Meet the Team

Xiye Bastida

Xiye Bastida is a Mexican climate activist and a member of the indigenous Otomi-Toltec nation. She is one of the major organizers of Fridays for Future New York City and has been a leading voice for indigenous and immigrant visibility in climate activism.

Emma Howard Boyd

Former Environment Agency Chair, Emma Howard Boyd, is Chair of the Green Finance Institute.

She’s also an Ex officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and an Advisor to the Board of Trade. Emma, with a background in finance, is a board member or advisor to many organisations which include The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project, the Green Finance Institute, the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment, the Centre for Greening Finance and Investment, the Council for Sustainable Business, the European Climate Foundation, and Menhaden PLC. Emma was the UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation from 2018 until its sunset in January 2021.

Before becoming the Chair of the Environment Agency in September 2016, she has served as a Board member since 2009, was Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee until 2016, and served as Deputy Chair. Her other past roles include being the Chair of Trustees at ShareAction from 2015 to 2018, Vice-Chair of the Future Cities Capital from 2013 and 2018, and acting as a Non-Executive Director at the Aldersgate Group (2012 -2018) and Thrive Renewables (previously Triodos Renewables, 2004-2012). Before that, she held various executive roles at Jupiter Asset Management. She was also Chair of UKSIF (the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association), a member of the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance, and the Green Finance Taskforce.

Dr Susan Chomba

Dr Susan Chomba is the Director of Vital Landscapes at the World Resources Institute (WRI). She leads WRI Africa’s work on forest protection and landscape restoration, food systems transformation and water. She is a scientist with extensive research and development experience on the continent for more than 15 years. Susan is a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), and a Global Ambassador for the Race to Zero and Resilience under the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions. She serves on advisory boards of several organizations and has received several global recognitions, including being named as one of  Global Landscapes Forum’s ‘16 Women Restoring the Earth’ in 2021; one of the top 25 women shaping climate action by Greenbiz in 2022, as well as BBC 100 Women in 2023.

Sarah El Battouty

Sarah El Battouty is a global award winning architect with 18 years’ experience in the field of Green and Environmental Buildings and Sustainable Development. Sarah is the founder of one of Egypt’s unique Environmental Design, training and strategy company ECOnsult who have achieved the highest number of energy saving certified projects in Egypt by an Egyptian consultant. Her design work spans from Egypt to Italy and China focusing on partnering with the private sector and government on implementing green projects with social impact. She is also an entrepreneur that founded another unique start-up in Egypt that specializes in transforming scrap waste into luxury high-end sustainable furniture. MuBun Sustainable Furniture is currently exporting. In 2014 Sarah was appointed as a senior Advisor to the Egyptian President focusing on sustainable community development. Sarah is among the most decorated and influential women in the field of climate change, environmental design and green economy by international institutions newly appointed as Global Ambassador to UNFCCC Race to Zero and Race to Resilience. She is among the first Arab and first Egyptian to be a finalist and awarded Ashden Partner and to receive the EarthShot Prestigious Global Nomination.

She has worked on several projects with the presidency adopted by government including introducing energy and water saving awareness programs into the media and education system as well the creation of a youth leadership program to empower youths to participate in the political process. She is among Egypt’s Top50 most influential Women.

Dr Agnes Kalibata

Since 2014, Dr. Kalibata has served as President of AGRA, where she leads the organization’s efforts with partners to ensure a food secure and prosperous Africa through rapid, sustainable agricultural growth, improving the productivity and livelihoods of millions of African smallholder farmers. Prior to joining AGRA, Dr. Kalibata was Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) from 2008 to 2014. She has a distinguished track record globally as an agricultural scientist, policy maker and thought leader.

As the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Dr. Kalibata provided leadership, guidance, and strategic direction towards the 2021 Food Systems Summit. She was responsible for outreach and cooperation with key leaders, including governments, to ensure the Summit served as a catalytic process within the Decade of Action to improve food systems around the world to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement.

Racquel Moses

Racquel Moses is a transformative leader and visionary known for driving sustainable development and climate resilience initiatives globally. Currently, she serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, where she spearheads efforts to implement climate-smart solutions across the Caribbean region. Her leadership has been instrumental in positioning the organization at the forefront of climate action.

With an impressive career spanning multiple industries and regions, Racquel has held key executive roles, including Head of Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago, President of InvesTT Trinidad and Tobago, and Regional Vice President for Fujitsu. Her strategic vision and innovation have consistently led organizations to remarkable success. Racquel has also served as the global Web3 Board member for Salesforce.com.

Her dedication to building resilience and fostering collaboration is evident through her involvement with the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee and various other influential platforms. Racquel’s ability to inspire and drive impactful change has made her a significant force in shaping the global sustainability agenda.
Her multifaceted career and unwavering commitment to sustainability make Racquel Moses a standout leader and an influential advocate for climate resilience and innovation.

As the newest UN Global Ambassador in the Race to Zero, Racquel has become a critical advisor for: driving the shift to digital; process automation, and implementing key turnaround projects that heighten customer engagement and strengthen organizational performance. Known for her ability to build coalitions, Racquel’s success in the public and private sectors has allowed her to drive important advancements on world-changing topics that require regional consensus, such as climate change, sustainability and building resilience.

Mahmoud Mohieldin

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin is an economist with more than 30 years of experience in international finance and development. Dr. Mohieldin was the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP 27, Egypt. He currently serves as the Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund representing the Arab States and The Maldives. He has been the United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda since February 2020.

Previously, Dr. Mohieldin was the Minister of Investment of Egypt from 2004-2010, and more recently, served as the World Bank Group Senior Vice President for the 2030 Development Agenda, United Nations Relations and Partnerships. Dr. Mohieldin also served on several Boards of Directors in the Central Bank of Egypt and the corporate sector. He was a member of the Commission on Growth and Development and was selected a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2005.

He is a Professor of Economics and Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University and as a Visiting Professor at several renowned Universities in Egypt, Korea, the UAE, the UK and the USA. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of Durham University Business School. Dr. Mohieldin holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom; an M.Sc. in Economics and Social Policy Analysis from the University of York, United Kingdom; a Diploma of Development Economics from the University of Warwick; and a B.Sc. in Economics from Cairo University. The American University in Cairo bestowed Dr. Mohieldin degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, in recognition of his status as a leading public servant at both the national and international levels focusing on economic reform, development, and inclusion. He has authored numerous publications and articles in leading journals in the fields of economics, finance, and development.

Gonzalo Muñoz

Gonzalo is also the co-founder of Ambition Loop, an NGO working on pressing climate and nature issues. Previously, he co-founded and led TriCiclos, one of the most recognised Latin American companies in circular economy and recycling. TriCiclos was the first company certified as a B Corp outside North America. Gonzalo also co-founded Sistema B and Polkura Winery. Currently, he sits on the board of the Global Foodbanking Network, CDP Latin America, IDB Invest, Chapter Zero Chile, TED Future Forum, and ECODES Spain, among others. He has been a member of the National Committees on Water, Climate Action, Green Hydrogen, Electromobility and Circular Economy. Also, he is co-founder and leader of Manuia, supporting companies to incorporate ESG criteria in their strategy and operations to generate triple impact.

Sheela Patel

Sheela Patel is the founder director of the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), an NGO based in Mumbai, that has been working since 1984 to support community organisations of the urban poor in their efforts to access secure housing and basic amenities and seek their right to the city.

SPARC has been working in alliance with two Community Based Organizations – National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF) and Mahila Milan (women’s collectives in slums) that are active in 70 cities in different states of India. Since 1999, she has also been Secretary and Chief Executive of SPARC Samudaya Nirman Sahayak (SSNS), a non-profit company set up to assist slum communities take on construction projects in cities to provide slum dwellers to build homes and sanitation for themselves.
She is a founder amongst many of Slum Dwellers International, a transnational social movement of the urban poor in Asia, Africa and Latin America, whose board she previously chaired.

Patel is widely recognised – nationally and internationally – for seeking urgent attention to the issues of urban poverty, housing and infrastructure onto the radar of governments, bilateral and international agencies, foundations and other organizations. Among other things, Sheela is currently a trustee of the International Institute or Environment and Development (IIED) and was a Commissioner of the Commission for Adaptation to climate change between 2018-2020.

Paul Polman

Paul Polman works to accelerate action by business to tackle climate change and inequality.

As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), Paul demonstrated that business can profit through purpose, marrying a long-term, multi-stakeholder model with excellent financial performance. During Paul’s tenure, shareholders saw their returns increase by 290% while the company consistently ranked 1st in the world for sustainability.

Today Paul works across a range of organisations to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which he helped develop. This includes his work to drive systems change with Systemiq and bold new industry coalitions, including in fashion and food. He leads the UN Global Compact, is a Global Ambassador for the Race to Zero, and works to develop our next generation of leaders, through the Oxford University Saïd Business School, INSEAD, One Young World and others. Paul’s actively campaigns on a range of human rights issues, including promoting disability inclusion through the Valuable 500 and the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, which he set up with his wife Kim. Follow him on twitter and sign up to receive his newsletter here. More on www.paulpolman.com

Manuel Pulgar Vidal

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal is the Global Leader of Climate & Energy at WWF. He has 35 years of experience in environmental law and policy and served as Minister of the Environment of Peru (2011 to 2016) and President of the Twentieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP20 in 2014.

Pulgar-Vidal was the Executive Director of the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law, an influential institution in Latin America. He has a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, where he is a professor, and has completed studies for a master’s degree in Business Law at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas. He is a board member of Forest Trends, Amazon Conservation Association and Peruvian Society of Environmental Law and a member of the Assembly of the World Wide Fund for Nature – Colombia.

He has recently been added to the Aspen Institute Management and Leadership Advisory Group and is the chairman of the evaluation council of the French sovereign Green Bonds. He is an active member of different groups aiming to get strong outcomes as a part of the formal climate talks and the non-party stakeholders’ agenda. He has been recognized by the governments of France, Germany and Spain and by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for his contribution to the Paris Agreement.

Johan Rockström

Johan Rockström is an internationally leading scientist on Earth system resilience, global sustainability and sustainable development. He is the Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany, Professor in Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam, and Chief Scientist of Conservation International. He is the former Founding Director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University, and the former Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute.

He is deeply involved in numerous research activities covering a broad range of topics related to the Earth System and global sustainability in the Anthropocene with the overarching research question: “What is the safe operating space for Humanity’s future on Earth, and what are the sustainable transformations that can take us there?”.

Rockström has over 25 years’ experience in interdisciplinary research on sustainable development and Earth system research, ranging from global water resources, ecosystem services, agricultural development, and social-ecological resilience, with over 250 research publications. He serves as advisor to international organizations, governments, the UN and the European Union, and is a frequent keynote speaker for international business, policy and academia. He led the transition team designing Future Earth (www.futureearth.org) (the integration of the Global Environment Change programs under ICSU), served on the Swedish Prime Minister’s (PM) Futures Commission 2012-2013.

He is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In 2012 and 2013 he was voted Sweden’s most influential person on environmental issues, in 2009 Swede of the year, in 2023, he was listed as one of the TIME100 most influential people in the world. In 2024, he received the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement.

Foto Credit: Jadranko Marjanovic

Feike Sijbesma

Feike Sijbesma was CEO of Royal DSM from 2007 till 2020, and transformed DSM from a bulk-chemical company into a global leading Life- & Materials Sciences company, focused on nutrition, health & sustainable living. At DSM sustainability and innovation are core values and main business drivers. DSM is a purpose driven company: doing well (450% Shareholder Return) by doing good and contributing to a better world. Feike is a strong advocate for diversity as well.

After stepping down as CEO, he became DSM’s Honorary Chairman. In first half of 2020, Feike was the Netherlands’ Special Corona Envoy.

Feike is currently Supervisory Board Chairman of Royal Philips.

Feike is also co-chair, together with Ban Ki-Moon, of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). He is Climate Leader of the World Bank, focusing on carbon pricing. He is heading the CEO Climate Leaders group and also member of the IMF Advisory Board and advisor of Africa Improved Foods and The Ocean Cleanup.

Mr. Sijbesma received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the UN; as well as an honorary doctorate from Maastricht and Groningen University (NL); he was listed on Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders, and one of world’s 100 most successful CEO’s by Harvard Business Review. In 2021 Feike Sijbesma got decorated as Grand Officer in the order of Orange Nassau, one of The Netherlands’ highest royal decorations.

Nigel Topping

Nigel is an industrialist, economist and climate diplomat. He was part of the team that built TMD Friction into the number one global manufacturer of brake pads.  For the last two decades Nigel has been using his industrial experience to champion the role of business in tackling climate change, co-launching many collaborative initiatives such as We Mean Business, SBTi, Race to Zero, Race to Resilience and GFANZ.  He is the business champion on the UK Climate Change Committee and the climate expert on the board of the UK National Wealth Fund. He was the UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP26 and founded Ambition Loop with Gonzalo Munoz in 2024.