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 is Professor and Director of the Center for Global Commons, Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo. Previously, she was the CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (2012-2020). She is a vocal advocate for catalyzing systems change for sustainable development within the planetary boundaries. Her earlier roles include Deputy Vice Minister of Finance in Japan and senior positions at the World Bank and IMF.

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A seasoned executive with extensive global expertise, he began his career in 1988 at a major trading company, where he held leadership roles in food trading, finance, and private equity. Since joining Suntory Holdings in 2021, he has been instrumental in driving the group's global strategy.
He previously served as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Suntory Global Spirits (formerly Beam Suntory), where he spearheaded corporate strategy and enterprise-wide transformation. In 2024, he was appointed Managing Executive Officer of Suntory Holdings.
Since January 2026, he has been leading the group’s sustainability and ESG initiatives as Senior General Manager of the Sustainability Management Division.

Dr. Shogoro Fujiki earned his PhD in Agriculture from Kyoto University in March 2017. During his studies, he developed technologies for visualizing biodiversity through satellite image processing. Spending more than two years camping in the tropical rainforests of Borneo inspired him to launch an environmental conservation business. After completing his PhD, he founded Biome Inc. and currently serves as its CEO. The company collects information on living organisms around the world to build biodiversity big data, aiming to create a system in which biodiversity conservation attracts public interest and benefits society.

Dr. Fujiki is an expert advisory member of the Environment Ministry’s working group involved in modifying the Japan Conference for 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework (J-GBF), a council member of the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, and a domestic commissioner of ISO/TC331 (biodiversity). He was also selected as “Innovators Under 35 Japan 2021” by MIT Technology Review.

Yoshiyuki Fujiwara joined NYK Line in 2010 and built broad, hands-on experience across maritime and logistics operations. He worked in commercial sales in logistics, including a secondment to Yusen Logistics, handled vessel operations and long-term contract development in dry bulk shipping for both domestic and international customers, and managed chartering and fleet management in car carrier shipping during the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He subsequently joined Ocean Network Express (ONE) in Singapore as a Manager in the Corporate Strategy team for approximately four years. There, he led new business development, drove academia-industry collaboration, and established an internal academy and knowledge-sharing platform for talent development.
Drawing on this cross-functional background, he returned to NYK in April 2026 as Team Leader of the Sustainability Management Planning Team within the Sustainability & Transformation Headquarters. In this role, he serves as secretariat for the Sustainability Strategy Committee, an executive-level governance body, and draws on his broad experience across NYK's businesses to drive sustainability strategy, navigate evolving disclosure frameworks, and advance the integration of sustainability across the organisation.

He founded Seafood Legacy in 2015 and assumed the role of CEO. He is leading a systemic shift to mainstream sustainable seafood across Asia. He also serves in numerous other roles, including as a member of government expert panels and a board director for international CSO platforms.

Bachelor of Arts Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Department of Arabic. After 20 years of service in Sojitz Corporation, started Biostimulant business by setting up own company. Currently dealing with not only Japanese materials but also US and EU ones with those combination for best performance at competitive costs.

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).

Yuuko Iizuka was appointed Executive Officer of Sumitomo Forestry in March 2022, and became Deputy Head of the newly formed Corporate Division in January 2025 She previously served as General Manager of the Sustainability Department from its inauguration in 2015 to 2026. Prior to joining Sumitomo Forestry in 2012, she gained extensive experiences in sustainability, government relations, IR and PR at Sony Corporation and two other global conglomerates.
Her current responsibilities encompass strategic planning, management and disclosure of sustainability issues — climate, nature and social — aligned with the company's long-term vision, Mission TREEING 2030. She works closely with NGOs on timber procurement and has been instrumental in advancing ESG investment perspectives across Japan and Asia. She also oversees the Company's philanthropic programs and volunteer reforestation initiatives at Mt. Fuji and on a seawall in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Externally, Yuuko participates in the WBCSD Forest Solutions Group, serves on the Steering Committee of The Forest Dialogue, and is active at the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition to promote Nature Positive economy through forestry and wood construction. She also advises Kesennuma High School in Miyagi Prefecture, designated a "Super Global High School," which was severely affected by the 2011 tsunami.

Completed Master's program in Engineering at the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University. Since 2022, enrolled in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of the Ryukyus. Leveraging expertise in big data and information science related to biodiversity and natural capital, promotes business development and research in macroecology and systematized conservation planning. Working closely with the European base, focuses on developing tools for integrated mitigation of GHG and biodiversity impacts, and on the implementation of nature credits.

Over 30 years of experience in infrastructure and environmental financing working for Japan’s international development agency. Currently serves as Director General for Sustainability Management, overseeing organization-wide mainstreaming of sustainability related issues (climate/Paris alignment, nature, and other ESG aspects), both for operation and corporate. Past assignments include, Chief Representative for Europe based in Paris, Senior Deputy Director General of Africa Department, member of the Digital Transformation Taskforce, Senior Director and head of India Division, Deputy Chief of Myanmar Office, Director of Climate Change Office, Deputy Director of Corporate Finance Department, Representative of PRC Office in Beijing. Obtained BA Economics, Keio University, Japan, MSc in Environmental Change and Management, University of Oxford, UK, and studied Chinese language at Peking University, PRC.

Joined Sekisui House in 2005. Began career in sales of custom-built detached housing, followed by sales and marketing roles for overseas real estate development projects, gaining experience in international markets and project development. Later engaged in ESG communications, integrating sustainability perspectives into corporate messaging and business strategy.
Since 2023, serving in the current role, leading environmental initiatives across business activities. Areas of focus include CO₂ emissions reduction, biodiversity conservation, and the promotion of circular economy initiatives. With a career spanning business development, ESG communication, and environmental strategy, committed to advancing practical, nature-positive and decarbonization-oriented solutions within the housing and construction industry.

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.

After graduating from Keio University in 2008, he joined Saraya Co., Ltd.. He was involved in establishing overseas subsidiaries and gained experience working at overseas sales offices. After serving in the International Business Division and the Food Sanitation Division, he was appointed Director and General Manager of the Sanitation Business Division in 2016. In 2022, he served as General Manager of the Sustainability Promotion Division, and assumed his current position in April 2025.
He currently serves as an executive member for several organizations, including the Osaka Junior Chamber and the Osaka Restaurant Management Association. He is actively engaged in a wide range of initiatives, including the promotion and advancement of the SDGs.

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.

Masanori Kobayashi: Senior Research Fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation. He undertakes research, policy dialogue, and international collaboration related to sustainable blue economies including ocean policy, marine and sustainable management of fisheries and marine resources, and coastal and marine environmental management.

Professor at Tohoku University and Director of the Nature Positive Development Hub. He leads ANEMONE and ANEMONE Global, advancing biodiversity observation infrastructures through ecology and environmental DNA (eDNA). His work focuses on international collaboration and nature observation infrastructures for the Nature Positive era.

Founded an NPO during university years and worked to promote fair trade. After serving as a teacher in Osaka Prefecture, joined a public interest foundation and participated in establishing and managing Japan’s first publicly funded, privately operated integrated junior and senior high school, where he led organization-wide SDG-related initiatives. At the Ministry of the Environment, he was responsible for sustainability human resource development, international conferences, and collaboration with UN organizations.
Currently with Kirin Holdings’ CSV Strategy Department, he leads environmental strategy, bio-resource utilization, next-generation programs, and TNFD. He is also a doctoral candidate at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, researching corporate sustainability strategies and the use of ecosystem data.

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.

With 30 years of experience in environment, forestry, and agriculture across Southeast Asia, he has worked on ecosystem restoration across multiple landscape levels, including catchment forests, sloping farmlands, and coastal mangroves.
Recently, he has been developing NbS carbon projects for sustainable financing alongwith the generation of high-integrity carbon credits.

With a background in ecology and environmental conservation, after working as a marine observation technician and an in-house environmental consultant at a global business company, joined a foreign-affiliated sustainability consulting firm. After being involved in numerous projects as an EHS consultant, joined EY in 2022. As a partner in charge of promoting natural capital and nature-related initiatives, supports TNFD and provides business transformation support aimed at nature-positive outcomes.

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.

Akihiko Nishi joined Nissui in 1993. After serving in sales and marketing roles, he assumed responsibility for sustainability-related initiatives in 2020. He currently oversees the planning and promotion of sustainability strategies, while also leading communications and stakeholder engagement on nature-related issues.

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.

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.

Chisato Onda is the General Manager of the Corporate Sustainability Division. She joined Mitsui & Co. in 1995 and has since gained a wealth of experience across multiple divisions, including international assignments in Latin America. Since 2020, she has led Mitsui's sustainability initiatives as a General Manager of the Corporate Sustainability Division, and in her current role since 2023, she continues to promote an inclusive and sustainable company culture.

Takahiro Ono is engaged in solving customer and societal challenges through insurance risk management at the Tokio Marine Group. He has extensive experience in disaster risk reduction, business continuity planning (BCP), and risk control consulting aimed at reducing organizational risks and enhancing resilience. In recent years, his research and professional interests have expanded beyond natural disaster risks to include climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and sustainability-related issues. Doctor of Engineering. Specially Appointed Professor at Tohoku University.

Hajime completed his master’s degree at Waseda University in 1985 and joined Obayashi Corporation in the same year. He has extensive experience in the fields of mechanical and electrical design, construction management, and research and development.
From 1994 to 1996, he served as a visiting researcher at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
Since 2011, he has held various positions, including General Manager of the Office of the Head of Building Construction Division, General Manager of the Environmental Solutions Department of the Technology Division, General Manager of the Corporate Management Department of the Technology Division, and Deputy General Manager of the Technology Division.
In 2021, he was appointed Executive Officer and Deputy General Manager of the Building Construction Division, and in 2022, he became Executive Officer and Deputy General Manager of the Architectural Design Division. He has held his current position since 2024.

Kenta Oshima joined Kirin Brewery Company in 2003. He has built experience across the value chain, working in both beer production and raw material procurement.
He was later seconded to a bourbon distillery in the United States, where he led initiatives to improve production efficiency, enhance quality management, and strengthen brand value.
After earning his MBA, he returned to headquarters and engaged in the development of CSV (Creating Shared Value) strategy and ESG initiatives. He also worked in the pharmaceutical business, promoting sustainability and advancing non-financial disclosure.
He has been in his current position since 2025.

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.

In 1994, joined Maruha Corporation (now Umios Corporation), worked for 15 years in the Overseas Operations Department, managing a shrimp fishing and aquaculture joint venture company in Madagascar. From 2009, Quality Assurance and Quality Control Department, responsible for quality control. Engaged in sustainability section from April 2020.

Harumichi Seta is the Climate & Nature Lead and a Senior General Manager of the Sustainability Management Division at Suntory Holdings Limited, a leading global food and beverage company based in Japan. His portfolio spans both climate and nature, advancing the Suntory Group's decarbonization strategy alongside its global water and food-security agenda.
On climate, he leads greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction across the value chain, including the development and recertification of science-based targets (SBTi), the integration of FLAG (Forest, Land and Agriculture) and energy/industry pathways, and responses to emerging carbon-pricing and disclosure frameworks such as GX-ETS, and SSBJ/CSRD, all supporting the Group's net-zero ambition by 2050.

On nature, he drives water-source conservation and regenerative agriculture, including the Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Initiatives, which apply the concepts of Water Stewardship and the Landscape Approach. He leads efforts aligned with international frameworks such as SBTN, TNFD, and the Alliance for Water Stewardship. Until 2020, as Principal Researcher at the Suntory Institute for Water Science, he oversaw the development of foundational technologies required to scale water resource conservation globally. He connects deep scientific research with actionable corporate strategy and external disclosure, working fluently across both Japanese and international business and policy contexts.

Tad has a history of working in the insurance industry for nearly four decades within MS&AD Group. During his career, he has experienced a variety of tasks which includes Underwriting, Client Coordination, Internal Auditing and Corporate Planning. He also has 15 years in total of experience working abroad in the UK and the US. From April 2025, he is now in MS&AD Group Holdings' Sustainability Division and pursues providing Nature Based Solutions for risk reduction initiatives to help narrowing Nat Cat related Protection Gap and creating a risk-resilient society.

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.

Joined the company in 1998. Since 2000, has been engaged in project finance for over 20 years, providing financing for social infrastructure development across various sectors and regions.
Since April 2024, as the Operating Officer and General Manager of the Sustainability Planning Department, has been responsible for planning and promoting the company-wide sustainability strategy.

After graduating from university, Miyoko built a broad career in corporate communications at multinational companies, including Siemens Healthcare and PricewaterhouseCoopers Japan.
In 2011, she was appointed Director of Communications at Alcon Japan. She later joined Johnson & Johnson K.K. in 2016 as Director of Communications & Public Affairs for the Medical Company. She has held her current role since 2019.
Since 2019, Miyoko has concurrently served as Executive Director of the Coca‑Cola Education and Environment Foundation of Japan. She has also been a Board Member of Ronald McDonald House Charities Japan since 2021. In June 2024, she was appointed Chair of The Beverage Industry Environment Beautification Association.
Her professional expertise spans corporate communications, media relations, internal communications, digital communications, and sustainability.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Rikkyo University in Japan.

Born in 1981. After completing his master's degree at the University of Tokyo Graduate School, he worked at INCS Corporation before joining Geosphere Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. in 2007. There, he was broadly responsible for various fluid analyses using the Japanese water cycle analysis system GETFLOWS, software advancements, and water resource assessments that contribute to financial and non-financial information. In 2015, he became the General Manager of the Second Technology Department of the Solutions Division, and in 2018, he became the President and CEO. Currently, he is promoting the globalization of Japanese technology by publishing global water cycle analysis results analyzed with GETFLOWS through NDPF/NDVC.

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.

Based in North America at Sony Electronics, she has engaged in advancing environmental sustainability, product compliance, supply chain management, and group-wide sustainability strategy.
She had served leadership positions in industry associations and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Under her current role since September 2025, she leads the implementation of Sony Group’s global environmental plan “Road to Zero,” driving key initiatives on climate change, biodiversity, and other environmental priorities.
She also serves as a Board Director of the Japan Environment Certification Organization.

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.

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. 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, advising the Nature Positive Initiative, or being a member of the Governance Committee for the Natural Asset Accounting Standards Board, Mark remains dedicated to integrating social, human, and natural capital into the heart of modern decision-making and to updating the economic system so that it values what matters to people.

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.

As Head of Insurance at UNEP, Butch Bacani founded and leads the UN Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), the largest collaboration between the UN and insurance industry. Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General and insurance CEOs, the PSI is the global framework and initiative for the industry to address sustainability issues—as risk managers, insurers and investors—and to build resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and economies on a healthy planet. Butch also founded and chairs the UN Forum for Insurance Transition (FIT) to accelerate a just transition to a resilient net-zero economy.

Butch conceptualized sustainable insurance, net-zero insurance, nature-positive insurance, transition insurance and insurance SDGs, and leads initiatives that contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement, Global Biodiversity Framework and Sustainable Development Goals. These include creating the PSI and FIT, producing the first global insurance industry guides to manage sustainability risks, develop credible transition plans, and manage nature risks and opportunities; piloting the TCFD recommendations with the world’s leading insurers; and creating a Sustainable Insurance Facility with V20 finance ministers for the most vulnerable countries. Butch co-led the creation of the UN Sustainable Insurance Forum for regulators, worked with the California Insurance Commissioner to produce the world’s first sustainable insurance roadmap, and was part of the Green Finance Task Force of the People’s Bank of China and UNEP that established China’s green financial system. He was on InsuranceERM’s inaugural list of the most influential people leading and shaping the insurance industry’s response to climate change.

Adam Brennan is the Chief Sustainability and Communications Officer at Thai Union Group.

Adam has extensive global leadership experience in driving through impactful sustainability programs across complex supply chains. At Thai Union, Adam reports into the CEO and is a member of the Group’s Global Leadership Team. He has ultimate responsibility for delivering on the goals under our sustainability strategy, SeaChange®, including; Safe & Legal Labour, Responsible Sourcing, Responsible Operations and People & Communities. All of these initiatives are key contributors to the Company’s 2030 strategy and align with Thai Union’s corporate goal of “Healthy Living, Healthy Oceans”.

Previously, Adam has spent the last decade in Asia working on driving sustainability across the footwear and fashion industry, where he served as a Board Director on various multistakeholder initiatives, as well as, leading the sustainability programs for C&A, a leading global fashion retailer, and PUMA, the well-known sport and lifestyle company.

Sophia Cheng is the former CIO of Cathay Financial Holdings and has become Senior Advisor in 2026; she also acts as Chair of Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC). She has established Hungchi Capital which invests in sustainability and climate solutions.
Sophia has more than 30 years of experience in research and investment with last position acting as Chief Investment Officer of Cathay Financial Holdings. Prior to that she was the Chairman and Head of Research of Merrill Lynch Taiwan. She is highly regarded by the government. She is well known for her work in financial sector research and her proactive participation in forming government policies, including promoting banking reform and tax reform.
Sophia has been actively promoting Corporate Sustainability and Responsible Investment in Taiwan. Currently, she acts as a member of Future Earth Taipei and the Vice Chair of Taiwan Impact Investment Association (TIIA). She is also a member of the National Climate Change Committee of the Presidential Office and a director of the Society of Taiwan Women in Science and Technology.
Sophia has been also selected as 2019 Asia’s Top Sustainability Superwomen, 2021 Global Top 50 Women in Investment Management and 2022 Taiwan’s Outstanding Corporate Sustainability Professionals. She holds M.S. in finance-banking from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California and B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from National Taiwan University.

Since January 2019, Pedro Conceição is Director of the Human Development Report Office at UNDP, and is the lead author of the 2019, 2020, 2021/22, 2023/24 and 2025 Human Development Reports (covering themes including inequality, planetary change, political polarization, and artificial intelligence). Prior to that, from October 2014, he was Director, Strategic Policy, at the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support of UNDP, where he co-led the UN’s participation in the G20 Finance and Central Bank Governors Meetings. Before that, we was Chief-Economist and Head of the Strategic Advisory Unit at the Regional Bureau for Africa (from 1 December 2009).

He has published on inequality, the economics of innovation and technological change, and sustainable development in, amongst others journals, Nature, the African Development Review, Review of Development Economics, Eastern Economic Journal, Ecological Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, and Technological Forecasting and Social Change. Prior to coming to UNDP, he was an Assistant Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal, teaching and researching on science, technology and innovation policy. He has degrees in Physics from Instituto Superior Técnico and in Economics from the Technical University of Lisbon and a Ph. D. in Public Policy from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with a Fulbright scholarship.

Kyle Copas is Head of Advancement and Communications at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). After leading development of GBIF’s communications strategy, he built the in-house team responsible for its execution and for maintaining GBIF's external and network-wide communications and identity. He directs outreach strategy and execution across GBIF’s international network, manages engagement of national delegations to and formal membership in GBIF, and oversees the Secretariat’s activities on fundraising and corporate engagement. Copas also reports on emerging trends and topics for GBIF, such as licensing, intellectual property and data governance. He is currently preparing the GBIF Secretariat’s first-ever ESG baseline report.

Copas’s career intersects with communications strategy and creative direction on sustainability and biodiversity across both the built and natural environments. He previously served as managing editor, head of communications and other roles with NatureServe, a U.S.-based conservation nonprofit, and is former head of marketing and communications for William McDonough + Partners, a pioneering sustainable architecture and planning studio based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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.

Teppei DOHKE has served as Chair of the Japan Committee for the IUCN (IUCN-J) since 2025. He previously served as Secretary General from 2014 and as Vice Chair and Secretary General from 2016.

Since joining the Nature Conservation Society of Japan (NACS-J) in 2003, he has worked on international biodiversity policy related to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), IUCN, protected areas, OECMs, Nature-based Solutions (NbS), and the Nature Positive agenda. He has continuously participated in CBD Conferences of the Parties since COP9, supporting policy analysis and collaboration among governments, businesses, researchers, and civil society organizations.

His work focuses on bridging international frameworks and scientific knowledge with practical implementation in Japan, including biodiversity mainstreaming, conservation finance, and cross-sector partnerships.

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.

Claude Gascon was appointed as interim CEO by the GEF Council during its 70th session in December 2025. He also serves as the Director of Strategy and Operations, bringing extensive experience in conservation leadership and scientific research. From 2010 to 2015, he served as Chief Science Officer and Executive Vice President at the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, where he played a key role in advancing the organization’s mission. Prior to that, Claude Gascon held various positions at Conservation International between 1999 and 2010, culminating in his role as Executive Vice President for Field Programs. He also worked for several decades in the Amazon and other tropical countries on biodiversity conservation. He holds a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Florida State University.

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.

Deborah Halberstadt is the Special Advisor on Biodiversity and Inclusive insurance at the California Department of Insurance. In this role, she advises the Commissioner and the Department on the development and implementation of strategic initiatives associated with protecting and restoring biodiversity, and promoting social and environmental justice in the context of insurance regulation. Deborah guides innovation in insurance in order to mainstream biodiversity and ecosystem services into decision-making, while at the same time redressing social inequities.

Deborah is a visionary and persuasive leader and an accomplished attorney. She has worked at the forefront of climate law and policy in California in her roles as Senior Climate Policy Advisor with the Department of Insurance, Deputy Secretary for Coastal and Ocean Policy with the California Natural Resources Agency, Executive Director of the California Ocean Protection Council, Deputy Attorney General with the Environment and Land Law sections of the California Department of Justice, and Federal Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Governor. She clerked for the Alaska Supreme Court.

Deborah received her B.A. from Stanford and her J.D. from Berkeley Law.

Dave Harris is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Australian Agricultural Company, a role held since September 2022. Dave joined AACo in 2016 and previously served as Chief Operating Officer, playing a key role in strengthening the company’s integrated beef supply chain.

With extensive experience across the Australian beef and cattle industry, including senior leadership roles at Stanbroke and Smithfield Cattle Company, Dave brings deep operational and commercial expertise. As an executive, Dave has a strong track record in building resilient, end‑to‑end supply chains and advancing innovation across sustainable agricultural systems. Dave is passionate about aligning productivity with long-term environmental stewardship and nature‑positive outcomes.

Dave holds a Bachelor of Rural Science from the University of New England, specialising in ruminant nutrition and meat science.

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.

Prior to being appointed as Head of Negotiating team and Special Envoy for COP-17, H.E. Mr. Mher Margaryan was the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations, New York, from 2018 to April 2025.

He was Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland from 2015 to 2017. He held the position of the Head of the European Union Division at Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2015. From 2006 to 2009, he served as First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Armenia in London.

Ambassador Margaryan was elected as Chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for the 64th (2020) and 65th (2021) sessions. Under his leadership, two landmark documents - Political Declaration on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, and Agreed Conclusions on “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life” - were unanimously adopted by the Commission.

He served as Vice-President of the UN Economic and Social Council for its 2020 session.

Mr. Margaryan was the Chairman of the UN Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee) of the 76th session of the General Assembly (2021-2022) responsible for adoption of the UN Regular and Peacekeeping budgets.
With diplomatic experience exceeding two decades, he has served in many capacities at Armenia’s Foreign Ministry and at Missions abroad. He holds the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

Joe Miller joined the Secretariat for the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) in 2019. As Executive Secretary, he has led the intergovernmental network and data infrastructure during a time of growth in the scale, use and richness of open biodiversity data. Placing an equal emphasis on increasing funding, skills development and training has aimed at growing the capacity needed to fulfill demands on the wider GBIF network.

Between 2013 and 2019, Miller promoted global research collaboration within the international science diplomacy office and managed funding for biodiversity science programmes in the Directorate of Biological Sciences of the U.S. National Science Foundation. After earning a PhD in plant breeding and plant genetics at the University of Wisconsin, he studied the evolution, biogeography and systematics of the Australian flora—particularly the genus, Acacia—most recently as a senior research scientist at the Australian National Herbarium (CSIRO) in Canberra (2008-2013).

Miller’s current interest include integration GBIF occurrence data with phylogeny, these studies to provide comparable, quantitative data on genetic diversity and endemism with direct applications to conservation planning.

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.

Ayu Kusuma Pertiwi is an activist researcher with a background in education and law, who has been active in environmental and human rights advocacy since 2017. Formerly a campaigner and public engagement specialist with WALHI - Friends of the Earth Indonesia, her current work focuses on socio-legal research and community empowerment. She is deeply committed to integrating environment and climate justice with community perspectives into public policy, and she actively builds networks that connect local grassroots movements with national and international platforms.

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.

Frederick is the CEO of GenZero. He oversees the strategic direction of the company to achieve both climate impact and sustainable long-term financial returns.

Prior to his appointment at GenZero, Frederick held various leadership positions in Sustainability, Portfolio Management and Business Continuity Management in his 12 years at Temasek International. As Managing Director of Sustainable Solutions, he established the team and conceived capability programmes in clean energy, urban, and climate and nature solutions. He led key initiatives such as the establishment of Climate Impact X, a global marketplace and exchange for carbon credits, as well as Singapore’s first brownfield distributed district cooling retrofit project in partnership with SP Group.

Frederick serves in multiple sustainability advisory roles, including on the SEforALL Governance Board, the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Climate and Nature Governance, and the IETA Council. He is also a member of the World Cities Summit Knowledge Council, convened by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities, which advances knowledge exchange on liveable and sustainable urban development.

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.

Marielle Weikel leads Conservation International’s Corporate Climate Solutions team, which is responsible for guiding the governance and tracking the impact of the organization’s portfolio of natural climate solutions commitments, including carbon crediting.
The team oversees technical expertise surrounding high-quality natural climate solutions through Conservation International’s business engagements and external platforms, as well as its internal greenhouse gas footprint commitments. It also develops, stewards and guides internal best practice on strategic corporate relationships focused on natural climate solutions.

Marielle joined Conservation International in 2002, and previously led its Responsible Mining & Energy program and, prior to that, its strategy to engage the private sector on freshwater conservation. She has advised on conservation and sustainability issues for Conservation International partnerships across a range of sectors, including finance, technology, retail, fashion, agriculture, mining, airlines, travel, hospitality, entertainment, beverage and others.

Prior to joining Conservation International, Marielle worked as an environmental, health and safety consultant, and held positions in the public policy and government arenas. She holds a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University and bachelor’s in government and environmental studies from the College of William and Mary, with coursework through Columbia University at the Biosphere 2 Center in Arizona.

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.

Naomi Wilson is Head of Environment & Sustainability at Australian Agricultural Company Limited (AACo), where she leads the company’s environmental strategy and nature‑led agenda across AACo’s extensive pastoral operations. Based in the Northern Territory, Naomi works closely with operational and executive teams to integrate sustainability into business decision‑making for the nature in AACo’s care.

With deep expertise in land management, biodiversity, climate and environmental stewardship, Naomi plays a key role in advancing AACo’s commitments to regenerative grazing, natural capital outcomes and transparent sustainability reporting. Naomi is passionate about demonstrating how large‑scale agriculture can deliver positive outcomes for nature while supporting productive, resilient food systems.