World Sustainable Development Summit 2025 - WSDS 2025

Mr. Anshuman
Director,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Mr Anshuman is Director of the Water Resources Division, TERI. His work spans across areas such as integrated water resource management, water use efficiency, and water quality & quantity assessment.

Mr. Perumal Arumugampillai Kalyani
Manager,
UNFCCC

At UNFCCC, leads the implementation of the Markets and non-markets related work under the Paris agreement, and oversees the intergovernmental negotiations process on all international co-operative and market related instruments under the convention, Kyoto Protocol and the Paris agreement (Article 6), regulatory development for centralized mechanism, review of the cooperative approaches under Article 6, stakeholder interaction and capacity building. working group member in the International civil aviation organization (ICAO) process covering issues like alternative fuels for aviation and carbon offsets towards carbon neutral growth 2020 in aviation sector.

Mr. Mukhtar Babayev
Minister,
Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources

Mukhtar Babayev was born on October 16, 1967 in Baku. He graduated from high school in Baku in 1984 and served in the military between 1986-1988. In 1991, he graduated from Moscow State University, Faculty of Philosophy, majoring in political science. In 1994, he received bachelor degree in Foreign Economic Relations of Azerbaijan State University of Economics. In 2000, he graduated from the specialty in World Economy of All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade.

Mr. Manish Bapna
President and CEO,
NRDC

Manish Bapna joined NRDC as president and chief executive officer in August 2021, taking the reins of one of the world’s largest and most influential environmental organizations. With more than 700 attorneys, scientists, advocates, and policy experts on staff, as well as three million supporting members, NRDC is confronting the interlocking climate, health, nature, and inequity crises facing the world today.

During his 25-year career prior to joining NRDC, Bapna’s leadership roles have focused on scaling solutions at the intersection of the environment and human development. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and managing director of the World Resources Institute (WRI). Over his 14-year tenure, WRI increased its impact and reach, with staff and budget expanding sixfold. Bapna played the lead role in establishing WRI offices in China, India, and Brazil and was a key architect of several influential, multi-stakeholder initiatives, such as the Global Commission on Adaptation, NDC Partnership, New Climate Economy, and the International Research Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals. He also helped launch WRI’s programs on cities, energy, finance, and adaptation.

An economist by training, Bapna became the executive director of the Bank Information Center (BIC) in 2003, a nonprofit that works to protect the rights of local communities and the environment from the negative impacts of projects and policies financed by development banks. He was inspired to join BIC after serving as a senior economist at the World Bank for seven years, where he designed and implemented water, forestry, and rural development projects in Asia and Latin America. Several of these projects received international recognition and were highly rated in independent evaluations. Prior to joining the World Bank, Bapna was a strategy consultant for McKinsey & Company in the financial services and technology industries.

Bapna has testified before Congress on international sustainability issues and holds affiliations with international environmental bodies, including China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, Meridian Institute, and Natural Resources Governance Institute. 

Bapna was born outside of Chicago. He holds master’s degrees in business and political and economic development from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT. His wife, Geeta, works for the International Rescue Committee, and they live in Maryland with their two children, Laila and Arav, and their exuberant dog, Finley. 

Mr. Ranjit Barthakur
Founder Forester,
Balipara Foundation

Ranjit Barthakur As the Founder & President of the Balipara Foundation, an organization focused on Eastern Himalaya (India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar & Nepal), he has worked towards achieving ecological neutrality and building knowledge on the region. Through his role as Chairman of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) Northeast Advisory Council, he has contributed to the growth and development of the Northeast India. He has been instrumental in developing a series of five volumes of Naturenomics™ defining the interdependence between ecology and economics. In September 2023 he has been instrumental in launching Great People’s Forest and Planet India. Ranjit Barthakur is an ardent social entrepreneur, with a special interest in improving health and education, and preserving culture and environment across the Eastern Himalayas. He is the chief architect of the vision behind NaturenomicsTM - develop

Ms. Suruchi Bhadwal
Senior Fellow and Programme Director,
TERI

Ms Suruchi Bhadwal, Senior Fellow and Programme Director, Climate Change and Air Quality, TERI, leads research activities in the area of climate change, focusing mainly on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation assessments and works in close association with communities. She has been with TERI since October 2000 and has contributed to several projects. Some of the key projects she has worked on include a study on vulnerability to climate change in the Indian agricultural sector in the context of economic globalization, (supported by CIDA and the Government of Norway), contributions to India's first and second national communications submitted to the UNFCCC and World Bank supported study on vulnerability to climate variability and change through an assessment of issues and options for adaptation.

Ms Bhadwal is also listed as a UNDP regional roster of expert on vulnerability and adaptation. Furthermore, she has been identified as a Member by the Planning Commission as part of a Working Group on Climate Change and Environment for the XIIth V Year Plan (2012-2017).

She has also been closely associated with the International Human Dimensions Programme attending numerous open meetings and Institutes organised by them. At COP events she has been actively involved, as an observer, organizer and contributor. She has published several papers on related issues and has contributed as a Lead Author for the IPCC AR4 WGII Report. She is also a Review Editor for the IPCC AR5 WG II Report and the IPCC Special Report on Extreme Events. Ms Bhadwal has a Masters in Environmental Sciences from Hissar in Haryana.

Mr. Satyajit Bhatkal
CEO,
Paani Foundation

Mr. Satyajit Bhatkal is the CEO of Paani Foundation, whose mission is to create an ecologically and economically prosperous rural Maharashtra, via a people's movement. Between 2016 and 2019, over 6,000 villages trained with the foundation to create over 550 billion litres of water storage capacity. Currently, they work with over 40,000 farmers in Maharashtra to improve livelihoods at scale via sustainable agricultural practices. Before setting up the foundation, Mr. Bhatkal created and directed ‘Satyamev Jayate’, a globally acclaimed TV show on social issues, hosted by actor Aamir Khan. He has also directed the National Award-winning documentary, ‘Chale Chalo’ and has been actively involved in furthering social causes for the last 30 years. 

Dr. Yash Veer Bhatnagar
Country Representative,
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Dr Yash Veer Bhatnagar is the Country Representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) India office. He brings over three decades of work experience in conservation science and practice and in program development and management nationally and internationally. He has led and facilitated multi-stakeholder partnerships across India with government agencies including the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) and state forest departments, NGOs, universities, and private-sector organizations.

He has served as a scientist with the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, an autonomous body under the MOEFCC. He joined the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Mysore, as a Senior Scientist where he served as the Country Programme Director for the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT) India. He joined the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme Secretariat in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic as Landscape Management Planning Coordinator.

Dr Bhatnagar holds a PhD and master’s in wildlife science from Saurashtra University/WII, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in agriculture from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, India.

His primary interests are in enabling science-based, participatory conservation at scale that effectively involves all stakeholders, including the community, government, and private sector.

Prof. Amar Bhattacharya
Senior Fellow,
Brookings Institution

Amar Bhattacharya is Senior Fellow at the Global Economy and Development Program at Brookings Institution and Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics. His focus areas are the global economy, sustainable finance, global governance, and the links between climate and development including on the role of sustainable infrastructure. He co-led the Independent Expert Group on Climate Finance commissioned by the UN Secretary General. He is currently serving as the Executive Secretary of the High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance launched by the COP26 and COP27 Presidencies. From April 2007 until September 2014 he was Director of the Group of 24, an intergovernmental group of developing country Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. Prior to taking up his position with the G24, Mr. Bhattacharya had a long-standing career in the World Bank. His last position was Senior Advisor to the President on the Bank’s international engagements and Head of the International Policy and Partnership Group. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Delhi and Brandeis University and his graduate education at Princeton University.

Mr. Andreas Bjelland Eriksen
Minister of Climate and Environment,
Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment

H.E. Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen has served as Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment since October 2023, representing the Labour Party.

Previously, he was appointed State Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister in Oct 2021. In Aug 2022 was also appointed State Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Between 2020-2022 he served as political advisor to the Labour Party in the Standing Committee on Business and Industry in the Norwegian Parliament.

From 2017-2020 Bjelland Eriksen worked for the Norwegian Energy Regulatory Authority at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE).

Bjelland Eriksen has an MSc in Economics and Business Administration from NHH Norwegian School of Economics and Università Bocconi (2012-2017).

He was born in Stavanger, Rogaland in 1992.

Dr. Akanksha Chaurey
Director,
IT Power Private Limited

Dr. Akanksha Chaurey is an expert on renewable energy technologies and markets and has led several projects dealing with technology assessment, market analysis, development of business models, capacity building, etc. She has 35 years of experience in renewable energy sector with specialization in decentralised and distributed generation and has worked in more than 20 countries.  She has held the positions of Director in TERI till 2012 and subsequently, CEO of IT Power Private Limited till 2023.   Akanksha completed her graduation in Physics from St. Stephens College, Delhi and then pursued her M.Sc. in Physics and M.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, India. In 2011, she was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree by IIT Delhi. She has the lifetime membership of Solar Energy Society of India and has been serving several expert committees and task forces on solar energy and distributed generation. Akanksha has experience as Board director in for-profit and not-for profit organizations.

Dr. Rajiv Chhibber
Vice President,
Sahajanand Medical Technologies Ltd (SMT)

Dr Rajiv Chhibber, PhD – Vice President External Affairs, Government, CSR & ESG Sahajanand Medical Technologies Ltd. (SMT)   Dr Rajiv Chhibber is a Senior Corporate Affairs, Policy, Communications and Media Strategist with experience across Pharmaceuticals/Medical Devices Industry, Healthcare,Environment, Power and the Development Sector.   At SMT Dr Chhibber is responsible for driving strategic priorities and business vision with the Central and State governments, Regulatory agencies, Industry bodies, NGOsand Associations in addition to advising on policy matters, advocacy, managing complex reputational issues, Outreach and stakeholder engagement for the adoption of portfolio products while working closely with the senior management and global leadership.    He is a member of various government committees/sub-committees in areas of Public Policy.

Mr. Manish Chourasia
COO - Corporate & Cleantech Finance,
Tata Capital Limited

Manish is a financial services professional with over 25 years of experience in origination, credit risk assessment, risk management, syndication, and business transformation in the Asia-Pacific region. Within the mentioned functional categories, he has handled various products, including infrastructure finance, structured finance, trade finance, and investment banking. From July 2015 to December 2023, he served as the managing director of Tata Cleantech Capital (TCCL), the world's first private sector Green Investment Bank, jointly promoted by Tata Capital Ltd and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). During his tenure, the company, starting from scratch, funded/syndicated over 350 projects in the clean-tech sector. Additionally, the company executed several marquee advisory assignments and partnered with global climate finance investors to channelize low-cost funds into the clean-tech sector in India. In November 2018, the company was chosen as the “Best RE Financier of the Year- NBFC” at the 2nd Edition of the Green Finance Awards. In September 2019, it was inducted into the Global Green Bank network, comprising Green Banks from countries like the US, UK, Japan, and Australia. In June 2021, TCCL won the Earth Care Award sponsored by Times of India under the category of Enterprise in the Renewable Energy Space. For two consecutive years, in February 2019 and February 2020, Manish was presented the “100 Top Most Influential BFSI Leaders” award by the World BFSI Congress, recognizing the contribution made by TCCL in the war against climate change. Starting January 1st, 2024, TCCL has merged with Tata Capital Ltd. In the merged entity, Manish will be designated Chief Operating Officer, Corporate & Cleantech Finance, with responsibilities to oversee Cleantech Finance, Large Corporate, Mid Corporate, and Emerging Corporate Verticals

Mr. Dipak Dasgupta
Distinguished Fellow,
TERI

Mr Dipak Dasgupta is engaged with the Earth Science and Climate Change Division of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as its Distinguished Fellow. He is also serving as a Visiting Fellow at the Council for Social Development, and is an adviser to multilateral institutions and governments in India and other countries.

An economist, specializing in climate change and finance, macroeconomics, agriculture, and economic development, Mr Dasgupta is member of the core writing team, Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment IPCC, and a Lead Author of its Working Group III (mitigation) report.

He was a founding Board Member of the Green Climate Fund (2012-2015), the largest dedicated global climate fund, and chair-facilitator of its Investment Committee. Prior to his stint at TERI, Mr Dasgupta was a Principal Economic Adviser to the Government of India, Ministry of Finance (2010-2013), where he headed its Climate Finance unit and finance negotiations at the Conference of Parties. He has also worked in a senior capacity at the World Bank Group for three decades on economic policies and investment programs in several regions and countries, including India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, China, and other countries in East Asia and Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & North Africa regions.

He is also a recipient of the Adam Smith Prize in economics at Cambridge and the AMEX Bank review award for finance in Singapore.

Mr. Nitin Desai
Chairman,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Mr Nitin Desai is a distinguished economist and a well-known voice in public policy for a nationally and internationally, especially in the sustainable development sector. He was in the Planning Commission (1973-88) and later served as the Chief Economic Adviser and Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, in the Ministry of Finance (1988-90). He also served as Senior Economic Adviser for the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) where he introduced the concept of sustainable development. He was the Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs in the UN, where his major contributions included the organization of a series of global summits, notably the Rio Earth Summit (1992), the Copenhagen Social Development Summit (1995), the Monterrey Finance and Development Summit (2002) and the Johannesburg Sustainable Development Summit (2002). He oversaw the creation of the Commission on Sustainable Development in the UN, and was the first Under Secretary General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development.

Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar
Hon'ble Vice President of India,

 Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon'ble Vice President of India

Dr. Vibha Dhawan
Director General,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Dr Vibha Dhawan’s long association with The Energy and Resources Institute dates back to 1985. During 2005-2007 she led TERI School of Advanced Studies in the capacity of Vice-Chancellor. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India and is currently also serving as an Adjunct Professor, at Consul General South Asia Partnership, Michigan State University. Being driven by a deep academic and research interest, Dr Dhawan has authored 6 books and over 50 publications, which have added immense value in scientific research.

Dr Dhawan’s thought leadership and engagement in research as well as policy development, both at the national and international level is widely acknowledged. She is currently a task force member of National Committees with the Department of Biotechnology, the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, and the Biotech Consortium India. Dr Dhawan is currently a member of the Networks Strategy Council that advises Sustainable Development Solutions Network – a global initiative for the United Nations and was previously the Co-Chair of the T20 Task Force 4 on Refuelling Growth: Clean Energy and Green Transitions. Under her able leadership, the National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping, in collaboration with Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, was established at TERI campus.

She played a pivotal role as Co-ordinator for the Asia Pacific Consortium on Agriculture Biotechnology (APCoAB); as Advisor to the Director General, The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) as well as Deputy Director, Research Partnerships & Co-ordination with the Borlaug Institute for South Asia. She has served on the boards of prestigious organizations in India and overseas including Jawahar Lal Nehru University, Ambedkar University, Ayurvet Foundation and Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).

Dr Dhawan was instrumental in establishing the highly successful Micropropagation Technology Park at TERI. Her other major achievements include developing e-contents for the post-graduate programme in biotechnology for the University Grants Commission. Her recent research interests are in the area of biofuels. 

She was the key lead for the DBT-TERI Centre on Integrated Production of Advanced Biofuels and Biocommodities. Her role as an advisor to the Late Tarun Gogoi, the former Chief Minister of Assam specifically in the field of Bioresources and Biotechnology is worth placing on record.

The honour bestowed upon Dr Dhawan as one of Game-Changers from India by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, a respected Cabinet Member and the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in the UAE is another feather in her cap. She has been also conferred with the Woman in Agriculture Award, and Social Impact Leadership Award in 2023. Several other awards Dr Dhawan won include Indian Women Achievers Sammaan 2017 by NRI Achievers; Women Leadership Agriculture Award 2016 by the Indian Council of Food & Agriculture; First Biotech Product and Process Development and Commercialization Award of the Department of Biotechnology in 2000, the Kamal Kumari National Award for Science and Technology and the first All India Biotech Association (AIBA) award in 1998.

Ms. Bahar Dutt
Associate Professor,
Shiv Nadar University

Award winning journalist Bahar Dutt  is trained as a conservation biologist- and has worked as an Environment Editor with India’s leading English newschannel CNN-News18 and has won over 14 national and international awards for her reportage on green issues. She is the author of the book ‘Green Wars- Dispatches from a Vanishing World by Harper Collins in 2014 and Rewilding in India with Oxford University Press in 2019.  She is currently teaching undergraduate students at the Shiv Nadar University in New Delhi

Mr. Eric Garcetti
Ambassador,
U.S. Embassy, New Delhi

H.E Mr Eric Garcetti is the U.S. Ambassador in India. After serving twelve years as a Los Angeles city councilmember, Garcetti was elected as the 42nd Mayor of the City of Los Angeles in 2013

Dr. Prodipto Ghosh
Distinguished Fellow,
TERI

Prodipto Ghosh is involved in research and teaching at the interface of science, economics, philosophy, and public policy. Currently, he is Distinguished Fellow at TERI. He is also Member of the Task Force on Inter-linking of Rivers, and Task Forces of other bodies including FICCI, etc. He was earlier Member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Cabinet, Governing Council of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, Indian Resource Panel, PMs Council on Climate Change, Advisory Committee on G-20 matters of the Ministry of Finance, and member of the National Security Advisory Council. He was Adjunct Faculty at the Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh (where he lectured on Indian macroeconomic policy and public finance), TERI SAS  (where he taught post-graduate courses on Normative Ethics, Microeconomics and Regulation, and Climate Change and Policy), and Visiting Fellow at the Smith College, Oxford (with whom he engaged in collaborative policy research). He was an external examiner for M.Phil. and Ph.D dissertations in the Department of Philosophy, Delhi University, and Ph.D dissertations in the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, besides TERI SAS.

He was a member of the IAS from 1969 to 2007, when he retired as Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. He has also held the positions of Economic Advisor and Additional Secretary to the PM (during which he was Member-Secretary of the PMs Economic Advisory, and Trade and Industry Councils, as well as co-Executive Secretary of the Indo-US Economic Dialogue), Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, and Senior Environment Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, Manila. He was a member of India’s negotiating team at the UNFCCC climate change negotiations from 2001 to 2012. He is the author of a number of peer reviewed research papers, and several newspaper articles.

He has a Ph.D in Economics and Policy Analysis from the Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, and a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from IIT Delhi, and has received Alumni Achievement Awards from both institutions. He is also the recipient of the BP Pal Centenary Memorial Award. 

Ms. Sugandha Gopal
Partner,
JSA Advisors & Solicitors

Sugandha Gopal is a Partner at Jyoti Sagar Associates focusing on aspects of legal, regulatory, policy, commercial, strategy, and compliance-related issues arising in power and infrastructure projects.

Ms. Urmi Goswami
Assistant Editor,
The Economic Times

A senior journalist, Urmi writes on environment, climate change, sustainable development, and transition to a net-zero economy. She has attended and reported on international negotiations on climate and environment since the 2009 Conference of Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark, the United Nations Environment Assembly from 2014 and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). An UNFCCC Complus fellow (2011-14), Urmi is on the newspaper's edit team, where besides environment she focuses foreign policy, education, health, labour. She has previously reported on beats like education, industry associations, politics, rural development, energy sector.  She regularly participates in discussions on climate change, environment and sustainability on Indian and foreign radio and television. She has written a book for children "Pollution Solutions: For a Cleaner Greener Earth" (TERI Press, 2022) and is contributing author to Beat Reporting and Editing: Journalism in the Digital Age (eds Surbhi Dahiya and Shambhu Sahu).

Mr. Tim Gould
Chief Energy Economist,
International Energy Agency (IEA)

Tim Gould was appointed the Agency’s Chief Energy Economist in 2021. As Chief Energy Economist, he provides strategic advice on energy economics across a wide range of IEA activities and analysis. Mr Gould is also Head of the Division for Energy Supply and Investment Outlooks, in which capacity he co-leads the World Energy Outlook, the IEA’s flagship publication, and oversees the Agency’s work on investment and finance, including the World Energy Investment report.
Mr Gould joined the IEA in 2008, initially as a specialist on Russian and Caspian energy, and in recent years has designed and directed the World Energy Outlook together with the IEA’s Chief Energy Modeller while contributing to the Outlook as a principal author. Prior to joining the IEA, Mr Gould was Senior Advisor to the Secretary General of the Energy Charter and has ten years of experience in Eastern Europe, primarily in Ukraine. He graduated from Oxford University and has a post-graduate diploma from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University.

Mr. Vineet Handa
CEO,
Kaizzen

Vineet Handa is a visionary entrepreneur and the driving force behind the success of Kaizzen, a leading communications organization that has evolved under his astute leadership. As the Founder and CEO of Kaizzen, Vineet has transformed Kaizzen from a humble homegrown venture into a global powerhouse with operations that span globally.

Vineet’s leadership philosophy places strong emphasis on social impact work, leveraging the power of communication to make a positive difference in the community. Kaizzen not only focuses on ESG consultations; Kaizzen Care, the CSR wing of Kaizzen also works with different NGOs on initiatives that goes beyond conventional business goals.  For his lifelong work in the field, Exchange4Media named Vineet as the PR and Communications Maestro for 2023.

A career with over 25 years of journey Vineet had served a two years term as Associate Director, The Energy and Resource Institute- Delhi, and held various senior positions at India’s leading communications companies before starting Kaizzen.

In addition to Kaizzen, Vineet has also founded OFactor and Craftsman Solutions; and took lead in a study project with EY on Sports development and its impact on livelihood in North Eastern Indian states.

Hailing from a small town Chinndwara in Madhya Pradesh from where he completed his elementary and higher education today Vineet is the complete package of marketing prowess, dynamic personality and a poised, confident attitude that makes for an efficient leader.

Dr. Veena Joshi
Senior Advisor, Energy,
Embassy of Switzerland

Prior to retirement, she worked in different capacities at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), a bi-lateral cooperation arm of the Government of Switzerland in New Delhi. She joined SDC, India in 1994 to develop its Energy and Environment programme in India. In the 20 years with SDC, she participated in developing and managing several programmes in the international frameworks for climate change and ozone depletion. A special feature in most of these technical interventions was its human and institutional dimension.
Prior to joining SDC, she was a researcher at the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) for ten years. There she developed and led projects in the areas of Rural Energy Research and Extension, and Energy-Environment Interface. She was part of the senior management team. Over the ten years at TERI, she developed a commitment to conducting/supporting interdisciplinary research and program development to support policy and practice relevant to solving problems that face the underserved sections of society.

Ms. Pamela Jouven
Director,
SME Climate Hub

As Director of the SME Climate Hub, Pamela works with international partners, multinational companies and governments to accelerate a global movement and develop a one-stop-shop platform mobilizing small and medium-sized enterprises to take climate action on net zero. Pamela previously served as Head of City Business Climate Alliances at C40, where she was responsible for expanding C40’s service offering to member cities relating to the acceleration of climate solutions with local and global businesses. Her experience also includes initiating and leading multi-partner programmes focused on innovation and sustainability for Virgin Unite, the non-profit arm of the Virgin Group, and University of the Arts London.

Dr. Livleen K Kahlon
Associate Director,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Dr Livleen K Kahlon is Associate Director, Environment Education and Awareness at TERI. She is actively involved in strategic execution of various models of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to achieve transformative impact amongst several sections of the society.

Dr. Tejal Kanitkar
Associate Professor,
National Institute of Advanced Studies

I am an Associate Professor in the Energy, Environment, and Climate Change Program, in the School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, at NIAS. I am a mechanical engineer by training and have worked in the area of energy and climate studies since 2006. My research interests lie in trying to integrate perspectives from the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences to understand the interconnected aspects of energy production, environmental constraints, and economic development, with a perspective that prioritizes equity in the era of acute environmental crises such as climate change. 

Dr. Shailly Kedia
Senior Fellow and Associate Director,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Dr Shailly Kedia is a policy researcher who is an Associate Director and Senior Fellow with the Centre for Sustainable Development Research and Leadership at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Since 2021, she is also the Curator of TERI’s flagship initiative - the World Sustainable Development Summit. Dr Kedia has been with TERI since 2009 and is a multidisciplinary research professional with over 17 years of experience in policy research, outreach, and capacity building. Her areas of expertise include green budgeting, sustainable development policy, green growth, green public procurement, sustainable consumption and production, international organization, finance, and the interface between traditional and non-traditional security. She has pioneered the policy innovation of green budgeting.

In the past, Dr Kedia has worked with the Sustainable Development Network of the World Bank in Washington, DC; and with the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. A Board Member of World Sustainable Development Forum, she is a Co-chair of the Taskforce on Sustainable Lifestyles of the Think-20, an Engagement Group of the G20. She has also been Member of the Taskforce on Greening Rural Development of the Ministry of Rural Development; Member of the Indo-German Expert Group on Green and Inclusive Economy; and Co-chair of the Green Growth Knowledge Platform Research Committee on Inclusiveness. Dr Kedia has a doctoral degree in International Organization from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Master of Business Administration (Finance) from University of Stirling, Scotland, and Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) from the National Institute of Technology, Surat. She has pursued a Post-baccalaureate Elective in International Development from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and completed an Executive Programme on Leadership from Harvard Business School.

Ms. Deepali Khanna
Vice President,
The Rockefeller Foundation

Ms. Deepali Khanna is Vice President, Asia for The Rockefeller Foundation and leads the Foundation’s initiatives here to build strategic collaborations to maximize impact and influence. As a part of the senior leadership team at the Foundation, she contributes to the Foundation’s efforts to make opportunity universal and sustainable. With over three decades of experience in the development sector, working with organizations such as MasterCard Foundation, Plan International, and UNICEF, she yields immense technical expertise and leadership across strategic planning, grant-making, policy advocacy and thought leadership and cultivating strong working relationships with varied stakeholders.

Ms. Palak Khanna
Research Associate,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Ms Palak Khanna is Research Associate at Centre for Sustainable Development Research and Leadership, TERI. Her work spans areas including agriculture, gender, extension and green policies like green budgeting and green public procurement. She is coordinator of TERI’s flagship event – World Sustainable Development Summit.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Former Secretary-General of the UN,
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future

Biography: Mr. Ban Ki-moon

Chairman of Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future

8th Secretary-General of UN

Mr. Ban served as the Chairman of the Presidential National Council on Climate and Air Quality (NCCA) (2019-2021). In 2018, Mr. Ban was elected as the Chairman of Boao Forum for Asia. Mr. Ban, along with former President of Austria Mr. Heinz Fischer, was inducted as Co-Chairs of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Ban is the Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation, an international organization hosted by the Netherlands. Mr. Ban Ki-moon was also elected as Chairman of the IOC Ethics Committee in September 2017. Mr. Ban served as the Honorary Chairman at the Institute of Global Engagement & Empowerment at Yonsei University (2018-2022). In February 2018, he was elected and has been serving as the President of the Assembly and chair of the Council of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

Currently, he is the chairman of Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future and the Distinguished Chair Professor and Honorary Chairman of the Future Strategy Institute at Seoul National University. 

Before these appointments, Mr. Ban served two consecutive terms as the Secretary General of the United Nations (2007-2016).

Throughout his tenure at the UN, Mr. Ban strove to be a bridge builder, to give voice to the world’s poorest and the most vulnerable people, and to make the Organization more transparent and effective. He successfully pressed for action to combat climate change - an effort that culminated in the adoption and rapid entry into the landmark Paris Agreement in 2016. Mr. Ban worked closely with member states of the UN to shape the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to establish UN Women, which has been advancing the Organization’s work for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Mr. Ban also launched major efforts to strengthen UN peace operations, to protect human rights, to improve humanitarian response, and to prevent violent extremism and to revitalize the disarmament agenda.

At the time of his appointment at the UN, Mr. Ban was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea. His 37 years with the Ministry included postings in New Delhi, Washington D.C., and Vienna, and responsibilities for a variety of portfolios, including Foreign Policy Adviser to the President, Chief National Security Adviser to the President, Vice Minister, Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and Director-General for American Affairs. Mr. Ban has also been actively involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relations by serving as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization.

Mr. Ban received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Seoul National University in 1970. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985.

Dr. Priyanka Kochhar
CEO,
The Habitat Emprise

Dr Priyanka Kochhar, currently the chief executive officer of The Habitat Emprise, New Delhi, has nearly 20 years of experience as a researcher and is committed to advancing sustainability in built environment through research, education, industry engagement and advocacy. In this capacity, she is Technical Advisor to UN-Habitat, Advisor to RTI (Research Triangle Institute International–India office in New Delhi) and Visiting Faculty at School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. 

Ms. Heeta Lakhani
Founder & Director,
ClimAct Foundation

Heeta Lakhani is a climate educator and entrepreneur dedicated to empowering vulnerable groups in intergovernmental decision-making and taking climate action.
As Founder & Director of the ClimAct Foundation and with a Masters in Environmental Studies from TERI University, she is dedicated to nurturing change-makers who combat the climate crisis with knowledge-based action. Heeta was introduced to the United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) process at COP21 in 2015 and served as the Global Focal Point for YOUNGO during 2020 & 2021, playing a pivotal role in elevating youth voices on the global stage. She has co-founded the Youth Negotiators Academy in 2022, to promote inclusivity in national delegations by training youth to be effective negotiators in the UN intergovernmental processes.

Ms. Temina Lalani Shariff
Regional Director South Asia,
CGIAR

Temina Lalani-Shariff is Regional Director, South Asia, CGIAR, and a trusted leader who brings over 20 years of diverse management and business development experience in the research and innovation industry, energy, tech, telecommunications, non-profit and government sectors. She is an adaptable leader and team-builder, deeply committed to fostering an environment of creativity, inclusion, and innovation where people can do their best work. After having established and grown a boutique public relations firm, she joined the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) where she served as Director of Global Advocacy and Brand for the past five years. Here, she has led the development of an institution-wide advocacy strategy to increase and diversify IRRI’s profile and supporters as well as intensify support for broader global issues of climate change adaptation and mitigation, nutrition security and equitable access to technology. In each role, she has generated support for the organization’s mission from governments, private funders and stakeholders. She is passionate about the potential of knowledge to transform communities. This has led her to work with the Aga Khan University in Pakistan, Bow Valley College and the University of Calgary in Canada, as well as research institutions, development organizations and professional associations in South and Central Asia, East Africa and North America. An avid community volunteer, she has served on the Board of the Calgary Public Library and Ten Thousand Villages. She holds joint MBA degrees from the Kellogg School of Management and Schulich School of Management, an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Calgary and a BA in International Political Science from the University of Alberta.

Dr. Hoesung Lee
Special Ambassador for Carbon free Energy,
Carbon Free Alliance

Dr. Hoesung Lee is the former Chair of the IPCC 2015 – 2023. He is a Special Ambassador for Carbon Free Energy, Republic of Korea, and the President of the Carbon Free Alliance – a public-private coalition launched in 2023 by the Korean Government to advance carbon-free energy globally. He is an economist in the fields of climate change and energy. Dr. Lee was named to the 2019 TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World. He received the 2021 Outstanding Contributions to the Profession Award from the International Association for Energy Economics. He was named to the 2021 Bloomberg 50 List.

Ms. Steffi Lemke
Federal Minister,
German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection

I was born in Dessau on the Elbe and grew up there. I began studying agricultural sciences in Berlin in 1988. In 1989, I helped found the party die GRÜNE (the Green party) of the GDR. From 1994 to 2002, I served as a member of the Bundestag for BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (the Greens). The last four years of this period, I was Parliamentary Secretary. In 2002, my party elected me to the office of federal party manager, which I held until 2013. Since the federal elections of 2013, I have been a member of the Bundestag. Up until 2021, I was Parliamentary Secretary and Nature Conservation Spokesperson of the Greens parliamentary group.

Key professional and political dates

1974 to 1984: attended Dessau polytechnical secondary school

1984 to 1986: training as an agricultural technician in a dairy

1986 to 1988: worked as a postal carrier

1986 to 1988: evening school and university entrance qualification in Dessau

1988 to 1993: studies in agricultural sciences at Humboldt University, Berlin

1989: founding member of the Green party in the GDR

1993 to 1994: member of the Saxony-Anhalt Greens state executive committee

1994 to 2002: member of the Bundestag

2002 to 2013: federal party manager of the Greens

since 2013: member of the Bundestag

2013 to 2021: Parliamentary Secretary and Spokesperson for Nature Conservation of the Greens parliamentary group and member of the Committee on the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

2017 to 2021: member of the Council of Elders, member of the Commission on Buildings of the Council of Elders and chair of the parliamentary group “Frei-fließende-Flüsse” (free-flowing rivers)

Since December 2021Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection

Ms. Madhuparna Maiti
Research Associate,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Ms Madhuparna Maiti is Research Associate at Centre for Sustainable Development Research and Leadership, TERI. Her work spans around climate; SDGs; food systems; and green growth mechanisms like green budgeting. She is coordinator of TERI’s flagship event – World Sustainable Development Summit.

Ms. Heena Makhija
Associate Fellow,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Heena Makhija works as an Associate Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and is also a coordinator for the Summit. Prior to joining TERI, she was a Guest Lecturer at Hindu College, University of Delhi and has worked with several think tanks including Council for Strategic and Défense Research (CSDR) and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Heena has recently submitted her PhD thesis to the Centre for International Politics, Organisation, and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University and specialises in the study of United Nations, Multilateral Organisations, and Global Norms. She is coordinator of TERI’s flagship event – World Sustainable Development Summit.

Dr. Ajay Mathur
Director General,
International Solar Alliance

Dr. Ajay Mathur is the Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA is a treaty –based inter-governmental organization with 116 member countries, which aims to make solar energy the energy-of-choice in its member countries. Dr. Mathur has spearheaded the implementation of solar energy projects and capacity building projects in many developing countries, and of the publication of annual progress reports on solar technology, markets and investments. Recently, the ISA has embarked on the creation of a Solar Facility to mitigate the risks associated with solar investments in African Countries, and launched a programme to identify and strengthen solar startups in that continent. Prior to joining ISA, Dr. Mathur was Director General of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and a member of the Prime Minister of India’s Council on Climate Change. He was co-chair of the global Energy Transitions Commission and the Clean Cooling Initiatives of the One Planet Summit. He earlier headed the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency and was responsible for its foundational programmes, which mainstreamed energy efficiency through initiatives such as the Star Labeling program for appliances, the Energy Conservation Building Code, and the Perform, Achieve & Trade program for energy-intensive industries. He was a leading climate change negotiator and was the Indian spokesperson at the Paris climate negotiations. He served as the interim Director of the Green Climate Fund during its foundational period. Dr Mathur was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He was appointed a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Merite by the President of France in recognition of his outstanding commitment to preserving the environment and coping with energy related challenges. Dr Mathur received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the (then)
University of Roorkee and a Master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois. He has also received the Distinguished Alumnus Awards from both his alma maters.

Dr. Purvi Mehta
Senior Advisor,
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Dr. Purvi Mehta is the Senior Advisor of the Global Growth and Opportunities division at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and also lead the climate adaptation programs globally.   She has her formal education, up to PhD, from M.S. University, India, Tokyo University, Japan and North Carolina State University- USA. She has worked with leading international organizations like the CGIAR, as head of Asia for the International Livestock Research Institute and as head of South Asia Biosafety program and brings a blend of Asia and Africa experience.  She is on board of several organizations, including, International Alliance for Ecology and Health, International Centre for Rural Agriculture, Independent Director on Board of National Commodity Derivatives Exchange Ltd , Advisory Council- World Food Prize etc. She is honorary professor at Amity University-India and visiting faculty at Cornell University.

Mr. Himanshu Shekhar Mishra
Senior Editor (Political & Current Affairs),
New Delhi Television Ltd. (NDTV)

Himanshu Shekhar Mishra works as Senior Editor (Political & Current Affairs) in NDTV. He covers Government and Politics. He was part of Prime Minister's official entourage to the United Nations General Assembly Annual Session in New York (September, 2003) and to the Indo-Turkish Summit held in Ankara and Istanbul (2003) respectively. He covered Prime Minister’s official visits to Pakistan (January, 2004) and Afghanistan (August, 2005) as a TV news journalist.

He has also extensively reported and researched on Climate-related disasters, legal rights of disaster victims to seek compensation, SDGs, COVID-19 Pandemic and Disaster Journalism. He has ten published research papers in international volumes on Disaster Management and COVID-19 Pandemic. He is co-author of a book titled “Stop Predicting--Revisit Life:Lessons from COVID-19” published by Bloomsbury (2022). He holds an M.Phil degree from SIS, JNU. 

Ms. Jennifer Morgan
State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action,
Federal Foreign Office

Jennifer Morgan has been State Secretary and Special Representative for International Climate Policy at the Federal Foreign Office since March 2022. Born April 21, 1966 in Ridgewood, New Jersey, she studied Political Science and International Relations at Indiana University, Bloomington and received her Master’s Degree in International Affairs at The American University in Washington, D.C.
In her professional career, Jennifer Morgan held various leadership positions, including Director of the Global Climate Campaign of WWF International and Director of the Climate Program of the think tank World Resources Institute (WRI). She was also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the Council for Sustainable Development of the Federal Government. Before her assignment to the Federal Foreign Office, from 2016 to 2022 she was Managing Director of the environmental organization Greenpeace International (GPI). Jennifer Morgan lives in Berlin and has the German citizenship.

Ms. Charlotte Morton
CEO,
World Biogas Association

A practising lawyer for 10 years, Charlotte Morton studied for her MBA at London Business School before setting up a car club business. Asked to establish the business side of ADBA in 2009, she saw the potential of an industry that can deliver huge potential and value to the UK. Given the even bigger global potential, which must be achieved if the Paris Climate Change targets and UN Sustainable Development Goals are to be met, Charlotte played a pivotal role in establishing the World Biogas Association in 2016 to promote and increase the rate of uptake of biogas globally. Charlotte was awarded an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to the biogas industry.

Mr. P. Mudalige
Director General (Planning),
Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka

Mr P. Mudalige, Director General (Planning), Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka

Mr. Deb Mukherjee
Managing Director,
Cenergist Energy Pvt. Ltd.

By qualification a lawyer, Deb Mukherjee has been a serial entrepreneur with over 40 yrs work experience in diverse business domains. For last 20 yrs has worked in energy, water and sustainability services business and was Executive Chairman of Eaga India (subsidiary of Eaga plc UK FTSE 250 company) until 2012.

Currently is Managing Director of Cenergist India (wholly owned subsidiary of Eneraqua Technologies plc, UK Green Economy marked services company) and also is an inward investor in the UK. Served as President of Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry in year 2020-21.

Has strongly advocated and promoted industry-academia partnership in India & the UK and has served on the Editorial Board of Springer publication on “Sustainable Energy Technology & Policies – A Transformational Journey".

Ms. Jayashree Nandi
Climate and Environment Correspondent,
Hindustan Times

Jayashree Nandi is environment and climate correspondent at Hindustan Times. She primarily covers climate science, UN climate negotiations; climate and weather science and environmental policy. She also covers issues surrounding air and water pollution; forests, wildlife, environmental litigation and people’s stories. With over 14 years of experience in writing on environment, she has worked with The Times of India in the past before joining Hindustan Times in 2018. Jayashree won the Centre for Media Studies Young Environment Journalist of the Year award in 2019. She also won the merit award for sustained environmental reporting on the environment at fourth Asian Environmental Journalism Awards (AEJA) in 2015. Jayashree has taken up a number of journalism fellowships including the Biodiversity Media Initiative fellowship of the Earth Journalism Network.

Ms. Shloka Nath
CEO,
India Climate Collaborative

Shloka Nath is the CEO of the India Climate Collaborative, a non-profit focused on mobilising philanthropic capital to accelerate climate action in India. The ICC connects funders to high-impact solutions that restore our planet and build a healthy and equitable future for all, while continuing to help India meet its development goals. 

Prior to this, she led the Sustainability and Policy & Advocacy portfolios at the Tata Trusts, one of India’s leading philanthropic foundations. She also co-founded and was the Managing Partner of Sankhya Women Impact Funds, a gender lens fund with a focus on sustainability. She started her career as a journalist, with a decade of experience at the BBC in London, as a news anchor with NDTV and a Principal Correspondent with Forbes in Mumbai. She is currently a Trustee at the CSMVS, formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum of India, the Vice President of the Bombay Natural History Society, a board member of IIT Madras’ Energy Consortium, and Climate Catalyst, Alliance magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board, and a member of the Advisory Board to IUCN’s Nature-based Recovery initiative, among numerous other positions. 

Shloka received an MPP from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a BSc in Government from The London School of Economics and Political Science. She is also the author of the book, “Hidden India: Journey to Where the Wild Things Are” (April 2018), a compendium of photographs and writing about Indian wildlife and landscapes. 

Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, and Chief Executive Officer for Sustainable Energy for All, Co-Chair UN-Energy,
Sustainable Energy for All

Damilola Ogunbiyi is the CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (UN SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. With Mrs. Ogunbiyi at the helm, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has entered into working relationships with over 200 partners, supported over 90 countries globally, and secured commitments of more than $600 billion in energy finance. This has been achieved through programmes such as Universal Energy Facility, Powering Healthcare, Women and Youth at the Forefront, Cooling for All, and Clean Cooking; and innovative initiatives such as UN Energy Compacts, Energy Transition Plans, Universal Integrated Energy Plans, the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), and the Africa Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative (AREMI) among many others.

Dr. Ash Pachauri
Co Founder and Senior Mentor,
POP (Protect Our Planet) Movement

Dr. Ash Pachauri holds a PhD in decision behavior and a master's in international management. His impactful journey spans the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UN, CDC, POP Movement, World Sustainable Development Forum, and the Center for Human Progress. As a technical adviser to the World Health Organization, he guides global self-care guidelines. Recognized for his leadership, he has conducted +20,000 workshops globally, advocating for climate action. An Associate Fellow of WAAS, he serves on boards globally, including the Climate Change Coalition and the Global Union of Scientists for P

Dr. Saroj Pachauri
Director and Climate-Health Mentor at the POP Movement, USA,
POP (Protect Our Planet) Movement

Dr. Pachauri, a dedicated public health physician, has dedicated her career to extensive research in family planning, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, poverty, gender, and youth issues. Serving as Regional Director, South and East Asia, at the Population Council from 1996 to 2014, she earned the title of Distinguished Scholar in 2011. With a rich history at institutions like Ford Foundation and Family Health International, Dr. Pachauri is a seasoned professional who has authored seven books, contributed to numerous others, and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.

Mr. Avinash Persaud
Special Advisor,
Inter-American Development Bank

Mr Avinash Persaud is Special Envoy to the Prime Minister of Barbados. He has been appointed as Special Advisor on Climate Change to Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). 

Mr. Joseph Phelan
Executive Director, Asia Pacific,
WBCSD

Joe is Executive Director, Asia Pacific and a Member of the Extended Leadership Group for the World Business Council for Sustainable    Development (WBCSD). WBCSD is the global, CEO-led community of the world’s leading sustainable  businesses working together to realize a net-zero, nature-positive, more equitable future.

Joe is responsible for the engagement of ambitious companies from across Asia and Australasia in the World Business Council. He has supported collective action projects by business with demonstrable outcomes in areas such as climate change, energy transition, water risk, mobility and more resilient agriculture.

Prior to joining WBCSD, Joe held senior roles with the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum. Highlights included a series of special reports with the Financial Times on business and sustainable development, the development of the World Business & Development awards with the United Nations and International Chambers of Commerce, and delivery of programs in skills, inclusive business, and anti-corruption.

Born and educated in the UK, Joe has worked in Asia since 2009. He plays cricket and lives in Singapore with his wife, a writer, and their daughter.

Mr. Mark Anthony Phillips
Prime Minister,
Prime Minister of Guyana

Brigadier Mark Anthony Phillips was sworn in as the 9th Executive Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana under President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on August 2, 2020 and also serves as the First Vice President of Guyana. Under the current administration, Brigadier Mark Phillips holds responsibility for the Energy Secor, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), The Information Sector and the Telecommunications Sector under his portfolio and also sits on the Defence Board of Guyana. The Prime Minister served in the Guyana Defence Force and retired as Brigadier and Chief of Staff in October 2016, having served for over 36 years. He is a recipient of the Military Service Star (MSS), the highest national military award in Guyana. Immediately following his retirement in October 2016, Brigadier Phillips was inducted into the  International Hall of Fame of the United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC), Kansas, USA. This 

Mr. Golo J. Pilz
Advisor Renewable Energy,
Brahma Kumaris

Golo J. Pilz is of German origin and  joined in 1984 the Brahma Kumaris. He is  an experienced meditation teacher who lectures on a wide range of spiritual and environmental topics and has travelled to more than 75 countries. In 1990 Golo moved to India and founded the Brahma Kumaris Solar Department. He is currently the advisor for renewable energy of the Brahma Kumaris. With technical and financial collaboration from the Indian and German Governments, Golo has initiated various innovative solar research projects focused on rural adaptation. In 2009, Golo became a founding member of the Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative and, each year since, has participated and lectured at the UN climate change conferences. From 2010 to 2017, Golo has coordinated the design and construction of India One, a 1MW solar thermal power plant at the Shantivan Campus of the Brahma Kumaris.

Ms. Vaishnavi Prabhakaran
Head - Sustainability,
Tata Power

Vaishnavi Prabhakaran serves as the Head of Corporate Sustainability at Tata Power and has been part of Tata Power for over a decade and a half. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated versatility by undertaking diverse roles in Business Development, Strategy, Branding & Communications, and Sustainability. Vaishnavi's dynamic and multi-faceted approach brings robust techno-managerial expertise to the realm of Sustainability.

In her impactful leadership role, Vaishnavi has spearheaded the transformative journey of Tata Power, steering the organization towards achieving ambitious Climate Action commitments. This includes attaining Carbon Net Zero before 2045, Water Neutrality, and Zero Waste to Landfill by 2030, as well as ensuring No net loss to Biodiversity. Under her guidance, Tata Power has further strengthened its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) focus by committing to initiatives such as SBTi, TCFD, and early adoption of disclosure norms like BRSR.

An ardent nature enthusiast, Vaishnavi has championed biodiversity conservation causes, overseeing significant projects such as Mahseer conservation, Elephant conservation, grassland ecosystem conservation, and large-scale indigenous afforestation. Her commitment to environmental sustainability extends beyond her professional role.

Recognizing the importance of innovation, Vaishnavi played a pivotal role in establishing Innovation Councils at Tata Power. She actively mentors young talents within the organization, fostering an environment conducive to reaching their full potential. As part of the transformation journey, she has contributed to enhancing Diversity & Inclusion, implementing Human Rights Assessment, and facilitating a common language of Sustainability through comprehensive training interventions.

Vaishnavi has been an integral part of the CII Climate Change Council and has made valuable contributions to the Global power sector roadmap in collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Vaishnavi holds an MBA (PGDBM Marketing) from SPJIMR and a B.Tech (Instrumentation & Electronics) Degree from CET.

Ms. Nameeta Prasad
Joint Secretary,
MoEFCC

With around 20 years in the field of environment and its audit, Nameeta Prasad currently holds the position of Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India, with a diverse array of charges like carbon markets, green credit program, biodiversity conservation, non-formal environment education, capacity building and livelihood issues. She is the chief negotiation for India on Article 6 issues and has negotiated issues related to carbon markets at COP 27 and 28. Before her stint with the Ministry, she was involved with environment audit at the central and state level, auditing environment issues like waste management, water pollution, biodiversity, clean energy projects, air quality etc. She has also been India’s representative on the Working Group on Environmental Auditing. Further, as the Director of the International Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development, (iCED) she was part of the team which set up iCED in Jaipur. She has also served as the main faculty for national and international training programs in environment audits on topics like biodiversity, climate change, forests, waste management, water pollution etc. As a Fulbright scholar, at the University of Washington, she holds a master’s degree in environmental sciences. She also has a PG diploma in environment law from National Law School, Bangalore. As a student at Delhi University, she has also earned a master’s degree in psychology.

Mr. Amit Prothi
Director General,
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Amit Prothi is the Director General of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Mr. Prothi brings a wealth of international experience and expertise on climate and disaster resilience issues. He has demonstrated 25 years of progressive leadership in the fields of urban planning and resilient infrastructure, with experience across more than 15 countries including the USA, China, India, Greece, Mongolia, and Mauritania. Mr. Prothi served as Director of Sustainable Planning at AECOM, one of the largest global infrastructure advisory firms, was a consultant to the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank and worked with global thinktanks and philanthropic organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation supported 100 Resilient Cities program.

Mr. Prothi holds a bachelor’s in architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi, and a dual Masters in Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He has also pursued doctoral studies in urban studies and planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mr. Manjeev Puri
Distinguished Fellow,
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

Ambassador Manjeev Puri is a Distinguished Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Prior to becoming India's Ambassador to Nepal in 2017, he has served as Ambassador of India in Brussels from 2014-2017 and as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN in New York from 2009 to 2013.

Dr. Dhruba Purkayastha
India Director,
Climate Policy Initiative

Dhruba Purkayastha is the India Director at Climate Policy Initiative, working on Green Finance, Climate Finance and Energy Transition. Dhruba set up and led the US-India Clean Energy Finance Facility (USICEF) and the Center for Sustainable Finance in India to mainstream sustainability and sustainable finance in academic courses. He has over 30 years of experience in credit rating, management consulting, investment banking, engineering industries and international development financing. As an ex-World Bank Group staff and at IFC, Dhruba has worked in private and financial sector development, infrastructure and clean energy financing, public-private partnerships, banking & capital market reforms and technical assistance in improving the investment climate in India. Earlier Dhruba worked with Moody’s ICRA Limited and has been a significant contributor to India’s Infrastructure PPP initiatives.

Mr. Martin Raiser
Vice President,
The World Bank

Mr. Martin Raiser became the World Bank’s Vice President for the South Asia Region on July 1, 2022. 

As the Regional Vice President for South Asia, Mr. Raiser manages Bank relations with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and oversees a portfolio of projects, technical assistance, and financial resources worth almost US$55 billion. 

Before joining the region, Mr. Raiser was the World Bank’s Country Director for China and Mongolia, and Director for Korea since March 1, 2019. He led a team that managed an evolving partnership with China, a growing program of support to Mongolia, and a deepening knowledge partnership with Korea focused on innovation and technology. 

Mr. Raiser holds a doctorate degree in Economics (summa cum laude) from the University of Kiel, Germany, and degrees in Economics and Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. Mr. Raiser worked for the Kiel Institute of World Economics and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, where he was Director of Country Strategy and Editor of the Transition Report. Since joining the World Bank in 2003, Mr. Raiser held positions as the Country Manager in Uzbekistan, Country Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, Country Director for Turkey, and Country Director for Brazil. 

Mr. Raiser, a German national, is married and has four children. He has published numerous articles in refereed economic journals and authored several books. 

Ms. Shivangi Raj
Project Associate,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Shivangi Raj works as a Project Associate at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and is a coordinator for TERI’s flagship event – World Sustainable Development Summit.

Mr. Amit Raj
Director,
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Mr Amit Raj is the Director of Climate Change Division at the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Delhi. 

Mr. Ivan Ransom
Sustainability Ambassador and Youth Mentor,
The Protect Our Planet Movement

Ivan Ransom has a BSc in Biology from UNAM, and specialized in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews. As a climate advocate, Ivan has been raising awareness about environmental issues and solutions for over 10 years, and as an independent consultant, Ivan has won public and private sector competitions. Moreover, he is the co-author of two research papers and did cancer research at the University of Aberdeen. Ivan is also the Co-Founder of Resilience 2020.

Mr. R R Rashmi
Distinguished Fellow,
TERI

Shri R R Rashmi is Distinguished Fellow of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a leading think tank in the field of environment and sustainability in India. He works in the area of climate change policy and strategy and brings over 35 years of experience as member of the Indian Administrative Service in shaping and handling public policy. He has been involved with climate change policy making in India in the run-up to and after the Paris Agreement. He has held the position of Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in the Government of India and was India's principal negotiator under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change for several years.

Besides writing and commenting on issues of sustainability, he is engaged with developments in voluntary and compliance carbon markets in India. He is a member of the Technical Advisory Body of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on CORSIA.

Mr. Vatimi Tidara Tuinasakea Kaunitawake Rayalu
Minister,
Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Fiji

Mr. Rayalu is the Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Fiji. He was appointed to Cabinet as Minister on December 24th 2022.

He started off his career in 1988 as a Junior Field Officer at the Fiji Sugar Corportation, Lautoka Mill, Fiji.

In 1991 to 1995 he served as an Agriculture Assistant with the Ministry of Agriculture under the Research Division at 3 different Stations in Fiji.

In 2008, he became the Principal Agricultural Officer and later was promoted as Director Land Resource Division in the Farm Management Team.

He later ascended the position of Director of Crop Extension in 2014 before he became the Chief Economist. He was then appointed as Deputy Secretary Corporate Services.

The Honorable Minister holds a Master in Business Management and Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of the South Pacific.

Ms. Maria Teresa Ribera Rodriguez
Deputy Prime Minister of The Government Of Spain And Minister For The Ecological Transition And The Demographic Challenge,
Ministry For The Ecological Transition And The Demographic Challenge

Prior to that, Ms Ribera was Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) from 2014 to 2018, and enabled the Institute to play a key role in the negotiation of the Paris Climate Agreement and the transition towards sustainable development. She served as the Spanish Secretary of State for Climate Change and Biodiversity from 2008 to 2011, responsible for environmental and climate policies, as well as the National Meteorological Agency. A public official from the Senior Corps of State Civil Administrators, she has also taught at the Autonomous University of Madrid.

Prof. Jeffrey Sachs
University Professor,
UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Center for Sustainable Development

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).

Dr. Dipankar Saharia
Senior Director- Administrative Services & Regional Centres,
TERI

Dr. Dipankar Saharia heads TERI's Administrative Services Division and Regional Centres. He also leads the Social Transformation and CSR Division, Environment Education and Awareness Division, and a few other research Divisions and he is a Director in the Board of ONGC TERI Biotech Ltd (OTBL). He was as an officer of the Assam Civil Services, holding various positions from 1997 to 2009, including Assistant Commissioner and Officer on Special Duty at the Personnel Department and Science Technology Department and was also on deputation to TERI. Earlier he with TERI from 1995 to 1996 for the Tissue Culture Pilot Project (now MTP) before joining Assam Civil Service. Dr. Saharia holds an M.Sc. and a Ph.D, having expertise in biotechnology, natural resource management, rural development, and the projects undertaken include in the fields of Natural Resources and Watershed management, Micropropagation, Renewable Energy, Biofuels and Carbon Finance.

Ms. Abanti Sankaranarayanan
Chief Group Public Affairs Officer & Member of the Group Executive Board,
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd

Abanti Sankaranarayanan is the Chief Group Public Affairs Officer and Member of the Group Executive Board of the Mahindra Group. In her role, Abanti leads Public Policy & Regulation, Sustainability, Risk and Economist functions for the Mahindra Group. Abanti serves as Director on the Board of various Group companies of Mahindra. She is also Member of the Executive Council of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Chair, CII Working Group for Transportation. She is also the Co Chair of the FICCI Committee on Environment & Climate Change for 2024   Prior to joining Mahindra, she was the Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer for Diageo India and a member of its Executive Committee.  Prior to Diageo, Abanti served as a member of the Tata Administrative Service (TAS) cadre since 1992  

Prof. Celeste Saulo
Secretary-General,
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

First woman and first Latin American to be elected as Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in June 2023, Prof Celeste Saulo obtained her “Licenciatura” in Meteorology from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). She obtained her Ph.D. from UBA in Atmospheric Sciences. In 1988, she began her academic career at the Department of Atmosphere and Ocean. She served as Associated Full-time Professor from 2017 up to 2023. She has authorship of more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and book chapters. From 2009 to 2013, she was elected for two consecutive periods as the Director of the Department of Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences at the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, UBA. In July 2014, Professor Saulo was appointed as the Director of the Argentinean National Meteorological Service and served for two other terms. She has also served as Permanent Representative of Argentina with the WMO.

Ms. Sunaina Saxena
Editor-in-Chief, Vasundhara Magazine,
TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi

Currently a graduate student pursuing M.Sc. Economics at TERI School of Advanced Studies, I possess a profound interest in applying economic research and econometric modeling to practical concepts. Proficient in Advanced Excel, R, Python (Intermediate), STATA, and EViews, my academic focus revolves around applied econometrics, environmental economics, development economics, and quantitative economics. Beyond the academic realm, I am a trained Kathak Dancer, showcasing my dedication to the arts. Complementing my artistic pursuits, I am also actively engaged in social work, merging analytical skills with a commitment to community impact. As a graduate student with diverse interests, my aim is to contribute meaningfully to both academic and societal spheres.

Mr. Sanjay Seth
Senior Director - Sustainable Infrastructure Programme,
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

Sanjay Seth is a Senior Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Programme with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). His work covers a range of activities from City to Building Level Interventions includes policy analysis, sustainable urban planning, mainstreaming of sustainable habitats in the built environment, promoting low carbon and sustainable transportation, capacity building and knowledge creation.

He is also the Vice President & Chief Executive Officer of GRIHA Council which administers the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council. GRIHA is an independent organization jointly setup by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India to promote and administer green buildings in India.

Prior to joining TERI & GRIHA, he worked with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of India and led the vertical on Building Energy Efficiency. He was also the interim Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and responsible for the administration and financial management of the organization.

Mr. Girish Sethi
Senior Director-Energy Program,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Girish Sethi is Senior Director of the Energy Program at TERI, having more than 37 years of experience in the field of energy, environment and sustainable development. His direct responsibilities at TERI include providing strategic direction and coordinating the activities related to industrial energy efficiency, renewable energy, fuels and electricity including demand side management. He is presently coordinating a new initiative at TERI that looks at options for deep de-carbonization in harder-to-abate industrial sectors like steel and cement in the longer term, including options for use of hydrogen. He has represented TERI in various national and international forums on different aspects related to energy and environment. He is a Chemical Engineer and holds Master’s Degree in Energy Studies from Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.

Ms. Priya Shankar
Program Manager,
Bloomberg Philanthropies

Priya Shankar works with the Climate and Environment Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, where she leads the program’s work in India, on air quality, and on international subnational climate action. She also contributes to work on international climate diplomacy, clean energy, and climate finance issues. She previously worked with the Government Innovation Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, where she led the India Smart Cities Program. She has more than 17 years’ experience in climate, policy research, international, and urban affairs including at LSE Cities, Deutsche Bank’s Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft and the think tank, Policy Network. 

Mr. Shombi Sharp
UN Resident Coordinator,
United Nations

Mr Shombi Sharp, a national of the United States of America, is the UN Resident Coordinator for India since November 2021. Mr. Sharp has devoted more than 25 years of his career to promoting inclusive and sustainable development internationally, bringing experience he has acquired at the United Nations and externally to this new position.

Within the Organization, he most recently served as United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia, after holding several leadership positions at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where he was Resident Representative in Armenia, Deputy Resident Representative in Georgia, Deputy Country Director in Lebanon, Regional HIV/AIDS Practice Team Leader for UNDP Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States in the Russian Federation, Programme Manager for the Western Balkans in New York and Assistant Resident Representative in the Russian Federation.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Sharp began his career in development with the international non-profit CARE International in Zimbabwe.  He is a published author of works in health economics and was a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) “Policy Champion” as well as a nominee for the UNDP Administrator’s Award.

Mr. Sharp holds a postgraduate diploma in HIV/AIDS management from the National Medical University of South Africa and Stellenbosch University, in South Africa; a master’s degree in economics from the University of Colorado, in the United States; and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas, United States.

He is fluent in English and Russian.

Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Union Minister,
Ministry of Jal Shakti

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the current Minister for Jal Shakti and is a two-term Member of Parliament. His trajectory, marked by a transition from student leadership to overseeing the implementation of the flagship Jal Jeevan Mission and many initiatives on water. 

Ms. Prachi Shevgaonkar
Founder & CEO,
Cool The Globe

Prachi is a Climate Innovator and the founder of an award-winning app for climate action called Cool The Globe with users from 110 countries. She leads the United Nations NextGen Fellowship in India, facilitating the role of youth in solving global challenges.  Prachi is the youngest & first Indian Citizen to be appointed on the advisory board of Climate Leadership Coalition, along with the former Prime Minister of Finland. Prachi represented India at COP27 where she received ‘COP27 Scholar Award’ from the Environment Minister of India Bhupender Yadav. She was awarded as Young Change-maker of the year by the Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitaraman.  Google made a TV campaign inspired by her journey of building Cool The Globe App. She is also serving as Climate Change Advisor to Tata Power and all its subsidiaries.  

Ms. BK Shivani
Rajyog Teacher,
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organisation

BK Shivani is a practitioner of Rajyog Meditation of the Brahma Kumaris for over 25 years. Her practical application of spiritual principles on the TV programme 'Awakening With Brahma Kumaris', for over 15 years has empowered people to overcome issues of emotional distress, depression and relationship conflicts.  In March 2019, she was awarded the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskaar, the highest civilian honor for women in India, for her role in transforming human behaviors. Since 2017 she has been appointed as Goodwill Ambassador by the World Psychiatrist Association. She is an electronics engineer from Pune University. 

Mr. R.K. Singh
Hon'ble Cabinet Minister (Power, New & Renewable Energy),
Government of India

Shri R.K. Singh has been the Minister for the Ministry of Power and New and Renewable Energy- from 5th September 2017 to 7th July, 2021 as Minister of State and thereafter as the Cabinet Minister. Shri Singh is Member of Parliament from Arrah (Bihar). He has degrees in English Literature, Law and Management. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1975. He was the Home Secretary of Bihar; the Principal Secretary, PWD (Roads) of the State; Secretary Department of Defence Production of the Government of India and the Home Secretary of India. In 2014 he contested election to the Parliament and was elected. He was re-elected in 2019. As Member of Parliament he was Member of various Parliamentary Committees and was also a Member of Standing Committee for Peace and Security of International Parliamentary Union.

Ms. Vaishali Sinha
Co-Founder, ReNew, Chairperson, Sustainability,
ReNew

Vaishali Nigam Sinha is Co-founder of ReNew, a leading decarbonisation solutions company listed on NASDAQ under the ticker ‘RNW’. As Chairperson Sustainability, Vaishali has been responsible for ReNew’s emergence as a global ESG trailblazer, advancing the Net-Zero agenda, and delivering outcome-driven ESG strategies with top global rankings. Vaishali is also the Founding Chair of ReNew Foundation—the company’s philanthropic arm—driving the ReNew India Initiative for pathbreaking work in corporate social responsibility. Initiatives led by Vaishali have had an impact in the remotest corners of India, positively shaping more than 1 million lives across 250 villages in the country. 

Mr. Sumant Sinha
Chairman & CEO,
ReNew

Sumant Sinha is  Founder, Chairman and CEO of ReNew, one of the world’s leading clean energy companies which is listed on Nasdaq. ReNew currently has a portfolio of 14 GW of wind and solar power capacity, with approx. 8.5 GW already commissioned. The company contributes almost 2% to India’s power generation capacity and helps avoid 1.1% of the emissions from the power sector. ReNew provides end-to-end solutions across the decarbonisation spectrum including renewable energy, energy storage, green hydrogen and carbon credits - areas that are integral to addressing climate change. Sumant is an alumni of IIM Calcutta and a B. Tech from the IIIT, Delhi. He also holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and is also a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Mr. Virginijus Sinkevičius
Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries,
European Commission

Virginijus Sinkevičius is the present Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, at the European Commission. Mr Sinkevičius was from 2017 to 2019 Minister of Economy, and before he was leading the Committee of Economy at the Parliament of Lithuania. Mr. Sinkevičius was elected to the Parliament in October 2016. Prior, he was a Team Lead for Regulatory Affairs at Invest Lithuania. Mr. Sinkevičius holds BA in Economics and Social Sciences from Aberystwyth University and Master‘s degree in European Studies from Maastricht University.

Prof. Jim Skea
Chair,
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Jim Skea was elected IPCC Chair for the Seventh Assessment cycle in July 2023. He was Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III for the 6th Assessment Cycle. From 2009 to 2023, Jim Skea was Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London. He has research interests in energy, climate change and technological innovation. He was Research Director of the UK Energy Research Centre 2004-12 and Director of the Policy Studies Institute 1998-2004. He was a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change from 2008 until 2018, and Chair of Scotland’s Just Transition Commission from 2018 to 2023.

Mr. Erik Gudbrand Solheim
6th Executive Director,
UNEP

Erik Solheim is a distinguished global leader in environmental and developmental issues and an experienced peace negotiator. He served as Norway's Minister of Environment and International Development from 2005 to 2012, initiating significant environmental programs and legislation, including the Global Program for the conservation of rainforests. His role in international peace efforts spanned from 1999 to 2009, notably in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sudan. Erik was the Executive Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee and the Executive Director of UN Environment. Presently, he holds several influential positions, including Vice President of the Belt and Road Green Development Coalition in Beijing, International Environment Adviser to the President of Sri Lanka and a member of the Climate Council of Chief Minister MK Stalin in Tamil Nadu, India.

Ms. Ishita Srivastava
Capstone Researcher,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Ishita Srivastava works as a Capstone Researcher at The Energy and resources Institute (TERI) and is a coordinator for TERI’s flagship event – World Sustainable Development Summit

Mr. Achim Steiner
Administrator,
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Ms. May-Elin Stener
Ambassador,
Royal Norwegian Embassy

May-Elin Stener is currently Ambassador of Norway to India.  Since 2020, she has been Deputy Director General of the Regional department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, covering Africa, Asia, Latin -America and the Middle East, as well as peace and reconciliation issues. Until 2020, May-Elin headed the section for Horn of Africa and West-Africa. She has been Norway’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations headquarter in New York (2014-2018) as well as Deputy Head of the Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa (2007-2011). She has worked for the Norwegian Foreign Service since 1995, and has extensive diplomatic experience multilaterally, with a focus on humanitarian affairs. She has also been posted to the UN offices in Geneva and has headed the Section for Humanitarian Affairs in the Ministry.

Stener is a lawyer by training.

Mr. Yasuo Takahashi
Executive Director,
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Mr. TAKAHASHI Yasuo graduated from the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, and in 1983, he joined the Environment Agency of Japan (the current Ministry of the Environment). He held key positions at the Ministry including Director of the Climate Policy Division, Director General of the Headquarters for Environmental Restoration of Fukushima, Director General of the Environmental Management Bureau, and Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs. After retiring from the Ministry in 2019, he was appointed Senior Advisor for the Ministry, and joined IGES in January 2020 as Special Policy Advisor. He has served as Executive Director of IGES since November 2020.

Mr. Rajiv Tikoo
Consulting Editor - Sustainability,
Outlook Group

Rajiv Tikoo is a senior journalist, editor and development communication expert with extensive experience of working with media houses, UN agencies, government organisations, corporates and the development sector.

He is presently working as Consulting Editor – Sustainability with the Outlook media group. He also hosts the first and only show on

Mr. Willie Tokataake
Honorable Minister,
Ministry of Infrastructure & Sustainable Energy

Previous Positions: 1975 1980: Merchant Seaman, South Pacific Marine Services 1982 – 1984: Bosun, Azuma-Maru (Fish Carrier), Te Mautari Ltd Jan 1985 – Aug 1988: Manager, Robert Louis Stevenson Hotel, Abemama Island Jan 1989 – 1990: Center Manager, Outer Island Fisheries Project (OIFP), Butaritari island; Counterpart Project Manager, OIFP 1994:  Minister for Education 1996:  Minister for Natural Resources Development 1998 – 2002: Minister for Transport and Communications 2003:  Minister of Finance & Economic Planning Member of CPA Executive Committee Member of Parliament for Abemama – 1994 -1998; 1998 – 2002; 2003 – 2007; 2007 – 2011; 2011 -  to date 2003 – 2015: MP for Abemama Island Opposition 2016 – 2020: Minister for Information Communication Transport and Tourism Development 2020 - 2024:  Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy

Mr. Adair Turner
Chair,
Energy Transitions Commission

Lord Turner chairs the Energy Transitions Commission, a global coalition working to achieve a net zero economy by 2040. In addition, he is Chairman of insurer group Chubb Europe; on the Advisory Board of Board of Shanghai energy group Envision and a board member of Envision AESC, the battery production company headquartered in Japan. More recently, he was appointed advisor to the board of Watershed Technologies Inc. and Chairman of Oaknorth Bank Ltd . His public policy roles include chairing the UK Financial Services Authority (2008-2013); being the first chairman of the Government advisory Climate Change Committee (2008-2012); and chairing the Pensions Commission (2003-2006), and the Low Pay Commission (2002-2006). He was Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (1995-2000)

Mr. Mannu Upadhyay
Director,
Ministry of Jal Shakti

Mr Mannu Upadhyay is Director of Bureau of Water Use Efficiency, National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Ms. Neha Upadhyay
Founder,
Guna Organics

Neha Upadhyay founded Guna whose vision is to empower women farmers through vertical integration of organic farming and solar technology for postharvest management and rural electrification.

Mr. Arne Walther
Ambassador,
Walther International Consulting

Ambassador Arne Walther is currently an independent adviser on government relations, geopolitics and international energy affairs. A former Norwegian diplomat, he has served as Ambassador to India, Japan, Austria and the UN Organizations in Vienna. He has been Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency (Paris) and was the founding Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (Riyadh). He has served as Special Adviser on International Affairs for former Norwegian Prime Minister Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland. Ambassador Walther is a member of the International Steering Committee for TERIs World Sustainable Development Summit

Dr. Priyantha Wijayatunga
Senior Director, Energy Sector Office,
Asian Development Bank

Dr. Priyantha Wijayatunga is currently the Senior Director, Energy at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Priyantha has over 35 years of professional experience including 15 years in ADB. He served as the Director, South Asia Energy Division and Chief of Energy Sector Group prior to assuming the current position in June 2023.  Before joining ADB, he served as the founder Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and a Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa.  He has extensively contributed in the areas of energy policy and regulation, energy planning and clean energy development.

Priyantha holds a Doctorate in Power Systems Economics from the Imperial College London had been a regular Academic Visitor at Imperial College London during the period 1993-1998.  He was a Chairman of the South Asia Forum for Infrastructure Regulators (SAFIR) and was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Ceylon Electricity Board and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.  He was an Advisory Board member of the Melbourne Energy Institute at the University of Melbourne. 

He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), a Chartered Electrical Engineer and a Member of the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET), UK. He is a Past President of the Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association.

Mr. Bhupender Yadav
Minister,
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Labour & Employment, Govt. of India

Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Labour & Employment, Govt. of India