Nov. 1994 Secretary to the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary

Dec. 1997 Elected to his 1st term as a Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly Member

Apr. 2011 Elected to a 5th term as a Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly Member

Dec. 2014 Took office as Mayor of the 32nd Kumamoto City Municipal Administration

Dec. 2018 Took office as Mayor of the 33rd Kumamoto City Municipal Administration

Dec. 2022 Took office as Mayor of the 34th Kumamoto City Municipal Administration

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Prof. Kaori Fujita is a professor at Tohoku University. Her primary research areas include biodiversity, natural capital and corporate operation, ESG/TNFD, and nature-positive corporate management. After graduating from University of Tokyo, she worked at Nikkei BP as a journalist of Nikkei Electronics and Nikkei Electronics Asia, Deputy Editor of National Geographic Japan, a member of the editorial board of Nikkei Ecology, a producer of the Nikkei ESG Corporate Management Forum, and a Senior Editor of Nikkei ESG. She was also an affiliate professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Toyama, and an affiliate professor at the Faculty of Contemporary Society, Toyama University of International Studies. She is currently both a professor at Green Goals Initiative and a professor at the Graduate School of Life Sciences, and a Deputy Director of Nature Positive Sustainable Development Hub, Tohoku University. She is also an ESG Executive Fellow at Nikkei BP. Her publications include Biodiversity and Natural Capital Corporate Management in the Era of SDGs and ESG (Nikkei BP) and An Easy-to-Understand Guide to Biodiversity and Nature-Positive Corporate Management in the Age of ESG and TNFD.

In 1983, he entered Sumitomo Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (currently Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd.(“MSI”)). In 2017, he became Executive Officer of MS&AD Holdings. In 2021, he was appointed President & CEO of MSI. In 2024, he became Representative Director, President & CEO of MS&AD Holdings(present).

Naoko Ishii has dedicated her career to safeguarding the global commons – our stable and resilient earth system, that serves as the bedrock of human prosperity and yet is under threat by the current economic system. In her efforts to bring about a transformation in this system, she became an inaugural Director for the Center of Global Commons at the University of Tokyo in 2020 with the aim of building a multi-stakeholder coalition in Japan and forge partnerships with international allies for systemic change. Before U-Tokyo, she served as CEO and Chairperson for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) from 2012 to 2020. She brings her expertise to global discourse by joining the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance, Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW), and Planetary Guardians, among others. Her earlier roles include Deputy Vice Minister of Finance in Japan, senior positions at the World Bank and IMF.

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After a career at KDDI, Kearney, and 3M, joined NEC in 2019. Consistently lead corporate transformation, currently accelerating as Corporate SVP & CBXO (Incl. Sustainability initiatives).

Mr. Hiroyuki Isono is the President & CEO of Oji Holdings Corporation. He has vast experience in overseas business development and contributed a lot to Oji's global expansion.

He was appointed to current role in 2022 and described company's purpose "Grow and manage the sustainable forest, develop and deliver the products from renewable forest, and Oji will bring this world a brighter future filled with hope".

He believes sustainable forestry can activate various forest ecosystem service such as water resource conservation, global warming mitigation, and biodiversity conservation which are economically and socially important.

Junro Ito joined SEVEN-ELEVEN JAPAN in 1990 and transferred to its parent company, Seven & i Holdings, in 2009. He has since held a range of leadership roles, including Chief Sustainability Officer (CSuO), overseeing group-wide sustainability strategy and corporate initiatives. In May 2025, he became Representative Director & Executive Chair (Kaicho). He also serves as a Director and Chairman of York Holdings Co., Ltd.

He graduated from Keio University's Faculty of Economics.

He joined Fuji Bank (now Mizuho Bank) in April 1984. After serving as General Manager of the Corporate Banking Division and as Managing Executive Officer of Mizuho Trust & Banking Co.,Ltd., he joined The Higo Bank,Ltd. in April 2015. Following service as Managing Executive Officer and Deputy President, he was appointed President and Representative Director in June 2018. He has also served as President and Representative Director of Kyushu Financial Group,Inc. since June 2019.

Shinichiro Kashima is Managing Executive Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSuO) of Nippon Life.

After joining Nippon Life in 1993, he held various senior positions in the areas of financial planning, product development, actuarial and public & investor relations.

In 2023, he was appointed as CSuO when Nippon Life established Sustainability Planning Office and he became its first head. Since then, Shinichiro has committed to bringing together cross-functional expertise of investment, insurance underwriting and corporate operations to drive and enhance Nippon Life's group-wide sustainability management.

He was appointed to his current position in March 2025.

Taro Kitabayashi joined The Norinchukin Bank in 1994. He was appointed Executive Officer in 2021, Director and Executive Officer in 2023, and Representative Director and Executive Officer in 2024. Since 2025, he has served as Representative Director and President, Chief Executive Officer of The Norinchukin Bank.

Shougo Ohishi, the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd., leads its sustainability strategy toward achieving nature positive. He joined Meiji Dairies Corporation (currently Meiji Co., Ltd.) in 1987 and has over 35 years of professional experience in the global nutrition business.

Toshiro Mitsuyoshi is President and Representative Director of Sumitomo Forestry since April 2020. In this role, he announced the company’s long-term vision “Mission TREEING 2030” that aims to maximize the value of forests and wood and to realize the decarbonization of the society and a circular bioeconomy through its value chain, the Wood Cycle. Prior to being appointed to the current position, he was the division head of the Housing and Construction Division from 2017.

Toshiro joined Sumitomo Forestry in 1985 and served in Seattle, the United States and Auckland, New Zealand for the log trading and business development. He was appointed Executive Officer in 2010 and Managing Executive Officer the next year. During his tenure as the head of the Overseas Business Division, Toshiro has played a central role in the acquisitions and launches of engineered wood line such as MDF, LVL, and particle board. His expertise also helped him lead the Division in the M & A transactions of the housing business in Australia and in the United States, which made the foundation of the Company’s global expansion.

Joined Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (as it was then known) in 1991. After working in claims service divisions in Japan and overseas, she was appointed Head of the Human Resources Department at Tokio Marine Holdings in 2019. In 2021, she assumed responsibility for Group Diversity & Inclusion, and since 2024 has served as Group Chief Sustainability Officer (current role).

Joined Tokyu Land Corporation in 1989.

Having built a career primarily in public relations and sustainability, currently responsible for corporate communications and sustainability.

Also serves as an Executive Officer at Tokyu Land Corporation.

Born in 1983, he joined AEON Retail Co., Ltd. in 2015. After serving in key positions in the organic business, sports e-commerce business, and ASEAN business, he was appointed Executive Officer in charge of Human Resources and Sustainability at AEON Co., Ltd. in March 2026.

Head of Corporate Division - Corporate Strategy and Planning, Business Administration, Finance and Accounting, General Affairs, Procurement, Human Resources, Innovation, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Wellness Officer, Chair of the JAL Wellness Promotion Committee

Senior Managing Executive Officer, Chief Culture Officer(CCuO) & Chief Sustainability Officer(CSuO), Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.; concurrently Group CSuO, Senior Executive Vice President, SOMPO Holdings, Inc. Responsible for driving sustainability across the SOMPO Group, business foundation & cultural transformation, and public relations.

As Chief Sustainability Officer of Daiichi Life Group, she is responsible for leading sustainability strategies and disclosures. Drawing on her extensive experience in previous roles at McKinsey & Company, she is promoting sustainability management across the Group.

Hidetoshi leads corporate sustainability strategy, management and reporting advisory practices at PwC Japan Group and provides advisory services to multi-national companies in automotive, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, cosmetics, airlines, chemical, telecommunication, ICT and technology industry. He has also played an important role to lead several thought leadership initiatives in the field of corporate sustainability in PwC global network.

He has 9 years experience as an environmental specialist at an automotive company. He was in charge of development and implementation of environmental strategy and led several projects including GHG accounting for biofuels and ecosystem service review in collaboration with external stakeholders.

MSc in Environmental Technology (Ecological Management) -Imperial College London

MEng in Civil Engineering -Osaka University.

Joined Sumitomo Bank (now SMBC) in 1993.

After serving as Head of the Group’s Investor Relations team, he led the publication of the Group’s first integrated report while working in the Planning Department. He also promoted sustainable finance as SMBC’s Co-General Manager of the Loan Capital Markets Department in London.

Before taking up his current assignment in April 2023, he spent a year as the General Manager of the Corporate Sustainability Department.

He is currently responsible for the Group’s corporate strategy and business promotion related to sustainability.

Joined Kirin Brewery Company in 1993. After serving in information systems and corporate planning roles and completing overseas studies, he was involved in group strategy formulation and M&A initiatives. He later served as a Director at Lion, Kirin’s Oceania-based alcoholic beverage subsidiary. He is currently Senior Executive Officer of Kirin Holdings, responsible for Corporate Planning and CSV Strategy.

Yuko Tsutsui joined NYK Line (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) in 1986 after graduating from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Letters. Over her career, she has built a broad portfolio spanning business development, corporate governance, and sustainability.

In the early stages of her career, she was involved in the launch of the Asuka cruise business and worked on overseas port terminal projects. She also gained public sector experience through a secondment to the Japanese government’s regulatory reform framework, contributing to discussions on industry and institutional reform.

She later moved into corporate functions, including CSR, human resources, and governance, where she led initiatives on organizational reform and diversity. In 2015, she was appointed head of corporate functions at NYK’s UK subsidiary, where she oversaw governance and compliance matters in a global business environment. After returning to Japan in 2019, she served as Head of the Governance Enhancement Group.

Ms. Tsutsui was appointed an Executive Officer in 2020, taking responsibility for legal affairs and internal audit, and subsequently assumed leadership of ESG and sustainability management. Since 2024, she has served as Managing Executive Officer and Head of the Sustainability Strategy Headquarters, overseeing NYK Group’s GX, decarbonization, and sustainability strategy in close alignment with global stakeholders.

Joined Daiwa House Industry in 1994. After building a career primarily in the fields of human resources and human rights, he currently serves as the General Manager of Sustainability department, promoting sustainable management through the resolution of environmental and social issues.

Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu is an Indian politician and currently serving as the Chief Minister of the state of Andhra Pradesh. He is a prominent figure in India, known for his influential reforms that have transformed the state into a global hub for technology, infrastructure, and sustainable development.

Over a four-decade career, he founded HITEC City—attracting global giants like Microsoft and Google—and is currently spearheading the development of Amaravati, a world-class, climate-resilient greenfield capital. His leadership focuses on sustainable development, digital connectivity, and future-ready infrastructure, while his initiatives are aimed at benefiting everyone and are in line with undefined global sustainable development goals.

Astrid Schomaker was appointed the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2024. Prior to her appointment, Astrid was the Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism with the European Commission in Brussels. There, she promoted a global transition to resource-efficient, low emission, nature-positive circular economies. She also focused on increasing the EU's effectiveness in addressing international environmental challenges, strengthening multilateralism and international environmental governance, and working towards the full implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, among other priorities.

Ambassador Peter Thomson has served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean since 2017, driving the implementation of UN SDG 14.

He was elected to serve as President of the UNGA for its 2016-17 term. He was Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the UN (2010-2016), during which time he was President of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS). He led the Fiji team of diplomats that in 2013 chaired the Group of 77 and China. He was elected as President of the International Seabed Authority’s Assembly in 2011 and as President of its Council in 2015.

He is a founding Co-Chair of the WEF’s Friends of Ocean Action and is a supporting member of the High-Level Panel for Sustainable Ocean Economy. He is a Member of the Order of Fiji.

Paul Polman is an internationally recognised leader in sustainable business and a co-architect of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As CEO of Unilever (2008-2019), he proved that purpose-driven strategies deliver exceptional results. Through board roles, impact investments, and his bestselling book Net Positive, Paul continues to inspire responsible leadership and drive global progress towards a sustainable future. Thinkers50 named Paul and his co-author Andrew Winston 1st in its 2025 Ranking, recognising their lasting influence on business and management.

Dr Grethel Aguilar, born in Costa Rica, is Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). She brings with her thirty years of experience in conservation and sustainable development, having worked extensively on developing and applying environmental law and policy in collaboration with governments and civil society. Through her work in field projects, Dr Aguilar has helped communities access clean water, advocated environmental justice, assisted Indigenous peoples in obtaining rights to their natural resources, and championed gender equality in environmental governance.

Dr Aguilar has also previously served as Regional Director for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, among her many other positions, where she oversaw the development and effective implementation of the IUCN Programme throughout the region and managed a wide range of issues, from ecosystem-based resource management strategies and policies to organisational management and financial planning.

Yana Gevorgyan is Director of the inter-governmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO), a partnership of 118 governments and nearly 170 international organisations working to deliver Earth intelligence for all. She brings over two decades of experience across public, private, and multilateral sectors at the intersection of science, technology and policy. She contributes to global work on innovation and modern multilateralism. Under her leadership, GEO convenes the Global Ecosystems Atlas, providing shared ecosystems intelligence to support nature-positive action.

Romie Goedicke den Hertog is Head of Nature Impact at United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), working with banks, insurers, and investors to embed nature into financial decision-making and scale capital flows that halt and reverse biodiversity loss. She supports financial institutions in contributing to the Kunming-Montreal GBF and other multilateral environmental agreements. With more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of sustainability, finance, and nature, Romie has been instrumental in creating the frameworks that enable a shift from nature-negative to nature-positive finance. She played a key role in the development of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and in securing a landmark statement from the global private financial sector supporting the Kunming-Montreal Agreement. Prior to joining UNEP FI, she led biodiversity and finance work at IUCN NL and championed corporate sustainability reporting at the Global Reporting Initiative.

Tony has been CEO of the TNFD since its inception in 2021, driving the strategy of the TNFD, coordinating support to its 40 Taskforce members and building a global network of partnerships that has supported the development of the TNFD recommendations and guidance. For over two decades, Tony advised government, financial sector and philanthropic leaders on a range of strategic challenges at the intersection of business, finance and public policy. He began his career in the Australian diplomatic service before moving into the private sector, first in investment banking where he focused on infrastructure project financing and then advising national government leaders on strategy and SDG challenges in strategy consulting and as an adviser through the World Bank Group. In 2024, he was named a TIME 100 Climate Leader by TIME Magazine.

As founder and CEO of the Capitals Coalition, Mark is a leading catalyst for collaborative action in the impact space. He combines private-sector roots with a natural gift for diplomacy, bringing diverse views and perspectives together behind a common vision. Over the years, Mark has been instrumental in shaping the Natural Capital Protocol, the Social and Human Capital Protocol, and in co-founding Business for Nature. Whether serving as Co-Chair of the Impact Management Platform or advising the Nature Positive Initiative, Mark remains dedicated to integrating social, human, and natural capital into the heart of modern decision-making.

Marco was WWF International Director General and previously Global Director of Network and Programme, subsequently CEO, of BirdLife International.

Marco’s experience and career ranges from ecological field research to high level advocacy and international policy, nature reserve management, integrated conservation and development projects, communications and campaigning, in many countries all over the world.

Marco is member of the China Council (CCICED), the UNILEVER Sustainability Advisory Council, the Board of Directors for the Fondation Prince Albert II of Monaco, co-chair of the Nature Action 100 Science Council, a Distinguished Fellow of the Hoffmann Centre for Global Sustainability, Board member of the Belt and Road Initiative Greening Coalition, member of the WEF Friends of Ocean action.

Marco is the lead author of the recently published book “Becoming Nature Positive: transitioning to a safe and just future” (2025, Earthscan Routledge, London) and Executive Producer of the film ‘Becoming Nature Positive’ (2026, Open Planet Studios).

Dorothy leads efforts to drive systemic change in nature finance across the African continent. She spearheads the development of innovative financial products, services, and solutions. Dorothy has played a pivotal role in strengthening the nature finance capabilities of African Financial Institutions, leading key initiatives such as the African pilot of the TNFD and the continent’s pilot of TNFD’s Nature Data Public Facility. Her work also includes mobilizing capital for nature by developing a pipeline of investible nature-based solutions through accelerators set up by FSD Africa, coordinating nature-related central bank stress-testing across African countries, and supporting the development of National Nature Strategies across African countries.

Dorothy serves on the WEF’s Global Futures Council on Natural Capital and has represented Africa in the TCFD insurer pilot group and the PCAF. Dorothy is an author of two books – “She Leads” where she covers her leadership journey as well as co-authoring “Becoming Nature Positive”

Mr. Satya Tripathi is a development economist, lawyer and changemaker with over 40 years of varied experience and currently serves as the Secretary General at the Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet - an organisation that drives green transformation and sustainable enterprise modelling by leveraging private finance, aiming to achieve the climate goals by 2030.

He has served with the United Nations for almost two decades, as the UN Assistant Secretary-General, head of New York Office at UN Environment and Secretary of the UN, and was instrumental in establishing the Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF) in Indonesia in 2016 and the Sustainable India Finance Facility (SIFF) in 2017 to garner ‘private finance for public good’ at mega-scale to achieve transformative social and environmental impact for millions of people in developing countries.

Lee Howell is the Executive Director of the Villars Institute. Lee was the Managing Director at the World Economic Forum (WEF) responsible for its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland from 2009 until 2021 and the Editor-in-Chief of its Global Risks Report (2012 & 2013). He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Geneva's School of Economics and Management (GSEM) and a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen’s CEMS program.

A sustainability practitioner for 3 decades, Esther has been instrumental in building up the Sustainability leadership for CDL, which has been ranked Top amongst real estate companies on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, released at World Economic Forum at Davos.

Esther published the first sustainability report in Singapore in 2008 and issued the first green bond by a Singapore company in 2017. Conferred the 2018 SDG Pioneer for Green Infrastructure and A Low Carbon Economy by the UN Global Compact, and named amongst 25 Trailblazing Women against Climate Change by Reuters in 2023 as well as the inaugural TIME100 Climate Leaders in Business 2023 list, Esther sits on the boards or advisory platforms of international organizations including the World Green Building Council Corporate Advisory Board Chairperson (2024-2026) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Supervisory Board (2021-2026)

Stuart is widely regarded as a global leader in the field of business and biodiversity management with over 35 years working on extractive sector related biodiversity management and conservation issues. For 22 of those years, he led Rio Tinto’s groundbreaking work on Net Positive Impact on biodiversity. Stuart played an important role in mainstreaming the use of the mitigation hierarchy and biodiversity offsets of a means of achieving the goal on net gain on biodiversity.
Stuart is a co-author of a paper that details an innovative Nature Positive framework for the mining sector.
As the Executive Director of the Nature Positive Landscapes Initiative Stuart is committed to the continued development of the concept of Nature Positive as a conservation framework that can positively contribute to societal moves to stem this loss.

Dr. Crowley has a 30+ year career underpinning her global expertise in biodiversity across public and private sectors designing and implementing nature based and natural climate solutions, integrating nature/biodiversity into business and finance strategy and enterprise development. Her professional work spanned over a decade on conservation strategy and field programs with Wildlife Conservation Society in Africa and Madagascar, a decade building corporate sustainability leadership with the luxury group, Kering, and most recently leading the nature thematic across all sectors as Managing Director at the advisory and investment firm, Pollination. She now focuses her efforts more broadly as a global advisor to companies, investors, non-profits and start-ups guiding the development and implementation of their strategies. She is currently part of the leadership team developing the Nature Positive Landscapes Initiative. Dr. Crowley also dedicates time to teaching, writing and presenting to build awareness of the power of Nature. She has co-produced a short documentary film, is currently working on a docu-series on nature and fashion and was noted as one of the top 52 ‘newsmakers’ in Australia in 2022. She is a non-executive Director and Advisor on several for profit and non-profit Boards. She has a PhD in Zoology from the Australian National University, has led research expeditions with the Australian Antarctic Expeditions and the National Geographic Society. She was awarded Chevalier de l’Ordre National from the President of Madagascar for services to the country and the University of Tasmania’s International Alumni Award for 2025.

Gavin Edwards is a conservation and environment advocate with three decades of experience in pursuing and helping secure break-through solutions to the twin biodiversity and climate crises.

He has contributed to important conservation successes including conserving the Great Bear Rainforest working alongside indigenous peoples, an Amazon soy moratorium, a Hong Kong ivory sales ban and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

He is the Executive Director of the Nature Positive Initiative Secretariat – a collaboration of 27 leading organizations who will drive alignment around the definition, integrity and use of the term ‘nature positive’. Mr Edwards holds an Executive MBA from Kellogg-HKUST.

Franck Gbaguidi is the Managing Director for Global Environment & Sustainability at Eurasia Group. He leads a team of experts that supports public and private sector organizations in navigating sustainability trends and policy risks. His work centers on analyzing climate, water, biodiversity, and plastic regulations.

Prior to joining Eurasia Group, Franck held several sustainability-related roles at the World Bank Group, including serving as climate adviser to the managing director of the International Finance Corporation. Additionally, he has conducted consultancy work for the European Investment Bank, the UN Capital Development Fund, and the Centre on Global Energy Policy.

Franck holds three bachelor's degrees and four master's degrees, including a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University. He has been quoted by Bloomberg, the Financial Times, the New York Times, and Reuters.

Nitin Gupta is the CEO and Co-founder of Attero Recycling Pvt Ltd, which is India’s largest electronic asset management company with expertise in developing eco-friendly reuse and recycling solutions for electronics. He is regarded as a visionary and a technology expert with proficiency in bringing cleantech to India. Nitin is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, with a strong foundation in Engineering. He further went on to the prestigious NYU, Stern, and London Business School to study business & marketing. Following the mantra of “it's not waste, until it's wasted” and with a strong desire to make a notable change in the cleantech space, Nitin founded Attero in 2008. Nitin follows a more collaborative and entrepreneurial approach to business and the workplace, which is instrumental in the growth of the brand. He intends to establish Attero as the largest urban mining company in the world.

Pallavi is the Asia Lead for Business for Nature, based at Conservation International Asia Pacific. She leads strategic partnerships and policy engagement across the region, working closely with governments, business associations, and companies to accelerate credible business action on nature and biodiversity. She has led key regional initiatives, including supporting the development of National Business and Biodiversity Action Plans in Indonesia and Malaysia. Earlier in her career, she worked on international trade policy with the EU Delegation to India and the British High Commission, as well as with leading Indian think tanks. She holds a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Warwick.

Clea Kaske-Kuck is Director, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement. Clea has been at WBCSD for over five years in diverse leadership roles covering the climate, nature, people action as well as food and agriculture agenda. Clea previously worked for over 12 years at Cargill in multiple roles of growing responsibility in the areas of corporate responsibility, sustainability, policy and communications out of the company’s offices in the US, China, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Clea graduated from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 2007 with a two-year master’s in public policy degree as a German government McCloy Scholar. She worked at the World Bank in Washington DC as well as for the US Congress for two years in total after graduating from Stanford University with honors in international relations in 2003. She also serves as a NED Board Member of Travalyst.

A biologist by training, Jean Lemire is an environmental specialist and renowned science communicator. He was appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change, Nordic and Arctic Affairs by the Government of Québec in September 2017, thus becoming the first envoy in the history of Québec diplomacy. In this capacity, he develops international partnerships and represents the Government of Québec at various multilateral conventions and forums, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Arctic Council, the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance and the United Nations Environment Programme’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. As part of his responsibilities, Jean Lemire acts as:

- Representative and spokesperson for subnational governments at the Convention on Biological Diversity;
- Ambassador for the SAGA project on food security and climate change of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO);
- President of the Advisory Board of the International Climate Cooperation Program (ICCP), winner of the United Nations Global Climate Action Award;
- Coordinator of the Government of Québec’s International Environmental Team.

His work on climate change and biodiversity has led to major international scientific missions. His films, books and web creations have garnered numerous awards. Among his distinctions, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, has received two honorary doctorates (oceanography-UQAR and geography-UQAM) and holds the title of Grand Ambassador of the Université de Sherbrooke. In 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon appointed him UN Green Wave Ambassador for biodiversity. He is also the first recipient of the prestigious Midori Prize for Biodiversity.

Hanh leads engagement with major ocean industries at the World Economic Forum, working with senior leaders across offshore energy, shipping, ports, food and tourism to accelerate the shift toward a nature-positive economy. She also helps advance cross-sector collaborations that strengthen ocean stewardship at scale.
Previously, Hanh held positions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In these roles, she led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives to unlock the benefits of global trade and strengthen agricultural and fisheries value chains. She was frequently deployed to the field, where she worked directly with smallholders, fishers, and small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries to improve market access and enhance livelihoods.

Grazielle Parenti is Vale's Executive Vice President of Sustainability (non-statutory), with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability, corporate relations, government affairs, international relations, communications, community engagement, agribusiness, and diversity & inclusion.
Before joining Vale, she held leadership positions in global companies such as Syngenta, BRF, Mondelez, Diageo, and DSM. Bloomberg has recognized her as one of the leading business figures in Latin America. She is an active member of the Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC) and the Women Corporate Directors network.

Parenti has a degree in business administration from FGV/EAESP, an MBA in marketing from FIA/USP, and a specialization in public policy management from FGV. She has also completed executive courses at national and international institutions.

As a strategic communicator, Gemma has over 20 years’ experience across the global nonprofit, public and private sectors, working across the EU, UK and Switzerland – most recently leading nature and ocean communications for the World Economic Forum. As a senior consultant, Gemma delivered a range of strategic communications assignments for a variety of international clients and is also an actor and voiceover artist. Former roles at organizations ranging from WWF and Oxfam to the European Environmental Bureau, emphasize a commitment to work that contributes to a sustainable and equitable future. Gemma holds an MA in International Politics from the Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales et Stratégiques in Brussels and a BA in Modern Languages from the University of Exeter. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Ted Schmitt is currently the Senior Director of Conservation at Ai2, where he leads partnerships for the OlmoEarth program.

Ted co-founded and led Ai2’s EarthRanger, one of the world's most widely used protected area management tools, used at over 900 sites in 90 countries. He then led Skylight, Ai2’s platform addressing illegal fishing, now used by over 200 organizations in 70+ countries.

For over 15 years, Ted has worked globally, applying technology to terrestrial and marine conservation challenges. His early conservation work included leading the Great Elephant Census, a landmark survey spanning 18 countries that influenced international ivory trade policy.

He began his career as a software engineer at IBM, served at the U.S. National Academies, and led business development at start-ups in Europe and the United States.

Yoko Watanabe is the Director of Nature and Environment at the Asian Development Bank. She heads the environment and nature initiatives, including biodiversity, nature-based solutions and nature finance, and air quality and circular economy.。

She has over 30 years of experience working on biodiversity, nature and environment. She has held key positions at the GEF, UNDP, World Bank, and WWF. She has strategically managed large teams and worked on environment projects and programs in over 130 countries.

Yoko is a Japanese national and holds a master’s degree in international development with a focus on environment management.

Eleanor is founder of Alopias Earth, a climate and nature risk advisory helping organisations translate nature and climate risk into credible, investible strategy.

Her experience spans international policy, diplomacy and programme oversight. At the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), she oversaw multi-million-pound global climate programmes. She later served as a diplomat at the British Embassy Beijing, leading on nature and biodiversity ahead of UNFCCC COP26 and CBD COP15. She subsequently led a global team at clean energy think tank Ember, working with energy companies and investors on coal transition risk.

Based in Asia, Eleanor combines deep regional knowledge and networks with a global lens, advising corporates navigating nature and climate risk, evolving investor expectations and the changing policy landscape.