COP31 Finance and Trade Day

Murat Kurum is the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye and President of COP31. He was reappointed to his current ministerial position on 2 July 2024, having previously served as Minister of Environment and Urbanization from 2018. A civil engineer by training, Kurum graduated from Konya and completed graduate studies in urban transformation. He began his professional career in the construction sector and later held various positions at the Housing Development Administration of Türkiye (TOKİ), before serving as General Manager of Emlak Konut GYO from 2009. During his ministerial career, he has led major initiatives on urban transformation, social housing, disaster-resilient cities, environmental protection and the Zero Waste Movement. Following the 6 February earthquakes, he coordinated the large-scale reconstruction programme across the affected provinces. He has also played a leading role in advancing Türkiye’s first Climate Law and policies on resilient and smart cities. Kurum was appointed President of COP31 for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference to be hosted by Türkiye.

Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat is the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, appointed to his current position on 4 June 2023. He has extensive experience in academia, business, economic policy and civil society. He graduated from Marmara University’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and pursued graduate studies in European Integration at the University of Amsterdam and in International Economics and Business at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. He completed his PhD at Marmara University and became Associate Professor in 2014 and Professor in 2019. Bolat has taught international economics, management, entrepreneurship and leadership at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University and Istanbul Commerce University and has published numerous reports, books and articles. Earlier in his career, he worked at the Economic Development Foundation and held senior positions at MÜSİAD, including Secretary General, Vice President and President. He also served for 23 years as General Coordinator of Albayrak Holding. Throughout his career, he has held various positions in business associations, academic institutions and advisory bodies, including TOBB, DEİK and several foundations and boards. Bolat is married with two children and speaks English and German.

Maya Hennerkes is Managing Director for Environment and Sustainability at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). She ensures that the Bank delivers on its commitment to promote environmentally friendly and sustainable development across the EBRD's activities. Her department undertakes environmental due diligence and monitoring of projects and safeguards that all investments are consistent with the EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy. Maya is also responsible for providing strategic direction to the EBRD on how to implement its environmental mandate and incorporate environmental and social aspects into all sector and country policies and strategies.

Previously, Maya served as Director for Green Financial Systems at the Climate Strategy and Delivery Department. She was responsible for EBRD’s sustainable finance methodologies such as Paris Alignment and Green Economy Transition approaches; green lending to Financial Intermediaries; green capital markets as well as green policy support for financial regulators. She represented the EBRD at the EU Sustainable Finance Platform and the Network for the Greening of the Financial System (NGFS).

Prior to this role, Maya led EBRD’s ESG risk management work with financial institutions and private equity funds. Maya is a sustainable finance and ESG expert with over 20 years of experience, with previous positions at the Inter-American Development Bank Group in Washington DC and Bloomberg L.P. in London.

She is an associated member of the Club of Rome’s Think Tank 30. Maya studied economics, political science and Latin America studies in Germany and Spain and holds an Executive Masters in Public Management from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.

Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat is the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, appointed to his current position on 4 June 2023. He has extensive experience in academia, business, economic policy and civil society. He graduated from Marmara University’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and pursued graduate studies in European Integration at the University of Amsterdam and in International Economics and Business at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. He completed his PhD at Marmara University and became Associate Professor in 2014 and Professor in 2019. Bolat has taught international economics, management, entrepreneurship and leadership at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University and Istanbul Commerce University and has published numerous reports, books and articles. Earlier in his career, he worked at the Economic Development Foundation and held senior positions at MÜSİAD, including Secretary General, Vice President and President. He also served for 23 years as General Coordinator of Albayrak Holding. Throughout his career, he has held various positions in business associations, academic institutions and advisory bodies, including TOBB, DEİK and several foundations and boards. Bolat is married with two children and speaks English and German.

Jean-Marie Paugam is Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva since 2021. Before this, he was Permanent Representative of France to the WTO. Mr. Paugam has held various Senior Management responsibilities on Trade, Development and International Finance, with the French Treasury and with the UN system (International Trade Center). He also was Senior Research Fellow with the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), France’s leading think-tank on international affairs. M. Paugam graduated in 1993 from the French National Administration School (ENA) and holds a Master Degree in Business Law as well as a Diploma of Political Sciences from the University of Aix-Marseille.

John W.H. Denton AO is Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and a leading international business figure, recognised for his work in global trade, investment, and sustainable development. He serves on numerous international advisory bodies, including those of the United Nations, WTO, WHO, and OECD, and represents the private sector on key UN initiatives. A former diplomat and CEO of Australia's leading independent law firm, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, John is an Officer of the Order of Australia and a longstanding advocate for open markets, business-led solutions, and international cooperation.

Jaime joins the OECD from his role as Climate Envoy for the Netherlands, where since 2021 he has represented the Prime Minister and five Dutch ministries at the UNFCCC, G20, and other international fora. He has co-ordinated the Netherlands’ international climate strategy, covering climate finance, energy transition, water management, food systems, and nature-based solutions, and served on the Board of the Green Climate Fund and was a member of the UNFCCC Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage. Jaime also initiated and led high-level diplomatic dialogues with China and European partners to advance global climate action. 

Across more than two decades of leadership in international diplomacy, climate policy, and sustainable development, Jaime previously served as Senior Advisor at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), working to expand displaced communities’ access to clean energy, finance, and digital connectivity. As Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Holy See, Jaime fostered collaboration on climate, migration, and peace, while promoting interfaith dialogue on the values underpinning sustainability. Earlier, as Special Envoy for Natural Resources, Jaime chaired an Informal Multi-stakeholder Steering Group on responsible Mineral Supply Chains and oversaw implementation of the guidance in Africa. Jaime has also held senior roles in crisis management and peacekeeping in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in economic policy at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission. 

A dual Dutch and Spanish national, Jaime holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and International Economics (Conflict Management) from Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Visual Arts from Brown University.

H.E. Mr. Ram Prasad SUBEDI took charge as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and other International Organizations in Geneva in September 2023, and as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Nepal to the Swiss Confederation in January 2024. Amb. SUBEDI is incumbent Chairperson of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment. Previously, he served as Chair of the WTO Committee on Trade and Development in 2024 and Chair of the Council for Trade in Services in 2025.

Prior to his assignment in Geneva, Ambassador SUBEDI was the Head of the South Asia Division of Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from November 2022. Earlier, he was Minister/Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi, where he also served as Chargé d’Affaires a.i. from October 2021 to May 2022. He was the Head of Regional Organization Division and the Policy, Planning, Development Diplomacy and Overseas Nepali Affairs Division at the Foreign Ministry until November 2020. He served as Director General of the Department of Consular Services until September 2019.

In his diplomatic career, Ambassador SUBEDI served at the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva as Minister Counsellor, and at the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing as Counsellor (Political, Cultural and Media Affairs) and Deputy Head of Mission.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he held various positions, including Director of the South Asia Division, Director of the Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Pacific Division, and Director of the Department of Passports.

Born in December 1977, Ambassador Subedi holds Master’s degrees in Science and Management from Tribhuvan University. He has been in Nepal’s Civil Service for over two decades. He is married to Mrs. Jyoti Rijal Subedi, and they have two children.

Pedro Manuel Moreno of Spain was named Deputy Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) by the United Nations Secretary-General on 4 November 2022. The UN Secretary-General has also designated Mr. Moreno as the Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD from 1 April to 1 December 2026, while the organization's Secretary-General, Rebeca Grynspan, is on special leave. He has over 20 years of experience of working for multilateral and intergovernmental organizations in programme, management and strategic positions both in the field and in headquarters.

Mr. Moreno’s extensive experience includes having worked as Deputy Secretary-General of the Communication for Development Committee at the Spanish Commission for UNESCO (1999-2004) and for the UN Development Programme (2004-2014), including in Ecuador, in New York as part of the Human Development Report team and in the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. He helped drive UN Human Development Reports and supported programmes on poverty eradication, Millennium Development Goals as well as human development initiatives.

In 2014, he was appointed Director of the Cabinet of the Ibero-American General Secretariat in Madrid, an intergovernmental organization bringing together 22 member states of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. He coordinated key political processes such as summits of heads of state in Mexico (2014), Colombia (2016), Guatemala (2018) and Andorra (2020), over 30 ministerial summits and South-South cooperation projects in the region. In September 2021 he was named Chief of Staff and Director of the Office of UNCTAD’s Secretary-General.

Mr. Moreno holds a master’s degree in public policy and political sociology from the Ecole Doctorale at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and a master’s degree in international cooperation and project management from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He has a bachelor’s degree with honors in political communications and international relations. He has taught at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and completed specialized training at Columbia University and other institutions. Mr. Moreno was awarded the Cross of the Royal Order of Isabel la Católica, the highest civil decoration granted by the King of Spain to people who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of cooperation among countries. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

Fatih Özkadı completed his undergraduate education at Istanbul Technical University Mechanical Engineering Department in 1990 and has a master’s degree from Istanbul Technical University Institute of Science Mechanical Engineering Department that he obtained in 1993.

Starting his career at Beko as a Research Engineer in the R&D Department, Özkadı worked as an Engineer (1992 - 1998), Specialist (1998 - 2004) and Manager (2004 - 2010). Between 2010 and 2015, he served as Energy and Environment Manager and between 2015 and 2020, he took on the role of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Director. While he was still in office, he served as the President of the Environmental Committee of Koç Group between 2014 and 2016. Fatih Özkadı, who assumed the position of Executive Director - Quality, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs in March 2020, has been appointed as the Chief Sustainability, Quality, and Customer Care Officer, as of November 2023.

In addition to his responsibilities at Beko, he serves as TUSIAD Environment and Climate Change Working Group Chairman, TURKTRADE (Foreign Trade Association of Turkey) Board Member, TÜRKBESD (White Goods Manufacturers’ Association of Turkey) Board Member and the European Home Appliances Manufacturers Association (APPLiA) Council member.

Fatih Özkadı is married and has two children.

Mustafa Tuzcu is the Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, responsible for international trade and economic relations, import and product safety policies, free zones, and related areas. He was appointed to his current position on 8 May 2021. With more than 20 years of experience in trade policy, he has held various positions within Türkiye’s trade administration, including Foreign Trade Expert, Adviser to the Minister, Deputy Director General for Agreements, Commercial Counsellor in Baghdad, and Chief Commercial Counsellor to the World Trade Organization (WTO). He has represented Türkiye in WTO committees and international trade negotiations, served as Chair of the WTO Committee on Safeguards, and led negotiations on preferential and free trade agreements with several countries. During Türkiye’s G20 Presidency, he chaired the Trade and Investment Working Group. He has also played a leading role in the preparation of major trade strategies, including Türkiye’s Far Countries Strategy and Green Deal Action Plan. Tuzcu is a graduate of Ankara University’s Faculty of Political Sciences and pursued graduate studies at Boğaziçi University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is fluent in English and has intermediate proficiency in Arabic and French.

Aik Hoe Lim is the Director of the Trade and Environment Division at the World Trade Organization (WTO), leading its work on environmental sustainability and trade, as well as on technical regulations and standards under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. With over 25 years of experience in trade policy, he has played a key role in strengthening the WTO’s engagement on environmental sustainability and the secretariat's role and expertise on trade and climate change. He expanded its partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), the World Bank, UNCTAD, OECD, and the World Economic Forum. He spearheaded the establishment of WTO’s Trade and Environment Week, now a flagship annual event. He coordinates and leads WTO Secretariat's participation at climate change COPs. Since joining the WTO in 1999, he has served in the External Relations Division, the Director-General’s Cabinet, and the Trade in Services Division. He has also been a Counsellor to two WTO Director-Generals, an Adviser to the Director-General’s Consultative Group on the Future of the WTO, and Secretary to various WTO committees, working groups, and negotiating bodies.

Luz Maria de la Mora is the Director of UNCTAD's Division on International Trade and Commodities. As a former Vice-Minister for International Trade and decades of government and private sector positions, Ms. de la Mora developed a career in international trade policy, negotiation, operations, and trade promotion. 

During her tenure as Vice-Minister for International Trade of Mexico from 2018 to 2022, Ms. de la Mora led Mexico's trade and investment policy, overseeing fourteen free trade agreements with 51 countries. To bolster Mexico's development, she steered discussions in the World Trade Organization, the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and Pacific Alliance, among others. She also coordinated policy dialogues and handled private sector consultations.

Ms. de la Mora holds a PhD in Political Science from Yale University, USA, a Master's degree in International Affairs from Carleton University, Canada, and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from El Colegio de México, Mexico.

She is fluent in English and Spanish, and proficient in French.

Mehmet Özalp is the Cluster President of Schneider Electric Türkiye and Central Asia, leading the company's operations and growth strategy across the region. He is responsible for advancing Schneider Electric's business strategy, accelerating digital transformation and sustainability initiatives, and supporting customers in their energy transition and decarbonization journeys.​

He joined Schneider Electric in 2004 as a Project Manager and has since built more than two decades of leadership experience within the company, holding a variety of strategic roles across Türkiye, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.​

Throughout his career, he has led several key business units and regional organizations. He served as Vice President of the Industry Business Unit for Türkiye, Iran, and Central Asia, and later for the Middle East and Africa region. He also held the position of Power Systems Vice President for Türkiye and Central Asia, driving business growth and customer-focused innovation across the energy management and industrial sectors.​

Vanessa Erogbogbo is Director of the Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade at the International Trade Centre and a member of the Senior Management Committee with over two decades of experience in trade and private sector development having worked in both international development and private sector.

She is responsible for driving the sustainability and inclusiveness agenda of ITC, and to contributing to the overall leadership of the organisation.

She is a visiting lecturer at Sciences Po (Paris), and previously held positions at the International Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, and as an entrepreneur.

She holds an MBA from London Business School, an MSc Information Technology and a B.Eng Hons in Civil Engineering from Loughborough University, and an executive certificate in Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Yousif Muayad Alhadithi leads the Climate Change Centre at Iraq’s Ministry of Environment and has headed the Climate Change Directorate since May 2023. He coordinates Iraq’s permanent climate negotiating team and serves as the national UNFCCC focal point. His international work includes loss and damage and climate capacity building. He previously represented Iraq in the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and worked on climate change and sustainable development in the Prime Minister’s Office.

M V Iresha Sanjeewanie is a sustainable agriculture and climate resilience specialist with over 18 years of experience in international sustainability standards, responsible trade and smallholder producer empowerment. As Fairtrade Programme Manager for Sri Lanka and Climate Focal Point for Asia-Pacific at the Fairtrade Network of Asia and Pacific Producers (FTNAPP), she works to strengthen climate resilience, promote sustainable agricultural practices and enhance producer organisations’ capacity to meet evolving international market requirements.

She brings extensive expertise in climate change adaptation, organic agriculture, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), environmental compliance and sustainable value chains. Her work bridges international sustainability frameworks and the realities of agricultural producers, with a focus on enabling smallholder farmers and producer organisations to navigate climate risks, strengthen market readiness and participate in more sustainable and inclusive trade.

Iresha has held prominent international governance positions, serving two terms as Chairperson of the Fairtrade International Standards Committee and three terms as Vice-Chair of the Oversight Committee. In these roles, she contributed to international standards development and oversight while representing Asia-Pacific producer perspectives. She has supported more than 30 smallholder producer organisations in achieving and maintaining Fairtrade certification and delivered over 100 training sessions on sustainability standards, compliance and agricultural practices. Her professional experience also includes collaboration with government institutions, including the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, and national and international development partners.

As Climate Focal Point for Asia-Pacific, she contributes to regional initiatives on climate adaptation, mitigation planning and climate-smart agriculture, helping producer organisations respond to increasing climate pressures and changing sustainability expectations in global markets. She advocates for approaches that connect climate resilience with practical implementation, producer capacity-building and access to responsible international markets, recognising that the transition to climate-ready trade must be inclusive of small-scale producers.

Iresha holds a BSc in Natural Resources Management and an MSc in Environmental Science. She is pursuing a PhD in Climate Change and Organic Agriculture at the University of Colombo, researching the effectiveness of organic farming and Good Agricultural Practices in climate change adaptation among Sri Lankan tea smallholders. She has also completed a Certificate Course in Climate Resilience Policy.

Combining international standards leadership, regional climate expertise and practical experience working with agricultural producers, Iresha brings a strong Asia-Pacific perspective to advancing climate-resilient agriculture, inclusive value chains and trade that enables small and medium-sized enterprises and smallholder producers to thrive in a changing climate.

Caio Eduardo Zanardo is Sustainability, Health & Safety Director  at Suzano, bringing extensive experience in the forestry-based sector, bioeconomy, and agribusiness. He holds a degree in Forest Engineering from ESALQ/USP, an MBA in Business Management from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), and completed advanced executive education in Strategy at IMD Business School in Switzerland.

With over 20 years of experience, he has built a distinguished career with broad expertise across forestry operations, industrial management, and strategic project leadership. Throughout his professional journey, he has held key positions at leading companies such as Fibria and Suzano.

From 2021 to 2025, he served as CEO of Veracel Celulose, where he led impactful initiatives focused on productivity enhancement, people development, sustainability advancement, and strengthening relationships with local communities and stakeholders.

His career is marked by a strong commitment to evidence-based education, the promotion of science-driven practices in the field, and the integration of production, sustainability, and the development of future generations.

Alessandro Sanches Pereira is Executive Director of i17, a Brazilian think tank advancing sustainable development and climate action, with a particular focus on the Global South. He served as a Lead Author of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (Working Group III) and is a member of the United Nations Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition. With over two decades of international experience, he works at the intersection of climate policy, sustainable trade, circular economy, and energy transition. His work with international organizations, including UNCTAD, focuses on bridging research, policy, and implementation across developing economies. He advocates for climate transitions that strengthen local productive capacities, enhance competitiveness, and create inclusive economic opportunities while addressing the structural challenges facing the Global South.

Mr. Harsh Pati Singhania, 64, an MBA from University of Massachusetts and alumnus of Harvard Business School, USA, is a fourth generation business leader belonging to one of India’s largest industrial groups – J.K. Organisation which operates in diverse businesses like Paper, Cement, Tyres, Auto/Engineering, Hybrid Seeds, Dairy/Food, Defence, Textiles etc. having a turnover of around USD 6.0 billion. Mr Singhania is Chairman & Managing Director of JK Paper Ltd., oneof the leading companies of the Group.He is currently the Chair of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris. He also serves on the Board of Directors of J.K. Fenner (India) Ltd., Graphite India Ltd. and Indraprastha Medical Corporation Ltd. He is a Founding Member of Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) {formerly Brookings (India) Ltd.} and Member on the Board of Governors of International Management Institute (IMI), Board of Management of JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU) and Pushpawati Singhania Hospital & Research Institute (PSRI).He has participated and spoken at various national and international reputed business forums & seminars and is known for his contribution to various industry and Government bodies. He has led Industry bodies like Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), All India Management Association (AIMA), ICC-India, Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA), Young Presidents Organisation-Delhi, and has been a Member of Indo-French CEOs Forum, Indo-British Partnership, Indo-China CEOs Forum, National Integration Council, Regional Council of International Baccalaureate, UK-India Business Leaders Climate Group, Government-Industry Task Force, ASEAN-India Business Council etc.

Dr. Carpentier, from Quebec, Canada, is Head of the Trade, Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development Branch of UN Trade and Development’s Division on International Trade and Commodities (DITC). Her work with governments and partners fosters green, blue, circular, and impact economies that – supported by sustainable trade – are key to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. She came to Geneva after leading UNCTAD New York Office where she represented the Secretary-General and coordinated UNCTAD’s support to intergovernmental negotiations of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) from 2015-2023.

She previously served at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), where she facilitated the engagement of NGOs, women and youth groups, businesses, and local authorities in the SDGs negotiations and the UN Rio+20 Conference (2011-2015). She also supported the Commission on Sustainable Development research and negotiations on sustainable agriculture and sustainable consumption and production (2007-2011).

Prior to joining the UN, she headed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s, Environment, Economy and Trade Division (2000-2007), was an agro-environmental policy analyst for Winrock International (1998-2000) and post-Doctoral fellow/Brazil office manager for the International Food Policy Research Institute (1996-1998).

She holds a PhD in Agro-Environmental Economics from Virginia Tech, as well as a MSc and BSc in Agro- Economics from McGill University. She is a Yale World Fellow, received the 2023 Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship public intrapreneur award, and is listed in UNEP’s Who’s Who of Women and the Environment. She is an Ironman and ultramarathoner.

Fehmi Tutulmaz graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Dokuz Eylül University in 1999. He later completed his master’s degree in Accounting & Auditing at Istanbul Bilgi University and is also a CFA® charterholder.

He began his banking career in 2002 within the Investment Banking Department at Kuveyt Türk Participation Bank. Between 2006 and 2024, he held various managerial roles at Türkiye Finans Participation Bank, Ziraat Participation Bank, United Arab Bank and Turk Eximbank covering areas such as Financial Institutions, Trade Finance, Overseas Branches, Investment Banking, Structured Finance, Strategy & Business Development, Sustainability, Process &  Program Management etc.

Mr. Tutulmaz rejoined Türk Eximbank in July 2024 as the Director of Foreign Trade and Financial Institutions. Since June 2026, he has been serving as Executive Vice President responsible for Strategy and Finance within Türk Eximbank.

Dr. Patricia Ojangole is the Managing Director of Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL). She is credited for repositioning UDBL as a strategic catalyst for Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

In 2025, she was elected Chairperson of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI_. That same year, she was named Banker of the Year 2025 at the African Banker Awards. She has also been recognized as Sustainability Leader of the Year for four consecutive years (2021–2024) by the Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards.

Dr. Ojangole holds a PhD in Development Finance from the University of Stellenbosch Business School, where her research focused on structural transformation, private sector credit and growth: Implications for employment and inclusive growth in Uganda. She also holds a Master of Philosophy in Development Finance and an Executive Master of Business Administration. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda and the Institute of Internal Auditors and serves on several high-level boards across Africa.

Passionate about development finance, Dr. Ojangole continues to champion innovative financing models that deliver measurable impact for people, businesses, and the planet.

Mounia El Khawand is a Senior Consultant at EY Financial Services France, specializing in business transformation at the intersection of technology, governance, operational efficiency, and sustainability. She also serves as a Youth Climate Negotiator for Lebanon, focusing on Article 6. Her experience spans public- and private-sector engagements across Europe and the Middle East, covering financial services, ESG, economic development, and public policy. She holds a dual Master’s degree in International Governance and Diplomacy from Sciences Po and International Relations from the London School of Economics (LSE), and a double Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Studies from the American University of Beirut (AUB).

Vanessa Erogbogbo is Director of the Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade at the International Trade Centre and a member of the Senior Management Committee with over two decades of experience in trade and private sector development having worked in both international development and private sector.

She is responsible for driving the sustainability and inclusiveness agenda of ITC, and to contributing to the overall leadership of the organisation.

She is a visiting lecturer at Sciences Po (Paris), and previously held positions at the International Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, and as an entrepreneur.

She holds an MBA from London Business School, an MSc Information Technology and a B.Eng Hons in Civil Engineering from Loughborough University, and an executive certificate in Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Aik Hoe Lim is the Director of the Trade and Environment Division at the World Trade Organization (WTO), leading its work on environmental sustainability and trade, as well as on technical regulations and standards under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. With over 25 years of experience in trade policy, he has played a key role in strengthening the WTO’s engagement on environmental sustainability and the secretariat's role and expertise on trade and climate change. He expanded its partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), the World Bank, UNCTAD, OECD, and the World Economic Forum. He spearheaded the establishment of WTO’s Trade and Environment Week, now a flagship annual event. He coordinates and leads WTO Secretariat's participation at climate change COPs. Since joining the WTO in 1999, he has served in the External Relations Division, the Director-General’s Cabinet, and the Trade in Services Division. He has also been a Counsellor to two WTO Director-Generals, an Adviser to the Director-General’s Consultative Group on the Future of the WTO, and Secretary to various WTO committees, working groups, and negotiating bodies.

Sergio Mujica is the Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, a role he has held since 2017.3ISO brings together 165 national standards bodies to develop International Standards that support trade, innovation, sustainability, and health and safety worldwide.Under his leadership, ISO adopted its Strategy 2030, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with the vision of making lives easier, safer, and better.Before joining ISO, Sergio served as Deputy Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization in Brussels, and earlier held several senior positions in the Government of Chile, including Director General of Chile Customs.He holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a master’s in international law from American University in Washington, D.C.A strong advocate for integrity, transparency, and gender equality, he is also a member of the International Gender Champions network.In 2021, Sergio was reappointed to a second five-year term as ISO Secretary-General.

Lindy Fursman is the Executive Director of The Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets. She previously served as Chief Advisor for Climate Change at New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment, before acting as Director for Climate and Energy Policy at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, advising governments on climate mitigation, adaptation and energy transition policy.  She has deep experience advising governments on climate change and economic policy, including in the New Zealand Treasury and as Economic Counsellor to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Annie’s leadership in sustainability stems from three decades of experience working across a range of sectors, most notably energy and steel. Before joining ResponsibleSteel as CEO in 2022, she spent nine years shaping ArcelorMittal’s sustainability strategy, leading on stakeholder engagement, reporting, investor relations and climate initiatives. Prior to this, she worked with global renewable energy firm RES Group on their zero emissions head office, leading their sustainability management, research and education programme as the company developed large- and small-scale wind, solar and biomass projects. 

Annie holds an honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford, and has completed multiple trainings in renewable energy, corporate social responsibility, human rights, and steelmaking. She is also a director of a community energy company in the UK, and an occasional lecturer at Said Business School at Oxford University.

Dominic Kailashnath Waughray is the Executive Vice President and a member of the Leadership Team at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in Geneva, Switzerland. Since joining WBCSD in October 2021, he has spearheaded initiatives in climate, nature, and tackling inequality, collaborating with member companies, governments, and international organizations to implement impactful business solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote corporate accountability.

Dominic has successfully raised over $11 million to support the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the WBCSD Avoided Emissions Guidance, significantly increasing member engagement and income. As a Special Advisor for Stockholm +50 and elected Co-Chair of the UNEP Business Industry Major Group, he has enhanced global sustainability governance, including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

Before WBCSD, Dominic was Managing Director at the World Economic Forum, where he led sustainability initiatives and raised over $60 million for public-private collaborations. Earlier roles include Principal Partner at Environmental Resources Management and the UK Natural Environment Research Council.

Dominic holds a BA (Hons) and MA (Cantab) in Geography from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from University College London. He was appointed to the Advisory Board of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration in 2023 and actively engages with the global Indian diaspora through Indiaspora to drive systemic change.