerial positions in Human Resources. Moving into the CSR organization in 2010, Alexandra developed and managed various global CSR programs, such as building an infrastructure for social business in Haiti and the development of a range of pro-bono volunteering programs e.g., the SAP Social Sabbatical Portfolio. Alexandra is part of the Leadership Council of the Realized Worth Institute and serves on the Global Leadership Council of Generation Unlimited. She holds an MBA from Henley Business School in Great Britain.

Appointment in the Academies: Member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas (1989) and Secretary Prelate (1999-); Chancellor, Pontifical Academy of Sciences (1998-); Chancellor, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (1998-); Member of the Accademia dei Georgofili (2008); Member of the Accademia Italiana del Vino (2010); Corresponding Member of the Academia de Ciencias de Cuba (2011).

Summary of scientific research
My early work centred around an innovative examination of the primary function of the idea of participation in the core theological approach of St. Thomas Aquinas, especially with regard to the crucial point of the question of the “participation (of man) in the divine nature” (2 Pt 1:4). The main and new conclusion was that man, because he is free, i.e. causa sui, is his own cause in the order of the re-creation not only of his own growth but also of the communication (κοινωνια) of divine grace to another human being, to a “you” who freely wants that grace.

Francisco is a UNICEF Advocate and an activist and defender of the right to a healthy environment and has dedicated himself to education for years through the group “Guardians for Life”. With his presence on social media and engagement with a virtual environmental activism programme and a network of schools, Francisco amplifies his fight for climate action, children’s rights, climate justice and human rights.

Valentine Chepkoech Mugun is a GPE Youth Leader from Kenya. She is the visionary founder of “Barrier Breakers,” an organization committed to empowering teenage mothers through education and climate-smart farming. She also runs the “Trees for Girls” initiative which provides free seedlings to schools to promote environmental conservation and inspire young girls to become stewards of our planet. Valentine is also the Deputy President of Kenya’s Premier national women leadership program and reality show, “Miss President Kenya.” Through this platform, she’s inspiring and showcasing the potential of women in leadership, leading the way for the next generation.

Eshaan Jain is a Junior at the Pingry School in New Jersey, USA. As an Eco-Ambassador for Columbia University’s Center for Sustainable Development, Eshaan has worked to advance targets and indicators for SDG 14 in his community. Alarmed by the impact of plastic pollution on marine life, Eshaan volunteered to raise awareness about passing a plastic bag and straws ban ordinance in his town.Since then he has also worked to promoe native plants in his township, just recently helping to write a native plant resolution for his town. Most recently, Eshaan presented his work as an Eco-Ambassador at the International Conference on Sustainable Development 2023.

Determined to spread awareness at larger scale about SDG 14, Eshaan co-founded AllForOceans, an organization that aims to provide a platform for students with a passion for Ocean conservation to express themselves. In just over a year, AllForOceans has opened 15 high school chapters in 3 countries.

Outside of his environmental initiatives, Eshaan enjoys playing golf, running, and playing saxophone. Looking ahead, he aspires to work in the field of finance and Investments integrating ESG principles into his business philosophy, striving for a more sustainable and socially responsible future.

Dr. Andrew Cunningham is the Global Lead for Education at the Aga Khan Foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. He oversees AKF’s education portfolio across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. He is excited to be attending RewirED to continue supporting the catalytic roles of teachers for the future of climate education by sharing insights and innovations from the Schools2030 programme, UNESCO Greening Education Partnership and the Teachers for the Planet initiative. He has previously worked for UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Education Above All Foundation. He holds a PhD and Masters from Oxford University and a BA from Duke University.

Dr. Fuzan AlKhalidi is a seasoned education strategy advisor at the Digital School, part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives. With over 18 years of experience, Dr. AlKhalidi has held various leadership roles in strategic planning, healthcare management, and the implementation of national education and healthcare projects. Dr. AlKhalidi is known for her visionary thinking and a strong track record of turning plans into successful outcomes. He holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Northwestern University and a Master of Science in Healthcare Management from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Lateefa Alnoaimi is a 19-year-old Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering from and a member of YOUNGO’s Green Jobs Working Group, advocating for a just transition. In that role, Alnoaimi is co-leading the Global Youth Statement on the ‘Reimagining and Transforming our Economies’ section. Next to her role as Youth speaker at the RewirEd Summit, she’s leading and moderating a COY18 Green Jobs WG Panel Discussion titled “Fostering Just Transition: The Importance of Green Jobs for Youth.

Ms Stefania Giannini was appointed UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education in 2018, becoming the top UN official in the field. She provides strategic vision and leadership in coordinating and monitoring the Education 2030 Agenda, encompassed in Sustainable Development Goal 4.

During her term, she has given fresh impetus to multilateral and bilateral partnerships; increased focus on education’s ethical role in providing learners with the skills to respond to 21st century challenges and on the responsibility of universities in achieving the SDGs. She affirmed UNESCO’s leadership in the COVID-19 response through global evidence, guidance, policy dialogue and collaboration with all partners, including through the Global Education Coalition. In 2022, she led the landmark Transforming Education Summit convened by the UN Secretary-General, which propelled education to the top of the political agenda.

With a background in the Humanities, Ms Giannini has served as Rector of the University for Foreigners of Perugia (2004 – 2012); Senator of the Republic of Italy (2013 – 2018) and Minister of Education, Universities and Research (2014 – 2016).

Amal is one of the Tunisian Young Climate Change Negotiators and a Party Delegate in COP26, COP27, and COP28 where she is leading the team of Climate Finance. Amal is a Sustainable Development MSc Student at the Science Policy Research Unit of Sussex Business School, where she is studying as a Chevening scholar.

Prior to that, Amal worked as an Investor Engagement Officer at the AfricInvest Group, a leading pan-African private equity firm, where she supports workaround fundraising, due diligence missions, communication, investor relations and events, and climate-related initiatives.

Amal’s commitment to youth empowerment and environmental causes is evident in her decade-long involvement with youth organizations. She served as a former board member of World Scouting, the largest non-formal education movement, contributing as a Youth Advisor from 2017 to 2021, and currently co-leads the “World Events” workstream. Additionally, she is a member of UNICEF Generation Unlimited YPAT, GFANZ advisory panel, RIVET board, and serves as the World Economic Forum Global Shapers’ Tunis Hub Curator. Her dedication to sustainability and youth engagement remains a driving force in her life.

Ms. Kitty van der Heijden’s career in international development spans over 35 years – working for government, non-governmental organizations and United Nations entities. Prior to her current role as UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, she was the Director General for International Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, responsible for strategy development and global operations in the Dutch development portfolio.

As Vice President and Director for Europe & Africa for the World Resources Institute, she established WRI’s presence in Africa and Europe and was responsible for fundraising and strategic engagement with local actors on challenges such as climate, water and food. This built on her previous experience as the Netherlands’ Ambassador for Sustainable Development and Director for Climate, Energy, Environment and Water.

Ms. van der Heijden’s field experience includes Mexico, India, Ethiopia and Viet Nam. In the latter country, she worked for the United Nations as the Head of the Office of the Resident Coordinator and Senior Advisor on UN reform.

A national of the Netherlands, Ms. van der Heijden has a Master of Economics from Erasmus University, Rotterdam.

Anna-Maria is a Senior Education Specialist and Thematic Lead for Education in Crisis and Conflict contexts, leading evidence work and supporting evidence uptake across the partnership to promote what works. She also supports policy dialogue in partner countries affected by fragility and conflict in areas of resilience, humanitarian-development coherence, and inclusion of displaced populations. Anna-Maria previously worked for the European Commission, World Bank, and Doctors Without Borders. She holds a Master of Science in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the London School of Economics.

Since August 2013, Senior Disability Specialist in the International Labour Organization.

Between 2008 and 2013, Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance between 1999 and 2004, Director of the European Disability Forum (EDF).

Was actively involved in the negotiation process of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2002-2006).

Zahara Malik is the Founder of Impact Gate, a boutique consultancy firm focused on Impact Investing based between London and the UAE.

Zahara Malik focuses on providing clients with business strategies, consultancy, capital introduction and advisory services across the GCC, Africa and beyond. Current sectors include education, healthcare, infrastructure and power with a key focus and passion around impact investing.

Prior to establishing Impact Gate, Zahara has established a track record of working with successful entrepreneurs and prominent figures to further build their vision across business lines from HRH King Charles, Clarence Seedorf, Sir Rod Aldridge and Rob Hersov. Her client list includes Royal Dignitaries, Heads of State, Ministers, UHNWI, Family Offices and Executives.

Zahara has built substantial experience of working in emerging and frontier markets and is an investment specialist working in senior positions with Access Power, Global Investment Bank, Invest Africa and Sunbird Group.

Furthermore, Zahara has worked on key philanthropy and impact campaigns with HRH King Charles and Mosaic International network. She is currently a trustee of Jaago Foundation, where she opened her first school in Chittagong, 2012. Zahara has a passion for education and developing sustainable livelihoods. Zahara formally chaired The Princes Trust Junior Associates Programme.

Zahara currently serves the GCC Steering Committee as Co-Chair for Football for Peace founded by Kofi Annan in 2006 and was co-founded internationally by Kashif Siddiqi in 2013.

Zahara also serves as a Global Ambassador for the Luwire Wildlife Conservancy, one of the world’s largest conservation sites located in Mozambique.

Most recently Zahara has also contributed to Forbes Middle East, Arabian Business and Entrepreneur Magazine for thought leadership pieces on Impact Investing. Zahara was also awarded “Impact Investing Entrepreneur 2019” in October 2019.

Zahara holds a MSc in Global Governance from UCL and is a published researcher.

As a member of DP World’s Group Sustainability Team, I look after Sustainability Intelligence. This means working together with our corporate, regional and local level functions to better understand existing strengths and potential threats to DPW’s global sustainability performance. This requires collaborative action and meaningful engagement across geographies to ensure that existing gaps are closed through policy or procedural action and that available information is collated into longer-form thought pieces such as impact studies and whitepapers. Ultimately, the role aims to build up internal capacity and generate proactive solutions that help mitigate environmental and social risks.

Prior to joining DP World, I was an ESG Manager at ARISE – based out of Togo and Benin, respectively.

I am a Research Fellow in Nutrition, Sustainability and Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in London. My current research focuses on sustainable diets and food systems and their impact on health and the environment, with a particular focus on school settings and children. In 2023 I have co-led the development of a White Paper on Planet Friendly School Meals for the Research Consortium for School Health & Nutrition. I have more than 15 years of experience in public health nutrition and epidemiology, particularly focusing on life course associations between dietary and lifestyle behaviours and disease outcomes. I have worked at University College London (UCL), Cambridge University and the World Cancer Research Fund UK. I gained an MSc in Public Health Nutrition at LSHTM in 2007 and a PhD in Epidemiology and Health Care in 2014 at UCL.

Laila Mostafa Abdullatif is the Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF, the local environment NGO charity that works in association with WWF, one of the world’s largest conservation organizations. She is a highly respected Emirati conservationist, with over 13 years of experience driving innovation, scalability and strategic multistakeholder collaboration to ensure transformative impact for climate and nature.

Laila is a member of the COP28 Advisory Committee, through which she advises the COP28 President on science-based solutions for conservation, sustainability and the green economy. An industry disruptor with a proven aptitude for growth, she is also part of the UAE’s Circular Economy Council, the WWF Innovation Committee and serves as Chair of the WWF Asia Pacific 25 (AP25) – a coalition of 25 offices working together to catalyze innovation and impact.

Laila firmly believes in the importance of an activated civil society, one that acknowledges the vital connection between nature and humanity, and is inclusive of youth as well as local indigenous communities. Under her stewardship, Emirates Nature-WWF earned cabinet recognition as an environmental charity in the UAE.

In the lead up to COP28 and beyond, she is spearheading numerous pioneering initiatives that include the UAE-tailored alliance of non-state actors for climate action (UACA) as well as the nation’s flagship climate adaptation project (Nature-based Solutions).

Jennifer Morris is Chief Executive Officer of The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization that partners with communities across the globe to overcome the barriers to climate and biodiversity solutions. Jennifer leads over 4,000 global staff working together to develop breakthrough tools and ideas, amplify local knowledge, influence decision-making, and forge new paths to funding in pursuit of a world where people and nature thrive.

For more than 25 years, Jennifer has dedicated her life to protecting the environment for people and nature. She brings decades of global leadership, proven management skills, and a passion for conservation to the organization and its ambitious mission—conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Jennifer was previously president at Conservation International (CI), where she developed some of CI’s most enduring programs, partnerships, and innovative strategies using business development as a tool to protect nature for the well-being of humanity. She resides in Washington D.C. with her husband and daughter.

Dr. Luis Benveniste is the Global Director for Education at the World Bank. Previously, he was the Human Development Regional Director for Latin American and the Caribbean at the World Bank. He was a co-author of the World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development.

Dr. Benveniste´s research interests focus on education finance, gender, student assessment practices and teacher policies. Other publications include “Financing Education at the Bottom of the Pyramid,” with Samer al Samarrai, in D. Wagner, N. Castillo & S. Grant Lewis (eds.), Learning, Marginalization and Improving the Quality of Education in Low-Income Countries (2022); Teaching in Cambodia (2008), with J. Marshall and M. Araujo; “The political structuration of assessment: Negotiating State power and legitimacy,” in A.H. Halsey, P. Brown, H. Lauder & J. Dillabough (eds.), Education: Globalisation and Social Change (2006) and All Else Equal (2003), with M. Carnoy and R. Rothstein, a book on accountability and the organization of public and private schools in the United States.

Dr. Benveniste has worked on a wide variety of World Bank-financed education projects in Africa, East Asia and Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. He received a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Psychology from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in International Comparative Education from Stanford University.

Shariha has had a diverse career over the last 20+ years but one common thread is her commitment towards connecting purpose (her own and helping others discover theirs) and passion to “work”. As an impact entrepreneur, advisor and investor for the past 15 years and a career surgeon in the UK, US and Malaysia in the first 8 years of her professional life, she has always sought inspiration from Kahlil Gibran’s words: “Work is love made visible”. From founding organisations dedicated to building and supporting the next impact entrepreneur, to supporting early-stage innovations that deliver impact, Shariha has been at the pulse of innovation and investing for impact for two decades. She brings deep knowledge of the innovation and impact ecosystems in Asia through her pioneering work in that region to the global stage.

Shariha is co-founder of the Health In Your Hands initiative, a global multi-stakeholder platform aggregating 100 bankable projects from the private and non-profit sectors that deliver outcomes for the first mile of health to strengthen ecosystems for financing and scaling of impact through new models for public-private-people partnerships.

She is also the founder of Unite.EAT Nations, a new multi-stakeholder platform dedicated towards addressing the challenges and opportunities at the nexus of human and planetary health systems through food, art and cultures of peace and collaboration.

Shariha is a member of the Finance Advisory Board to the United Arab Emirates’ SDG Global Councils at the Prime Minister’s Office (leading the Health & Climate Financing Working Group), and was previously Co-Chair of the SDG3 Global Council. She consults for organisations such as the World Bank, UNDP and UNICEF on innovation, responsible investment and private sector engagement and is an advisor to businesses and individuals who wish to leave a legacy that catalyses further impact and sustainability of their gifts and investments.

As a +SocialGood Advisor to the UN Foundation and Ambassador for Design For Change and the Global Good Fund, she contributed her time to causes she is passionate about: next-gen entrepreneurship and youth empowerment. Shariha is a Social Return on Investment (SROI) Practitioner and received her degrees in design, medicine, and health systems research from the United Kingdom, and diploma in gastronomy, nutrition and sustainable food systems from France. Shariha is also an abstract and fashion photographer and has exhibited her work in London, Brighton, Kuala Lumpur and Copenhagen.

Dr. Julia Dicum is the Director of Education at UNRWA, a position supported by a longstanding UNESCO-UNRWA partnership, providing strategic direction and technical leadership to a large education program for nearly 550 000 Palestine refugee children in basic education and and 8,000 youth in technical vocational education and higher education across Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza. She has worked in the field of education, humanitarian assistance, and international development globally and in Canada for over 25 years as sectoral leader, particularly in refugee education.

Yusra Mardini is an Olympic swimmer, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, and the subject of the critically-acclaimed Netflix film, The Swimmers. Born and raised in Damascus, Syria, Yusra and her sister, Sara, made the difficult decision to flee the civil war in 2015 and undertake a perilous journey to safety. After reaching Europe, Yusra and her sister made their way to Berlin, Germany, where they found their new home and Yusra resumed her swimming training. Her dream of participating in the Olympic Games came true with the Refugee Olympic Team at the Rio 2016 Games, and again at the Tokyo 2020 Games. In 2017, Yusra was appointed the youngest-ever UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Yusra’s incredible story is told in her memoir “Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian- My Story of Rescue, Hope and Triumph” and in the critically-acclaimed Netflix film, The Swimmers. She has also recently established her own charitable foundation, The Yusra Mardini Foundation, which supports young people and refugees through sports programs and humanitarian assistance. This year, in recognition of their advocacy for refugees, she and her sister were named by Time Magazine to their list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World.

Ahmed Baharoon has a Batchelors degree in Business Management and is the Executive Director of Environmental Information Science & Outreach Management sector (EISOM) at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).

For over a decade, he has managed environmental data & information, science, outreach, and education within EAD. Ahmed leads a team of professionals identifying environmental research knowledge gaps, managing extensive data collected by EAD’s field scientists, and developing and disseminating a range of scientifically credible environmental information products to stakeholders, enabling them to make better-informed decisions.

He is currently leading the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Environmental Research Network (ADERN) which is the first formal network bringing academics and researchers together to focus on addressing the environmental research priorities of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

In addition to his role as Executive Director, he is also Acting Director of the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), responsible for a wide range of international scientific collaborations, including studies on Blue Carbon, Climate Change, biodiversity and The President of EAD Human Recourses Committee.

Before his appointment as Executive Director, Ahmed was the Head of Communications at the Emirates Falconers Club, Abu Dhabi, where he was involved in initiatives on falcon migration, breeding, and traditional hunting activities.

He is a Board Member of Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS), New York University Abu Dhabi.

He is a Lebanese community pediatrician who graduated from the American University of Beirut Medical Center in 1980. He has been the General Coordinator of the Arab Network for Early Childhood since 2012, co-founder, and the General Coordinator of the Arab Resource Collective, established in 1989 for a better childhood, health for all, and community development.

He is a member of the Early Childhood Development Action Network Executive Leadership board and steering committee, a Regional Advisor of the Early Childhood Peace Consortium, and a member of the World Health Organization East Mediterranean Regional Certification Commission of Poliomyelitis Eradication; Advisor for the development group of Improving Early Childhood Development guidelines, Advisor for the Nurturing Care Framework.

He served as a staff member of the Pediatrics Department of the Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, a member of the Continuous Medical Education Committee of the Lebanese Syndicate of Physicians, the President of the International Developmental Pediatrics Association, and the President of the 4th International Developmental Pediatrics Association conference in December 2021. He also served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Group on Early Childhood Development of the International Pediatrics Association.

Akef is the CEO of INJAZ Al-Arab, the largest non-profit organization in the region that leverages entrepreneurial expertise and harnesses it to train and mentor the younger generation of Arab youth by encouraging the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in business. Injaz Al Arab operates in 13 Arab countries.

Prior to taking over the management and leadership of the organization since 2015, Akef held various positions in the field of communications and public relations and then managed the operations and strategic planning section of the organization for the Middle East and North Africa countries.

Akef’s expertise and tasks are centered around providing technical support and strategic planning to member states, and coordinating with INJAZ’s boards of directors in 13 countries in the region, as well as strengthening relations with government partners such as ministries of education and labor, and discussing ways to expand the Organisation’s work in a number of Arab countries to empower a new elite of Arab youth to contribute to the development of extracurricular education and entrepreneurship in the region.

Akef recently completed his education at Harvard University’s Executive Leaders Program for 2018-2019. He holds a BA in Archeology from Mutah University, Jordan.

Rev. Canon Dr. Betsee Parker, Baroness of Locheil (Scotland) is a Civic Benefactor; Conservationist, Historic Preservationist and a Human Rights Advocate. Earning a M. Div. Harvard University ‘85, and B.A. from Wellesley College, ’82. She is a Founding Board Member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. She did extensive work as the World Trade Center Disaster Team Lead for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, and received the American Red Cross 9/11 First Responder Award.

Dr. Parker established Scholarships, Fellowships, and Endowments at Harvard University, Columbia University, Wellesley College, Virginia Tech, Shenandoah Conservatory, Secondary and Primary Education Grants as well as the founder of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Parker Scholars.

With her love for Preservation, she published a book about her historic Huntland Farm, Middleburg, Virginia, and was appointed the Virginia Historic Preservationist of the Year 2022, as well as Loudoun Preservationist of the Year for Loudoun County, Virginia.

Her true passion, from childhood, however has always been showing Hunters and Jumpers at the National level and sponsoring young athletes at the highest, most elite level of the sport, earning numerous Grand Championships and United States Horse of the Year Awards.

Tomas Lamanauskas is Deputy Secretary-General-elect of the International Telecommunication Union, elected at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference of 2022 and due to commence his duties as of 1st January 2023.

His 25-year experience in telecoms and digital policy, regulation and strategy includes positions of Member of the Board, CEO and Deputy General Director of national communications regulatory authorities in Europe, the Middle East and Caribbean, and senior government advisor on information and communications technologies policy in the Pacific. He also served as Head of Corporate Strategy as well as Special Advisor for Crisis Strategy (COVID-19) and Partnership Initiatives for the International Telecommunication Union, and Group Director Public Policy at VEON, a multinational technology and communications company.

Tomas has Master’s degrees in Public Administration (Harvard), Leadership and Strategy (London Business School), Telecommunications Regulation and Policy (The University of the West Indies) and Law (Vilnius University).

Rebecca Chandler Leege was named Worldreader’s Chief Executive Officer in April 2023 after serving five years as the organization’s Chief Impact Officer. Her leadership has been instrumental in fostering innovation and expanding Worldreader’s impact, which now exceeds more than 22 million readers in under-resourced communities.

With more than 25 years of people-centered global leadership experience, Rebecca has a proven track record of driving growth through strategic vision, creative collaborations, and cross-sector partnerships. Prior to joining Worldreader, she spent more than two decades working, living, and studying in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

She has served in a variety of senior leadership roles and co-led All Children Reading, a renowned edtech innovation and research initiative. She also held executive positions at World Vision and World Relief, focusing on reducing gender barriers, child labor/trafficking, and overseeing relief and development programs. Rebecca launched her career in the private sector, specializing in international human resources consulting.

She holds a Master of Science in Multinational Commerce and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Wissam Kadi is a UN SDG advocate with a proven track record of activating global ecosystems through high-impact initiatives involving industry, government, international organizations, and academia. He is known for his powerful drive for accelerating impact through collaboration and co-creation with purpose-driven partners. Wissam is currently leading several sustainability, youth, and diversity & inclusion initiatives involving SAP Innovation Community that includes 3,000 + educational institutions in 117 countries. Prior to joining SAP, he worked for HEC Paris and Texas A&M University in the capacity of Business Development. Wissam completed an Exexcutive Master joint degree program in Marketing from SDA Bocconi School of Management in Italy and ESADE Business School in Spain. He largely supports UN Goal 17- Partnerships for the Goals by 2030 and he has been invited to participate and speak at several high-level events across the globe.

Caitlin Baron is the CEO of the Luminos Fund, an international education nonprofit dedicated to giving the world’s most vulnerable, out-of-school children a second chance to learn. Luminos’ award-winning program marries the best of global and local learning science to enable marginalized children to catch up to grade level and go on to lifelong learning. Under Caitlin’s leadership, Luminos has successfully scaled its education mission across five countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, working in partnership with more than 25 community-based organizations to reach over 218,541 out-of-school children. Over 90% of Luminos students succeed in the catch-up program, going on to complete primary school at twice the rate of their peers.

Caitlin believes in the power of joyful learning to enable children to thrive, even in the poorest corners of the world. She spent the previous decade as a senior leader within the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, helping to grow the organization to steward over $1 billion in charitable giving.

Elizabeth Lule is currently Executive Director of the Early Child Development Action Network (ECDAN). Before joining ECDAN, she served in senior leadership, management and technical positions at the World Bank for 18 years. She also worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as Director, at Pathfinder International as their Africa Regional Vice President, and as Technical Advisor with USAID in Nigeria. She started her career in academia and was adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Elizabeth has been instrumental in establishing and supporting global partnerships, networks, and coalitions to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, early childhood development, and HIV programs. She has served on several Boards of Directors, including Save the Children International, AFIDEP, Concept Foundation, Population Action International and has served as a member of several global think tanks and UN Inter-Agency Task Teams.

Vidya Bindal is a sophomore at Millburn High School, NJ, USA. She is one of the first Eco-Ambassadors with Columbia University’s Center for Sustainable Development. In her role as an environmental youth leader she regularly contributes her time and energy towards raising awareness as well as in organizing and volunteering for projects on a range of issues including assessing microplastics in local rivers, making presentations in the townhall to lobby for plastic bans, creating native plant patches on public land, surveying different constituencies on food waste recycling etc. She also writes and presents in international youth forums through Mission 4.7 Youth Reflections.

Vidya is an avid sportsperson and plays at Varsity level for soccer and track teams. Additionally, she is a trained dancer in the Indian Classical form of Bharatnatyam, having successfully graduated with an Arangetram (solo stage debut) in June 2023. She is currently pursuing a science track and would like to employ her scholarship, to study and create evidence-based avenues for increased environmental sustainability. She hopes that her voice will inspire youth, especially girls, everywhere to contribute to policy and action on gender rights and rights of other species that cohabit the earth with us.

Joice Mendez (Colombia/Paraguay) is a migrant, social entrepreneur, and climate advocate focused on the nexus of water, food and energy justice. Joice co-founded several local and regional youth organizations, including the Moema Viezzer Environmental Education Observatory, the Latin American Observatory of Geopolitics of Energy, and the binational Youth Collective of the Parana Basin 3 from the Cultivating Good Water Initiative– a recipient of the UN-Water Best Practice Award in 2015. Joice has also supported Paraguay’s National Conference of Youth since 2016 and the National Forum of Water and Youth, and continues to be active in YOUNGO, the Climate Reality Project América Latina, SDG7 Youth Constituency, and the Youth Adaptation Network of the Global Center on Adaptation.

Armand Arton is a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist and a Global Citizen. He has an extensive background serving the specialized needs of high net worth investors around the world.

Mr. Arton is the Founder and Chairman of the Global Citizen Forum, the Canadian non-profit social action platform built on a community of leaders committed to improving the state of global citizenship for the generations to come.

GCF convenes heads of state, business visionaries, artists and academia on the highest political, diplomatic, business, and thought levels, leveraging resources and expertise to support vulnerable communities and ecosystems worldwide.

As the Founder and President of Arton Capital, the leading global financial advisory practice specialized in impact investing in programs for residence and citizenship, Mr. Arton advises over twelve governments in structuring and implementation investment programs to boost FDIs and increase social impact for countries. Mr. Arton is also a Founder and Trustee of the Global Citizen Foundation, whose mission is to invest in children and young people in need.

Mr. Arton is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Board Member of Endeavor and Expert Network in the Filed of Mobility and Migration of the World Economic Forum.

Randa Grob-Zakhary, M.D., PhD, is the Founder and CEO of Education.org (EO). Motivated by training in medicine and neuroscience, she moved into global education to contribute to reducing the gap between knowledge and practice and has worked closely with ministries of education and other education leaders. She is a former Board Member with the Global Partnership for Education, and the former Chair of its Strategy and Impact Committee. Prior roles include: CEO, LEGO Foundation; Global Head of Education, Porticus; High-Level Working Group OECD Education 2030; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute; Management Consultant, McKinsey. She holds an M.D. and PhD in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University (USA).

Begoña Águeda Carrillo de Albornoz Linkedin profile
is Accenture Corporate Citizenship and Environment Lead for Accenture Middle East. In this role she is responsible for setting the direction for corporate citizenship in the region, delivering on priorities and objectives across four program areas: Skills to Succeed Impact, Environmentally Sustainable Growth, Transparency and Accountability, and High Performing Network. She is part of the Responsible Business program to advance the SDG implementation within Accenture Middle East and helping companies in the ecosystem to become sustainable.

With 20 year’s professional experience in global organisations, she worked in Amnesty International as Director of the Language Resource, and was Head of Translation and Creative Services in Accenture Spain, where she also led the Training, Communication and Document Production areas. She has guided several organisations with consulting support in the areas of CSR strategy implementation and integration of language services into human-centric business models.

Her academic background includes a Diploma in Development Management by The Open University, an MBA by IDE-CESEM, Master’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting from Cluny, I.S.E.I.T. and Honours degree in English and American Studies, Literature and Linguistics from the Universidad Complutense and The University of Hull. Her recent professional certifications include Harvard Sustainability Strategy, business strategy with IESE and INSEAD, and training on the GRI Standards, being a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional now.

Of Spanish origin, she has lived in the Middle East since 2014 with her husband and three daughters.

Agustín Batto Carol is a global citizen and a passionate advocate for education and social innovation. As the Founder and Strategy Lead of Eidos Global, he’s driven by the vision of empowering every individual to thrive in harmony with Earth. Eidos has impacted over 4 million people in 85+ countries, partnering with giants like Microsoft and Google.org.

Agustín has served as an Advisor to Argentina’s Ministry of Education, Chief Experience Manager for UNESCO’s 40th General Conference, Chair of the G20 Youth Engagement Group, and Special Advisor to the International Organization of Youth. His organization is a member of UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition, OECD’s 21st Century Skills Forum, and the Inter-American Development Bank’s Skills Coalition.

A self-taught polymath, Agustín’s expertise spans social entrepreneurship, learning, spirituality, AI, and international relations. His unique blend of spiritual and practical wisdom has been shaped by backpacking through 60 countries across five continents. Open to sustainable adventures, he’s committed to building a fair, equitable, and sustainable world.

Renata Koch Alvarenga, from Brazil, is a leading voice on gender and climate justice in the global youth movement. She founded the youth-led and Brazil-based organization EmpoderaClima at 22 years old, to raise awareness of the need for women’s empowerment in climate decision-making spaces, and advocate for girl’s education and climate action in the Global South – more specifically in Latin America and the Caribbean. Renata recently graduated with a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University, where she researched climate finance and resilience to advise the World Food Programme on its Caribbean work. At Harvard, she worked with the Belfer Center for International Relations and the Center for International Development, and did fieldwork in Puerto Rico and Barbados.

Renata has professional experience in global climate policy and diplomacy, having worked at the British Mission in Brazil and the United Nations Youth Office. She currently works as a Disaster Risk Financing Specialist at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington D.C.

For the past eight years,  Renata has been working tirelessly to ensure young people can access high-level global spaces, having been active in the Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC, as the Gender Contact Point, as well as the UN Girls’ Education Initiative and UN Women as a youth leader. She has served on advisory boards for climate issues of the New York Times, Chicago Council of Global Affairs, and the Sustainable Amazon Foundation in Brazil. In 2022, Renata was nominated for the class of Environmental Educators (EE) 30 Under 30.

Christine Özden is the first climate education lead at Cambridge Press & Assessment and is dedicated to how the organisation develops learning to solve the climate crisis, through its complete range of products, services and partnerships. She is working with colleagues across the organisation, the University of Cambridge and a wide range of education stakeholders internationally.

Christine took up the new global director, climate education role in September 2022 after almost four years as chief executive of Cambridge Assessment International Education, successfully leading the team through its biggest ever exam series in 2022. She is a long-standing member of the organisation’s environment governance board and also sponsors the colleague-run environment staff network.

Christine has a wealth of experience in international education, having spent all her career in the sector, providing products and services to schools, universities and ministries of education, with a particular focus on development and delivery of curriculum, content and assessment in international education. She has worked in different educational contexts in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and lived in Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Syria and the UK. Christine has an MA in Classical Arabic and Turkish from the University of Edinburgh and a Masters in Business Administration from Warwick University.

(Buenos Aires, 1984) Agustin Porres studied Philosophy at the Catholic University of Argentina, where he also completed a postgraduate degree in Politics, Government and Administration. He also holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University’s McCourt School.

He is the Regional Director for Latin America at the Varkey Foundation, an organisation dedicated to celebrating and empowering the teaching profession around the world. He worked in the Ministry of Education of the city of Buenos Aires, as well as in the National Social Security Administration.

He led the Educational Policy sector of Fundación Contemporánea and was Executive Director of FormarHub in the United States. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Latin American Coalition for Excellence in Teaching, a group that brings together experts from the region to design reforms for the teaching career.

He frequently writes for the leading media organisations in Argentina and Latin America at large. He has recently published Unfinished Business in Education, a book of interviews with 31 former ministers of education from around the world. Annually, he is invited to serve as a judge for organisations that work to recognise teachers in the region.

He is a visiting professor at the Austral University and has taught at various universities. He is a member of the alumni board of the McCourt School at Georgetown University and of the board of Forgiveness Forum, hosted by Templeton World Charity Foundation. He is married to Inés and they have three children.

David Boucher is a senior corporate partner at the global law firm, Reed Smith LLP, with wide experience in all areas of mergers and acquisitions.

David is a member of the firm’s global ESG practice and has a particular focus on the social and governance aspects of ESG. David also supports and works on a pro bono basis for various organisations devoted to education in developing countries. He is a founding trustee and secretary of the global children’s charity Theirworld, which supports projects to improve opportunities for children and young people, and a director of the Global Business Coalition for Education which helps to deliver quality education for children and young people around the world. In addition, David represents the Global Business Coalition for Education as representative of the private sector on the board of the Global Partnership for Education, which is a US$4 billion fund supporting education in over 65 developing countries and hosted by the World Bank.

In June 2017 David was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to children’s charity and advocating corporate involvement.

With over two decades of invaluable business experience in technology and system change, Lady Mariéme Jamme has garnered extensive knowledge and expertise in her field. Her global speeches advocating humanity and promoting a sense of responsibility towards marginalized young girls have received numerous accolades and recognition.” She is the Founder and Chief Sustainability Offer of iamtheCODE, the first African-led global movement to mobilize government, the private sector, and philanthropic foundations to advance S.T.E.A.M.D. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Design) Education. Her goal is to empower and enable 1 million girls and young women globally to become coders by 2030 and align with the U.N. 2030 Agenda. She is an award-winning Technologist and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. In September 2017, she won the Innovation Award at the Global Goals Award by Bill and Melinda Gates and UNICEF as a Goalkeeper to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by supporting girls and young women globally- businesses and governments. As a nominee for one of the B.B.C.’s Top 100 Women, she was named twice on the UK Powerlist in 2017 and 2018 for Britain’s 100 most influential African and African Caribbean heritage people. She is the first Senegalese woman who made it to Antarctica. Lady Mariéme Jamme recently launched a Podcast aimed at women and girls. She sits at the World Economic Forum Reskilling Revolution council, which aims to upskill and reskill 1 billion people by 2030. Lady Mariéme Jamme is well-known for her advocacy for technology, education, and gender equality, particularly in Africa. Establishing Accur8Global to advise governments on AI ethics, risks, and governance aligns with her commitment to ensuring responsible and beneficial development and deployment of AI technologies. She’s currently writing her first book to tell her story.

Charles North is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). He joined GPE after 32 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Prior to joining GPE, North was a senior advisor on Ukraine and Russia on secondment to the U.S. Institute of Peace. He was previously the acting assistant administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment, 2014-2017, and senior deputy assistant administrator from February 2013.

North served for 17 years in USAID’s overseas posts in Kenya, Sudan, Mozambique, El Salvador and Russia, and was the USAID mission director in Russia in his second assignment there, 2010-2013. He has held numerous Washington leadership positions, including as senior deputy director of USAID’s Afghanistan and Pakistan Task Force from 2008-2010. He also served as regional director for the Western Hemisphere in the State Department’s Office of the Director of Foreign Assistance (2006-2008), and as director of the Policy Office in USAID’s Bureau for Policy and Program Coordination (2004-2006).

North is a graduate of Wesleyan University and holds master’s degrees in management from Yale University and in national security strategy from the National War College.

Sarah Beardmore heads the Global Partnership for Education’s Strategic Partnerships team where she develops multi-stakeholder strategies and initiatives to address cross-sectoral challenges in education. She currently leads GPE’s work to support Climate Smart Education Systems, including its technical assistance facility for ministries and climate finance initiatives. Sarah has over 20 years of international experience including a decade as an advocacy specialist and civil society accountability funder, leading on policy advocacy and resource mobilization for child rights, education, health and indigenous rights. With a BA degree in Sociology from McGill University and MSc in Political Sociology from LSE, Sarah also has training in plant medicine and lends her time to ecological conservation, food sovereignty and land rights projects in the US and Canada.

Salha Aziz is a GPE youth leader from Tanzania. She is the founder and executive director of Binti Salha Foundation. She is an SDG champion and advocates for adolescent girls’ and young women’s rights to quality education, economic freedom, and good health. Salha works in the intersection of education, climate change and sexual and reproductive rights. She trains girls to make reusable pads, which reduces the need for non-sustainable menstrual hygiene materials and is eco-friendly. She also advocates for safe water and sanitation facilities in schools, which is critical to ensuring that children and young people can stay in school.

Maryam Rabiee’s work explores new methods and approaches to strengthen the data ecosystem for sustainable development. She is the Head of SDGs Today at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), which aims to advance the production and use of timely geospatial data for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Maryam serves on the boards of the GEO Earth Observations for Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG) Initiative and the UMass Global Institute for Geospatial Education.

Prior to joining SDSN, Maryam was a Research Associate at the University of Melbourne and a Research Scholar at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien). She holds an MA from Columbia University and a BA from the University of Washington. Her academic and professional endeavors have taken her throughout Africa, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

Richard has been the Chief Executive of the British Asian Trust since 2015. He was formerly Chief Executive of Scope (one of the largest not-for-profit organisations in the UK), International Director of VSO and Chief Executive of Sense International. He has worked for the United Nations and has been Chair of a number of sector bodies, including BOND (the umbrella body for UK international NGOs). He is on the Board of UNICEF UK, Chair of Motivation (an international disability charity) and on the Advisory Boards of the World Humanitarian Forum and the UK’s Charity Bank.

Richard has a vast experience of social finance. As CEO of Scope, he was responsible for launching the first social investment bond in the UK, a £20m bond that was listed on the Luxembourg Stock Market, and for Scope being listed on the Social Stock Exchange. The British Asian Trust is at the cutting edge of development finance, where traditional philanthropy meets innovative finance solutions and in 2018 launched the world’s largest education Development Impact Bond. This has been followed by further social finance initiatives in India and Pakistan.

In October 2020 Richard was awarded an OBE for his contribution to the not-for-profit sector.

A young Egyptian actor, Nour El-Nabawy studied acting and theater at Santa Monica College and California State University, where he started acting in different plays.Upon his return to Egypt, he was selected to join the cast of EL EKHTYAR 2 — which premiered during Ramadan 2021, was written by Hani Sarhan, and directed by Peter Mimi. The serial drama was headlined by Karim Abdel-Aziz and Ahmed Mekky.

Additionally, he co-starred with legendary actor Mahmoud Hemida in the social-drama series NA’EL ‘AM (Public Transportation) — a 30-episode family drama directed by Adel Adeeb, the series features a wide array of stars, including Sawsan Badr, Dina, and Mirhan Hussein.

In 2022, Nour made his second successful Ramadan outing in RAGEEN YA HAWA alongside legendary actor Khaled El Nabawy. The script was written by Mohamed Soliman Abdel-Malek, adapted from Osama Anwar Okasha’s script, and directed by Mohamed Salama. The role garnered him the Best Rising Actor Award at the first edition of the Cairo Drama Festival and the Dear Guest Public Voting Award for Best TV Rising Actor.

His most recent work includes the 2023 5 GAWLAT alongside Adam El-Sharkawy and Dalia Shawky, and Raouf El-Sayed’s EL-HAREEFA, which will be his first outing as a lead actor and is set to release soon. Before that, he starred in the Ramadan 2023 drama ELAGHAR, which was directed by Yasser Samy and written by Melok Workshop, and appeared as a guest star in the epic military drama El KATEEBA 101 (BATTALION 101) opposite Asser Yassin and Amr Youssef.

He was also appointed by UNICEF as the ambassador of the Shabab Balad (The Country’s Youths) Initiative — an Egyptian version of the International Generation Unlimited Initiative that was first launched by the UN in the region last year.

Nafisa Shekhova is the Global Lead, Education & ECD with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). Nafisa has been with the Aga Khan Development Network for over 20 years in key education and early childhood development programme roles in Afghanistan, East Africa, and Geneva. Prior to joining the global program team, Nafisa spent five successful years as the Regional Education Programme Manager in East Africa. Immediately prior to this, she spent over 5 years with AKF in Afghanistan where she went from Education Programme Coordinator to Director. During her time in Afghanistan, she successfully led the expansion of the Foundation’s education portfolio, including the start-up of girls’ education and early childhood development programmes. Nafisa has over 3 years of school- and university-level teaching experience in Tajikistan. She holds a Master of Education from Melbourne University, Australia and a Bachelor of Arts in teaching English as a second language from Khorog State University. Nafisa speaks English, Russian and Tajik.

Dr. Radhika Iyengar is Director of Education and Research Scholar at Center for Sustainable Development of Columbia University’s Earth Institute. She leads the Education for Sustainable Development initiatives and international development for education as a practitioner, researcher, teacher and manager. Her research interests consist conducting evaluations of educational programs and international educational development. In addition to directing education initiatives at the Center and fieldwork in over 10 countries, she contributes to the scientific community focusing on international educational development with articles published in reputed journals and reports that are used by both domestic and international stakeholders. Radhika received the prestigious Early Career Award from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2020. She received a distinction from Teachers College, Columbia University on her Ph.D. dissertation Social capital as a determinant of schooling in rural India: A mixed methods study. She received her Master’s degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics, India.

Erna Grasz co-founded Asante Africa Foundation with two visionary African women from Kenya and Tanzania. She is a Systems Engineer turned Systems Entrepreneur for Global Impact. Originally trained as an Electrical-System Engineer, she spent her early career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and then in Silicon Valley as a Medical Device Executive. As CEO, She has a strong belief in local staff, local partnerships and developing local talent for the long term sustainability. She is very proud of Asante Africa’s staff and youth are being recognized for their leadership and innovation, most recently by King Charles III. These young leaders are pioneering the way forward to create a better future in a post-pandemic era for themselves, Africa and the world. Erna has won countless awards for her work with Asante Africa, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service, a “Distinguished Engineering” Award for Innovation in Developing Countries and 2020 Medaling for Reimagining Education in Sub-Sahara Africa. Asante Africa Foundation, a global alliance of 4 member organizations (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and USA sharing one mission: to educate and empower rural East Africa’s youth to confidently address life’s challenges, thrive in the global economy, and catalyse positive change.

Ferdinando Regalía, an Italian citizen, is the Manager of the Social Sector (SCL) since October 16th, 2021.

Prior to his appointment, Ferdinando served as the Chief of the IDB Social Protection and Health (SPH) Division. In this capacity, Ferdinando oversaw IDB support to its borrowing member countries’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the areas of social protection and health.

During his tenure as SPH Chief, from 2010 to 2021, Ferdinando and his team led the implementation of innovative public–private partnerships and results-based financing mechanisms to tackle health inequities, such as the Mesoamerica Health Initiative.  Ferdinando promoted research activities and projects that fostered quality- and sustainability-enhancing strategies in health, early childhood development and social protection and inclusion services, working on a range of enabling factors, including a more robust adoption of digital tools.

From 2008 to 2009, Ferdinando served as advisor to the Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge of the IDBG, providing quality oversight of operations as well as of the economic and sector research agenda of the Vice Presidency.

In 2007, he served as Chief of Social Policy and Economics at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in South Africa providing technical assistance on design, financing, and implementation of social protection programs to governments and non-governmental organizations in Southern Africa.

Previously, Ferdinando worked as Social Development Specialist in the former Social Division of the Regional Operations Department 2 of the IDB, which he joined in 2000 as part of the Young Professionals Program.

Ferdinando holds a PhD in Economics from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain.

Francisco Anello is the Senior Global Vice President at Aleph Group Inc. He leads the Digital Ad Expert platform, which has certified more than 130,000 people in Digital Advertising across 140 countries. Additionally, he oversees the internal education platform for Aleph’s 1,400+ employees. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences from UBA and an MBA from UTDT.

As the Director of Education, he was a part of the founding team of Digital House, the largest pioneering coding bootcamp in Latin America. There, he spearheaded the creation of new units for boot camps, corporate training, collaborations with schools and universities, and the development of the Certified Tech Developer program for Mercado Libre and Globant. He also served as the Director of Admissions at Torcuato Di Tella University and as the Area Manager for Kumon.

In another aspect of his career, he worked as an International Instructor in Kitesurf and Windsurf.

He possesses extensive experience as a professional and consultant in Ed-tech, education, innovation, training, digital transformation, and re-skilling. He assists companies, universities, schools, governments, and NGOs in developing and scaling education and training based on technology.

Donald Bundy is Professor of Epidemiology and Development at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He is the Director of the Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition and Senior Advisor to the UN World Food Programme, leading a global research effort to provide evidence-based guidance to the 89 member states of the School Meals Coalition on strengthening national school meals and complementary health programmes. He is a Fellow (non-resident) of the Center for Global Development and (adjunct) of Linacre College, University of Oxford, and a Founding Member of the Partnership for Child Development. Previously, Professor Bundy served as Senior Advisor to the Global Health Team of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Seattle); Lead Education and Health Specialist to the World Bank Group’s Africa Region and Human Development policy unit (Washington D.C.); and Professor and Deputy Director of the Epidemiology Centre, University of Oxford (Oxford, UK).

H.E. Professor Mohammed Belhocine is serving as Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the African Union Commission in Addis-Ababa. Mohamed is Algerian national, former Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, he held various positions in Algeria, at the Faculty of Medicine and the Ministry of Health, before joining the international civil service in 1997. Former Director of the Division of Non-Communicable Diseases at the WHO Regional Office for Africa (in Harare, then in Brazzaville), he was also WHO Representative in Nigeria and Tanzania. He ended his career as UN System Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Tunisia from 2009 to 2013. From June 2015 to February 2016, at the request of the WHO Regional Director, he returned to duty as WHO Representative in Guinea, playing an active role in providing technical support and expertise to the country’s response to the Ebola epidemic. Prof. Mohamed Belhocine is 71 years old and is an international consultant in Public Health and Development. With the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, he was appointed as a member of the Scientific Committee for the monitoring of the pandemic, and was assigned, by the President of the Algerian Republic, with the task of monitoring epidemiological investigations around confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19. Professor Belhocine is the father of three children, and has six grandchildren.

Rwodah AlNaimi is a dedicated professional with a profound interest in international development and public administration. With a solid academic foundation and extensive field experience, she has made remarkable contributions to various organizations and projects.

Having earned a Master of Public Administration in Development Practice from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Rwodah possesses a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies and challenges associated with sustainable development. She also holds a Bachelor of Art in International Affairs, specializing in International Security and Diplomacy, from Qatar University/Art and Science College, obtained in March 2018.

Rwodah’s professional journey includes valuable internships at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in New York. During her tenure as a full-time Climate, Nature, and Energy intern, she demonstrated her expertise by developing innovative concepts on carbon trade, carbon payments for development, and implementing mitigation activities. Subsequently, she focused on unlocking financing for African countries and played a pivotal role in facilitating sustainable clean energy access for both rural and urban communities. Rwodah’s strategic mindset and data-driven approach were instrumental in synthesizing effective strategies.

Rwodah made valuable contributions as a part-time Program Assistant at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she actively supported the development of potential partnerships for summer placements. Currently, Rwodah holds the esteemed position of Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Qatar Fund for Development, assuming the role in April 2021. Her exceptional academic background and practical experience enable her to merge knowledge with hands-on expertise in the field of international development. Rwodah’ s unwavering commitment to making a positive impact, coupled with her strategic thinking abilities and adeptness in building partnerships, positions her as an invaluable asset to any organization or project she engages with.

Emma is the International Rescue Committee’s Senior Director for Education, leading the IRC’s education programming, policy and strategy in over 25 fragile and crisis contexts, supporting children and families to build a more positive future. Emma has over 20 years’ experience in international education with an emphasis on fragile and emergency contexts. Prior to joining the IRC Emma spent a decade with the UK government, both for FCDO (formerly DFID) where she led the UK’s Education in Emergencies (EiE) portfolio, as well as undertaking a range of country and regional advisory roles (across Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia). And leading the British Council’s education portfolio in SSA, designing and delivering large-scale education programs. Before that Emma supported education design, delivery, research and evaluation for NGOs across Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. She holds a law degree from the University of Glasgow and Masters’ degree in education and economics from University College London.

David leads Jigsaw, an education research organisation and social enterprise based in London. He is committed to helping organisations use rigorous evidence to bring about lasting change in education. He has worked in over 25 countries with a variety of donors, governments, INGOs and community-based organisations. David has worked in the international education and humanitarian sectors for 15 years and has a PhD from the University of London (2010). His doctoral research focused on evaluating the impact of technology on education in sub-Saharan Africa. David is Research Director at the EdTech Hub and a board member for Refugee Education UK and Justice Defenders.

Dr Martín Benavides is the Director of the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP). Prior to joining IIEP, he served as Minister of Education in Peru, Superintendent of Higher Education, and Director of the Peruvian think tank Group for the Analysis of Development. Dr Benavides holds a Master’s Degree in Education Theory and Policy and a PhD in Sociology from Pennsylvania State University. He has also been a visiting scholar at the Stanford University Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and at the Centre Population et Développement-IRD-Université de Paris.

Dr Benavides has numerous academic publications to his credit, particularly in the areas of education and child development, including:

• Benavides, M.; Watanabe. F.H. 2023. « Dérégulation de l’enseignement supérieur, diversification des universités privées et expériences universitaires des inégalités au Pérou ».
• In : Etienne, G. (dir.), Universités privées : la fabrique des inégalités (pp. 137-178). Paris, Karthala (Hommes et sociétés).
• Benavides, M. 2021. La reforma imposible. Enfrentando desafíos del sector educación 2018-2020.

Sallyann is the CEO of Gleac. Gleac is a platform of 500+ of the world’s leading experts, mentors and coaches that sit as a cloud to assist your teams in problem-solving , innovating, career navigation and learning. In 2016, she served as the only female at a C-suite level Chief Curator or People and Culture at Careem. She is one of the 4% of women globally who has a patent-pending method and algorithm to signal and preserve human identity and behaviors against elimination by agents including A.I. In July 2023, she released MentorGPT, the world’s first contrarian and outlier thinking A.I. tool to ensure you can identify bias of ChatGPT. GLEAC is also is very impact driven and upskills African youth on the YOMA the Unicef Platform and also empowers learners on the JIO platform across India. Her Foundation Growing Leaders upskills over 25,000 youth annually in job readiness skills on the ground.

After working for more than nine years at Opera Solutions, a strategic management and data analytics consulting firm located in New York City, he came back to Lima to join Nexus Group (a leading private equity company in Peru). In that role, he was appointed Business Process Reengineering Manager of Innova Schools (a K-12 network of 63 affordable private schools targeting the emerging Peruvian middle class). While in office, he co-launched the NGO Peru Champs and became the organization’s CEO. He led the organization to provide world-class education and a leadership program to underprivileged, talented (in academics, sports or the arts) kids around the country. Peru Champs has hitherto granted scholarships to more than 5,000 gifted children around the country. As part of his personal purpose (“to generate opportunities for others”), he also advises ad honorem other NGOs on management and sustainability. Before obtaining his MBA at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 2004, he worked for almost five years in the commercial area of the Corporate Division of Interbank (Peru´s fourth largest bank). Alberto’s undergraduate degree in Economics is from Universidad del Pacífico (Lima, Peru).

Bruce Douglas has 25 years’ international experience in the promotion of renewable energy and electrification. He is currently CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance – the single voice for wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, long duration energy storage and green hydrogen industries at an international level.

Previously he has held the following positions: Director of Communications and Business at Eurelectric, Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe, Coordinator of the RE-Source Platform, Founding Chairman of the Global Solar Council (GSC), Chief Operating Officer at WindEurope, Founding Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Managing Director of FLiDAR, an offshore wind company.

He has also held the following non-executive positions:

• Member of RE100 Advisory committee
• Member of EnergyTag Advisory Committtee
• Chairman, IRENA Business and Investor Group
• Member of IEA Renewable Industry Advisory Board
• Expert-Member of the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network
• Member of the Clean Energy Ministerial Multilateral Solar and Wind Working Group
• Member of the Intersolar Europe Conference Committee

He has a Master degree in renewable energy systems technology and is fluent in English and French.

Monika Fröhler is CEO of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens and is a passionate change maker, advocate, founder and speaker. She was entrusted to create the BKMC after working at the UN in Geneva, NY and Vienna, the EU, the Austrian Foreign Ministry and in field missions around the globe. She is passionate about the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. Throughout her career she managed to support hundreds of women, young people and communities all over the globe e.g. working in Africa and Latin America to ban landmines; working to improve hospital care in rural Central Asia and Africa; assisting in eco-friendly city planning in Asia and bettering the living conditions of women in the Middle East and West-Africa.

Dr. Eesa Mohammed Bastaki is the President of the University of Dubai.

Dr. Bastaki is the recipient of the highest award in the UAE, the “Emirates Excellence Award in Sciences, Literature and Arts”, in the field of Sciences. Dr. Bastaki’s extensive experience in education, leadership, technology and communications will prove a major asset in leading the university into its next progressive phase, which besides the building of a new campus and the addition of several programs, such as a Master of Laws degree and Doctorate degrees in Business Administration. Previously, Dr. Bastaki worked as a professor at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) specializing in Communications Engineering. He also held positions as: CEO of ICT Fund; Director of Education, Training and Research and Development for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO); Consultant and IT Project Manager for Al-Ain Municipality; Board member of KHDA’s UQAIB and was member of many academic boards. He is one of the founders of DSO and RIT-Dubai. He is Honorary Chair of IEEE, Chairman of Emirates Science Club, Board member of the Cultural and Scientific Association and was a Board member of Ankabut (UAE’s NREN) and many more. He is the Chair of “Drones for Good Award”, “Robotics & AI for Good Award” and “Emirates Energy Award”. He also judges the Dubai-initiated competition 10X. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Innovation Award in Project Management. He has organized hundreds of events, conferences, forums and competitions.

During his time at UAE University, DSO and ICT Fund, Dr. Bastaki chaired several technology and research boards, initiated technology incubation concepts and coined on R&BD terminology, where he brought forward the rich experience of enhancing the University of Dubai’s research drives and futuristic programs. His main goals are to enhance Research & Business Development to serve the industry and fulfill his drive towards his vision of “Made in UAE, Sold Globally”.

Dr. Bastaki received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of California, San Diego and his PhD from University of California, Irvine, before returning to help improve the education and technology sectors in his homeland, the UAE. University of Dubai faculty, staff and students are gratified that a man of his accomplishments leads the University on its continuing path to provide the highest quality education in the region.

Ahmad Alhendawi is the 10th Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), becoming the youngest to helm one of the world’s leading educational youth movements. Prior to his appointment in WOSM, Mr. Alhendawi served as the first-ever United Nations Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth and the youngest senior official in the history of the UN.

Before his career at the UN, he served as Youth Policy Advisor for the League of Arab States, a Team Leader for the National Youth Policy Project in Iraq, Youth Programme Associate at the Iraq office of the UN Population Fund, Emergency Programme Officer at Save the Children and as a Regional Consultant supporting the Danish Youth Council’s projects in the Middle East and North Africa.

Mr. Alhendawi was named for two consecutive years as one of the 100 most influential Arabs under 40 and in the Diplomatic Courier’s list of the 99 most influential policy professionals under 33. In 2008, he was selected by the International Youth Foundation as a recipient of the 2008 Youth Action Net Fellowship. Ahmad Alhendawi holds a Master’s degree in Advanced European and International Relations from the Institut Européen (Nice, France) and a Bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from the Al-Balqa Applied University in Jordan. A Jordanian by birth, he has studied and worked in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, France, Germany and the United States.

Princess Sama Faisal Al Saud is a young, thriving entrepreneur who is passionately committed to fostering a knowledge culture and enabling the young generations for a brighter future. She is a co founder of the Nour Nouf Foundation for Knowledge, a foundation to promote and nourish culture, talents, entrepreneurship, innovations, and connecting future pioneers.

Her activities include being a dedicated participant in the activities of Al Aghar; an independent Saudi think tank founded in 2001 with the objective of transforming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into a knowledge society through providing decision makers strategic options in the areas of social, cultural and economic development based in Jeddah, KSA. She actively works with a number of charitable groups, including Messengers of Peace, Sanad Children’s Cancer Society, the National Home Healthcare Foundation and Kayl Association for Obesity , as well as initiating an animal awareness organization in Riyadh, to promote the safety and care of domestic and non-domestic animals.

Princess Sama embarked upon a flight journey, unparalleled to any other in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite having graduated with Bachelors in Business Administration, Princess Sama recently graduated from the Saudi Aviation Flight Academy with a private and commercial pilot’s license, the first female to study and graduate from this field in the Kingdom.

Maha AlQattan is DP World’s Group Chief Sustainability Officer, preparing the company for a radical shift in addressing climate change, education, and social inequality, particularly in logistics and business. She ensures DP World operates responsibly, prioritizing sustainability and community impact. Maha empowers 106,000 DP World employees in 78 countries across six continents to build a smart, sustainable future.

In early 2017, Maha joined DP World as Group Chief People Officer. She transformed the HR department, evolving it from traditional practices to innovative and agile methods. This role influenced her commitment to women’s education and employment initiatives. Before DP World, she worked at GE, focusing on Alstom’s power and grid business integration into GE in the MENA region.

Maha serves as an Executive Board Member of DP World UAE region and Hindustan Ports Private Limited. She is also a Non-Executive Board Member for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), SHUAA Capital, and the Board of Trustees for Universite Pantheon Assas. Her multifaceted expertise and dedication drive sustainability and corporate responsibility within DP World.

Kehkashan Basu, M.S.M. is an iconic global influencer, educator, environmentalist, champion of women and children’s rights, TEDx speaker, Climate Reality Mentor, author, musician, peace and sustainability campaigner. She is the recipient of Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal and the only Canadian to win the International Children’s Peace Prize. A Forbes 30 Under 30, Kehkashan is a United Nations Human Rights Champion, a National Geographic Young Explorer, a UNCCD Land Hero, a UN Habitat Young City Champion, the Regional Organizing Partner for North America for the NGO Major Group and one of Canada’s Top25 Women of Influence. Kehkashan is the Founder-President of global social innovation enterprise Green Hope Foundation, that works at a grassroots level in 28 countries, empowering over 500,000 young people and women, especially those from vulnerable communities, in the sustainable development process. She has spoken at over 500 United Nations and other global fora. She is the youngest Trustee of the Parliament of the World’s Religions and Co-Lead of UN Women Generation Equality Forum’s Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice. Kehkashan was named as one of the Top 100 SDG Leaders in the world in 2019. She is currently an MBA Candidate at Cornell University.

Jim joined The Power of Nutrition in June 2023. He is a senior international development and humanitarian leader with 40+ years’ experience across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, 27 of them in developing countries. He has wide-ranging governance (chair/trustee) and senior executive (CEO, CFO, COO) experience in global and local organisations, and a track record in establishing, leading, and governing organisations working on sustainable development, humanitarian action, social justice, and human rights. In recent years, Jim has focussed on providing interim executive services and supporting organisations with strategy and governance development.

Jim took time off in 2015/16 to complete an MSc in International Strategy and Diplomacy at LSE IDEAS to reflect on his experience and to see the world from a fresh perspective. Previously he studied Public Health, Development Policy, Philosophy and Theology.

Jim is from the UK. His spouse, a teaching assistant, is from Burkina Faso, where they have a second home. They have three (adult) boys.

Véronique Faujour has been Corporate Secretary of Crédit Agricole S.A. since January 2020. She is a member of the Executive Committee of Crédit Agricole S.A. She also has been Managing Director of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation since November 2022.

Véronique Faujour began her career in 1986 at Corn Product Company France as Assistant Product Manager for the Gerber baby food range. In July 1988, she joined Bayard Presse, first as Product Manager for Bayard Presse Jeune, then as Sales Director and finally as Head of Marketing for the Senior division, where she was in charge of development and distribution. From July 2000 to May 2005, she worked at the Publifa subsidiary of the La Vie/Le Monde group as publisher of Top Famille, going on to manage Fleurus Presse, a youth press subsidiary, in April 2004. In June 2005, she joined the Marie Claire group as magazine editor, before being appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Uni-Editions, a whollyowned subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole group, in April 2008. in January 2010 Véronique Faujour became Chief Executive Officer of Uni-Éditions. She was appointed Head of Marketing and Customer Communication at Crédit Agricole S.A. in November 2016.

Cheikh Oumar ANNE is the Senegalese Minister of National Education with a robust educational and professional trajectory in chemical engineering and process technology. His academic journey began at Lycée Malick SY, followed by a DUT in Chemical Engineering from ENSUT/Dakar, and an engineering diploma in Chemical Industries. He further obtained an AEA in Energy Management from the University of Paris XII and specialized in Industrial Process Control with a DEA. Dr. ANNE earned his Ph.D. in Process Engineering from ENSUT/University of Paris XII.

Professionally, he worked with PARK-DAVIS, BATA Senegal, and SOTIBA SYMPAFRIC, among others. As a Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Mines and later as Director-General of the Senegalese Agency for Technological Innovation, he made significant contributions. Academically, he has been a key figure at the Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique since 2007.

Politically, he has been influential as Minister-Counselor to President Wade, Mayor of Ndioum, and Director of COUD. His scientific work includes impactful research on ion exchange membranes and desalination, where he developed a chemical-free, non-thermal water treatment process, documented in multiple publications and international congresses.

As president and chief executive officer (CEO), Dr. Liesbet Steer brings more than two decades of experience in international development, education reform, and finance to her oversight of EDC’s domestic and international work. She leads the management team, which directs EDC’s major programmatic and business activities, and is a member of EDC’s Board of Trustees.

Liesbet comes to EDC from her role as the executive director of the global Education Commission, an international initiative driving greater progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for inclusive and equitable quality education and chaired by UN Special Envoy for Global Education and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown.

Prior to her role with the Education Commission, Liesbet served in numerous development, education, and finance roles. She was a fellow at the Brookings Institution, Global Economy and Development, where her work included authoring a flagship report, Financing Education: Opportunities for Global Action, which led to the establishment of the Education Commission. She has held leadership and other roles with organizations including the Overseas Development Institute, The Asia Foundation, and the World Bank. Between 1997 and 2007, she lived in Vietnam and Indonesia where she worked on economic development in the Asia region.

Liesbet serves on the Board of the International Finance Facility for Education and Greater Share, the Global Leadership Council of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, the High Level Steering Group of the Education Outcomes Fund, and the World Economic Forum Education 4.0 Alliance.

Liesbet was educated at the Universities of Antwerp and East Anglia and the London School of Economics. She holds a MSc in Quantitative Economics and a PhD in Development Economics. She is fluent in Dutch and English and speaks French and Indonesian conversationally.

Tala Ismail Al Ramahi serves as a Director for Reaching the Last Mile, a portfolio of global health programs and investments working to reduce the burden of preventable diseases and promote resilient and inclusive health systems. Reaching the Last Mile is driven by the personal philanthropy of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

Tala oversees strategy and portfolio management, in addition to establishing and steering Reaching the Last Mile’s global partnerships. In collaboration with private and public peers, these partnerships seek to strengthen primary health systems and advance health equity, prioritising interventions that meet the needs of local communities.

Prior to joining Reaching the Last Mile, Tala served as Chief Strategy Officer for the Special Olympics World Games 2019.

Tala serves on the boards of the Special Olympics UAE and UNITLIFE, a global secretariat addressing chronic malnutrition in early life through the empowerment of women and children. She is also a member of the steering committee for the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, a 10-year, multidonor fund established by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to support the elimination of two neglected tropical diseases.

Ayla has over 20 years of experience as an international sustainability expert, recognized for her work in corporate sustainability and sustainable development working with UN entities, governments, and multinational companies.

Ayla is currently Group Senior Vice President for Group Sustainability at DP World, spearheading the global delivery of DP World’s sustainability strategy “Our World Our Future.” She leads the coordination of DP World’s key responsible business practices and 3 legacy areas: Education, Water and Women, unifying DP World’s commitment to working sustainably across all its worldwide business functions with a multistake holder lens.

Ayla’s previous positions include Executive Director to the UN Global Compact UAE and Head of Sustainability for the Chalhoub Group, a leading luxury retailer, building its sustainability function ground up. Ayla is also the Founder of ampUz, an impact and sustainability technology & advisory company that advocates for a data driven approach to measuring progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Kerstin Stendahl is the Special Envoy on Climate and Environment at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland.  Before taking up this position a year ago she worked for the United Nations Programme in Nairobi as Hed of Branch in the Ecosystems Division.  She has also worked for UNEP in Geneva as Deputy Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and as Deputy Secretary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC.

Yasmine Sherif is the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the UN’s global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. A lawyer specialized in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law (LL.M), she has over 30 years of experience with the United Nations and international NGOs.
Ms. Sherif has served in some of the most crisis-affected areas of the world, including Afghanistan and the Middle East, the Balkans, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan. She has also led teams in New York and Geneva – from where she continues to conduct regular missions to countries affected by armed conflicts, forced displacement, climate-induced disasters and other crises.

Ms. Sherif began her UN career in Geneva and Afghanistan in 1989, later taking part in a peacekeeping mission in Cambodia which helped uncover undisclosed prisons in the Battambang province. She then joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1994 to facilitate the repatriation process in the Balkans during and following the Bosnian War. In 2000, she joined the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and was responsible for putting together bills for portfolio protection of civilians, humanitarian action and human rights. Then, from 2005 to 2015, she worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) building rule of law programmes in crisis-affected countries and on socio-economic development issues.
Ms. Sherif joined ECW in 2017, overseeing the establishment of the Fund’s Secretariat and stirring the rapid growth of the start up Fund’s operations, with US$1 billion mobilized and investments in 35 crisis-affected countries in less than 5 years of existence.

In her role as Director of ECW, Ms. Sherif spearheads the global movement that follows children and youth in need, wherever they are, while serving as a key advocate for their fundamental right to education on the global stage. She works closely with public and private donors, host governments, UN agencies, and international and national civil society organizations to inspire political commitment and increase funding for education in emergencies and protracted crises.

As a thought-leader in her sector and global advocate, Ms. Sherif is regularly featured in the media.

Ms. Sherif is the author of the book, “The Case for Humanity: An Extraordinary Session,” launched at the United Nations in New York in 2015, and a Champion for ‘No Lost Generation.’ In 2017, she received the annual award Sweden’s UN Friend of the Year, in 2020 she was awarded the Global Educator Award in the United States, and in 2022 she received on behalf of Education Cannot Wait, the prestigious Mother Teresa Award. Ms. Sherif also received an award from the United Nations Association-USA Brooklyn Chapter in 2023, and was recently honored as a Listee in Marquis Who’s Who for her dedication to the field of international affairs and law, and leadership of ECW.

She has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at Long Island University (LIU), and has published on international humanitarian and development issues, including on education, gender and human rights.

Kathleen Sherwin (she/her) serves as Plan International’s inaugural Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer as of January 2023. Kathleen leads the effort to let the world know who we are, to engage and connect people and partners to generate strategic and collaborative partnerships supporting the delivery of our global strategy to 2027, All Girls Standing Strong.

Kathleen’s priority is to influence and increase Plan International’s impact, profile and sustainability through our brand, external communications, marketing and influencing. And in achieving this work, bringing together, and aligning digital and innovation, strategy, communications, brand, partnerships and resource development, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning, and our UN, EU, AU advocacy offices.

Kathleen is former President & iCEO at Women Deliver. Kathleen served as interim President & Chief Executive Officer for two years, beginning in June 2020 through June 2022. Kathleen previously served as Women Deliver’s Chief Operating Officer and Senior Advisor, joining the organization in 2017. While at Women Deliver, Kathleen served as a Core Member of the Equal Measures 2030 Leadership Council (EM2030), Board Member Alternate for The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH), Board Member of the Adolescent Girls Investment Plan (AGIP), Advisor, Women’s Health Initiative, and World Economic Forum.

Nelly is a 23-year-old indigenous Puruha girl born in the Gualipite Jatumpamba community in Ecuador. She is currently part of the leading group of the Because I am a Girl Movement (BIAAG), a civil society organization conformed by young activists that seeks to end gender-based violence against girls and women. Nelly is a national representative of the communication committee. She considers that issues related to climate change are very important for the development of our society. Her vision for the future is to have gender equity in the educational and labor field, and the importance of opening new opportunities for new generations that need quality education in Ecuador. She works with youngsters in her community on rights issues and education for girls, boys and adolescent women in vulnerable situations. She believes that education is like a sword for women to cut into the different paradigms that society has imposed them. Nelly states that “For every girl who becomes a professional, 10 more girls will follow her footsteps to change the current role of women in society”. Nelly is a leader in the national Project of Youth4EiE in Ecuador, and other projects focused on the inclusion and empowerment of women.

Jesper Wohlert is Director of Partnerships in Humana People to People, a network of 29 independent national member organisations. With a background as teacher in the US and Scandinavia, Jesper became involved in international development in the late 80’es. Jesper’s focus in the first 20 years of work in international development centred on innovative resource mobilization for multi sector development programmes. Over the last 15 years he has led Humana People to People’s European hub in Madrid where a multicultural team of development professionals work with programmatic and funding support to the south based member organisations of the network. In the course of this work Jesper headed the collaboration with various European and multilateral donors in securing support for HPP member organisations’ programs in education, rural development, environment, climate change and health in alignment and fully integrated with national sector plans in Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Guinea-Bissau, DRC, South Africa, Namibia, India, China, Lao, Brazil, Ecuador and Belize. Jesper has been instrumental in the development of technical capacities in the Southern based network which enables a genuine ownership of development processes in the global south.

For more than 18 years, Nichole Cirillo, MA has been developing strategy, leading cross-cutting programs in matrix organizations, and empowering global teams and stakeholder partners across international development, NGO, and private sectors.

Nichole currently serves as Executive Director of the international development NGO IAVE, where she works to extend the reach and grow financing to scale impact towards the SDGs. In 2020, she launched a network of global changemakers which now includes more than 120 leaders in 95 countries. She works to build the capacity of these leaders through initiatives such as the Reskilling Revolution Africa (RRA), a program she created to build green-collar employability skills for youth, which she influenced the African Union to integrate into its 5-year plan to reach 300M youth and scoring recognition with UN bodies as a promising model for climate leadership.

As International Director at Earthwatch, Nichole enabled HSBC to launch first green bond of $100B and drove $11M to Earthwatch through building employee engagement strategy, preparing CSO to report quarterly to COO, training 1500 senior managers from 50 countries and 100 supply chain partners, and producing 23K hours of climate research. As an accomplished team leader, Nichole led the only department out of six to achieve zero turnover over three years amidst three CEOs through motivating global team of 12+ to deliver $4.6M in programming, creating three cross-functional communities of practice to facilitate learning, and coaching to promote professional development.

Nichole has also worked with front-line human rights defenders, ensuring they are recognized and resourced to enable greater impact. She has been proud to have worked to guarantee the basic right to water for 12% of the US by ensuring new California law passed, CA AB685, commissioning GAP analysis, designing strategy for Community Water Center and Safe Water Alliance, and organizing press tour for U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights to raise awareness.

As a recognized thought leader in climate change, water, and human rights Nichole regularly speaks to large audiences such as the IFRC Global Innovation Summit, US VA, the Strategic Technical Committee on Youth, African Union, Points of Light Annual Conference, UN High Level Forum on Sustainable Development, was an invited chapter contributor to Transforming Disruption Into Impact, published by Amplify in 2022, and which Kirkus Reviews called ‘an important guide to rethinking volunteer work in the 21st century’, and has secured media coverage from Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, How I Built This podcast.

Nichole holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Tufts University, and a Batchelor’s degree in Political Science from Rutgers University, and has been the recipient of the Eagleton Fellowship for Politics, the Middle East Environmental Fellowship awarded by the Quebec Labrador Foundation, and the Transformative Leadership Fellowship awarded by the Center for Whole Communities.

Jeffrey D. Sachs is University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he directed the Earth Institute from 2002 until 2016. He is President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Co-Chair of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition, Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development, academician of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at the Vatican, and Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Honorary Distinguished Professor at Sunway University. He has been Special Advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, and currently serves as an SDG Advocate under Secretary General António Guterres. He spent over twenty years as a professor at Harvard University, where he received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. Sachs has received 42 honorary doctorates, and his recent awards include the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development, the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of the Republic of France, and the Order of the Cross from the President of Estonia. His most recent books are The Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (2020) and Ethics in Action for Sustainable Development (2022).

Sara is an accomplished and results-driven professional with 17+ years of experience in education program management, marketing, and counselling. Sara completed course work for a Master of Arts in Counselling at Haigazian University in Beirut, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Public Administration from the American University of Beirut. Sara also has a professional diploma in Digital marketing in Strategy and planning. Sara is currently serving as the AMIDEAST/UAE Country Director. She has also worked with international companies with a focus on the Education sector such as Microsoft where she utilised marketing mechanisms and working with partners and different stakeholders to enhance the digital transformation journey of different educational entities in the region. She has focused on working on different programs targeting educators, students, and education decision makers. Sara also worked on multiple US State Department programs. She served as the EducationUSA program manager and advisor for 6 years through the AMIDEAST office in Lebanon where she worked on multiple scholarship programs in addition to managing the EducationUSA program. She has extensive experience in the MENA region with a focus on Lebanon and gulf countries. Sara led multiple programs and tasks in a high pressure and time sensitive environment. She has been recognized by the management for extraordinary client focus, detail orientation, industry knowledge, and a “does what it takes” attitude to “deliver exceptional customer service.” Sara has also won several awards throughout her career from Microsoft, the US State department, US Embassy, Lebanon and the “Amideast Presidential Award”. Sara has successfully built different partnerships in the education sector especially in the field of using technology in the classroom and facilitating the educational journey for students.

Her areas of expertise include:
Team Leadership & Coaching, International Education, Digital Marketing, Program Management, Community Outreach, Research & Development, Counselling & Academic Advice, Intercultural Communication and forming partnerships.

Kuljit Ghata-Aura is president of Boeing Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META). He is responsible for coordinating all companywide activities in the region and developing and implementing country and regional strategies. Ghata-Aura focuses on government affairs, new business and industrial partnership opportunities, corporate citizenship projects, expanding the Boeing presence and strengthening company relationships with customers and other stakeholders. He is based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and reports to Michael Arthur, president of Boeing International.

Ghata-Aura joined Boeing in 2010 and has progressed through several leadership positions. He most recently served as vice president and assistant general counsel for Boeing Global Services, from its inception in July 2017. He was responsible for the development and implementation of the strategy and activities of the  legal and compliance teams including business structuring, transactional support, litigation and governance.

Prior to that, Ghata-Aura held roles as regional counsel for Europe, Russia and Israel and between 2010 and 2016, was regional counsel for India, Middle East, Turkey and Africa based in Dubai. He was responsible for advising the enterprise on all legal and compliance issues within the regions. In addition to his legal responsibilities, he also served as director of UAE Market Development, where he was responsible for planning and implementing key company initiatives in the United Arab Emirates.

Before joining Boeing, Ghata-Aura was a founding partner of Eversheds in Abu  Dhabi. He previously spent 13 years practicing law in London, predominantly focusing on crossborder mergers & acquisitions, cross-border joint ventures, capital markets and general corporate and commercial work. Ghata-Aura is a British Citizen, born in Uganda, and grew up in London.  He is a graduate of Oxford University and qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1997.

Dr. Barza is an economist specialising in systemic resilience, including both human system resilience to climate change and nature and biodiversity decline, and natural system resilience to climate change and human activities. She leads development of the EBRD’s approach to policy and investment opportunities across these spaces.

Before joining the EBRD to lead the Bank’s climate adaptation and nature finance strategy, Dr. Barza worked in consulting across energy, financial markets, climate change, and disaster response.