James firmly believes that New Zealand can be an example to the world in transitioning to a high-value, clean-tech, post-carbon economy that works for everyone. He also believes that, right now, the world needs more such examples to follow and that those that can lead have a duty to do so.

Prior to becoming an MP, James had a successful career in management consulting, primarily in London, where he lived from 1998 to 2010. He has diverse experience working for large multinational organisations through to local start-ups, social enterprises and community organisations, across Europe, in New Zealand and around the world.

While completing a Master’s in sustainable development and business leadership at Bath University, James came to the realisation that the private sector alone wasn’t able to effect change at the speed and scale necessary to meet the challenge of climate change and that political change was also required.

He moved back to New Zealand to run for Parliament in 2010 and was elected in 2014, becoming Green Party Co-leader in 2015. In 2017 James led the Green Party into its first ever term in Government with Ministers and was appointed Minister for Climate Change, Statistics and Associate Minister for Finance.

In his first term, James guided the Zero Carbon Act through Parliament with unanimous support; reformed the Emissions Trading Scheme to cut pollution into the atmosphere; and established Green Investment Finance ltd., to stimulate investment in the low-carbon economy.

Now in his second term, and as Minister of Climate Change, James is focusing on specific measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport, energy and agricultural sectors. He also holds a new role as the Government’s Associate Minister for the Environment with responsibility for Biodiversity.

As a 14 year old, she co-hosted, for 4 years, the Jamaican TV Talk Show named “Rappin” that exposed youth views and inculcated in her empathy for all youth. She was Queens High School Head Girl and UNDP appointee as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. In 1993, she won the Miss Jamaica World and Miss World Titles.

She’s a Karate black belt and a Karate Instructor and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communications from University of the West Indies (UWI). Her leadership qualities shone during her stint at UWI when, as a final year undergraduate, she conceptualized and raised funds to build a much needed Computer Lab for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. She also served as External Affairs Chairperson for the Student Government.

Lisa Hanna became Jamaica’s youngest female Member of Parliament when she was elected in 2007 to represent South-East St. Ann. She has twice been re-elected. She was also Chairperson of her Party’s Region One between 2008-2016 and Youth and Culture Minister from 2012-2016,

In 2013 under her leadership she formed an Inter- Ministerial Committee for Children which involved all relevant Ministries, The Office of the Children’s Advocate; and other State Agencies that worked with Children. This approach yielded great results including the separation of children from Adult Correctional Facilities and police lock ups, the introduction of the Arts For Life Programme at the South Camp Facility for Girls to teach drama, dance and art, the allocation of increased resources to help find missing children under the Ananda Alert System, a 50% reduction in violence in schools under the Safe Schools Programme, more children being removed from state care to family environments, the removal of children being locked up for uncontrollable behaviour, the introduction of the Smiles Mobile Unit to help children with counseling, additional resources to build child friendly spaces at police stations across the country, the introduction of the Children’s Advisory Panel and the implementation of The Keating Report to name a few.

The UN acknowledged these achievements and as a result, Marta Santos Pais, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Children and Violence travelled to Jamaica to host the first ever regional conference discuss best practices and solutions for countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

By 2014 Jamaica recorded solid progress at UNICEF, especially with finding solutions to persistent problems involving child rights. Jamaica’s success, particularly in the way we turned around our approaches to children in lockups and correctional facilities, resonated globally through the walls of the UN. From our interventions and programmes, Jamaica moved up 52 places in the most recent UNICEF Kids Rights Index, to be ranked 51 out of 163 countries globally.

As Minister, she also spearheaded the successful lobby for Jamaica’s first ever election to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee leading to Jamaica’s Blue and John Crow Mountains’ dedication as an official World Heritage Site.

She is Treasurer of the People’s National Party (PNP). She currently serves as the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

She’s Married to Richard Lake and is Mother to Alexander Panton.

President David Kabua is the ninth President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. President Kabua has been representing Wotho Atoll since his first appointment in 2008. In his second term, he was given the portfolio as the Minister of Health and then later as the Minister of Internal Affairs. He was appointed Minister-in-Assistance-to-the-President in his third term.

During his early years, President Kabua had worked in several Public Service positions as a teacher aid in the Headstart Program for two years, a student liaison officer, General Manager for the Marshall Islands Development Authority (MIDA) under the Ministry of Resources and Development, 1996, and four years as the Consul General in Orange Country, California.

He has an extensive background in the private sector for more than ten years as a business owner.

President Kabua was born in Majuro and is the son of the first President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Amata Kabua and First Lady Emlain Kabua. Upon completion of his studies at Xavier High School, 1971, in Chuuk, Federated States of Microneisa, President Kabua furthered his education at Hilo College and at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Together with his wife, First Lady Ginger Shoniber Kabua, they have three children and one granddaughter.

The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park is the Minister for Pacific and the Environment at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). He was first appointed as a Minister of State in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and Defra on 13 February 2020.

He was previously Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and at the Department for International Development from 10 September 2019 to 13 February 2020 and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and at the Department for International Development on 27 July 2019 and 10 September 2019.

Rachel Kitley is the Principal of Cowes Enterprise College – an Ormiston Academy, which is based on the Isle of Wight. Rachel moved to the Island in 2017 with her husband and two children, to lead the school successfully on a positive journey of improvement. The school is now ranked as the best on the Island for the progress students make whilst there, and has received widespread praise for the innovative approach to education being championed there.

Prior to joining Cowes, Rachel has held a number of leadership and teaching roles, including being the Co-Headteacher at Kingsbury High School in London in inner London with over 2000 students on roll and which achieved above average Progress 8 during her time in this role.

Aside from teaching, Rachel has long shared advice, guidance and best practice across the sector, including regularly writing for the TES on effective practices in the classroom and also writing curriculum resources for Heinemann. Rachel also presents at both national and

Saboto Caesar is a young, brilliant, energetic community activist and advocate. A lawyer by profession, Caesar was born and raised in the constituency of South Central Windward. He is a devoted Christian and family oriented young man.

The former Island Scholar and Banana Growers Association scholarship recipient is a graduate of the Diamonds Government Primary School. His wide-ranging professional experience was garnered from his work as a lawyer, community worker, Government Senator and Minister.

Caesar continues to be a force for progress in the constituency of South Central Windward. He has worked with numerous sporting and cultural groups alike and maintains an active interest in football, basketball, cricket and netball. He has played a key role in mobilizing the South Central Windward Development Organization, to launch and complete community projects such as Mt Grenan Playing Field, the Diamonds Playing Field, the Lowmans Pan Yard, the refurbishment of the Greiggs Basketball Court and several capacity building programmes.

Christine Milne was the Leader of the Australian Greens from 2012 to 2015 in the Australian Parliament. She was elected to represent Tasmania in the federal parliament in 2004 after a distinguished career in the Tasmanian state parliament (1989-98). She was instrumental in developing the Clean Energy Package, which was the core legislation responsible for addressing global warming. Christine also served on the Global Council of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from 2000-2008 with four years as one of the four global Vice Presidents. She represented the organization at the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention.

Christine was the first woman to lead a political party in Tasmania and is a leader in the environment movement in Australia and overseas. She was appointed to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1990 and has received many awards during her distinguished career. She has also been awarded the Inaugural Women in Leadership Award for Tasmania in 2015. She is currently a Patron of the Australian Solar Council, an advisory board member of the Climate Accountability Institute in the USA , an Ambassador of the 100% Renewable Energy Campaign of the World Future Council and the Global Greens Ambassador.

Ambassador Solo Mara is the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), since October 2019.

Ambassador Mara began his career in May 1989 as a graduate trainee at the Ministry of Home Affairs and later on in the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Over the years, Ambassador Mara rose through the diplomatic ranks to serve as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [2009-2011], High Commissioner to the United Kingdom [2011-2015] and Ambassador to the United States America [2015-2019].

In recognition of his 20 years contribution in the Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Fiji, Ambassador Mara received from the President of Fiji, His Excellency MajorGeneral [Ret] Jioji Konrote, the Fiji 50 Independence Commemorative medal at the State House on October 2020.

Ambassador Mara holds a Master Degree in International Relations from the International University of Japan (1997) and a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of the South Pacific (1988). He also received various diplomatic training at the Korean Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (2000) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia [2006].

Ambassador Mara is married to Kerry Megan Mara and blessed with two daughters and two sons

Ngaire has been in the television industry for over 30 years and has a wealth of experience in production. Starting in the Maori & Pacific Programmes Department at TVNZ in the late ‘80s working with the late Ernie Leonard and Whai Ngata she worked on productions from 1988 Telethon, 1990 Commonwealth Games right through to presenting on shows like Tagata Pasifika, Town and Country, NZ Living and going on to production work with Tagata Pasifika.

While working at TVNZ’s, Maori & Pacific Programmes, Ngaire started her musical career and had some success as a recording artist. She released her debut album “Ngaire” in 1991 and is best known for her 1990 remake of the Lulu classic “To Sir with Love” which stayed at No 1 for 5 weeks on the National Charts.
After many years behind the camera, Ngaire was again in the spotlight when the camera followed her on her maiden voyage to Rotuma in the Tagata Pasifika documentary “Salat Se Rotuma” a moving story about cultural identity, a professional and personal highlight so far in her career.

Ngaire teamed up with NZ Samoan writer and director Jeremiah Tauamiti in 2016 to make the Samoan short film “Liliu” that premiered at the 2019 Berlinale NATIVe and went on to win Best Short film at the Wairoa Film Festival, Berlin Down Under and the Hawaii International Film Festival. Of Dutch and Rotuman (Fiji Islands) descent and she’s passionate about telling Pacific stories through the Pacific lens. Ngaire is currently in development producing her first feature film “Mysterious Ways”. Ngaire is a Company Director of SunPix Ltd Producers of the long running Pacific television show “Tagata Pasifika” and SunPix Post.

With two Master’s Degrees, one from the London School of Economics in ‘Social Policy and Planning for Developing Countries’, and the second, a Master’s in Public Administration with a dual concentration in ‘Public Policy and Leadership’ and ‘Leadership and Human Rights’ from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Kirk has put his academic preparation into practice for the past 15-years.

Kirk’s professional experience has spanned both the public and the private sector and has included senior posts with International Development Agencies, the Child Care Board, the Bureau of Social Policy, Research and Planning in the social sector.

Kirk has worked tirelessly on community initiatives and is an active member of a number of organizations that focus on social justice. His main interests lie in poverty alleviation, youth issues, elderly affairs and the environment. He has also recently been focusing on the effect of gender inequalities on development. Kirk is passionate about the arts, having performed with the Pinelands Creative Workshop and has won poetry awards at NIFCA.

Karolin Troubetzkoy is the Executive Director, Marketing and Operations of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts in Soufriere, Saint Lucia, a position she held since 1986.

From March 2010 to January 2016 and again from 2018-June 2021, Mrs Troubetzkoy served as President of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA).

Mrs Troubetzkoy was appointed President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in January 2016, for the term 2016-2018, with her presidency coming to an end in June 2018 at which point she became and served as Immediate Past President until October 2020. Mrs Troubetzkoy was only the second woman to serve as President in CHTA’s 50+ year history.

When her CHTA Presidency came to an end, Mrs Troubetzkoy agreed to take on and still serves in the role of Chairperson of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation and in this position continues fundraising in the industry to make available scholarships and training opportunities.

In Jan 2019, she was appointed Envoy to the Caribbean Challenge Initiative to bring awareness and build up resilience of the marine and coastal resources in the Caribbean. In July 2020, she accepted the Chairmanship of the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund and in this capacity, has joined the board of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund.

She is the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Saint Lucia and is a citizen of Saint Lucia. On May 24, 2019 the Federal Republic of Germany bestowed on Karolin the Order of Merit to acknowledge her work as Honorary Consul and her volunteer leadership in Saint Lucia and the Caribbean to promote sustainable operations, building resilience and mitigating effects of climate change.
She holds a degree in business administration with majors in both tourism marketing and hotel and restaurant management from the University of Applied Sciences in Munich. She speaks four languages: German, French, English and Italian.

Lyston E Skerritt returned to Montserrat in 2017 after studies abroad, with a passion for education, youth affairs and efficient system development. As a youth, he was involved with the Montserrat Secondary School Cadet Corp, the Leeward Island Debating Competition and served as the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador. In 2005, he was awarded the Georgia Rotary Scholarship and pursued his tertiary education in the United States of America. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies from Augusta University in GA with minors in Philosophy and Psychology. In 2012 he completed his Master’s in Education and Counseling from the University of Louisville. He is a trained counselor, ombudsman and mediator with a decade of work supporting the establishment and operation of education institution, non-profits and non-governmental organizations. Since his return, he has rapidly advanced in the Government Public Service and now serves as the acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports. Above all else, Mr. Skerritt lives by the strong family and religious foundation afforded to him growing up in Montserrat and still attributes many of his successes to his reflection on the MSS motto, “Qui non proficit deficit”, He who does not progress retrogresses.

H.E Dr Walton a Webson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations.

H.E. Dr. Walton Webson holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Science in Management of Non-Profit Organizations, a Post Graduate Diploma in Organizational Development from the New School for Social Research, and a DM in Management from Case Western Reserve University. He worked for several international nongovernment organizations including: Sight Savers International of the (UK), The Caribbean Council for the Blind, (Antigua and Barbuda), Hellen Keller International of New York and Perkins International where he worked from 1992 to 2014 and was the organization’s Chief Executive from 2011. Dr. Webson is an Antiguan diplomat. He has served as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York of Antigua and Barbuda since 2014.

Since at the United Nations, Ambassador Webson served as President of UNICEF, 2017 and was Vice President of its Board in 2016. Ambassador Webson chaired the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence of Colonial Countries and Peoples also known as the Special Committee on decolonization or C-24 in 2018. He was appointed by the President 72nd session of the UN General Assembly to co-facilitate with the Ambassador of Japan the high-level meeting on tuberculosis which took place in September 2018 and was appointed by the President of the UN General Assembly in 2019 to be a co-facilitator on the Steering Committee on Accessibility and continues to chair that committee on the reappointment from the president of the 74th session of the General Assembly.

Ambassador Webson is an innovator and a leader. He founded the Friends of Vision at the United Nations; a group responsible for advocating for eye health to be included in universal health care. He was successful in getting eye health for the first time included in a UN resolution on UHC.
Ambassador Webson with the Ambassadors of Denmark and the UAE formed the informal group of the Presidents of the UN agencies to coordinate the work of the Funds and Programmes of the United Nation agencies.
He was the lead sponsor on two resolutions affecting the lives of persons with disabilities around the world and is considered as a champion on disabilities issues and a leading voice on issues of Small States.

Ambassador Webson served in 2020 as the President of the board of the United Nations Development Programmed (UNDP, UNOPS AND UNFPA). He is the current co-chair of the UN Steering Committee on the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and has had the honor to lead the CARICOM Caucus at two General Assemblies over his first four years at the UN.
In 2017, Ambassador Webson was the lead voice of the initiative for raising pledges in support of global response to the needs of the Caribbean to Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The UN sponsored activity attracted more than 2.1 billion dollars in pledges.
He continues to sit on several UN committees including committees responding to the challenges of COVID19.
Ambassador Webson led Antigua and Barbuda’s team on the negotiations on the resolutions of the SDGs 2015. He also led the Antigua and Barbuda’s team at the 2016 meeting on climate change and he has led several climate change meetings for Antigua and Barbuda since his appointment at the United Nations.
Ambassador Webson has spearheaded several initiatives on Antigua and Barbuda including: a para-transit programmed for persons with disability, the Antigua Barbuda Science Park, driving solar energy in support of the Department of Environment, the diaspora response to Hurricane Irma and Maria and support to areas of sports, education, gender issues and youth development.
Ambassador Webson is a published author and has recently contributed in The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health: vision beyond 2020 and in the ICEVI journal 2021.

Ambassador Webson is married with three children.

Climate crisis journalist and scholar with a focus on small islands, gender, environmental negotiations and human rights.

Kirsten Gow has worked alongside her job-share partner Sarah Compton-Bishop to develop a new digital resource for exploring Scotland’s islands which keeps island communities at the heart of what they do. Working to an island-centred ethos, Kirsten has been responsible for the technical development of the project as well as proactively working with islanders to ensure the project meets the aspirations, needs and capacity of individual islands.

The Scottish Islands Passport is a Scottish Government’s Programme for Government Commitment and forms part of the National Islands Plan.

Kirsten also works part time for Rural Housing Scotland, a charity which supports community-led housing development in Scotland’s rural and island areas to tackle locally-identified housing need and grow sustainable communities. She is due to commence her PhD studies with the University of Aberdeen in October 2021 with a focus on in-migration to Scottish islands to build balanced and sustainable population profiles.

Currently, she is a literacy project manager at the Oceano Azul Foundation, being responsible for projects that aim to prepare a Blue Generation, ocean literate, and to increase public awareness on the challenges of ocean sustainability. With a PhD in Marine Ecology, she has an academic background of research and teaching in this field. For several years, was the executive director of a science centre for the promotion of scientific culture to the general public and children.

Howie Firth is a writer and broadcaster who has directed Orkney Internmational Science Festival for the past 30 years. As the director of the first Edinburgh Science Festival in 1989 he created the science festival format that is now followed worldwide. He worked for 11 years for the BBC as the head of Radio Orkney, one of the UK’s first community radio stations. His background is in mathematical physics and he has a deep interest in the history and philosophy of science. He is also chair of the Resource Use Institute and the innovation company Going Nova, which is working on a project developing a new strategy to tackle island waste.

Sandra is Rwandan-American and has 10+ of experience in natural disaster response and humanitarian work across the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, West Africa and Southeast Asia, including in microfinance, the UN and INGOs. She is currently the creator and lead of Oxfam’s award-winning UnBlocked Cash Project, the world’s first crypto-enabled digital cash assistance programme, involving and 19 organisations serving over 16,000 people across 3 countries. Sandra is also a panel expert for the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum and a Regional Ambassador to the Pacific for the Global Blockchain Business Council. She is also the co-founder of Emerging Impact, a blockchain for social impact advisory firm.

Mr. Rattray is an accomplished diplomat with a distinguished career in the Jamaican foreign service. He brings to the position broad-based managerial and leadership experience of working within and across multicultural settings, with a focus on addressing the developmental challenges faced by countries in special situations, particularly in the area of development finance.
Currently Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Mr. Rattray also serves as Co-chair of the Group of Friends of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Financing; Children and the SDGs; as well as the Group of Friends of Decent Work. He has chaired several key initiatives, including the fifty-second session of the Commission on Population and Development in 2019, Co-facilitator for the Conclusions and Recommendations of the 2018 Financing for Development Forum, Chair of the United Nations Permanent Memorial Committee to honour the victims of slavery and Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on United Nations Security Council Reform.
Mr. Rattray is a past Chair of the Committee on Disarmament and International Security (First Committee). He also co-facilitated negotiations for the Ministerial Declaration of the High-level Political Forum of the Economic and Social Council and chaired the sixth Biennial Meeting of States on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Before taking up his current position, Mr. Rattray was Jamaica’s Ambassador to China (2008-2013); Director of the Bilateral Relations Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston (2005 -2008); Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C., (2001-2005); Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (2000-2001); and Special Adviser to the Minister for Industry and Investment (1999-2000). Before he joined the foreign service, he served as Executive Director of the Jamaica Marketing Company in London (1990-1997) and Director of Marketing and Promotions at the Jamaica National Export Corporation in Kingston (1987-1988).
Mr. Rattray holds a Master of Arts degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States, a Master of Arts in International Business from the London South Bank University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from West Virginia Wesleyan College in the United States. He was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) by West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Jo has worked in education in London and in Jersey for almost three decades. Her career is characterised by a track record of breaking down barriers to achievement for students and staff. Before entering education, Jo worked in offshore finance and volunteered whilst travelling abroad.

Jo believes that education transforms lives and in each of her workplace settings has worked tirelessly to make this belief a reality. She has led major action research projects focused on learning and innovation to ensure that staff remain equipped with the right skills and are motivated to achieve the very best for students; whatever their age, background, or starting points.

Jo’s vision for the College has never been more pertinent: “Our mission is to transform lives by empowering learners to find fulfilment and to make a positive social and economic contribution to our Island and the world they live in.” With her experience, she is uniquely qualified to drive innovation at Highlands College to create a fit for future workforce. Born and educated in Jersey, she has a MA in Education and Management, and completed the Association of Colleges Senior Leadership Management programme in 2018, and is currently studying for the Certificate in Company Direction. She is Vice-chair of the Institute of Directors staff development group in Jersey. Jo also worked with the States of Jersey “I Will Mentoring and Shadowing programme” collaborating on the design and implementation plans for increasing female representation at senior levels of the Government of Jersey’s public service.

Mohammed Raaidh was appointed as the Managing Director of Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation (MITDC) with the primary goal of contributing to the economic growth of the nation by expanding possible avenues of the tourism sector through the systematic and planned development of integrated tourism in this industry.

Mr. Raaidh has worked directly with the former President, His Excellency Dr.Mohamed Waheed Hassan, as the head of the Official Residence Staff. His vast experience in ASEAN region countries make him a strong player within his network of tourism, transportation, and import/export industries.

Furthermore, with an active background in the law enforcement, crime prevention and legal motivation, Mohamed Raaidh has spent more than 4 years rigorously laying out legal frameworks and drafting far-reaching laws.

His vision is to integrate community-based tourism in the Maldives and to bring local island tourism to new heights.

Ms Elisapeti Veikoso is the Project Manager for the Tonga National Marine Spatial Planning Project. The project is based at the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) of the Kingdom of Tonga. She coordinates the activities implemented by the Oceans 7- the technical group which comprises of representatives from 7 Government’s Ministries that looks after Tonga’s Ocean Management Plan.

Olly Newton spent 12 years in the UK Department for Education working on policies including 14-19 diplomas, raising the participation age and finally as Head of Apprenticeship Strategy. Olly is now Executive Director of the Edge Foundation, where he oversees the programme of research, policy reports and the Edge Future Learning delivery programme for schools and colleges. Olly also chair’s the Island Education Network and in his spare time volunteers with the Scout Association and as Enterprise Adviser and Governor at Firth Park Academy in Sheffield.

Ruth Santiago is a resident of the municipality of Salinas in southeastern Puerto Rico where she has worked with community and environmental groups, fisher’s associations and other organizations for over thirty years on projects ranging from a community newspaper, children’s services, a community school, ecotourism projects to rooftop solar energy pilot projects. Ruth has been involved in the establishment of broad alliances to prevent water pollution from landfills, power plant emissions and discharges and coal combustion residual waste. She is part of a civil society initiative to promote community-based solar projects and energy democracy called We Want Sun (queremossolpr.com). In addition to litigation in courts and administrative agencies, Ruth has co-organized environmental education projects, advised the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on watershed protection and land use issues. Most recently, Ruth has worked on cases related to energy projects and integrated resource plans. Ms. Santiago earned degrees from Lehigh University and Columbia Law School and has published articles on energy issues in Puerto Rico. Ruth Santiago serves on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Committee.

Francesco Sindico is the Founder and Co-Director of the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance (SCELG) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. He is also Associate Professor (Reader) in International Environmental Law at the University of Strathclyde Law School. He leads the EILEAN initiative at SCELG where he researches about law, islands and sustainability. As part of his work on islands he has collaborated with the Scottish Government in the implementation of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 and is now a member of the National Islands Plan Delivery Group. He has coordinated with Island Innovation a global survey on Islands and COVID-19 and is also co-leading with Island Innovation and the University of Prince Edward Island the COVID-19 Island Insights series. Francesco is also very active in the climate law field and is the Founder and Co-Director of the Climate Change Litigation Initiative (C2LI). He has also worked extensively on international water law, an area where he provides legal advice to international organisations and governments before international courts. You can find more about Francesco’s island related work here

Dr. Angus Friday leads the Waitt Institute’s work in helping nations design sustainable blue economies to support long-term ocean and community health and wellbeing. He is an accomplished blue economy leader and practitioner, having served as the World Bank’s Ocean Representative and having worked with the Dutch Government and FAO in establishing the Global Blue Growth Network. Dr. Friday also played a leading role in developing the Blue Grenada Program which included the development of a Blue Growth Master Plan and the establishment of the Blue Innovation Institute; all of which contributed to the World Bank’s “First Fiscal Resilience and Blue Growth Development Policy Credit” with $30 million in concessional financing for Grenada under IDA-18.

As a diplomat, he served as Grenada’s Ambassador to the United States, Mexico and Canada and also as Grenada’s Ambassador to the United Nations. A qualified medical doctor with an MBA, Dr. Friday brings a wide perspective on the interconnected nature of business, health, and international economic policy.

Matthew A. McMillan is an accomplished international political & public affairs consultant that has worked in 30 regions, countries and territories around the world. He has won dozens of political consulting awards, has organized large-scale events and has advised Heads of State, Opposition Leaders, Governors, major political parties and well known corporate brands around the world.

In the Caribbean, Mr. McMillan has worked on high profile political, corporate and public affairs campaigns in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Mr. McMillan holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Columbia University. He is based in Washington, DC.

A rural woman, first and foremost, Keithlin Caroo is an advocate and changemaker in the fields of gender equity in agriculture and rural development in St. Lucia. She is also the founder of ‘Helen’s Daughters’ a regionally recognized and award-winning nonprofit organization that focuses on rural women’s economic empowerment through advocacy, capacity development and improved market access. Structured as a selfhelp group, Helen’s Daughters, pays special attention to the training of rural communities (particularly women) in the area of sustainable agriculture, agri-business and overall self-development. The organization focuses on four strategic pillars: highlighting the role that women play in agriculture and food security, creating linkages for more women farmers to earn sustainable incomes, introducing women farmers to free or low-cost educational opportunities in the realm of sustainable agriculture, agri-tech and climate resilient farming and empowering women from rural communities to become leaders and decision-makers, in and outside of the agricultural sphere. The organization started in 2016, when it was selected as one of the winners of UN Women’s Empower Women Champions for Change Program.

While her academic background lay in the field of International Relations and Political Science, having served the last five years at the United Nations Secretariat in New York in the areas of Peacekeeping and Political Affairs, she has never forgotten her farming roots, particularly after noticing the vast inequities relating to gender roles in the agricultural sector, which is what led to the creation of Helen’s Daughters, as a means to redefine gender roles in agriculture and to create an enabling environment for women to enter and thrive in the sector. Ms. Caroo is a One Young World Ambassador, the recipient of the 2018 National Youth Award in Agriculture by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports in St. Lucia, a Thought for Food Ambassador for the Caribbean, a Forbes Island Innovation feature, the first ever English-speaking Ashoka fellow in Latin America and the Caribbean, a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Humanitarian Services and an IICA Goodwill Ambassador

Ralph Birkhoff is Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer for Alquimi Renewables, LLC, a US/Caribbean based project development and holding company specializing in climate resilient protected agriculture and integrated renewable energy systems in the Caribbean and global Island States. Island Agtech holds proprietary technologies in the first engineered CAT5 hurricane resistant and climate smart greenhouse systems, as well as customized high yield SAEF hydroponic systems designed specifically for sub-tropical climates. IAT is also establishing a manufacturing entity in Trinidad to produce its customized hydroponic equipment for global supply. Island Growers Caribbean builds, owns, and operates its greenhouse farms with local island partners, with first projects to start operations in several islands in 2021, including Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and Antigua.

The company mission is to substitute large volumes of imported high demand ‘cold weather’ crops to augment local indigenous crop farming to help build sustainable national food security in every island. Its farming operations will further support local knowledge transfer and attract young men and women to agriculture as a career by providing training, certification, and high skilled job opportunities. Island Growers farms will be USDA Organic and GlobalGap certified, providing a constant supply of high nutrient organic vegetables and fruits.

Mr. Birkhoff has over forty years of experience working with multi-national clients and supporting their expansion into global markets. Originally from Toronto, Canada, he has focused almost exclusively on the Caribbean and Latin American market for the past twenty-five years, and for the past ten years has made the Caribbean his home. Mr. Birkhoff resides in Tobago with his wife Vidya who is a professional artist and author from Trinidad.

Ms. Carla Dâmaso is Graduated in Marine Biology and Fisheries and Master in Integrated Studies of the Oceans. She has lived in Faial since 2002, where she worked in the University of the Azores in the area of Fisheries in the Azores, having been responsible for more than 10 years for a series of actions and publications of scientific dissemination, namely in the area of fisheries, promotion and valorization of the Azorean Seafood.

Since 2013 she has developed a work more dedicated to environmental education, dissemination and communication of science, as a marine educator and Coordinator at the Science Center of the Sea Observatory of the Azores (OMA).

Jake Kheel is a sustainability innovator, author, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. For sixteen years he has confronted social and environmental challenges in the tourism industry as Vice President of Grupo Puntacana Foundation in the Dominican Republic. The foundation has pioneered numerous ground-breaking initiatives, launching the first Zero Waste project in the country, as well as leading one of the most expansive coral reef restoration initiatives in the Caribbean.

Under his leadership, Grupo Puntacana Foundation has received numerous international awards for its environmental programs, including awards from World Tourism and Travel Council, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, and National Geographic Traveler.

His book, Waking the Sleeping Giant: Unlocking the Hidden Power of Business to Save Our Planet, uses examples from his vast experience in Punta Cana to demonstrate how companies can drive breakthroughs in sustainability.

Jake is on the Board of the Center for Responsible Tourism (CREST) and former President of the National Association of Businesses for Environmental Protection (ECORED) in the Dominican Republic, an association of nearly 100 prominent companies committed to sustainability.

Jake co-directed and produced the award-winning documentary film Death by a Thousand Cuts, which explores Dominican-Haitian deforestation and escalating human conflict on the border. The film was acquired by Participant Media and Univision and screened at three dozen international film festivals. He is currently producing a hosted documentary series, Island Naturalist, to be released in 2022.

Jake has a Master’s in Environmental Management from Cornell University and a B.A.from Wesleyan University.

Azell Francis is an energy analyst from Trinidad and Tobago with ten years of experience in the pump manufacturing and energy space. Azell is a Doctoral Scholar at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on Energy and Sustainable Development for Small Island Developing States. With a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Applied Engineering with a concentration in Engineering Management, and a Professional Certificate in Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance, Azell considers herself a connector who can bridge the gap between the technical, economic, and policy sides of energy.
Azell currently serves as an Energy Policy Associate at CARICOM Energy and is actively involved with the Energy Club at Georgia Tech. In addition, she has served as a two-term Chair of the Southeastern Energy Conference and the Corporate Relations Chair. She is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and a two-term Island Innovation Ambassador. Driven by her passion for service, Azell is the Founding President of the Rotaract Club of Peachtree City and serves on the Board of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City as the Director of Club Administration. She is also actively involved at her alma mater, serving as the President of the Young Alumni Board, and was inducted as a member of the 40 under 40 alumni class of 2020.

Hi, my name is Louis Elyse. I was born in enforced exile in Mauritius to native Chagossian parents. Like all Chagossians my parents were removed from the islands by the UK government, despite being British citizens and a settled population (since the 18th century). After a change in UK immigration law in 2002, I came to the UK in 2003 for a better life, since Chagossians were a marginalised community in Mauritius. On arrival I ended up sleeping for a week at Gatwick Airport and another week outside the Social Services building in Crawley, West Sussex, even though I had a British passport. I came with a group of people, and had been told we would get work and accommodation by the CRG President. This was just the beginning of a continuing struggle for rights, representation, stability and support. Most UK based Chagossians have settled in Crawley but I and a group of several hundred Chagossians now live in Manchester, where I work and campaign for the community. I am also a member of the Chagossian Voices team.

As the Chief Leadership Officer, Karen oversees our project work in the areas of Social Resilience. She also works across teams at Island Institute to maximize the contributions of individuals through personal and organizational professional development. Additionally, Karen is the lead for the Island Institute’s Inclusion & Equity Task Force.

Karen first joined the Island Institute as a Performing Arts Fellow on Vinalhaven from 2003-2005. After completing her fellowship, she was hired by the Vinalhaven School as the high school English teacher, where she taught until 2013. She then rejoined the Island Institute, and served as the Community Development Director and the Vice President of Community prior to her current role.

She received her undergraduate degree in English and Psychology from Amherst College, and earned her master’s degree in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Maine in Orono. Karen lives on Vinalhaven Island with her husband, Bruce, and their two children, Brandon and Natalie.

As Executive Director, Dr. Bertin leads a team of twelve, ensuring that the Secretariat’s role of advocacy on electric utilities and energy issues is effectively executed, advising the board on aspects of CARILEC’s operations and developing and maintaining good working relationships with utility executives, regional decision-makers, business community leaders, and interest groups.His accomplishments in the Public Sector, ICT and Telecommunications, Management of Change and Innovation, Institutional Strengthening, Capacity Building and Research, over the last twenty years, are most relevant to the CARILEC mission and vision, particularly in light of the significant transformation of the energy sector at this time.He has delivered presentations at various regional and international seminars and conferences, worked in academia,- lecturing and authoring several articles, papers and book chapters-, and completed high level consultancy assignments for various organizations, including electricity utilities in the Caribbean region, governments, universities, corporations and multi-lateral institutions such as the OECS Secretariat, the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL), United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs (UNDESA), the European Union Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the World Bank. Dr Bertin is a Saint Lucian and possesses a B.Sc. Management Studies (Hons.) from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus; a M.Sc. Management Studies (Information Systems specialization), from UWI St. Augustine Campus; and a Ph.D. Information Systems and Change Management, City University Business School, London, UK.

Angela LeFevre-Welke, BA (degree in secondary education, English literature, and American History), moved to Beaver Island 20 years ago when she married Paul Welke, owner of Island Airways. She was introduced to Beaver Island almost 35 years ago by friends and was a frequent visitor to the area prior to moving here. Angela has over 20 years’ experience managing a multi-physician office. In 2003, she become President of Island Airways and in this role oversees the behind-the-scenes operations of the airline including FAA communications and updates, hazardous materials training and updates, staff recruitment, IT, contracting, policy implementation, FAA manual review, revision, and implementation, and general administration.

During her time on the Island Angela has become more involved in community organizations. Currently, Angela is the President of the BI Historical Society, VP of the school board, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as several other event committees. The importance of these Island organizations working together for economic development and enhancement of general economic health of the Island has been a main goal.
Angela’s interests include a passion for animals (three rescue dogs weighing a total of 282 pounds), reading, and travel. It is her goal to solo and become a private pilot in the next year.

Shafiya Naeem has been working as the Director General of the Maldives Marine Research Institute since 2019, having joined the Institute in 2001. In addition to directing all research initiatives and international research collaborations, Shafiya has been leading the mariculture research and development programme, guiding the development of mariculture as a completely new economic sector in the Maldives. Shafiya is passionate about recruiting and developing young scientists to contribute to marine sciences in the Maldives. She is trained as an aquaculture practitioner and has further specialized in aquatic pathology.

Dr Andrew Jennings is based in Lerwick, Shetland’s capital. He enjoys everything about life in this beautiful archipelago, from rowing in the local yoal team and taking part in the Fire Festival, to walking the dog and experiencing the wild Shetland weather. Living in Scotland’s most northerly islands, with their Nordic cultural inheritance, inspires his research and his teaching. He is the programme leader on the MLitt Viking Studies, Island Studies, Orkney and Shetland Studies and Highlands and Islands Lliterature.

Jacqueline (“Jackie”) A. Marati is the eldest of the eight children of former Speaker Joaquin C. Arriola and former Senator Elizabeth P. Arriola. She attended Cathedral Grade School and graduated salutatorian from the Academy of Our Lady of Guam in 1972. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Vassar College in 1976, where she was student government secretary from 1975-1976 and class president from 1977-1986.

Marati began her career at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City as a Credit Officer and Management Trainee. She moved to San Francisco and after four years became Vice President of the Retail Banking Group at Wells Fargo Bank. She then co-founded EM & T Corporation, a telecommunications and office systems company in which she was director of Administration and Finance, Operations and Sales.

Janine Felson is an Ambassador of Belize and a senior advisor to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on climate and ocean matters. For more than two decades, she has been a leading voice for small island developing states (SIDS) in key negotiations including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the intergovernmental conference for a new high seas treaty on marine biological diversity, with the aim of tailoring global policy to the specific needs and circumstances of SIDS. She has served as an expert on and facilitator for several UN bodies and was a member of the Board of the Green Climate Fund. From 2019-2020, she was the chief strategist and deputy chair of the AOSIS. Janine is concurrently completing a fellowship with the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute (MSSI) where she is focused on integrated approaches to global policy making on climate, oceans and sustainable development.

Ilisapeci Masivesi currently works with Oxfam in the Pacific as the Project Manager and Capacity Building Adviser for the regional Pacific Climate Change Collaboration, Influencing and Learning Project (PACCCIL). She is also the incoming Climate Justice Lead for Oxfam in the Pacific. Ili has over 15 years of experience working in the Pacific and has deep expertise in disaster risk management, climate change, and environmental resource management. She had served as technical expert and trusted advisor to government agencies, NGOs, healthcare professionals, educational and non-profit institutions, and grassroots organizations.

Ili had served in the Fiji Government’s Department of Environment, The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) and Care Australia. She holds a Masters of Climate Change from the Australian National University and recently completed her Masters in Diplomacy and International Affairs from the University of the South Pacific.

Fakri Karim’s professional experience in international development has grown from programme management to policy and strategy development at the regional and international level, advocating for sustainable development in Asia, Pacific and Africa. He has more than 25 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors, working closely with national and local government officials, rule of law institutions, international organizations and the private sector to improve policy, systems, and procedures.

Over the past 20 years, he has implemented programmes for UNDP, UNHCR, UNCDF and HDC, including in fragile contexts. His expertise lies in partnership building, programme management and resource mobilization, working closely with bilateral and multilateral donors to leverage seed funding into large-scale programmes. His thematic areas of specialization are local governance and local economic development, conservation and climate change adaptation, and post-crisis recovery.

From 2005 to 2010, he worked with UNDP in Indonesia managing a number of rehabilitation, reconstruction and development projects in Aceh, including design and execution of the strategic framework for the implementation of the Special Autonomy and Oil and Gas Fund to support local economic development in Aceh

From 2010 until 2019, he was a key member of UNCDF’s global advocacy and policy team on financing development at the sub-national level, playing a key role in advocating the role of local government in addressing climate change impacts. In this capacity, he managed and oversaw the initial launch of LoCAL in Bhutan and Cambodia and its further rollout in 13 other countries in Asia-Pacific and Africa. He was instrumental in forging partnerships with international and national institutions to establish an effective mechanism for municipalities and other local governments to finance climate change adaptation investments.

From 2019 to 2021, as the Sustainability Director of the Austindo Nusantara Jaya, one of the largest agrobusiness group in Indonesia, Fakri lead the development and execution of broad-based, company-wide strategic sustainability and conservation initiatives including formulating the sustainability vision and strategic direction for the company encompassing shareholders’ perspectives, communities, process, policies, business performance and managing the interface and partnerships with government agencies and departments, domestic and international, including RSPO, ISPO and other related institutions and stakeholders.

Currently Fakri is Director for Partnership Development at Janine Grant PTE.LTD, a management consulting company based in Singapore, at the same time serve as Advisory Board Member for several sustainable development programmes including Governance of Inclusive Green Growth in Cities Programme (DEALS) and ASEAN Green Smart Cities in Asia and Africa.

Asha Challenger is the Lead Oceans Negotiator for the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS). Ms. Challenger is responsible for the Ocean portfolio, including Plastic Pollution, sea-level rise, the Blue Economy, and BBNJ, among other cross-cutting issues. She remains the lead on BBNJ and Ocean matters at the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations and has actively participated in the BBNJ process since 2016.

Ms. Challenger’s prior work includes diplomatic experience in disarmament and international security and gender and development and several years working with international NGOs in Canada and the US.

Ms. Challenger received her first degree from York University in Toronto and holds a Masters of Public Administration from Baruch College in New York.

Andy Mackinnon has worked in creative & collaborative film and contemporary art since the late 80’s, and lives on the island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. He was director/cinematographer/producer of the Scottish BAFTA nominated £300k budget feature documentary TRANSITION, the first Scottish documentary to make the official selection at IDFA in 2000. In 2000 he worked with Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre to make the participatory documentary feature Passing Places – The Real Outer Hebrides. He is passionate about environmental issues and the islands where he now lives.

UistFilm, based in North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, was formed in 2013 by Andy Mackinnon within Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust, and produces a wide range of media content. Andy produced and directed UistFilm’s first broadcast documentary commission, the widely acclaimed An Dotair Mòr (2014) and recently collaborated with Joshua Bonnetta, whose Uist-shot feature An Dà Sheallach | The Two Sights premiered at Berlinale FORUM in 2020. The FAODAIL | FOUND Outer Hebrides Archive Film project seeks to digitise and disseminate indigenous archive film of the islands as currently all of the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive relating to the Outer Hebrides is from outsider perspectives.

Zaidy is UN Nippon fellow and a PhD Candidate. Her research focuses on Sustainable development goal life below water (SDG14) and Blue economy involving SIDS. With a particular interest in policies that foster the professional SCUBA divers employment, education, training, safety and protection along with the economic and environmental sustainability policy objectives.

Alexis Chalot is director of the business line “Islands & Microgrids Projects” within EDF Renewables (which develops, finances and operates renewable energy projects in remote areas such as islands and deserts).

“By replacing thermal generators with renewable energy, microgrids projects yield significant savings and huge CO2 emission reduction in remote area.”
He is a Board Member at ECOSUN Innovations (which offers a range of portable solar generators for electrification in isolated areas) and prior to his current position, he was Investment Director at EDF Pulse Croissance (a corporate Venture Capital fund) and Board Member at EDF Store & Forecast (which develops and markets a software solution for the energy optimization of local electricity systems through energy forecasting and storage).

Alexis served as Board Member at Neot Offgrid Africa (a platform supporting and accelerating Africa’s energy transition) and at Zinium (which develops and produces a clean Zinc-Air rechargeable battery for stationary use).

Alexis holds a Master in Finance from the EDHEC Business School and has been working in the energy field for the last 16 years.

Gwendal Vonk is Project Manager at the SDEF (association of municipalities of Finistère department), in charge of the ICE Project and its applications on Ushant Island, such as the deployment of the different technical bricks developed during the ICE project.
Gwendal completed a Ph.D in chemical engineering in University of Rennes I (2018), and an engineering diploma in chemical engineering at the ENSIC School in Nancy (2015).

Structural Civil Engineer from the University of Chile. Awarded in 1979 by the international organization American Field Service to carry out his last school year in the United States, he lived with a local family with whom he maintains strong ties to date. He is an expert in methodologies, project evaluation, negotiation, public-private and social management, public policies, inter-ministerial committees, bills, Climate Change and Zero-Emission Mobility. Great ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, work tables, coordination with all kinds of authorities and agents, nationally and internationally. Proactive, practical; Goal oriented, teamwork, communicative, change promoter, empathetic, likes sports, outdoor life, singing and reading. Motivated by promoting plans, programs, projects and initiatives that promote sustainability and nature-based solutions.

He worked 3 years in the Municipality of Providencia, 16 in the Secretary of Transportation Planning – SECTRA. In the latter he created the Urban Planning and Transportation Unit. Later, he was part of the Civil Aeronautics Board, specializing in airport facilitation and mitigation of pollutant emissions. He has taught at various universities, in undergraduate and graduate degrees, and thesis guide professor in engineering and architecture careers. Today he is dedicated to the development of multidisciplinary projects of civil engineering, architecture, urban planning and the environment, and especially, in projects that favor cycling and walking. He is Project Manager of the consulting firm Urbanismo y Territorio Ltda., Over 11 years of activity he has led dozens of civil engineering projects and zero emission mobility throughout Chile, and based on that vast experience, he is a permanent guest in ministerial work tables for the development or improvement of regulations, manuals and design guides. He was a mobility advisor for the Rancagua Municipality for 7 years, helping it to become the best benchmark for bicycle and walking mobility in the country. He is also a Mentor of the Climate Reality Partnership Leadership Coprs, a global network of volunteers dedicated to combating Climate Change led by former Vice President of the United States and 2007 La Paz Novel Award Al Gore, in this position he performs leadership events such as exhibitions, column publications, active participation in advocacy groups such as the COP25 Scientists Committee convened by CR2, and participatory processes such as: the Climate Change Law Project, the Long-Term Climate Strategy, among others. Since 2019 he has been a member of the NGO Ciudadanos y Clima, based in Tierra del Fuego, dedicated to combating Climate Change by helping to promote agendas with proposals, holding events and working with regional networks with science, academia, the State, citizenship and native peoples. He possesses great experience and communication skills, which is why he is invited to speak, participate in panels, write columns, press articles, press releases, and participate in television or radio programs. He has been an ad honorem collaborator of many civil society groups and organizations, such as: Bicicultura, Bioenenergía, Activav-Valdivia, Ciudad Viva, among others.

Juliette Babb-Riley joined the Barbados Foreign Service in 1991 and was assigned to the International Relations Division until December 1995. Between 1996 and 1997, she was assigned to the Consular and Protocol Divisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ms. Babb-Riley was posted to the Barbados High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, as First Secretary, from 1997-2003. On her return to Headquarters, she served as Head of the Public Affairs Section from 2003 to 2006, Head of the Europe, Asia & Africa Section from 2009 to 2010, Head of the International Law, Human Rights and Maritime Delimitation Section from 2010 to 2012, and Head of the Human Rights and Multilateral Relations Section from 2012 to 2013. She also acted as Head of the Hemispheric Relations Section.

In 2013, Ms. Babb-Riley was transferred to the Permanent Mission of Barbados to the United Nations as Deputy Permanent Representative. In 2016, she was appointed Co-Chair of the Regular Process and serves as CARICOM Co-coordinator on BBNJ matters.

Ms. Babb-Riley is the holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree (Hons) in History and Political Science, a Bachelor of Laws degree (Hons) and a Master of Science degree in International Studies. She is married and has two children.

Kahlil Hassanali is a PhD candidate in Maritime Affairs at the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI). His PhD research is examining the inter-relationship between a legally binding instrument being negotiated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement) and the the blue economy of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). He also serves as a negotiator for the CARICOM in the process to develop the BBNJ agreement.

Prior to embarking on his PhD studies Kahlil garnered over eight years experience as a research officer in marine policy and governance at the Institute of Marine Affairs, a multidisciplinary marine and environmental research organization in Trinidad and Tobago.

Kahlil holds an MSc in Environment and Development from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He was also a 2013/2014 United Nations-Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellow, receiving advanced education in ocean affairs and the Law of the Sea.

Judith Gobin, is a Professor of Marine Biology and an internationally recognised marine scientist with a career spanning more than 38 years.

She has made significant contributions to the knowledge of marine biodiversity in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean; with numerous publications on a number of “new marine scientific records” and “new marine species” (approx. 298). Her research began with her work in soft coastal marine sediments followed by rocky shores and more recently deep-sea areas.

As a Caribbean Marine Scientist, Professor Gobin has achieved a number of firsts:
Foremost is her appointment as the first female Professor in Life Sciences, in the history (62 years) of the St. Augustine Campus, UWI.
In 2018, she launched a book and 5-part DVD series, Deep Sea Wonders featuring footage (the first reveal of TT deep sea communities) from an expedition by the exploration vesses (EV) Nautilus; on which she was the first TT marine scientist onboard.

Professor Gobin has been making marine scientific interventions and continues to contribute globally- to the negotiations for an international legally binding instrument, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).

As a UWI Lecturer for the past 21 years, she is especially proud of the positive impact she continues to have on young scientists – both women and men!

I’m an applied marine ecologist with a primary interest in conservation management, biodiversity restoration and enhancement. My recent research at Aberystwyth University focusses on enhancing the biodiversity of marine artificial structures for the Ecostructure project, but I have worked on coral reef, seagrass, mangrove and kelp systems previously. I work at the interface between research, policy and practice to try to drive evidence-based implementation of biodiversity enhancements in marine planning. Upcoming consultancy: www.sea-hab.co.uk – watch this space!

Stan Wolfgramm New Zealand born Tongan, Cook Islander formed a live theater company Drum Productions Ltd in 1992. It has now established its self as a reputable film, television, theatrical events, strategic communications and social & economic development production company winning contracts and commissions from the likes of national and international television broadcasters, government agencies, NZ On Air, the Lotteries Commission, Creative NZ, the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs & Trade, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Auckland City Council, Auckland Tourism Events & Economic Development, Pacific Island Trade & Invest, the corporate sector – Westfield, master card, Virgin Airways, and many more.

I joined Island Innovation in 2020 in order to lead the efforts on the internal operations with the customers, sponsors, the Island Finance Forum and the Virtual Island Summit. What I love about Island Innovation is that we share the same values to make this world a better place by putting all the islands together to find solutions to meet the UN development goals. I believe that it is through combining our knowledge that we will have the most impact.

I have a Master’s Degree in Communication and Marketing, and a Bachelor of Business Degree from the University of Paris, and worked in both Silicon Valley and India. The exposure to different cultures and mindsets has made me very resilient and that’s a quality that I’m very proud of.

I live in Guadeloupe, a French island in the Caribbean where I like to spend my time gardening, hiking, swimming in the ocean. Equality and innovation are topics that I care deeply about which is why I am constantly involved in philanthropy and get involved as a speaker by organizations to talk about gender equality and LGBT+ inclusion.

I joined Island Innovation in 2020 in order to lead the efforts on the internal operations with the customers, sponsors, the Island Finance Forum and the Virtual Island Summit. What I love about Island Innovation is that we share the same values to make this world a better place by putting all the islands together to find solutions to meet the UN development goals. I believe that it is through combining our knowledge that we will have the most impact.

I have a Master’s Degree in Communication and Marketing, and a Bachelor of Business Degree from the University of Paris, and worked in both Silicon Valley and India. The exposure to different cultures and mindsets has made me very resilient and that’s a quality that I’m very proud of.

I live in Guadeloupe, a French island in the Caribbean where I like to spend my time gardening, hiking, swimming in the ocean. Equality and innovation are topics that I care deeply about which is why I am constantly involved in philanthropy and get involved as a speaker by organizations to talk about gender equality and LGBT+ inclusion.

I work at Island Innovation as Partnerships and Ambassadors Manager, coordinating remotely a multicultural network of more than 600 people from islands worldwide. Also, I recruit and select Fellows and Ambassadors to participate in company projects using Zoom and Remo, resulting in successful and quality events. One of my strengths is maintaining active and effective communication with the partners.

When I was a kid, I grew up on an island, at the end of the world, surrounded by nature, forests, icebergs and animals. This made me love nature and enjoy activities such as trekking and travelling by ship. Because of this, when I was a teenager I started to work as a volunteer in environmental projects. That’s one of the main reasons why I like working at Island Innovation since 2020; the combination of an excellent work environment, the interesting projects and challenges, the ability to work remotely, being in contact with islands around the world and contributing to building a more sustainable world.

I’m from Chile but currently living in Antigua, Guatemala. I am a Political Scientist and my professional background is in Public Administration and Management. Furthermore, I have been awarded scholarships at universities in four countries. I hope to continue improving myself every day in the field of project management.

I love traveling and it’s something that I enjoy a lot, because of that I have visited many countries and that has helped me to meet even more people and know more places during my career.

A former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Deputy Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, New York, Mr. Charles has more than twenty years expertise and experience in bilateral and multilateral negotiations, public international law, the law of the sea, international criminal law and multilateral diplomacy. He was elected Chairman of the Sixth Committee (Legal Affairs) of the United Nations General Assembly for its 70th Session, and was appointed by the President of the United Nations General Assembly, as the first Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the conclusion of an international legally binding agreement under the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction. Mr. Charles, was the Coordinator of the annual UNGA resolution on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for 4 years, and is a former facilitator of the working groups of the Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS on the allocation of seats to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. He has also been a delegate and advisor at numerous international conferences, seminars and workshops; and has published articles on different areas on international law.

Currently, Mr. Eden Charles is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority for the Enterprise; is an independent consultant in international law and serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board of One Ocean Hub UKRI.

I was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and my family moved to Barbados when I was about 4 years old. From an early age, I loved the nature and exploring, and became an aspiring environmental activist, when such a thing was quite unheard of in Barbados! After I completed my Cambridge A-Level studies at Queen’s College, I became an exchange student with the organization American Field Service (AFS) and moved to Denmark. I have to say that being as exchange student was one of the best decisions I made in my life! I gained lifelong friends, learned a new language, and came to appreciate an entirely different culture. I also became more resilient and adaptable, and learned to truly appreciate the fact that, despite the perceived barriers of culture and language, people all over the world share the same desire to connect at an authentic level, and forge meaningful relationships.

In Denmark I indulged my interest in Scandinavian mythology, studying Nordic literature at The University of Odense, before returning to Barbados to complete an undergraduate degree in Literatures in English at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus. Here, I also completed an undergraduate degree in Law.

in my capacity as an educational consultant, I possess over two decades of experience in teaching students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, auditory processing disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, as well as emotional/physiological challenges such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I strive to be an effective advocate for children, and those who are more marginalised in the both educationally and societally.

My passion for the environment has led to two other significant career achievements: I am currently contracted with the University of Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance as an educational consultant with the Ocean Explorers Programme, and I am also an Environmental Education Expert with Omnis Education. Recently, I was appointed as Technical Secretary of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica Correctional Services Technical Committee.

I am the mother of an amazing son, CJ, who makes my life a wonderful adventure, and I live with my family and my five awesome cats, Lovington, Leo, Luna, Luscious and Moxie.

I love writing,and I have written articles on climate change and social issues for a number of publications, including Global Voices and The Elephant Journal. My hobbies include surfing, weight training, running, reading, writing, equestrian sports, and hiking.

Dr. Kathryn Mengerink leads a team of ocean experts in developing and implementing blue prosperity programs, including marine spatial planning and blue economy projects. She works in partnership with governments, NGOs, and ocean experts across the globe. Kathryn brings more than 20 years of ocean expertise to her work combining marine science, law and policy to inform decision making.

Previously, she founded and led the Environmental Law Institute’s Ocean Program for ten years. Under her leadership, the Ocean Program launched a number of law and policy projects related to ecosystem-based ocean management, marine spatial planning, fisheries management and enforcement, ocean and coastal restoration, marine protection, deep seabed mining and more. During this time, Kathryn also served as a lecturer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and an advisor to its Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation.

Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Texas A&M University, Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a J.D. with a certificate in Environmental Law from University of California, Berkeley.

James Ellsmoor is the Founder & CEO of Island Innovation, a communications agency focused on the need of island communities. He has a passion for sustainable development and renewable energy, particularly applications for rural and isolated communities. Last year he ran the inaugural Virtual Island Summit, which brought together 4,000 participants from Scotland to Samoa to share stories about their communities. James has always used technology to advance his mission, allowing him to live and work anywhere and manage a team spread over 4 continents. Island Innovation focuses on bringing together NGOs, the private sector, universities and government with projects covering topics including lithium extraction, climate change and public policy.

Gladys Habu, representing Solomon Islands, is a passionate climate advocate who has campaigned for years on local, regional and international level to increase awareness of the impact of climate change. Her climate work has been focused on amplifying voices of those directly affected by climate change, particularly in ensuring that small island developing states are engaged in global discussions on important environmental issues. Her climate work was recognised earlier this year by Her Majesty the Queen and she became the 168th Commonwealth Point of Light awardee. Gladys is a Pharmacy Honours graduate from Monash University and works as a full time Pharmacist at the Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital. She is also a UNICEF Pacific Ambassador, focused on improving child and maternal health through her work around nutrition, immunization, climate change and also the prevention of COVID-19.

Sumit was born and raised in Bangladesh’s boisterous capital Dhaka. City Life, his first short, earned him a place at the Berlinale Talents in 2008. He then attended the Graduate Film Program of New York University as a Tisch Fellow. There he produced Barbara Cigarroa’s acclaimed short Dios Nunca Muere that played at NYFF, AFI Fest, and Palm Springs. His debut feature The Salt in Our Waters was an official selection at BFI London and Busan in 2020. It was nominated for the Ingmar Bergman Award at Göteborg, New Directors Award at both São Paulo and Seattle, and won the NETPAC Award at Kolkata. The project received funding from France’s CNC, TFL Audience Design fund, and director Spike Lee. Sumit’s second feature A New Prophet is backed by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation ($100K grant), IEFTA, Film Bazaar and Torino Film Lab. The screenplay is in development at Film Independent’s year-long Global Media Makers program.

Franziska Elmer PhD is a research fellow with School for Field Studies at the Center for Marine Resource Studies in South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Lead Field Scientists at Seafields and the Executive Producer of the Sargassum podcst. She has spent much of her career in the Caribbean, including volunteer work and an internship at STENAPA in St. Eustatius and faculty positions at CIEE in Bonaire and SFS in South Caicos. Furthermore, she serves as treasurer for the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean and is an Island Innovation Ambassador. Her research focusses are on coral recruitment, stony coral tissue loss disease and the impact of Sargassum beaching events on ecosystems and local communities.

In 2020, Franziska gave TEDx talk in Luzern: How a Marine Biologist Became a Climate Pirate. Since January 2020, Franziska has been on a climate change sabbatical in which she volunteers for various projects working help to solve this crisis.

Dr Konstantinos Chalvatzis is an energy engineer with postgraduate studies in environmental and energy policy and management. He has been with UEA since 2007, initially as a PhD student at the School of Environmental Sciences and currently as Professor in Sustainable Energy Business (at Norwich Business School) and Academic Chair for ClimateUEA,UEA’s umbrella initiative for Climate research. Konstantinos’ expertise is in the integration of advanced energy systems, including renewables, energy storage and demand side management. He has led research which received academic, industrial and investment funding for consortium projects worth over €23m. Beyond addressing technological challenges, Konstantinos is also interested in looking into broader aspects of energy innovations, such as their business models, user engagement with new technologies, and the respective regulatory framework. Konstantinos’ work on off-grid energy has beenawarded by the European Commission (2017) with the Energy Islands and the Citizens Awards. He has also been elected and served (2015-19) as the inauguralChair for Customer Engagement with smart grid and energy storage applications with DG Energy, EU. He has also served as the inaugural Chair (2015-2018) for Customer Engagement with Smart Grid and Energy Storage systems for the EU Commission BRIDGE Working Group.

Nicola Barnes Is the project manager for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Resilience Council in Vanuatu. She is a Vanuatu citizen with a passion for developing business skills and demonstrating the role that businesses play in supporting communities and economies. Nicola lead the team that implemented the network of 350+ vendors for the Vanuatu UnBlocked Cash response.

Dr Katharina Vones is a lecturer in Jewellery and Metal Design at the University of Dundee. Trained at the University of St.Andrews (2001), the Edinburgh College of Art (2006), the Royal College of Art (2010) and the University of Dundee ( 2017), her research focuses on sustainable craft practice centred on novel materiality and how digital jewellery that possesses biomimetic characteristics can be brought to life through the use of smart materials. Katharina actively blogs about her practice as a way to encourage craft practitioners to participate in open and sustainable communities of making at www.smart-jewellery.com.

Unleashing the growth potential of organizations is the purpose of strategy innovation. All can benefit from it. Too few do it. The Strategy Innovation Group (SIG) was founded to lead a transformative shift in the way global organizations, communities and islands envision and realize their desired future through their Discovery Process and strategy innovation.

We have partnered with executive leadership at 3M, P&G, IBM, BMW, Hewlett-Packard, Marriott International, United Way Worldwide and Carl Zeiss, among others, to inspire and execute sustainable new value in their industry, (i.e. 3M’s CEO valued this new “non-incremental to breakthrough” growth pipeline at $6 billion after 4 years.)

Last January we provided a Discovery Process Workshop to the 390 Island Innovation Ambassadors 2021. 111 Ambassadors, representing 61 islands, signed on to learn the Discovery Process in a pilot program and apply it to their island’s preparation for this year’s Island Innovation Summit. We have worked closely with the Martha’s Vineyard Ambassadors to model the Discovery Process for other islands.

Technological entrepreneur and sustainability enthusiast, Emilio De Jesús divides his time and energy between his academic work as a professor at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (PUCMM), his role as COO at STOR Water, a startup that seeks to use the latest advances in Industry 4.0 (IoT, Machine Learning) to create Digital Twins in the infrastructure of the Water and Energy industry, and Energía Journal, a communication portal to the most relevant information regarding the energy and sustainability conversation in the Dominican Republic. Emilio completed his undergraduate studies in Electromechanical Engineering (PUCMM) and obtained his specialization in Renewable Energies and Energy Markets at the School of Industrial Organization (EOI).

Anastasia Stampoulopoulou is an Agronomist from Greece. Her personal aspiration is to help smallholder farmers and rural communities find their voice and be able to stand on their feet. While working on her undergrad thesis, “Economic Analysis of Beekeeping and Honey”, she learned firsthand the hardships of running an agriculture business. She realized, that agricultural policymakers don’t consider the difficulties that farmers endure. Most of the time, they don’t have access to educational seminars, workshops about sustainable practices, and credit opportunities. That lead her to pursue a Master’s degree in Global Development at Cornell University sponsored by the Greek Fulbright Institution. In summer 2021 she conducted her in-person fieldwork component for her research project, “Dairy Cooperatives, Sustainability and The B Corp movement in Greece and US”. She had the chance to take many interviews and facilitate focus groups with members and employees of dairy cooperatives. Furthermore, she is an advocator of agricultural co-ops and how they could play a vital role by helping smallholder farmers have a share in the global market. During Fall 2021 she will be working with her academic advisor to develop a website with learning materials for starting and running a cooperative.

Joe is Managing Partner of Synecticsworld (a global innovation coaching and facilitation consultancy) and Founder of Imagine Corps (an innovation learning and community impact program for teenagers).

His work and passion are at the center of human potential — working with leaders to build more collaboratively innovative organizations and communities that create growth and meaningful change.
Joe is a sought-after innovation coach, facilitator, and trainer helping leaders and their teams to invent and incubate breakthrough solutions to key business challenges, and embed capabilities and organizational support for a more creative and innovative culture to take root.

Prior to his work the last 20 years in creativity and collaborative innovation with Synecticsworld, Joe held executive and product marketing positions helping to start and grow new businesses, teams, products, and brands (Apple, Hasbro, LiveToy Networks, Arthur D. Little, IBM).

As an Island Innovation Ambassador for Martha’s Vineyard, he is helping to lead a discovery process for Youth Empowerment & Engagement as well as spurring an Imagine Corps pilot program for Vineyard youth to learn collaborative innovation and creative problem-solving and pair with non-profits to make a difference on challenges in their community.

As well as my role as a director of OREF I am a final year PhD student with the University of the Highlands and Islands. My research looks at impact of Marine Renewable Energy in Orkney, focusing on the relationship between language, community, energy and environment.

Dorita Mendonça, Regional Director of Tourism of Madeira Islands, graduated in Business Administration and Management, with postgraduate degrees in Gestão.Com and Strategic Management and Tourism Development.

On a professional level, after some experience in the private sector, joined the Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Culture of Madeira, in 2002, as Head of Division for the Financial and Heritage Management department. From 2011 to 2015 was nominated Promotion Director, at the Regional Directorate of Tourism, being, at the same time, a Member of the Board for the Madeira Promotion Bureau.

Afterwards, until October 2017, held the position of Head Director of Information and Touristic Projects, being responsible for Tourism Information, which includes not only the Madeira Tourist Information Offices’ management as well as projects and initiatives’ development towards the enhancement, qualification and enrichment of the touristic product. Additionally, from 2015, is a Guest Assistant Lecturer at Madeira University.

We are Mongacila, a duet created on 2020 by Alexis Metallinos and Nikos Buntas. At first, we wanted to explore the world of electronic drum machines combined with our Instruments to see what will happen, we Improvised on our private Jam sessions ALOT until we found out what we really wanted to do.

Nowadays we are performing In Corfu island but we are planning to play in other Greek Islands and places in Europe as well, playing our own compositions.
You can call our music, Electric Soul with a lot of Ethnic taste and you can call us Mongacilians!

I guess you could say I am a citizen scientist , I was to study Marine Zoology, instead I followed a path if fine art, now expressing my finds of the sea and it’s plastics within, telling tales of how it is.
I have beach combed all my life. Came to Tiree 37 years ago, lived here the last 16yrs; my home on and off during that time. I have watched the plastic become endemic.
I have lost count of the number of beach cleans I have organised or carried out, 100’s, walked every stretch of our coast. Over the last three years I have endeavoured to deep clean out beaches and identify what is here, to search for a cause, bring light to the situation and in some way work towards rectifying it.
Previously I have worked with GP UK Actions, for several years.
I am a self build, literally, converting an old church to be both my residence and studio, design and most of the construction carried out by myself.
I am a self employed artist, with a shop and studio. I am also a Volunteer fire fighter with Scottish Fire and Rescue here on the island. A steering group member of Solar, our food poverty action group set up at the beginning of lockdown.
I have previously chaired our DofE group and the Tiree Windsurfing club, both for several years.
I also have been the IJB Unpaid Carer Rep for Argyll and Bute. I have a severely Autistic daughter.
I am presently supported with beach cleaning equipment/insurance from Surfers Against Sewage and Marine Conservation Society. I was awarded Beach cleaning Hero by SAS in 2019-20.
Our beaches cleaned fill up again, each walk taken bringing in between 10-20kg each time.
There is too much to do and too small a population, larger cleans collect tonnes, ADLFG being the main component.

Executive Director of Vineyard Open Land Foundation (2021 to present)
Transforming 50 year conservation organization into an integrated conservation and community development corporation. Refreshed mission into “creating places and spaces that matter on Martha’s Vineyard”. Current focus is on public access to waterfront and re-creation of a working waterfront in Vineyard Haven, and on working with organizations island-wide to create projects with open space, experiential education, arts and culture and economic vitality serving the diverse population of the island.

Executive Director of Martha’s Vineyard Museum (2016 to 2020)
Championed organization in transformation from an historical society and museum to an island-wide cultural center and museum serving a diverse and dynamic seasonal, socio-economic, and ethnic population on an island of equally diverse and rapidly changing ecology. Rewrote mission, vision and branding to reflect new focus on all the people and places of the island embracing its complex and diverse cultural and natural heritage. Raised $29 million in capital campaign to transform museum campus, moving operations from original town in Edgartown to island’s major port of entry, Vineyard Haven. Completed restoration of historic 1895 Marine Hospital building and construction of companion award-winning buildings. Opened new campus in the spring of 2019 to a six fold increase in visitors, nearly 30,000. Grew organization from 7 to 20 employees, annual budget to $2.2 million, and created $2.2 million endowment.
Executive Director of Audubon Pennsylvania (2008 to 2016) – Led and managed the state office of the National Audubon Society, growing its membership to 30,000 members with three offices and 20 employees across the state. Managed the protection of 85 Important Bird Areas across the Commonwealth. Raised more than $30 million to complete two national education and conservation leadership centers serving more than 100,000 visitors and school aged youth. Protected more than 5,000 acres of bird and wildlife habitat.

Education –Received MBA from the Wharton Business School (Buhler Scholar in 1986); undergraduate degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy (1981).

Elizabeth is currently a director with the Scottish Islands Federation and the development officer for the Raasay Development Trust.

Elizabeth has a background in environmental science and has a masters in coastal zone management. After graduating Elizabeth has used her knowledge and skills to support community development in Island communities. Elizabeth is working with the Raasay community on 3 large infrastructure projects due for completion within the next 18 months. The projects include affordable housing, hydro power and the installation of a pontoon.

Through growing up as a lighthouse keepers daughter, and through her studies and lived experience, Elizabeth has a high awareness of coastal issues is keen to use her knowledge to tackle the issue of marine litter and the discarded plastics that impact or our coastal ecosystems.

Elizabeth Genia’s professional career spans nearly 40 years with the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG), PNG’s central bank. In her current role, Assistant Governor of Corporate Affairs Group, Elizabeth oversees all aspects of the Bank’s information technology, corporate services and human resources functions.

Her broad business experience has equipped her with sound knowledge of finance, auditing, corporate governance, risk management, strategic planning, customer service, administration, banking, human resources, corporate services and information technology. Over the past several years she has been driving BPNG’s focus on developing and implementing financial technology, as part of the Bank’s approach to financial inclusion.

A member of BPNG’s Executive Team, reporting directly to the Governor, Elizabeth is a member and chairperson of internal Committees including the Tender Committee, IT Governance Committee and Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Steering Committee.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Commerce (UPNG), a Graduate Award Certificate in Management and Organisational Change (ANU, Canberra Australia), and a Master of Business Administration (UQ, Brisbane Australia). In 2020 she completed the Fintech Program conducted by Oxford University’s Said Business School.

She is on the Board of the Business Coalition for Women.

Her professional association memberships include the PNG Institute of Directors, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the PNG Institute of Accountants, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the Australian Institute of Internal Auditors.

Cynthia Alexander has been working on supporting the regulation of the electricity sector, as well as to implement the energy policies and strategies including the promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the Seychelles. She works on development and implementation of different renewable energy and energy efficiency projects focused on Energy Transition for SIDS. Additionally, she is active in education and awareness on RE, EE and sustainable development targeting various groups.

I guess you could say I am a citizen scientist , I was to study Marine Zoology, instead I followed a path if fine art, now expressing my finds of the sea and it’s plastics within, telling tales of how it is.
I have beach combed all my life. Came to Tiree 37 years ago, lived here the last 16yrs; my home on and off during that time. I have watched the plastic become endemic.
I have lost count of the number of beach cleans I have organised or carried out, 100’s, walked every stretch of our coast. Over the last three years I have endeavoured to deep clean out beaches and identify what is here, to search for a cause, bring light to the situation and in some way work towards rectifying it.
Previously I have worked with GP UK Actions, for several years.
I am a self build, literally, converting an old church to be both my residence and studio, design and most of the construction carried out by myself.
I am a self employed artist, with a shop and studio. I am also a Volunteer fire fighter with Scottish Fire and Rescue here on the island. A steering group member of Solar, our food poverty action group set up at the beginning of lockdown.
I have previously chaired our DofE group and the Tiree Windsurfing club, both for several years.
I also have been the IJB Unpaid Carer Rep for Argyll and Bute. I have a severely Autistic daughter.
I am presently supported with beach cleaning equipment/insurance from Surfers Against Sewage and Marine Conservation Society. I was awarded Beach cleaning Hero by SAS in 2019-20.
Our beaches cleaned fill up again, each walk taken bringing in between 10-20kg each time.
There is too much to do and too small a population, larger cleans collect tonnes, ADLFG being the main component.

v

Jerry Mang’ena he is a cofounder and director of Aqua-Farms Organization (www.afo.or.tz) and a Marine Biologist. He is an Aquapreneur with four years of experience in fisheries and aquaculture through his fish farming business (www.aquafarmshatcheries.co.tz).

He is a trained business coach of Climate Launch Pad (https://climatelaunchpad.org/). Jerry is a Tutor at the School of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Technology of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and a Climate Reality Leader and Mandela Washington Fellow. He is committed to protecting the ocean from unsustainable use and firmly believes that if aquatic resources are sustainably used they can help to mitigate climate change impacts and poverty.

Linda Siegele, JD LLM is an environmental lawyer and independent consultant. She has been involved in the United Nations climate change negotiating process since 2005 with a special focus on the issues of adaptation and loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change in developing countries. Linda is particularly familiar with the climate change concerns of small island developing states and least developed countries, having directly supported country delegations through the provision of relevant technical and strategic policy advice.

Dr Masaō Ashtine completed his doctorate in 2016 at the University of Cambridge, where he researched climate change implications for the UK’s and Caribbean wind energy sectors. This followed 6 years at York University in Toronto, Canada, where he gained his Undergraduate and Masters Degrees in Environmental Sciences and Climate Modelling respectively. After his PhD, he worked with the renewables company, 3E, in Brussels as a data scientist intern for the optimisation of wind power models across Europe.

Masaō recently completed a Lectureship at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica where he was the research lead for the Alternative Energy Group at the Department of Physics. He has now joined the OeRC team, working with Professor David Wallom as a Postdoctoral Researcher for Project LEO (project-leo.co.uk). Masaō is the Co-Founder of the Journal of Caribbean Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy (CESaRE)

Omar is the C.E.O. of The Cropper Foundation, a Caribbean non-profit working to advance Caribbean sustainability. In this role he has led several large development projects and built diverse, multi-stakeholder relationships across fields of data and technology, civil society empowerment, sustainable agriculture and natural capital. He has also worked in the field of education with UNESCO, leading national and regional efforts at sustainability and diversity in education including UNESCO’s global programme on bullying and school violence and UNESCO’s climate change education agenda. He has worked with the University of the West Indies, various United Nations Agencies and is currently a Director of CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice, one of the leading LGBTI NGOs in the Caribbean. He is a member of the 10th cohort of the Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge, UK. And has a BSc and MBA from the UWI.

Frances Fuller is the Director of the New York branch of Climate Analytics and a Senior Implementation Specialist. Originally from Antigua and Barbuda, Frances has 15 years’ experience in climate and environmental policy implementation, access to climate finance, strategic national development planning, natural resource management, and multi-stakeholder engagement. Most recently, Frances has been co-leading the provision of Climate Analytics’ technical support to SIDS and LDCs to update or develop new NDCs. Frances has led much of CA’s GCF Readiness Programme activities in the Caribbean region on building the capacity of NDAs, multi-stakeholder engagement and training on increasing the quality of GCF project and programme proposals, with respect to investment criteria, country ownership, gender integration, theory of change and developing a strong climate rationale. Frances has an MA in Environment, Politics and Globalisation from King’s College, London and her Bachelors of Science in Environmental Biogeoscience from the University of Leeds.