Speakers
We are extremely proud to present our diverse list of speakers for this year's forum, many who are part of the CLIMATE 100 list – The world’s most influential people in climate policy. Click on their names below to navigate to their profiles!
Alternatively, click here to download a PDF with all the speakers.
*Denotes speakers that are part of the CLIMATE 100 list.
Alternatively, click here to download a PDF with all the speakers.
| KEYNOTE: Opening | KEYNOTE: Closing |
| Robin Millington | Fehinti Balogun |
| Husna Ahmad | |
| _____________________________ | _____________________________ |
| PANEL: Decolonising Climate Responses | PANEL: Cambridge-Based Activism |
| Amali Tower | Jason Scott-Warren |
| Erica Bower | Cambridge Climate Justice Representative |
| Neeshad Shafi* | Laura Bea |
| Mohammed Adjei Sowah* | Ben James |
| _____________________________ | _____________________________ |
| PANEL: Representing the Climate Crisis Creatively | DISCUSSION: Should Ecocide be the 5th International Crime? |
| Finn Harries | JoJo Mehta |
| Leah Borromeo | Nabil Ahmed |
| Nicole Itano | Prof Kevin Jon Heller |
| Baroness Lola Young |
*Denotes speakers that are part of the CLIMATE 100 list.
KEYNOTE: Opening
Robin Millington
CEO, Planet Tracker
Robin Millington has worked extensively in the climate, land-use and food sectors, most recently with the EAT Foundation and the European Climate Foundation. She has senior management experience in philanthropy and industry, having headed organizations including the Centre for European Policy Studies and Wetlands International. She specialises in global issues requiring transformative change.
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Robin Millington has worked extensively in the climate, land-use and food sectors, most recently with the EAT Foundation and the European Climate Foundation. She has senior management experience in philanthropy and industry, having headed organizations including the Centre for European Policy Studies and Wetlands International. She specialises in global issues requiring transformative change.
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KEYNOTE: Closing
Fehinti Balogun
Actor, Theatre Maker and Activist
Fehinti is an actor, theatre maker and activist. As an actor he has worked in theatre, film and television, with recent work in Dune, I May Destroy You and Juliet Naked. In ‘Can I live?’, a digital performance about climate catastrophe, Fehinti asks the urgent questions we are facing as humanity, exploring the biggest challenges of our time through spoken word, rap, theatre, animation and scientific fact. Alongside his acting career, he delivers talks on climate change aimed at a more rounded inclusion in the conversation on behalf of Extinction Rebellion, As a result of these talks he has toured London and southern England, discussing climate change and taking part in international climate discussions.
Fehinti is an actor, theatre maker and activist. As an actor he has worked in theatre, film and television, with recent work in Dune, I May Destroy You and Juliet Naked. In ‘Can I live?’, a digital performance about climate catastrophe, Fehinti asks the urgent questions we are facing as humanity, exploring the biggest challenges of our time through spoken word, rap, theatre, animation and scientific fact. Alongside his acting career, he delivers talks on climate change aimed at a more rounded inclusion in the conversation on behalf of Extinction Rebellion, As a result of these talks he has toured London and southern England, discussing climate change and taking part in international climate discussions.
Husna Ahmad
CEO of Global One 2015
Dr Husna Ahmed PhD is the CEO of Global One 2015, a faith-based INGO focussed on women. Dr Ahmad is the former Group CEO of Faith Regen Foundation, a multi-faith UK charity. She is currently a Board member of BOND, Faith In Water, and Palmers Green Mosque. She is a member of the UN Task Force Faith based Advisory Council. She sits on the international advisory board of the Commonwealth Initiative for Freedom of Religion and Belief. Dr Ahmad sits on the Steering Committee of The World Bank’s Moral Imperative Initiative. She is an author and thought leader who has presented many papers internationally focusing particularly on faith and the environment. She is the Secretary General of the World Muslim Leadership Forum and Coordinator for the Alliance of NGOs and CSOs for South-South Cooperation.
Dr Husna Ahmed PhD is the CEO of Global One 2015, a faith-based INGO focussed on women. Dr Ahmad is the former Group CEO of Faith Regen Foundation, a multi-faith UK charity. She is currently a Board member of BOND, Faith In Water, and Palmers Green Mosque. She is a member of the UN Task Force Faith based Advisory Council. She sits on the international advisory board of the Commonwealth Initiative for Freedom of Religion and Belief. Dr Ahmad sits on the Steering Committee of The World Bank’s Moral Imperative Initiative. She is an author and thought leader who has presented many papers internationally focusing particularly on faith and the environment. She is the Secretary General of the World Muslim Leadership Forum and Coordinator for the Alliance of NGOs and CSOs for South-South Cooperation.
PANEL: Decolonising Climate Responses
Amali Tower
Founder of Climate Refugees
Amali is the founder and executive director of Climate Refugees. She is an expert on refugees, resettlement and forced migration, and has worked for the UN Refugee Agency and the US Refugee Admissions Program. Years of experience interviewing refugees fleeing both conflict and climate change led her to establish Climate Refugees, an NGO which brings attention and action to the plight of climate refugees. She is a member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network in Migration, Human Rights & Humanitarian Response, and sits on the advisory board of The Center for Climate and Security in Washington D.C.
Amali is the founder and executive director of Climate Refugees. She is an expert on refugees, resettlement and forced migration, and has worked for the UN Refugee Agency and the US Refugee Admissions Program. Years of experience interviewing refugees fleeing both conflict and climate change led her to establish Climate Refugees, an NGO which brings attention and action to the plight of climate refugees. She is a member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network in Migration, Human Rights & Humanitarian Response, and sits on the advisory board of The Center for Climate and Security in Washington D.C.
Erica Bower
Independent Climate Change Displacement Specialist
Erica Bower is an independent Climate Change and Human Mobility Specialist and Ph.D. student in Environment and Resources at Stanford University. She has worked as the Climate Change and Disaster Displacement Associate Specialist in the UNHCR, advancing legal, policy and practical solutions for persons displaced in the context of climate change. She holds degrees from Oxford and Columbia Universities, and has formerly worked on climate and mobility issues for Oxfam, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice, and the Nansen Initiative Secretariat.
Erica Bower is an independent Climate Change and Human Mobility Specialist and Ph.D. student in Environment and Resources at Stanford University. She has worked as the Climate Change and Disaster Displacement Associate Specialist in the UNHCR, advancing legal, policy and practical solutions for persons displaced in the context of climate change. She holds degrees from Oxford and Columbia Universities, and has formerly worked on climate and mobility issues for Oxfam, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice, and the Nansen Initiative Secretariat.
Neeshad Shafi*
Environmental and Climate Expert in the Gulf, Middle East and Co-Founder of Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar | Climate 100
Neeshad is an environmentalist, speaker, and policy-oriented social change advocate in the Gulf region. He has been a prominent presence at international climate summits, especially UNFCCC’S climate summits since 2015. He is currently the Co-founder & Executive Director at the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, and a Board Member at Climate Action Network (CAN) Arab World and CoalitionWILD. He is on the steering committee of UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network (YoU-CAN) and is a UNEP Youth Regional Facilitator for the Middle East.
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Neeshad is an environmentalist, speaker, and policy-oriented social change advocate in the Gulf region. He has been a prominent presence at international climate summits, especially UNFCCC’S climate summits since 2015. He is currently the Co-founder & Executive Director at the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, and a Board Member at Climate Action Network (CAN) Arab World and CoalitionWILD. He is on the steering committee of UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network (YoU-CAN) and is a UNEP Youth Regional Facilitator for the Middle East.
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Mohammed Adjei Sowah*
Former Mayor of Accra, Ghana | Climate 100
Mohammed Adjei Sowah is the former mayor of Accra. He serves on the Advisory Board of The Beyond Aid Project, a social enterprise that builds capacity for young vulnerable women in rural and urban low income communities to add value to locally available raw materials for their economic empowerment. Sanitation, a large priority of Mayor Sowah, has long been an issue in Accra, at the nexus of public safety, public health, the informal economy (which employs about 75 percent of Accra’s residents), and emissions contributing to climate change.
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Mohammed Adjei Sowah is the former mayor of Accra. He serves on the Advisory Board of The Beyond Aid Project, a social enterprise that builds capacity for young vulnerable women in rural and urban low income communities to add value to locally available raw materials for their economic empowerment. Sanitation, a large priority of Mayor Sowah, has long been an issue in Accra, at the nexus of public safety, public health, the informal economy (which employs about 75 percent of Accra’s residents), and emissions contributing to climate change.
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PANEL: Cambridge-Based Activism
Jason Scott-Warren
Fellow and Climate Activist
Jason Scott-Warren is an English fellow at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge who balances a passionate commitment to climate activism alongside his academic career. He has frequently protested with Extinction Rebellion, and also took part in the recent UCU strikes. In 2019, he organised the academic boycott of Trinity College follwing its decision to leave the USS, a pension scheme for higher education employees.
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Jason Scott-Warren is an English fellow at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge who balances a passionate commitment to climate activism alongside his academic career. He has frequently protested with Extinction Rebellion, and also took part in the recent UCU strikes. In 2019, he organised the academic boycott of Trinity College follwing its decision to leave the USS, a pension scheme for higher education employees.
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Laura Bea
PhD Student and Specialist Policy Officer
Laura Bea is a writer, researcher and freelance consultant who specialises in campaigning and public policy. She has direct experience teaching social action skills to students as the Programme Manager for Cambridge Hub. During her own BA at the University of Southamption, she organised a campaign which led to the establishment of the University's first ever sexual violence prevention working group. She currently holds the positions of Specialist Policy Officer and UPEN Network Manager, and has just been awarded funding for a PhD studying the role of creative activism in public policy.
Laura Bea is a writer, researcher and freelance consultant who specialises in campaigning and public policy. She has direct experience teaching social action skills to students as the Programme Manager for Cambridge Hub. During her own BA at the University of Southamption, she organised a campaign which led to the establishment of the University's first ever sexual violence prevention working group. She currently holds the positions of Specialist Policy Officer and UPEN Network Manager, and has just been awarded funding for a PhD studying the role of creative activism in public policy.
Ben James
Co-President of Cambridge Climate Society
Ben James is the Co-President and Founder of the Cambridge Climate Society - a university society dedicated to connecting, educating and empowering people on the most important issue of our time. Since launching in October 2021, the society has recruited almost 1000 members, created key climate networks and collaborations within the University and hosted talks and dinners with leaders in climate.
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Ben James is the Co-President and Founder of the Cambridge Climate Society - a university society dedicated to connecting, educating and empowering people on the most important issue of our time. Since launching in October 2021, the society has recruited almost 1000 members, created key climate networks and collaborations within the University and hosted talks and dinners with leaders in climate.
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PANEL: Representing the Climate Crisis Creatively
Finn Harries
Co-founder of Earthrise Studio, Filmmaker and Designer
Finn Harries is British filmmaker and designer. He is the co-founder of Earthrise Studio. A digital media company dedicated to communicating the climate crisis through research, design and filmmaking. Finn began filmmaking in 2011 when he launched the Youtube channel JacksGap with his brother Jack Harries He is currently studying at Cambridge to complete an Masters of Philosophy in Architecture and Urban Design. His research focuses on regenerative design and ecology. Finn has given talks at both TEDx and the United Nations in New York on the urgency for action on climate change and biodiversity loss. He has written for The Guardian and Citizen Magazine.
Finn Harries is British filmmaker and designer. He is the co-founder of Earthrise Studio. A digital media company dedicated to communicating the climate crisis through research, design and filmmaking. Finn began filmmaking in 2011 when he launched the Youtube channel JacksGap with his brother Jack Harries He is currently studying at Cambridge to complete an Masters of Philosophy in Architecture and Urban Design. His research focuses on regenerative design and ecology. Finn has given talks at both TEDx and the United Nations in New York on the urgency for action on climate change and biodiversity loss. He has written for The Guardian and Citizen Magazine.
Leah Borromeo
Co-founder of Disobedient Films, Journalist and Filmmaker
Leah is a journalist and filmmaker and co-founder of Disobedient films. She is interested in sustainability reporting, developing and directing documentary ideas for multiple platforms and leads on the creation and development of ‘Climate Symphony’. Climate Symphony is a data sonification project that takes narratives from climate change data and tells the story of our warming planet through sound.
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Leah is a journalist and filmmaker and co-founder of Disobedient films. She is interested in sustainability reporting, developing and directing documentary ideas for multiple platforms and leads on the creation and development of ‘Climate Symphony’. Climate Symphony is a data sonification project that takes narratives from climate change data and tells the story of our warming planet through sound.
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Nicole Itano
Global Recovery Collective Director, Communications and Campaigns Leader
Nicole Itano is a communications and campaigns leader working for a more sustainable and just world. Graduating from Yale University she has been committed to harnessing the power of stories to protect the planet we call home. Working as the Head of Creative for Save the Children UK before Directing Media and Content at WWF-UK and leading as Executive Director at Television for Earth. Nicole has a 20 year track record of using the arts and artistic storytelling to bring people together in the fight against climate change. Most recently working as the Global Recovery Collective Director for the Climate Emergency Collaboration Group, using philanthropic power to increase climate action and ambitious UN negotiations.
Nicole Itano is a communications and campaigns leader working for a more sustainable and just world. Graduating from Yale University she has been committed to harnessing the power of stories to protect the planet we call home. Working as the Head of Creative for Save the Children UK before Directing Media and Content at WWF-UK and leading as Executive Director at Television for Earth. Nicole has a 20 year track record of using the arts and artistic storytelling to bring people together in the fight against climate change. Most recently working as the Global Recovery Collective Director for the Climate Emergency Collaboration Group, using philanthropic power to increase climate action and ambitious UN negotiations.
Baroness Lola Young
Emeritus Professor and Independent Member to the House of Lords
Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey OBE is a life peer and independent member to the House of Lords. She has worked and lectured extensively in the Arts, Media Studies and Cultural Studies, and became Emeritus Professor at Middlesex University. Baroness Young founded and Co-Chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion, and has previously served on Select Committees on Sexual Violence in Conflict. She is currently working on improving legislation on modern slavery and transparency in supply chain reporting. Young has been a valued member on the Boards of several national cultural organisations which include: the South Bank Centre, the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, and The National Archives. Director of the Cultural Brokers Arts and Heritage Consultancy.
Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey OBE is a life peer and independent member to the House of Lords. She has worked and lectured extensively in the Arts, Media Studies and Cultural Studies, and became Emeritus Professor at Middlesex University. Baroness Young founded and Co-Chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion, and has previously served on Select Committees on Sexual Violence in Conflict. She is currently working on improving legislation on modern slavery and transparency in supply chain reporting. Young has been a valued member on the Boards of several national cultural organisations which include: the South Bank Centre, the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, and The National Archives. Director of the Cultural Brokers Arts and Heritage Consultancy.
DISCUSSION: Should ecocide be the 5th International crime?
JoJo Mehta
Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International
JoJo Mehta co-founded Stop Ecocide in 2017, along with legal pioneer the late Polly Higgins. The goal of the movement is to establish ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court. As the Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International and convenor of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide, Jojo is a leading voice in environmental justice, and has contributed to law conferences, diplomatic events, environmental summits and climate rallies across the world.
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JoJo Mehta co-founded Stop Ecocide in 2017, along with legal pioneer the late Polly Higgins. The goal of the movement is to establish ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court. As the Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International and convenor of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide, Jojo is a leading voice in environmental justice, and has contributed to law conferences, diplomatic events, environmental summits and climate rallies across the world.
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Nabil Ahmed
Scholar and writer, founder of INTERPRT
Nabil Ahmed is a transdisciplinary scholar and writer, who works at the intersection of visual culture and environmental humanities. He leads INTERPRT, an environmental justice project and design studio that investigates and advocates for the criminalisation of ecocide in international law. INTERPRT’s work has been exhibited at centres of science and culture across the world - recently at Biennale Warszawa, Museum of Modern Art Warsaw and Beirut Arts Centre. Nabil sits on the advisory board of Stop Ecocide Foundation.
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Nabil Ahmed is a transdisciplinary scholar and writer, who works at the intersection of visual culture and environmental humanities. He leads INTERPRT, an environmental justice project and design studio that investigates and advocates for the criminalisation of ecocide in international law. INTERPRT’s work has been exhibited at centres of science and culture across the world - recently at Biennale Warszawa, Museum of Modern Art Warsaw and Beirut Arts Centre. Nabil sits on the advisory board of Stop Ecocide Foundation.
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Prof Kevin Jon Heller
Professor of International Law
Kevin Jon Heller is Professor of International Law and Security at the University of Copenhagen and Professor of Law at the Australian National University. He is a member of Doughty Street Chambers in London and currently serves as Special Adviser to the ICC Prosecutor on International Criminal Law Discourse. He also runs the international-law blog Opinio Juris, where he has been critical of the Independent Expert Panel’s ecocide proposal.
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Kevin Jon Heller is Professor of International Law and Security at the University of Copenhagen and Professor of Law at the Australian National University. He is a member of Doughty Street Chambers in London and currently serves as Special Adviser to the ICC Prosecutor on International Criminal Law Discourse. He also runs the international-law blog Opinio Juris, where he has been critical of the Independent Expert Panel’s ecocide proposal.
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