Speakers Bureau
This year we asked our network of professionals across the globe to volunteer as speakers for your events and classes. We are grateful to all our supporters who have offered their time and expertise in support of our program. Below are instructions on how to request a speaker for your upcoming event:
1. Browse the list below or search for a specific topic by using your browser search (click Ctrl + f ).
Topics:
Agriculture and Forestry Social Science, Anthropology, Applied Science, Architecture and Design, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Dance, Divinity, Earth Science, Economics, Ecovillage Design, Education, Energy, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Studies, Food Systems, Geography, Global Studies, Humanities, History, International Relations, Journalism, Languages and Literature, Latin and Hispanic Studies, Law, Media Studies, Medicine and Health, Music, Military Science, Natural Science, Permaculture, Philosophy, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Science, Social Work, Sociology, Theology, Vulnerable Populations, Wildlife.
2. Select 1-3 potential names that fit the topic of your event who would be interested inviting to virtually attend. It is good to select a few options in case your schedules do not align with your first pick.
3. Email Karianne Canfield at kcanfield@bard.edu with:
Name/s of Speakers
Date/Time of your Event
Your Contact Information
Karianne will connect you with the speaker of your choice so you can coordinate your event! If you have any questions or concerns please email kcanfield@bard.edu as well.
Speakers:
Eban Goodstein, New York USA
Economics, Political Science, Business, Energy, Environmental Studies, Social Work
Stabilizing the Climate as Industrial Policy
Eban Goodstein is Vice President for Environmental and Social Leadership at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Goodstein directs the Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College Degree options include (1) the low-residency MBA in Sustainability based in NYC; (2) M.S. Degrees in Environmental Policy and in Climate Science and Policy; and (3) an M.Ed. in Environmental Education. Professor Goodstein holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. in Geology from Williams College. Goodstein is the author of three books: Economics and the Environment, (John Wiley and Sons: 2020) now in its ninth edition; Fighting for Love in the Century of Extinction: How Passion and Politics Can Stop Global Warming (University Press of New England: 2007); and The Trade-off Myth: Fact and Fiction about Jobs and the Environment (Island Press: 1999). He serves on the editorial board of Sustainability: The Journal of Record. For a decade, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Follett Corporation.
Dr. Goodstein has coordinated a series of national educational events around climate change, engaging thousands of colleges, universities, and K-12 schools in solutions-based dialogue, including Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week in April 2024. At Bard he also directs C2C Fellows, a network of undergraduates and recent graduates who aspire to sustainability leadership in business, NGOs and government.
David Blockstein, Maryland USA
Biology, Education, Public policy
David Blockstein, Ph.D. co-directs Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week for Bard College (New York). He is an elected AAAS Fellow with more than 35 years of national leadership at the interface of science and environmental policy. He co-founded and led the US National Council for Science and the Environment, the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, Council of Energy Research and Education Leaders, US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development and the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences. Dr. Blockstein co-authored The Climate Solutions Consensus: What We Know and What to Do About It (2010).
Shi-Ling Hsu, Florida USA
Law, Economics, Public policy
Shi-Ling holds the prestigious position of D'Alemberte Professor of Law at the Florida State University College of Law, where he previously served as Associate Dean for Environmental Programs. Prior to this role, Shi-Ling held positions as a Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Special Projects at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law, as well as an Associate Professor at the George Washington University Law School. His diverse career also includes serving as a Senior Attorney and Economist for the Environmental Law Institute in Washington D.C., and as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco. Additionally, Shi-Ling practiced law with the firm of Fenwick & West in Palo Alto, California.
Shi-Ling's educational background is equally impressive, with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University, a J.D. from Columbia Law School, and an M.S. in Ecology and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics, both from the University of California, Davis. Throughout his career, Shi-Ling has been dedicated to teaching in various areas, including environmental and natural resource law, climate change, law and economics, quantitative methods, and property. He is also a prolific author, having written influential books such as "The Case for a Carbon Tax: Getting Past Our Hangups to Effective Climate Policy'' and "Capitalism and the Environment." Additionally, he co-authored "Ocean and Coastal Resources Law '' with Josh Eagle. Shi-Ling's expertise and contributions have made him a highly respected figure in the field of environmental law and policy.
Jennifer Phillips, New York USA
Agriculture and Forestry
Dr. Jennifer Phillips is an Assistant Professor at the Bard Center for Environmental Policy and where she teaches graduate courses in Environmental Science and Climate and Agroecology. She holds a Ph.D. in Soil, Crop, and Atmosphere Science from Cornell University and her research interests include pasture-based livestock systems, carbon storage and management in agroecosystems, and rhizosphere processes. She has worked globally on the impact of climate change and variability on farming systems, communication and perception of climate information for farm management, and sustainable farming systems. Her work is published in Agricultural Systems, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Climatology, and International Journal of Climatology; as well as in numerous book chapters. Prior to joining Bard CEP, she was a researcher at the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, Columbia University, and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
She is also the owner of a grassfed livestock farm in Clermont, NY. The farm provides an opportunity to experiment with management practices to improve soil carbon sequestration, develop habitat for birds and insect pollinators, and test ideas for farming system resilience to climate change.
Nathalie CHINGATE-HERNANDEZ, Colombia
Social science, Political science, International Relations, Global Studies
Nathalie CHINGATE-HERNANDEZ is Doctoral student at Universidad de los Andes, Colombia, where she is set to complete her PhD requirements by August 2025. Currently, she is working on her dissertation thesis titled “Water governance in the Amazon Rainforest,” which has been accepted as part of a cotutelle process between Los Andes and Giessen University. With a wealth of experience in teaching various courses and leading research projects focused on environmental governance, water management, and climate change, she believes her skills and background make her an excellent candidate for speaking virtually in classrooms around the world starting from early April.
Michael Richardson, New York USA
Religious Studies, Divinity, Theology, Social science, Economics, Political science, Environmental studies, Public policy
Research
Michael Richardson is a facilitator of TH!RD ACT Upstate New York and is on the steering committee of NY Renews, the force behind the landmark NYS Climate Act. He is also convener of Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith, an multi-faith group of climate activists in the upper Hudson Valley of New York State in coalition with Stop the Money Pipeline, Third Act, and GreenFaith (international).
Michael is a life-long activist - from war-resistance and social justice movements beginning in the early 1970’s to today as a planner and organizer of climate and environmental actions.
Michael is an advocate for regenerative agriculture. In 2012, he co-founded and directed an agroecology training and demonstration center in Nicaragua for small-scale growers. From a varied cache of experiences - including organic farmer, solar heating contractor, labor economist, county legislator, and Buddhist practitioner - Michael is committed to bringing attention to the moral imperative to stop funding climate chaos.
Wil Burns, USA
Social science, Natural science, Earth science, Energy, Climate change law and policy
Dr. Wil Burns is a Visiting Professor in the Environmental Policy & Culture program at Northwestern University. He is the Co-Founding Director of the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy at American University. Previously, he served as the Founding Director of the Energy Policy & Climate program at Johns Hopkins University. He has also taught at the University of Chicago, Stanford University, and the University of California-Berkeley. He also served as Assistant Secretary of State for Policy for the state of Wisconsin and worked in the environmental non-profit sector for more than twenty years.
He also previously served as the Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law Section of the American Branch of the International Law Association, and as President of the Association of Environmental Studies & Sciences (AESS). He was the 2019 recipient of AESS’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Scholarship and Service in the field. His research agenda includes climate geoengineering, climate loss and damage, and the effectiveness of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System. He received his Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Wales-Cardiff School of Law and is the author of more than 90 publications.
Melissa Everett, New York USA
Humanities, Social science, Political science, Psychology, Sociology, Social work, Engineering and technology, Journalism, media studies and communication, Public policy
Melissa Everett, Ph.D. is Executive Director of Sustainable Hudson Valley. Melissa is an outreach and communications strategist working at the intersection of climate action, green industry and community development. Since 2004, she has helped to build a movement of local innovators who are reducing their communities’ carbon footprints and building the market for clean energy industries. Her accomplishments with SHV include convening eight influential regional summits and conferences and bringing the Solarize model for community education and solar group purchasing to the Hudson Valley, opening up the market with over 400 signed contracts at a time when everyone liked solar but nobody used it. Trained in counseling and group facilitation through the Concord Institute in Massachusetts, Melissa has taught innovative courses in leadership and community service at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and in sustainability at SUNY Dutchess. She received her Ph.D. in 2006 from the International, Off-Campus Program of Erasmus University’s Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development in the Netherlands, a pioneering program for mid-career professionals worldwide. Her thesis research focuses on the dynamics of community turnarounds and the role of social networks. She was one of the original 1,000 prominent citizens trained by The Climate Project. She was honored with the Hudson River Environmental Society's Outstanding Practitioner award in 2021. The author of three books and many articles, Melissa has given lectures and workshops on three continents. Her Making a Living While Making a Difference was honored with the Bronze medal for Best Book in Foreword Magazine’s annual rankings. She was named one of nine “People to Watch in 2012” by Hudson Valley Magazine.
Peter Buck, Pennsylvania USA
Music, Architecture and design, Energy, Public policy
Dr. Peter Buck directs the climate and sustainability curriculum at Penn State Sustainability, the Local Climate Action Program, and manages Penn State's chapter of EnvironMentors. He has communicated on climate, risk, democracy, and the arts in popular press, podcasts, from the TEDx stage, and in peer-reviewed literature across disciplines. Buck also serves as both an appointed and elected official. He has championed climate policy, renewable energy and green building projects, and climate planning programs in municipal, regional, county, school district and the state level in Pennsylvania. He has also testified before Pennsylvania General Assembly Committees and Commissions on legislative districting and solar power. Buck is the past president of both the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium, a consortium of colleges and universities in Pennsylvania committed to sustainability. He lives in State College, Pennsylvania with his wife Hilary and son Sacha.
Taylor Spicer, Atlanta USA
Humanities, Social science, Anthropology, Political science, Business, Education, Food Systems, Journalism, media studies and communication, Public policy
Atlanta-based and Memphis-born nonprofit, civic engagement, and sustainability professional. Trained academically in international development with a cultural anthropology focus and a Master's in Development Practice from Emory University. Currently, the Managing Director for the national nonprofit Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally (ESAL) and the Program Coordinator for Emory University's Sustainability Minor academic program. Previously, moved through Emory's Office of Sustainability Initiatives over nine years as a Graduate Intern, Programs Coordinator, Programs Manager, Assistant Director, and finally Interim Director. Skilled in strategic partnership building, program design and management, youth mentorship, volunteer management, process improvements, facilitation, training, communications, qualitative research and analysis, and outreach and behavior change techniques. Engaged locally in LEAD Atlanta, Fair Fight Action, Decatur 2030 Strategic Plan, Georgia Conservancy, and most recently the Wylde Center. Engaged globally as an advisory board member of the Youth Sustainable Development Network.
KOSTAS STAVRIANAKIS, UK
Social science, Education
Research
Kostas Stavrianakis is an Environmental Social Scientist specializing in climate change initiatives and studying the public's response to them. Currently serving as a Research Fellow, he is engaged in a European Union (EU) funded Horizon 2020 project focused on the development of innovative and sustainable Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) technologies. Within this project, his role is to investigate and analyze public perceptions and acceptance of these technologies across various EU countries. With his expertise in environmental sociology and a dedicated focus on understanding societal responses to climate change solutions, he plays a crucial role in shaping sustainable energy transitions.
Carola Klöck, France
Political science
Research
Carola Klöck (born Betzold) joined CERI in September 2018 as assistant professor in political science. In 2013, she obtained her PhD from ETH Zurich and then held positions at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, the University of Antwerp in Belgium and the University of Göttingen in Germany. Carola was also visiting scholar at the Australian National University in Australia (in 2016) and at the University of the South Pacific on its Laucala Campus in Fiji (2018).
Carola’s research is located at the interface of political science, human geography and development studies, and examines adaptation to climate change, and the politics of climate change more generally. At the moment, Carola focuses on climate negotiations and coastal adaptation, all with a focus on small island states and territories.
Julie Metta is a postdoc in circular economy and its interactions with climate change at TiSEM Julie Metta. She obtained her Ph.D. in economics from KU Leuven (Belgium). She specializes in circular economy and environmental economics and develops innovative models for the circular economy. Julie previously promoted climate and environmental policies at the French Consulate in Hong Kong, was research assistant at City University of Hong Kong, and founded "Sous les déchets, la plage" for environmental awareness. Since 2019, she has been active in the Leuven maker community and co-founded Labdoo.org Belgium Hub
Olga Tarabashkina, Kyrgyzstan
Permaculture and Ecovillage Design to mitigate Climate Change
Olga holds PhD from University of Adelaide (Australia, QS World Ranking #106) in Sustainable Consumption. Olga has obtained MA in Social Policy Analysis from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium, QS World Ranking #80) and BA in Journalism from the American University of Central Asia, where she also completed a Minor in Sociology.
In her role as an Associate Professor at American University in Central Asia, she teaches sociology, sustainability, SDGs and research methods subjects to undergraduate and graduate students. With a PhD from University of Adelaide she advanced her education qualifications, sustainability research and teaching proficiency. Her research interests lie in applied social psychology, social norm and values change and pro-social marketing particularly in sustainable behavior and persuasive communication. Her current work focuses on social norms, message framing and the importance of social norms in fostering sustainable behavior. She is collaborating with local organizations like MoveGreen, CAY4W, Biom, Tazar and Students of Kyrgyzstan for Green Economy in order to aid policy making based on sound evidence-based research.
Lori Hoepner, USA
Architecture and design, Energy, Environmental studies, Food Systems, Law, Medicine and health
Research
Dr. Lori Hoepner is an environmental exposure scientist with research and faculty teaching experience at Columbia University, NYU, Hofstra University, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Rutgers University, and three CUNY's (BMCC, York College, Lehman College). In addition, Dr. Hoepner has over 20 years of organizational and analytical data management expertise involving complex health assessment and public health research datasets. She is experienced in large-scale digital integration of data from multiple sources, such as collaboration on harmonization of multi-center primary data with environmental monitoring data leading to publications and to the NIH-funded program: Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO).
Since 2013, Dr. Hoepner has been involved with social entrepreneurship start-ups. She is founder and principal of consultancy EcoWize Advising and was a co-founder of Urban Health Repository System (UHRS), an air quality app start-up student team competing in a venture challenge sponsored by the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. She was the scientific advisor for Tipitom, a bilingual children's app, and Well365, a clean personal care products start-up. Currently, she sits on the board of Safest Drug, a non-profit start-up that endeavors to raise awareness about medication harm. With over 70 peer-reviewed publications, primarily in the field of environmental exposure effects, Dr. Hoepner is regularly sought for her expertise by media, government officials, attorneys, and industry. She has extensive research experience in exposures including BPA, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and pesticides, as well as the outcomes of asthma, neurodevelopment, and obesity. Her research efforts also include studies of the World Trade Center tragedy, HIV/AIDS behavioral science, disability databases, and cancer databases. Recently she participated in crafting SUNY’s response to New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and to Legislation S.6815/A.7564 “Encourages the elimination of certain single use plastic items at state university of New York and city university of New York campuses.”
Alexandra Moore, USA
Dance, Biology, Earth science, Education, Environmental studies
Research
Alexandra Moore is a science educator focused on student-centered learning, virtual and actual fieldwork, climate change, and quantitative skills in the geoscience classroom. Dr. Moore has conducted field work with undergraduate students on five continents, and directed the Cornell University Earth & Environmental Systems Field Program in Hawai‘i for 12 years. Special interests include climate-neutral curricula, service learning and community partnerships, and the integration of science and cultural studies. Dr. Moore holds a BS in Geology from Stanford University and a PhD in Geology from Harvard University.
Chiara Sotis, UK
Social science, Economics, Psychology, Education, Public policy
Chiara holds a BSc in Economics and Business (cum laude) from LUISS Guido Carli, during which she conducted research at the Rotterdam Institute of Law and Economics (RILE) focusing on the joint use of liability rules and regulation to prevent environmental harm. Transitioning to the London School of Economics (LSE) for her MSc in Economics in 2015, she subsequently continued to teach within the Economics department. Embarking on her PhD journey in 2018, she expanded her teaching repertoire to include positions at both LSE and Oxford. Chiara’s doctoral research centers on exploring the effectiveness and limitations of behavioral interventions across various domains. With a keen interest in understanding the economic drivers behind human decision-making, she conducts theoretical and applied studies. Specifically, her ongoing research investigates the impact of framing and nudging on fostering pro-social behaviors through field and survey experiments. Passionate about policy implications, she actively engages in interdisciplinary projects aimed at addressing societal challenges.
Lusine Stepanya, USA
Psychology, Sociology, Social work, Education
Lusine Stepanyan is a consultant working for the World Bank Group on the climate resilience and adaptation project and is the co-founder of CLMT Campus, an initiative that helps college students get access to personalized opportunities in climate and sustainability space. She has a Masters in International Development Policy from Duke university and was formerly running an educational center in Yerevan, Armenia for 4 years.
Becky Briant, UK
Earth science, Engineering and technology
Becky Briant holds an undergraduate degree and PhD in Geography from the University of Cambridge, along with an MSc in Quaternary Science from Royal Holloway, University of London. As an expert in deciphering past environmental changes from sedimentary deposits spanning the last 2 million years, she possesses a particular specialization in southern and eastern England as well as Iraq, collaborating extensively with colleagues in the engineering geology industry. Over the next five years, Becky's research trajectory involves strengthening industrial partnerships through her Royal Society Industrial Fellowship, with a focus on publishing papers in both academic and practitioner-accessible journals, ultimately aiming to host a Knowledge Transfer Partnership. She plans to expand her research in Iraq through projects funded by NERC DTP and additional support from BISI and the Nahrein Network, collaborating closely with local researchers to investigate shifting lake levels and river dynamics in western Iraq within the context of future climate change. Additionally, Becky intends to publish experimental radiocarbon research and apply for funding from Leverhulme to conduct further work applying this research to last glacial sequences, utilizing both archive samples and those from newly exposed sequences during the development of HS2.
Monika Kumar, USA
Law, Philosophy, Political science, Business, Environmental studies, Journalism, media studies and communication, Law, Public administration, Public policy
Monika has over 15 years of experience in corporate sustainability, ESG reporting, and circular economy. She brings invaluable global experience, working with the World Bank (WB) in the South Asia region, where she was leading a study on Green Growth and Sustainable Finance and authored a report understanding the pandemic’s impact on plastics waste management across South Asia. Prior to that, Monika conducted multi-stakeholder dialogues to define the WB Group’s Sustainability Strategy and led the development of ESG disclosures to help position the institution as an attractive investment opportunity for impact investors.
As a strong believer in collaborative solutions, in 2020, Monika created a forum for sustainability professionals working across public and private sectors to develop actionable recommendations and resources from the Covid-19 crisis. The group formally recognized itself as the Sustainability Professionals for a Resilient Future (SPRF).
Monika also serves as Sustainability Advisor to her family company called Ichcha, a conscious textiles social enterprise. Ichcha, which means 'a wish' in Sanskrit, works with artisans to design fabrics dyed using plants and flowers, thereby avoiding chemicals in homes.
Marc Rogoff, USA
Natural science, Biology, Earth science, Education, Environmental studies, Wildlife
Research
Marc brings an extensive 44-year tenure as an environmental educator to his role, with 24 of those years serving as the Lead Educator for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP). Recently appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Education Advisory Council (NEEAC), he is poised to offer invaluable insights and guidance at the national level. Marc's expertise lies in the realms of education and wildlife, where he has dedicated his career to fostering environmental awareness and stewardship. His wealth of experience positions him as a key figure in shaping environmental education policies and practices, both regionally and nationally.
William Sosinsky, USA
Economics, Agriculture and Forestry, Education, Food Systems
Research
William Sosinsky has spent a lifetime dedicated to understanding and solving the issues of resource management and sustainable economic development as they relate to environmental stewardship. With an extensive background in science and economics, William has traveled the world studying and seeing firsthand the critical issues humanity will face as we move into the 21st century. In his travels William has developed hundreds of close relationships with governmental and community leaders as well as some of the world's most esteemed and knowledgeable scientists, technology developers, educators, and sustainability visionaries. This has given him great insight into the specific and complex issues facing different regions of our planet as well as exposure to a wealth of cutting-edge technologies, applications, and advanced protocols available to address these huge challenges. It is the result of that exposure which has given William a unique perspective as to the path we must take to ensure the future health of our planet and the survivability of our population.
William is a pioneer in Integrated Sustainable Design (ISD), the Founder and President of Energime Institute (A not- for-profit charitable organization and United Nations Academic Impact Partner), and the Creator and Visionary behind the Sustainable Planet experiential education gaming platform.
Brian Mateo, New York USA
Education, Vulnerable populations
Research
Brian Mateo serves as Associate Dean of Civic Engagement at Bard College where he works with faculty and students across the Open Society University Network on experiential learning and civic engagement opportunities. He manages the Certificate in Civic Engagement and co-instructs the Civic Engagement and Social Action OSUN Online Course. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs from 2019-2021 and is currently a Term Member on the Council on Foreign Relations.
Christopher Reed Coggins, USA
Social science, Geography, Political science, Earth science, Military sciences
Research
Chris is a professor of Geography and Asian Studies at Bard College at Simon’s Rock and the Open Society University Network, an international system of higher education and global research. He is the co-editor (with Bixia Chen) of Sacred Forests of Asia: Spiritual Ecology and the Politics of Nature Conservation (Routledge/Earthscan, 2022), and the co-editor (with Emily Yeh) of Mapping Shangrila: Contested Landscapes of the Sino-Tibetan Borderlands (University of Washington, 2014). He is the author of The Tiger and the Pangolin: Nature, Culture, and Conservation in China (University of Hawaii Press, 2003) (runner-up for the 2003 Julian Steward Award for best book in environmental/ecological anthropology and nominated for the Kiriyama Prize in non-fiction). He is currently co-editing The SAGE Handbook on China’s Environment (with Yifei Li) and a book on China’s fengshui forests. He has published numerous refereed articles and chapters in geography, history, environmental, and Asia-related books and periodicals. In 2019, he was selected to serve for three years as one of fourteen scholars in Asian Studies on the ASIANetwork Speakers Bureau.
Sheina Crystal, USA
Humanities, History, Languages and literature, Law, Philosophy, Social science, Economics, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Earth science, Agriculture and Forestry, Architecture and design, Environmental studies, Food Systems, Medicine and health, Public policy
Research
Sheina Crystal is the Director of Communications and Campaigns at Re:wild Your Campus. While a student at UC Santa Barbara, she founded a chapter of Re:wild Your Campus and worked with groundskeepers and restoration management as she advocated for the reduction of herbicide use on campus. As one of the main UC-wide organizers, she helped achieve a glyphosate ban at all 10 University of California schools. In addition to directing communications at RYC, she helped spearhead the Green Grounds Certification, a groundbreaking ecological landscaping certification by RYC to certify school campuses. Crystal's work has appeared in The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Axios, Mother Jones, and more. Sheina works directly with students across the country, giving them resources and coaching as they advocate to make their campuses safer and healthier spaces for all living beings.
Daniela Ochoa, USA
Religious Studies, Divinity, Theology, Education, Food Systems, Latin and hispanics studies/residents
Research
Daniela has been a trilingual consultant since 2009, dedicated to advancing systemic change through innovative cross-sector partnerships aimed at zero waste policy and food waste reduction at the local level across North and Latin America. With a background in home composting and soil regeneration, her expertise has naturally expanded into advocating for food waste prevention as a vital solution for Earth Stewardship, Environmental Justice, and Climate Action. Recently, Daniela took on the role of project manager for a dynamic team of scholars at UMD, participating in the National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator. The team focuses on connecting the food and nutrition sectors to address food and nutrition insecurity, proposing three strategic innovations to minimize food surplus and waste. While not a climate expert, Daniela finds fulfillment in inspiring individuals to take tangible actions toward food circularity as a meaningful climate action.
Andrew Hultgren, USA
Humanities, Social science, Economics, Natural science, Applied science
Research
Andrew is an environmental economist with a focus on studying the economics of climate change and environmental regulation. His research interests encompass understanding firm behavior under regulatory uncertainty and quantifying the economic impacts of climate change. Currently serving as an assistant professor at the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he is also a faculty affiliate at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and a member of the Climate Impact Lab. Andrew pursued his doctoral studies at UC Berkeley's Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) department, where he was a fellow in the Global Policy Lab and an NSF Data Sciences for the 21st Century fellow. He furthered his academic journey through postdoctoral positions at EPIC and the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. Andrew holds a Master's in Public Policy from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University.
Zainab Faruqui Ali, Bangladesh
Architecture and design
Zainab holds a PhD from The Architectural Association School of Architecture in the UK, complementing her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. Currently serving as the Chairperson of the Department of Architecture at Brac University in Bangladesh, she brings a wealth of experience in teaching, research, and administration within the field of architecture. Zainab has previously chaired the Education Committee of the Commonwealth Association of Architects, demonstrating her commitment to advancing architectural education on a global scale. With a robust publication record including journals, book chapters, and authored books, her expertise spans sustainable design, disaster resilience, and the history of architecture and art. Zainab's contributions to academia and practice have positioned her as a respected authority in the field.
Jeff Pollock, USA
Computer science
Jeff serves as the Vice President of Product at Oracle, where he brings extensive experience as a technology executive focused on driving business outcomes. With a proven track record of managing billion-dollar profit centers, Jeff is a hands-on team builder passionate about data, machine intelligence, and analytics. He possesses over 20 years of experience developing data-driven solutions for customers worldwide, collaborating with Fortune 500 and Global 2000 innovators across various industries to facilitate their digital transformation journeys. Jeff boasts broad practical expertise in cloud computing, having worked with platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, as well as enterprise software from Oracle, IBM, and SAP. As an expert leader, Jeff excels in driving focused initiatives capable of transforming businesses and unlocking new revenue streams.
