Speakers WSDS 2025

Mr. Bhupender   Yadav
Minister,
Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt of India

Prof. Jim   Skea
Chair,
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Professor Sir 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. Martin Raiser
Vice President, South Asia,
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. Dia Mirza
Actor, Producer, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador. UN Secretary General's Advocate for SDGs,
.

Actor, producer, green entrepreneur, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador & United Nations Secretary General’s Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals, Dia Mirza is a multifaceted achiever. She is the founder of production house One India Stories and as a dedicated change-maker, leverages her global reach to highlight environmental issues and tell stories about  the interconnectedness of all living beings. Her work sheds light on gender and social inequities and advocates for a sustainable relationship between humanity and the planet.

Ms. Nisha Bakker
Director,
The Ocean Cleanup

Bringing more than 20 years of building bridges between private sector, government, institutions and non profit sectors around the world, Nisha is responsible for orchestrating the ecosystem of partnerships that will realize The Ocean Cleanup mission to rid the worlds oceans of plastic. Nisha has started her career at Unilever, worked in various continents for UNICEF, has built partnerships for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the WorldBank and IFC amongst others. She has a masters degree in business administration and development studies from Maastricht University and the University of Amsterdam.

Mr. Ranjit Barthakur
Founder Forester,
Balipara Foundation

A business executive with over 5 decades of engagements, Ranjit has, over the past decade, been working at the grassroots, leading multiple initiatives across inter-connected spheres – environment, community, healthcare, education, agriculture, etc.

His diverse engagements span FMCG, Telecom, Info Tech, Agriculture, and Tourism industries. Ranjit pioneered the concept of Naturenomics™—the interdependence between nature and economics—and through his nonprofit, Balipara Foundation, he works to create solutions for the future of forests and indigenous communities in Northeast India.

His other initiatives include River Journeys, Bungalows of India, Bamboo Civilization, Elephant Country, and The Nursery. Ranjit also serves as the Executive Chairman of the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise and Chairman of the Stakeholder’s Advisory Group Assam (SAGA) for the Global Investors Summit, Government of Assam.

Ms. Suruchi Bhadwal
Senior Fellow and Programme Director,
TERI

Ms Suruchi Bhadwal is engaged with the Earth Sciences and Climate Division of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as Director. She has been with TERI since October 2000 and has contributed to several projects with a focus on advancing scientific understanding of climate change and its impacts on natural and human systems.

Sectors of focus have been agriculture, water resources, health and infrastructure. She has connected the research to people in understanding the community dimension of the impacts of climate change and worked on policies to help provide solutions.

She has contributed to several international reports including the UNHDR, GEO reports and the IPCC. Her most recent contribution has been to the IPCC AR6 WG II report with a focus on key risks. She has worked on several projects with the government at the national level and has worked with States and at the Local level.

Ms. Chhaya Bhanti
Founder and CEO,
Vertiver Pvt Ltd

Chhaya Bhanti is the founder and CEO of Vertiver, an oranization that focuses on building behaviour change strategies for climate resilience and natural resource conservation. She has supported more than 100 projects across forestry, human-wildlife conflict, sustainable agriculture, waste management, health, water and renewable energy. Passionate about applying a multi-disciplinary lens to problem solving, Chhaya leads a team of agri scientists, researchers, behaviour change and communication experts, designers and filmmakers to deliver integrated solutions that leverage technology and innovation alongside traditional knowledge and community engagement to address conservation and climate challenges at the last mile.  Vertiver's clients include national  and government state departments, multilateral, bi-lateral agencies, academia and civil society organisations. Prior to founding Vertiver, Chhaya worked in renewable energy, working in Wind and Solar energy startups in New York and San Francisco.

Dr. Dindo Campilan
Regional Director for Asia and Hub Director for Oceania,
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Dr. Campilan leads IUCN Asia and Oceania (www.iucn.org) in providing science-based solutions for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, across 48 statutory countries in the region. He manages cross-sectoral, mutil-stakeholder partnerships in co-developing, mainstreaming and scaling IUCN’s key global standards, tools and knowledge products on biodiversity and nature conservation.

Earlier Dr Campilan served in various senior scientific and program leadership roles with international organizations of the CGIAR and United Nations. His key areas of professional expertise include environmental sustainability, climate-resilient agri-food systems and pro-poor market development.

Dr Campilan holds a PhD in Agriculture and Environment Sciences from Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

Mr. Sankar Chakraborti
Group CEO,
Acuité Group

Sankar leads Acuité Group’s transformation from being the world's first SME focused credit rating agency to a technology and innovation-driven knowledge and opinion provider. Acuité Group comprises one of the leading credit rating agencies, Acuité Ratings and Research, a pioneer SME focused rating company, SMERA Ratings & Gradings, and India's first ESG Rating Company, ESG Risk AI. Sankar has more than 25 years of expertise in developing and selling credit ratings, data, analytics, risk management, and financial research solutions. He has been witnessing the evolution of the Indian financial and capital markets over the years and is passionate about building robust solutions to assist decision-makers in making a more informed decision. Sankar is a member of FICCI's Capital Markets Committee and Executive Committee of Maharashtra State Council and IBA's Standing Committee on MSMEs.

Mr. Manish Chourasia
Chief Operating Officer,
Tata Capital Ltd.

Manish is a seasoned financial services professional with expertise in origination, credit risk assessment, risk management, syndication, and business transformation across the Asia-Pacific region. His experience spans a broad spectrum of financial products, including infrastructure finance, structured finance, trade finance, and investment banking.

From July 2015 to December 2023, Manish served as the Managing Director of Tata Cleantech Capital (TCCL), a pioneering private sector Green Investment Bank jointly promoted by Tata Capital Ltd and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Under his visionary leadership, TCCL successfully syndicated and funded over 350 projects in the clean-tech sector, with aggregate disbursements exceeding USD 3.0 billion. The company consistently delivered superior asset quality while maintaining a return on assets of more than 3%, significantly contributing to India's clean-tech landscape.

His contributions have been recognised with many accolades, including the "Best RE Financier of the Year-NBFC" and the 2024 Green Energy Award sponsored by the Indian Federation of Green Energy. He has also been acknowledged as one of the "100 Topmost Influential BFSI Leaders" by the World BFSI Congress in both 2019 and 2020, reflecting his significant efforts in combating climate change.

In his current role as Chief Operating Officer at Tata Capital Ltd, Manish oversees key verticals such as Cleantech Finance, Large Corporate, Mid Corporate, and Emerging Corporate, guiding the company toward a sustainable future in wholesale banking.

Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Manish is a dedicated advocate for climate finance and energy transition. He has served as the working group lead for Gateway House's independent G20 Task Force on Energy Transition & Climate Finance and is also a member of the CII Net Zero Council. For the past two years he has been nominated as Chairperson of the ASSOCHAM National Council on Sustainable Finance, where he has actively voiced the views of the renewable and EV industry with the government. His insights and views, published in leading newspapers such as the Financial Express and Business Standard, are highly respected in the industry.

In addition to his professional achievements, Manish is an avid runner, with several long-distance runs to his credit.

Ms. Helen Clarkson
CEO,
Climate Group

Helen is an experienced leader on international climate and humanitarian issues, with over 20 years of experience in government and corporate engagement. Under her leadership, Climate Group has created coalitions of over 500 ambitious companies through initiatives such as RE100, EV100, ConcreteZero, and SteelZero, which are crucial in sending demand signals to markets and policy-makers to drive the energy transition, as well as building the Under2 Coalition of state and regional governments, and Climate Week NYC, a major event in the international climate agenda. Helen was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to the climate.

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

Dr. Vibha Dhawan is the Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Chancellor of the TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS). A distinguished academician and researcher, she is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Consul General South Asia Partnership, Michigan State University. Driven by a passion for advancing scientific knowledge, Dr. Dhawan has authored six books and over 50 publications, significantly contributing to research and innovation.

Recognized for her thought leadership, Dr. Dhawan has made notable contributions to both research and policy development at national and international levels. She is a member of key national committees under the Department of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, and Biotech Consortium India. She also serves on the Networks Strategy Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a global initiative for the United Nations, and was the Co-Chair of the T20 Task Force 4 on "Refueling Growth: Clean Energy and Green Transitions."

Under her visionary leadership, TERI established the National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. She also played a crucial role in founding the DBT-TERI Centre on Advanced Biofuels, fostering cutting-edge research in sustainable energy solutions.
Dr. Dhawan's extensive career includes serving as Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Consortium on Agriculture Biotechnology (APCoAB), Advisor to the Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and Deputy Director for Research Partnerships and Coordination with the Borlaug Institute for South Asia. She has been a board member of several prestigious institutions, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Ambedkar University, Agriliv Research Foundation, and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).

One of her significant achievements includes establishing the Micropropagation Technology Park at TERI, a successful initiative in plant biotechnology. She has also contributed to the development of e-learning content for postgraduate biotechnology programs under the University Grants Commission.

Dr. Dhawan's recent research focuses on biofuels, further cementing her commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions. Her work continues to inspire and shape transformative change in science, policy, and education.

Dr. Jennie Dodson
Senior Director,
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Dr. Jennie Dodson is Senior Director at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). She leads the partnership and engagement strategy to scale collective action between global companies and governments and manages relationships with international and civil society organizations, driving outcomes at key global summits.

Jennie has over 15 years of experience at the intersections of diplomacy, innovation, and sustainable development. As Head of Secretariat for Mission Innovation, she supported 23 governments investing $30 billion annually to accelerate clean energy innovation. She launched seven global Missions, the Global Cooling Prize, and secured a $94 billion commitment for demonstration projects.

Jennie also served as innovation lead for COP26, co-designing the Breakthrough Agenda. She has a PhD in Green Chemistry from the University of York, worked on biorefinery processes in the UK and Brazil.

Mr. Mattias Frumerie
Ambassador,
Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise

Mattias Frumerie is Sweden's Climate Ambassador and Head of Delegation to UNFCCC, based in the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise. Sweden's key messages in global climate action is urgency and opportunity - urgency based on science, opportunity based on the new jobs and growth that the transition to net-zero brings. Previous roles in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs include Head of Strategic communications, Head of EU Single market, Head of EU policy, EU advisor in the Prime Minister's Office as well as postings in Budapest and Brussels 

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 concurrently member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Cabinet, and Governing Council of the Indian Council of Social Science Research. He has earlier been member of the National Security Advisory Board, PMs Council on Climate Change, G 20 Advisory Group of the Ministry of Finance, and the CAGs Audit Advisory Committee. He is Adjunct Faculty at the Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh (where he lectures on Indian macroeconomic policy and public finance), TERI University (where he teaches a post-graduate course on Normative Ethics), and Visiting Fellow at the Smith College, Oxford (with whom he is engaged in collaborative policy research). 

He was a member of the IAS from 1969 to 2007, when he retired as Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests. He has also held the positions of Economic Advisor and Additional Secretary to the PM, Additional Secretary at the DEA, 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 and M.Phil 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. Sujata Gupta
Director,
Asian Development Bank

Ms. Sujata Gupta is the Director of the South Asia Team, Energy Sector, Sectors Group of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). She joined ADB in 2003 and has worked on the public and private sectors of ADB as well as for resource mobilization from development partners.   Sujata has a PhD from the London Business School, University of London and Master’s and Bachelor’s from the University of Delhi.   Before joining ADB, Sujata was Senior Fellow and Director of the Policy Analysis Division, at TERI (then the Tata Energy Research Institute), New Delhi. She has also worked as a visiting researcher at the International Institute of Applied System Analysis in Austria.   She was a member of United Nations (UNFCCC) CDM Methodologies for Baselines and Monitoring Panel (2002–2005), and a co-coordinating lead author for the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Dr. Pema Gyamtsho
Director General,
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

Dr. Pema Gyamtsho is the Director General of ICIMOD. He had served the Royal Government of Bhutan for over three decades in natural resources management and planning; rural development;agriculture;forestry;livestock and food production;rangeland management;livestock development;participatory approaches;research and extension institutional building;climate change and environmental protection;biodiversity conservation;and organic farming. He also previously had led ICIMOD efforts in policy and partnerships and regional rangeland management work.

In his previous role as Minister of Agriculture and Forests, he was involved and often led the enactment of over 60 pieces of legislation and throughtout his career he has also worked at the grassroots level where he has overseen the formation of over 400 farmers' groups and cooperatives. 

He holds a PhD in Natural Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Mr. Vidar Helgesen
Executive Secretary,
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO

Vidar Helgesen is Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO) and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO. He initiated and led the work of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy 2017-2020 as Norway’s Special Representative for the Ocean, and was Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. An international lawyer by training, Mr. Helgesen has served as Norway’s Minister for Climate and the Environment, Minister for European Affairs, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Secretary-General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Prior to taking up the role at IOC/UNESCO, he was Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation in Sweden.

Ms. Ilka Hirt
Deputy Director General for International Policy,
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

Ilka Hirt, Deputy Director-General for International Policy at the Federal Environment Ministry (BMUV)

Ilka Hirt has been Deputy Director-General for International Policy at the BMUV since 2022. The Directorate is responsible for the international cooperation of the BMUV including its international climate policy and specifically the environmental aspects thereof.

As Deputy Director General Ilka Hirt also coordinates the bilateral cooperation of the BMUV with partner countries as well as multilateral processes, including the United Nations, G7 and G20. Prior to this role, she was Head of Division for EU Coordination at the Federal Environment Ministry (then the BMU) for five years.

Before starting at the BMU in 2008, Ilka Hirt worked for the French Ministry of Finance and the Environment Ministry of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate. She is a fully qualified lawyer and graduate of the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA).

Mr. Srivatsan S Iyer
Global Chief Executive Officer,
Hero Future Energies

I am Global CEO at HFE. I had last worked for Braskem & had worked with companies like McKinsey, ExxonMobile. I hold B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras, MS in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ms. Anne Jellema
Executive Director,
350.org

Anne has built and led many impactful organizations and campaigns in the fields of human rights, social justice and sustainability, including the Global Campaign for Education, the World Wide Web Foundation, ActionAid International and Hivos. She joined 350.org as their new Executive Director in January 2026 to help implement 350's new strategy focusing on people-led climate solutions. She was educated at the University of Michigan, King's College Cambridge, Princeton and the University of Chicago. 

Ms. Teena Jha
Anchor,
Sansad TV

Teena Jha is an Anchor-cum-Producer with Sansad TV, Parliament of India. 

In her current role, she moderates panel discussions with eminent experts on issues of current significance. These include wide ranging subjects related to policy matters & governance, foreign affairs, defence & strategic affairs environment & sustainability and other contemporary regional and global issues. 

Teena also hosts podcasts and one-on-one interviews with eminent personalities from diverse fields which include authors, political leaders, economists, environmental scientists, activists and so on...

Teena's work profile also includes conversations with members of international parliamentary delegations visiting India. She has interviewed over 25 delegations since the formation of Sansad TV in 2021.   

 Teena is a Journalism graduate from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University. She has 15 years of experience of having worked in Print & Broadcast media.

Dr. Madhav Karki
Chief Adviser to Minister,
Ministry of Forest and Environment, Nepal

 Dr. Madhav Karki currently as the Chief Adviser to the Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, Govt. of Nepal. He is also an expert member of the Env. Protection and Climate Change Management National Council chaired by the Prime Minister of Nepal. Besdies, he is the Distinguished Fellow, CGED-Nepal; Adjunct Professor, Institute of Forestry, Tribhuwan University, Nepal; ​Member, Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP), IPBES; ​and Lead CLA, UNEP/GEO7 Process. Dr. Karki is the founder and the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Green Economy Development, Nepal - a non-profit think tank organization.

Ms. Heeta Lakhani
Founder & Director,
The ClimAct Initiative

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 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.

Mr. Junhua Li
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs,
United Nations

Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General | United Nations

Ms. Tatiana Lipskaia
Senior Vice President for ESG,
Sberbank

Tatiana Lipskaya heads the ESG direction at Sberbank from its establishment in 2020 She is responsible for the development and implementation of the Bank's ESG strategy. She is a member of the Expert Council on Sustainable Development of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Council of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation on Sustainable Business Development, Corporate Social Responsibility and Volunteering.

Tatyana Lipskaya in an honorable speaker of international and local federal events with expertise on the following topics: global and Russian ESG trends, the development of the ESG agenda in an international context (including the BRICS, Asia-Pacific, and Eurasian Economic Union countries), ESG business transformation, responsible financing, the climate agenda and advanced technologies for solving sustainable development challenges.

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 119 member countries, which aims to make solar as 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. 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 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. 

Ms. Amanda Maxwell
Managing Director, Global Division,
Natural Resources Defense Council

Ms. Maxwell oversees NRDC’s global strategies, focusing on intersectional and transformational solutions to the biodiversity, climate, and environmental pollution crises. She manages NRDC’s engagements in multilateral forums and partnerships, including the Paris Agreement, Montreal Protocol, Convention on Biological Diversity, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, among others. She also coordinates NRDC’s strategies on cross-cutting topics like energy transition minerals. Prior to this role, Amanda was NRDC’s Latin America Project Director, and focused on clean energy policy, water access in vulnerable communities, and protecting wildlife and wildlands. In this role, she twice served on the Chile Energy Minister’s Energy Policy Advisory Committee. She received her master's in international politics and economics from Charles University in Prague and her bachelor's degree from Middlebury College, and studied at Universidad de Buenos Aires. 

Ms. Amina J Mohammed
Deputy Secretary-General,
United Nations

Ms. Amina J. Mohammed is the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Mohammed served as Minister of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where she steered the country’s efforts on climate action and efforts to protect the natural environment.

Ms. Mohammed first joined the United Nations in 2012 as Special Adviser to former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with the responsibility for post-2015 development planning. She led the process that resulted in global agreement around the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Ms. Mohammed began her career working on the design of schools and hospitals in Nigeria. She served as an advocate focused on increasing access to education and other social services, before moving into the public sector, where she rose to the position of adviser to four successive Presidents on poverty, public sector reform, and sustainable development.

Ms. Mohammed has been conferred several honorary doctorates and has served as an adjunct professor, lecturing on international development. The recipient of various global awards, Ms. Mohammed has served on numerous international advisory boards and panels. She is the mother of six children and has four grandchildren.

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

Jennifer Morgan has been State Secretary and Special Representative for International Climate Policy at the Federal Foreign Office since 2022. Born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, she studied political science and international relations in the USA.

After professional positions at the WWF and the World Resources Institute, among others, she was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the Federal Government's Council for Sustainable Development. From 2016 to 2022 she worked as managing director of Greenpeace International.

Mr. Hiroshi Ono
Executive Director,
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Mr. Ono Hiroshi graduated from the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, and in 1987, he joined the Environment Agency of Japan (the current Ministry of the Environment). He held key positions at the Ministry including Director of Environmental Transport Policy Division, Director of Policy Planning Division of Waste Management and Recycling Bureau, Deputy Director-General for Global Environmental Affairs, Director-General of the Environmental Management Bureau, Director-General of Global Environment Bureau and Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs. After retiring from the Ministry in 2023, he was appointed as Senior Advisor to the Minister for the Environment. He served as Special Policy Advisor of IGES from January to September 2024, and appointed as Executive Director of IGES in September 2024. 

Prof. Anand Patwardhan
Professor,
University of Maryland

Anand Patwardhan is Professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park. Anand has a BTech (Electrical Engineering) from IIT-Bombay and a MS (Civil Engineering) and PhD (Engineering and Public Policy), both from Carnegie Mellon University. Anand’s research focuses on mitigation and adaptation responses to climate change, as well as broader issues of science, technology and innovation policy and sustainable development. He has been a coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and a member of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environmental Facility. He currently serves as co-chair of the Science Committee of the World Adaptation Science Program (WASP), co-chair of the Adaptation Research Alliance, and co-lead of the Methodology Advisory Group for the Race to Resilience.

Mr. Andrew Prag
Managing Director, Policy,
We Mean Business Coalition

Andrew Prag is the Managing Director for Policy at the We Mean Business Coalition, a global nonprofit coalition working with the world’s most influential businesses to accelerate action on climate change. He oversees the Coalition’s policy engagement work both internationally and across key countries. Andrew has more than 20 years’ experience across the energy and environment fields, including a number of roles at the OECD and the International Energy Agency (IEA), where he was head of horizontal climate initiatives at the OECD and head of the IEA’s Environment and Climate Change Unit. 

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

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 expertise 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 Master's in Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Mr. Manjeev Puri
Distinguished Fellow,
TERI

Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri is a former Indian diplomat who has served as Ambassador to the European Union (EU) and to Nepal. He was also India’s Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg. Furthermore, he has been India’s Ambassador & Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN and has served twice in Germany and held diplomatic assignments in Thailand, Venezuela, South Africa and Oman. His long diplomatic career spanning 38 years with service at senior Ambassadorial positions and in New Delhi has given him a unique opportunity to understand and practise international relations, including in the Commonwealth, at the highest level. This includes developing policy approaches for India and intensively interacting with foreign policy stakeholders in India and overseas. His special areas of expertise are multilateralism and the United Nations (UN) system with climate change and sustainable development being major areas of his focus. He was, in-fact, India’s lead negotiator in these areas for years, including at the UNFCCC conferences and the Rio+20 conference on Sustainable Development. In recognition of Ambassador Puri’s expertise in the areas of climate change and sustainable development, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi (TERI) has him as a Distinguished Fellow. In addition, he is an Adjunct Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Global Relations (Gateway House), Mumbai. Ambassador Puri has a master’s in management studies and did his BA (Honours) in Economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

Mr. Rajani Ranjan Rashmi
Distinguished Fellow,
The Energy and Resources Institute

Mr. R. R. Rashmi is Distinguished Fellow at the Energy and Resources Institute, Delhi where he works on climate change policy, low emission growth and carbon market issues. Mr Rashmi is a senior retired IAS officer of 1983 batch from Manipur Cadre with over 35 years’ experience of public service. He held the position of Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt of India and later the Chief Secretary, Govt of Manipur. He was India’s key climate negotiator for several years and was involved with climate change policy making in the run up to the Paris Agreement. Mr Rashmi is a member of the national steering committee on carbon markets and the Technical Advisory Body of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on CORSIA. He is also part of the Environment Advisory Group of the National Human Rights Commission.

Dr. Julie Reviere
Country Director,
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Professional Summary

Working as Country Director for GIZ India, leading a portfolio of €64 million and overseeing cross-sectoral initiatives with 550+ employees since 2018. Served as both Country Director and Education Program Director in GIZ Pakistan, managing 400 staff and €85 million in projects focusing on education and multi-donor programs from 2008 – 2017. Also led a €4 million education assistance program in GIZ Mozambique, working closely with the Ministry of Education and representing German development cooperation in policy discussions from 2002 to 2008. Directed education sector projects, helping shape national policies and building capacities for local educational institutions in Cape Verde from 1997 – 1999.

Leadership experience

With over three decades of international experience, this professional has excelled in leadership roles, particularly in developing education programs and managing multi-million-euro portfolios for GIZ. Their work spans across continents, including Africa, South Asia, and South America, where they have contributed to key reforms in education and development policies.

Serving as a Country Director in GIZ India, Pakistan since 2015 plus as an Education Director in Pakistan and Mozambique with thirteen years of experience and as Advisor to Ministry of Education, Mozambique as well. Directed cross-sectoral initiatives like the Just Energy Transition and Corporate Health Management, aligning with India's development priorities. Played a key role in the digitization and modernization of GIZ's country offices, enhancing operational efficiency in India. Championed cross-cutting initiatives during the COVID-19 crisis, developing coping mechanisms and health management strategies for GIZ staff in India. Spearheaded the recruitment and expansion of GIZ teams, growing the staff in Pakistan by over 100 professionals. Led multi-donor and co-financed projects in Pakistan, overseeing a budget of €85 million and expanding GIZ's operations across the country. Directed efforts to navigate and implement risk management strategies, ensuring safety and project continuity in challenging environments like Pakistan and Mozambique. Coordinating efforts to implement education reform strategies, initiating donor coordination to develop an education sector program and developing and implementing nationwide training programs for teachers, teacher supervisors and school principals, including publication of relevant documents in GIZ, Cape Verde.

Prof. Jeffrey Sachs
President,
UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

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- Social Transformation and Strategic Alliance,
TERI

Dr. Dipankar Saharia leads TERI’s Social Transformation and Strategic Alliance Programme, which includes divisions like Social Transformation and CSR, Environment Education and Awareness, Knowledge Resource Centres and a few other research Divisions. He also heads TERI's Administrative Services Division and Regional Centres and serves as a Director in the Board of ONGC TERI Biotech Ltd (OTBL). He served in the Assam Civil Services from 1997 to 2009, holding roles such as Assistant Commissioner, Officer on Special Duty in the Personnel Department and Science & Technology Department, and was on deputation to TERI. Earlier, he worked with TERI (1995–1996) on the Tissue Culture Pilot Project (now MTP). Dr. Saharia holds an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. with expertise in biotechnology, natural resource management, rural development, and projects spanning watershed management, micropropagation, renewable energy, biofuels, and carbon finance.

Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar
Secretary General of SAARC,
The Secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Ambassador Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar, a Senior Diplomat from Bangladesh, joined the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal, as the fifteenth Secretary General of the Association on 25 October 2023.

Having joined Bangladesh Civil Service (Foreign Affairs) in 1991, he has served extensively in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, in different capacities at home and Bangladesh Diplomatic Missions abroad. Holding the rank of a Substantive Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh, Ambassador Sarwar served as the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia (November 2020-September 2023), prior to his current assignment as the Secretary General of SAARC.

He has served as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Sultanate of Oman (August 2017- November 2020) and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Sweden, with concurrently accredited to Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland (October 2013-August 2017). He was also Consul General of Bangladesh to Jeddah with consular, trade and cultural jurisdictions on the Western Region of Saudi Arabia (2008-2010).

In his previous diplomatic assignments, Mr. Sarwar was posted to the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington D. C. U.S.A. as Counsellor (2005-2006) and Minister (2006- 2008); High Commission of Bangladesh in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as First Secretary (1997-2000); Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu, Nepal as First Secretary/Counsellor (2000-2002); and Embassy of Bangladesh in Yangon, Myanmar as Second Secretary (1996-1997).

He has also served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh as an Assistant Secretary (1991-1996), as Director/Deputy Chief of Protocol (2002-2005) and as Director General (2010-2013).

In his long diplomatic career, Ambassador Sarwar also represented Bangladesh on numerous occasions in various Regional and International Organizations.

Education:

Md. Golam Sarwar has obtained the degree of Master of Commerce/Business from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has also completed Professional Article Studentship with a leading Chartered Accountants and Management Consultant Firm under the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh-ICAB (1987-1991).

Professional trainings:

He has also successfully completed overseas trainings: Advance Course on Diplomacy in Berlin, Germany with scholarship from the German Foundation for International Development (1995) and Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA), Washington, DC, U.S.A. (2004). Among the local professional trainings, he attended Civil Services Foundation Course in the Bangladesh Public Administrative Training Centre (BPATC) in Savar, Dhaka (1993) and Foreign Service Training Course in Bangladesh Civil Services Academy in Dhaka (1992).

Personal information:

Mr. Sarwar is married to Ms. Taslima and blessed with two sons. He has interest in travelling, sports and global migrant workers’ affairs.

Mr. Sanjay Seth
CEO, GRIHA Council &,
Senior Director, The Energy and Resources Institute

Mr. Sanjay Seth is the Senior Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Programme at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), where his work covers range of activities from City to Building Level interventions which encompasses policy analysis, sustainable urban planning, sustainable transportation and low-carbon transportation initiatives. Mr. Sanjay Seth is also the Vice President & Chief Executive Officer of the GRIHA Council, which recognized as the ‘National Rating System for Green Buildings in India’ developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in support with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. His prior experience includes serving as Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) within the Ministry of Power, Government of India, where he led the Building Energy Efficiency vertical. Mr. Sanjay Seth also contributes his expertise as a ‘Member’ of various national & international committees, further reinforcing his leadership in the sustainable development & energy efficiency sectors.

Mr. Ajay Shankar
Distinguished Fellow,
TERI

He has been writing extensively on the power sector, transition to renewables, and getting to net zero. His opinion pieces have been appearing in the national newspapers. These have been in addition to in depth Teri Papers. The most recent one is a Policy Brief on Green Hydrogen He had earlier served in government as an IAS officer and held some key positions with responsibilities for policy formulation and execution.

The major ones in the energy sector were:

The Electricity Act 2003 from conception to enactment to final notification of rules and policies,

Successful entry of the private sector into power generation through tariff based bidding,

The approval and design of the new National Rural Electrification Program which went on to provide electricity access to all households in India.

The design of the implementation strategy of the National Solar Mission.

Mr. Shombi Sharp
UN Resident Coordinator in India,
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.

Ms. Prachi Shevgaonkar
Founder & CEO,
Cool The Globe

Prachi Shevgaonkar the founder of Cool The Globe: An app for climate action with users from 147+ countries. She has been awarded by the finance minister of India as the ‘Young Change-maker of the year.'  Prachi leads the Next Generation India Fellowship by the UN Foundation and CEEW, facilitating the role of youth in solving global challenges. Prachi is serving as Climate Change Advisor to Tata Power and all its subsidiaries. She won a deal on Shark Tank India season 3 and was also selected in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia - Class of 2024. She has been featured by Google in a TV campaign inspired by her journey of building Cool The Globe App.   She 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. She has been mobilizing citizens to tackle climate change through technology, advocacy and grass-root action. 

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. Shekhar Singh
Municipal Commissioner,
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune, Maharashtra

Mr. Shekhar Singh, an IAS officer of from the 2012 batch, currently serves as the Municipal Commissioner of PCMC.

His work primarily focuses on decoding solutions through which cities can play a proactive role in addressing climate change. Under his stewardship, PCMC has witnessed remarkable progress across various domains. His efforts in the Swachh Survekshan 2022-2023 significantly improved PCMC's national ranking. He has been instrumental in pioneering financial innovations for PCMC, overseeing the issuance of a Rs. 200 cr Municipal Bond. His efforts have earned PCMC national and international recognition, including Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure award and Medal of Honor for Urban Innovation at Guangzhou International Awards.

He has also pioneered the establishment of Sustainability Cell to foster steps for social, environmental and economic improvement for transforming Pimpri Chinchwad into a safe, vibrant and sustainable city. His visionary leadership continues to drive Pimpri Chinchwad towards becoming a model city in urban development and sustainability.

Mr. Manoj Sinha
CEO,
Husk Power Systems

Manoj is the Co-Founder and CEO of Husk Power Systems – Manoj is the Co-Founder and CEO of Husk Power Systems – a pioneering rural utility that provides decentralised renewable energy to off-grid and underserved communities. He co-founded Husk Power Systems in 2008, which designs, installs and operates 100-1,000kW mini-power plants that provide affordable electricity to people in rural India, and Nigeria.

Manoj is currently leading a global team of 1,200 people spread across 400 minigrids assets. He is the first CEO in the world to build a minigrids company that became profitable in two countries in 2022. By 2025, he aims to provide affordable, renewable and reliable power to over one million people in rural areas of India and Africa. Manoj has raised equity and debt capital for the amount US $150 million from investors around the world.

In 2023, Manoj Sinha was named in the inaugural list of 100 Most Influential Business Leaders by the TIME magazine. Manoj won Life Time Achievement Award given by AFSIA in Brussels in 2022 and he was also included as one of the 100 Global Impact leaders. He serves on the board of CLEAN (a decentralized energy association in India) and is on the Advisory Council of Miller Center for social entrepreneurship. He holds seven U.S. patents.

Manoj completed his MBA from Darden GSB at University of Virginia, MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Massachusetts Amherst and B.Tech from IIT Varanasi.

Mr. Achim Steiner
Administrator,
United Nations Development Programme

Achim Steiner became UNDP Administrator on 19 June 2017. Mr. Steiner is also the Vice-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, which unites 40 entities of the UN system that work to support sustainable development.

Over nearly three decades, Achim Steiner has been a global leader on sustainable development, climate resilience and international cooperation. He has worked tirelessly to champion sustainability, economic growth and equality for the vulnerable, and has been a vocal advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Prior to joining UNDP, he was Director of the Oxford Martin School and Professorial Fellow of Balliol College, University of Oxford. Mr. Steiner has served across the United Nations system, looking at global challenges from both a humanitarian and a development perspective. He led the United Nations Environment Programme (2006-2016), helping governments invest in clean technologies and renewable energy. He was also Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi. Achim Steiner previously held other notable positions including Director General of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and Secretary General of the World Commission on Dams.

Achim Steiner has lived and worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the United States. He graduated in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (MA) from Worcester College, Oxford University and holds an MA from the University of London/School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Ms. May-Elin Stener
Ambassador,
Royal Norwegian Embassy

Ms May-Elin Stener is currently Ambassador of Norway to India and Sri Lanka. Prior to taking up this position, from 2020-2023, she was the 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. May-Elin headed the section for Horn of Africa and West-Africa between 2018-2020. She was 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. 

Mr. David Surý
Deputy Minister - Section of the Environmental Protection,
Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

Mgr. David Surý was born in Uherské Hradiště and graduated from Palacký University - sociology and andragogy. He started his professional career in several companies as a project manager, data analyst and systems architect. As a deputy mayor and later councilor of Uherský Brod he was responsible for the environment, especially waste management, ICT and tourism. He is married and besides travelling he enjoys hiking, outdoor activities and horse riding.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan
Chairperson,
M S Swaminathan Research Foundation

Soumya Swaminathan, a renowned pediatrician and global expert in tuberculosis and HIV research, recently served as WHO's Chief Scientist and previously as Deputy Director-General for Programmes at ICMR. Returning to India, she assumed the role of Chairperson at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in February 2023.

With over 40 years of experience in clinical care and research, Dr. Swaminathan has dedicated her career to translating research into impactful health programs. She held prominent positions such as Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (2015-2017). Her effort s focused on integrating science into health policy-making, enhancing research capabilities in Indian medical institutions, and fostering global partnerships in health sciences.

Dr. Swaminathan received her academic training in India, the UK, and the USA, and has authored over 480 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is a Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine, the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), and all major science academies in India. She holds honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions including Karolinska Institute, EPFL Lausanne, and the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. She serves on numerous national and global advisory boards, and holds adjunct professorships at Karolinska University (Sweden) and Tufts University (USA).

Currently, Dr. Swaminathan serves on the boards of Alliance Bioversity, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), FIND, Population Foundation of India, among others. She is a member of the Governing Council of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission and chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

During her tenure as WHO's first Chief Scientist, Dr. Swaminathan established the Science Division focusing on research, quality assurance of norms and standards, and digital health. She played a pivotal role in coordinating global scientific efforts and was instrumental in setting up Covax to ensure equitable vaccine distribution to Low and Middle-Income Countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She is also the Principal Advisor to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 

Prof. Petteri Taalas
Director General,
Finnish Meteorological Institute

Prof. Taalas is specialised in the climate change, disasters, water, change management/efficiency gains and the UN affairs. He was born in 1961, and he has a PhD in Meteorology from the University of Helsinki. Prof. Taalas has an extensive professional career both in scientific as well as in leadership positions in the field of Atmospheric Science. Prior to his 8-year term as the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva, he worked as the Director General of the Finnish Meteorological Institute for 11 years and he has returned to this position as of 1.1.2024.

He has wide experience on positions of trust in several national and international organizations (Member of the Climate Core Group of the UN Secretary-General, Chairman of the Board of European Meteorological Satellite Organization, Vice-Chair of the EC Atmospheric Science Panel, Delegate in the IPCC and Chairman of the National IPCC Committee of Finland), academia (e.g. the Chairman of the Board of the University of Eastern Finland), membership in national governmental bodies such as the Finnish Space Committee as well as in private sector (e.g. in the Board of Directors of Fortum energy company, Valio Food 2.0 programme Advisory Board).

Under his leadership, a historically comprehensive reform process was made at WMO to modernize its structures, partnerships as well as its role as the global authoritative voice in climate, disasters and water science. Taalas was nominated as the European of the year in 2021 by the Readers Digest, Ex-pat of the year by the Finland Society in 2019, Alumni of the year of Helsinki University in 2012 and the Friend of UN in 2022.

Ms. Mansi Madan Tripathy
Vice President & Country Chair, India,
Shell India

Mansi is an accomplished business leader with over 25 years of extensive experience across various industries, business models, and markets. As Chairperson of the Shell group of companies in India,  Mansi overseas Shell's largest footprint globally with 13,000 employees and a turnover of $3  Billion in the country. Additionally, she is also responsible for managing a portfolio of $2.5 billion, 9 Blending Plants, and 1500+ employees in her role as Vice President for Shell Lubricants, Asia Pacific.

Mansi is actively engaged in co-creating pathways towards decarbonization and has a remarkable track record of building brands, growing profitable market share and nurturing talent.

As an exemplary leader, Mansi's contribution has also been recognized by the industry. This includes the Executive of the Year award at the Singapore Business Review Management Excellence Awards in 2022 and the Woman of the Decade award for Innovation and Enterprise at the Women Economic Forum (WEF) in 2018. She has served as a jury member of various international awards and has been a speaker and panelist for various reputed events.

Ms. Dechen Tsering
Regional Director,
United Nations Environment Programme

Ms. Dechen Tsering is serving as Director, a.i. of UNEP’s Climate Change Division and Director, Regional Office of Asia Pacific. She has held management positions with the UN and has over 33 years of experience in national government and intergovernmental organizations. She has been actively involved in intergovernmental negotiations as a key negotiator for least developed countries and contributed to the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Green Climate Fund. She also has experience in the management of complex development projects.

In 2017, Ms. Tsering was appointed as UNEP’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. Prior to that post, she served as Director of the Finance, Technology and Capacity-Building Programme of the UNFCCC secretariat. In that position, she supported international cooperation on mobilization of finance, technology development and transfer and capacity building to enable countries to take enhanced action on climate change.

Mr. Arne Walther
Former Ambassador, Norway,
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