ATTENDEE BIOS
Half-sat Ab-ee-oh-lah, she/her
Project Dandelion Co-Founder
Hafsat Abiola, an economist with degrees from Harvard and Tsinghua, is a fervent advocate for climate justice. Her personal journey, marked by the loss of both her parents in the struggle for democracy, has galvanized her commitment to this cause. At the heart of her efforts within Connected Women Leaders is Project Dandelion, the world's first women-led campaign for climate justice. This groundbreaking initiative represents a pivotal moment in the push for a climate safe world, with women leading the way. In addition to her climate justice work, Hafsat serves as one of the 50 Councilors of the World Future Council, a Special Envoy to Africa for Women Political Leaders, and is a member of the BMW Foundation's Responsible Leaders Group, Vital Voices 100, and an alumna of the World Economic Forum's Community of Young Global Leaders. Her unwavering dedication to climate justice is a testament to her enduring commitment to a climate safe future for all.
Am-reen Bash-ear, she/her
Mubarak Ali Foundation Founder
Amreen Bashir is the Founder of the Mubarak Ali Foundation and Co-Founder of WISH, bringing over a decade of experience in the education sector to her work in improving learning outcomes and expanding opportunities for children worldwide. With a strong background in curriculum design, program evaluation, policy analysis, and partnership development, she has collaborated with schools, NGOs, think tanks, and governments to drive meaningful change in education. Her passion for education is rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to quality learning that empowers them to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities. Committed to building a more equitable and inclusive world, Amreen sees education as both a human right and a powerful force for social transformation.She-yay Bass-tee-duh, she/her
Re-Earth Initiative Co-Founder
Xiye Bastida is an Indigenous climate justice activist and co-founder of the Re-Earth Initiative, a youth-led organization spanning 26 countries. A leading voice in the climate movement, she has organized with Fridays For Future since 2019, co-leading New York City’s largest youth climate march. Her advocacy has taken her to global stages, including addressing world leaders at the Biden Climate Summit and COP26, where her speeches gained international recognition. She serves as an ambassador to the UN High-Level Champions, a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Champion, and a Climate Governance Commissioner. Xiye is also a sustainability advocate in the fashion industry, appearing on two Vogue covers and collaborating with pioneering designers. She authored the first chapter of All We Can Save and is an executive producer of the upcoming film The Way of the Whale. Currently, she is an honors student at the University of Pennsylvania, studying disadvantaged communities in New York City.
Ts-ep-or-ah Burr-men, she/her
Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Chair
Tzeporah Berman is an environmental activist, policy advisor, and International Program Director at Stand.earth. She also chairs the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, advocating for a global shift away from fossil fuels. With over 30 years of experience, she has played a key role in major environmental agreements, including efforts to protect millions of hectares of old-growth forests in Canada. Previously, she co-directed Greenpeace International’s Climate and Energy Program and co-founded ForestEthics (now Stand.earth). In 2016, she co-chaired Alberta’s Oil Sands Advisory Working Group, shaping policies to meet Canada’s climate commitments. A recipient of the Climate Breakthrough Project Award, she continues to drive systemic change in climate policy. She is also the author of This Crazy Time: Living Our Environmental Challenge.
Floor-ah Bit-an-core-t, she/her
World Climate Foundation Brazil Lead
Flora Bitancourt is the Director of the World Climate Foundation in Brazil, founder of Impact Beyond, and a social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the sector. A member of the World Economic Forum's young leaders network, Global Shapers, and a Responsible Leader with the BMW Foundation. As a specialist in social impact and ESG, she has worked as a consultant for major companies such as Ambev, HP, Alpargatas, and Google.
Ron-duh Car-nuh-gee, she/her
Project Dandelion Executive Director & Co-Founder
Passionate about leading movements to inspire change, Ronda Carnegie ihas built and transformed global brands from The New Yorker to TED among others. Her role as part of the original executive team at TED led to unprecedented growth in TED's history from a single conference to a media company. She founded the TED Institute during her tenure, which helps organizations unlock institutional knowledge and surface innovative thinking. She co-founded TEDWomen, both new ventures for TED, while building a portfolio of assets to drive the impact mission and revenue growth for the brand overall. As the Co-Founder of Connected Women Leaders and Project Dandelion, Ronda has dedicated herself to the climate and gender movements. Eager to contribute to dynamic working groups focused on world-changing ideas, Ronda sits on the Board of GOOD/Upworthy, a media company. She also serves on the advisory board of Giide, an interactive audio technology company, and The Omega Institute.
Kay-tee Hair-is-son, she/her
WRTHY Co-Founder
Katie Harrison is the Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of WRTHY, an award-winning global social impact agency founded in 2017. Bringing together experts from business, marketing, policy, media, and entertainment, WRTHY develops innovative strategies, funding models, and advocacy campaigns to drive meaningful impact at scale. WRTHY’s sweet spot is humanizing complex social and environmental issues. Clients include the Gates Foundation, ChildFund International, Women Moving Millions, Project Dandelion, The ONE Campaign, Girls Who Invest, lululemon and more.
Previously, Katie was Head of Strategy at creative agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty. She spent almost 20 years as a strategist, leading impactful global brand campaigns for BBH and Fallon for organizations such as Unilever, UNICEF, Sony, Levi Strauss & Co, Tate and BBC Worldwide, living and working in the UK, Singapore and the USA along the way.
Katie is on the board of The Caius Foundation (Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge) and is a Royal Society Arts (RSA) fellow. She resides with her family in Brooklyn NY.
Sah-ruh Hen-ree, she/her
Project Dandelion Strategist
Sarah Henry is a senior leader and strategist with over a decade of experience at the intersection of development, gender equality, and organizational impact. A connector and field builder in gender equality and health equity, she has a proven track record in launching and scaling initiatives, driving strategic development, and fostering cross-sector partnerships. With deep expertise in organizational strategy and program management, Sarah excels at synthesizing complex ideas, identifying critical gaps, and leading multi-stakeholder collaborations to achieve collective impact. She is a skilled problem-solver and change management leader, known for building inclusive partnerships and guiding organizations through transformative growth.
Eye-eesh-ah Joe-seff, she/her
Cadlas Analyst
Aiesha Joseph is an analyst at Cadlas, specializing in research and data analysis in climate resilience financing. As a national of a highly climate-vulnerable small island state, she is deeply committed to mobilizing finance for climate resilience, with a particular focus on improving the Global South’s access to and utilization of climate funding. She holds a Master’s degree in Climate Change Finance & Investment from the University of Edinburgh, equipping her with a strong understanding of the financial and economic implications of climate change. Through her work, Aiesha is dedicated to advancing equitable and effective climate finance solutions.
Val-err-ee Kel-err, she/her
IMAGINE Co-Founder & CEO
Valerie Keller is the Co-Founder and CEO of IMAGINE, a global leadership initiative accelerating systems change. She has played a key role in shaping high-impact collaborations, including The Fashion Pact, launched at the G7, and co-founded The Food Collective, uniting CEOs to drive sustainability in the food sector. Previously, she served as EY’s Global Markets Executive Director and founded the EY Beacon Institute, focusing on purpose-driven transformation. She has also led social enterprises tackling homelessness and healthcare, designing innovative models for systemic change. An Associate Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, Valerie is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a longtime member of the Harvard Kennedy School Women’s Leadership Board. With a background in business, social innovation, and leadership development, she continues to guide transformational leaders toward impact at scale.
Far-wah Kuh-t-ow, she/her
Naqsh Co-Founder
Farwah Gulamali Khataw is a program development and climate justice consultant who works at the intersection of gender, faith, and social transformation. Her work is rooted in the belief that the most powerful solutions come from those closest to the struggle: women, communities of faith, and those on the frontlines of climate and social crises.
She has led global initiatives that center these voices, co-developing the world’s first interfaith youth climate fellowship with Duke University, shaping gender-responsive climate leadership programs, and convening critical conversations - including at the UN General Assembly - on the role of BIPOC women in climate justice, for which she developed and pitched a leadership training program at Harvard Divinity School. She has written and researched on women’s leadership, governance, and decolonial approaches to resilience institutions such as Shanghai University and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Farwah has advised international organizations on how to build more just, intersectional, and community-driven strategies. She recently co-founded Naqsh, a women-led agency dedicated to reshaping the way we think about and work toward development and social change through decolonial and feminist frameworks - due to launch later in 2025.
Pat Mitch-el, she/her
Project Dandelion Co-Founder
Pat Mitchell is a lifelong advocate for womenʼs leadership who has used her diverse spheres of influence to elevate womenʼs stories and representation and to lead for a more just, equitable and sustainable world. Currently, sheʼs the Co-Founder of Connected Women Leaders, a collective problem solving coalition, spanning geographies and generations and the Co Founder and Partner of Project Dandelion, a global women led campaign to unify, amplify and activate womenʼs leadership as a pivotal accelerator towards a
climate safe future for all. She is also the Co-Founder and Editorial Director of TEDWomen. Mitchell's influence extends far beyond her professional achievements. She serves on the boards of the Sundance Institute, The Skoll Foundation, The Woodruff Arts Center, The Carter Center Board of Councilors, and the VDAY movement to end violence against women. As a member of CARE’s Global Advisory Council and Chair Emeritus of the Women’s Media Center, which has established an annual award in her name, her commitment is to optimize every platform and every opportunity to elevate women's stories, challenges and accomplishments. In her 2020 memoir. "Becoming a Dangerous Woman," Mitchell calls on us to speak up, stand up and show up to meet the challenges of dangerous times.
Em-el-ee Moo-dee, she/her
Project Dandelion Director of Operations
Emily Moody is a passionate ecofeminist who has dedicated her life to exploring the critical intersection between climate and gender. Her journey began at a young age when, at 15, she founded a global nonprofit aimed at empowering women and girls through education, recognizing their pivotal role in addressing the pressing environmental issues of our time. Throughout her career, whether through her impactful work at the Female Quotient or her current role as Director of Operations at Project Dandelion, Emily remains deeply committed to the interconnected issues of climate justice. She firmly believes that women hold the key to saving our planet and continues to champion their integral role in creating a more sustainable and equitable world.
Ree-mah Nah-nah-vah-tee, she/her
Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) Director
Reema Nanavaty has been working with self-employed informal women workers since 1984 when she joined the Self-Employed Women’s Association, the largest union of informal sector workers. In 1999, she was elected as SEWA’s General Secretary. Her key focus has been to provide full employment & self-reliance to the 1.7 million members of SEWA, where she oversees 4813 self-help groups, 160 co-operatives and 15 economic federations across India and in 7 South Asian countries. She also heads the ICT cell of SEWA, developing custom-designed mobile apps for women farmers and establishing linkages with online e-retailing platform to provide a broad global market access to the members of SEWA. She is currently member of the Advisory Council on Gender of the World Bank Group. She was also invited as a member of International Labor Organization’s High Level Global Commission on Future of Work. She was the only commissioner representing the informal sector workers, self-employed workers and the rural workers union in the entire commission. She has also been invited as a member of the UN High-level Dialogue`s Technical Working Group on Energy Action to Advance Other SDGs. In 2013, she received the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India for her distinguished contribution in the area of Social Services.
Is-ah-bell-ah No-err-oh, she/her
Earthrise Studio Head of Collaborative Partnerships
Isabella Noero is a Colombian cultural producer, curator, and climate advocate, currently serving as the Head of Collaborative Partnerships at Earthrise Studio, an impact-driven media platform and creative studio focused on climate storytelling. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of strategic partnerships and special projects with NGOs, businesses, cultural institutions, and individuals. Born and raised in Bogotá and Cartagena, Isabella's diverse background informs her interdisciplinary approach to climate advocacy and cultural production. She studied at the University of Glasgow and Christie's Education, equipping her with a strong foundation in art history and curation. Isabella is also involved with Una Festival, where she works at the intersection of creative practice and climate justice. Through her work at Earthrise and beyond, Isabella aims to harness the power of storytelling and creative collaboration to drive meaningful action on climate change.
Gee-n Oh-l-wang, she/her
Virgin Unite CEO & President
Jean Oelwang is the founding CEO and President of Virgin Unite, an entrepreneurial foundation that builds collectives, incubates ideas, and reimagines systems for a better world. Over the past 15 years, she has led the incubation of global initiatives such as The Elders, The B Team, Ocean Unite, and The Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator. With a career spanning business and social impact, Jean has worked with over 25 Virgin businesses across 15 industries to embed purpose at their core. Before launching Virgin Unite, she co-led Virgin Mobile Australia and spent nearly two decades developing mobile networks across six continents. Jean serves on numerous advisory boards, including The Elders, The NewNow, and the Rocky Mountain Institute. A sought-after speaker, she has taken the TED and TEDx stages and received awards such as the Bernie Glassman Trailblazer Award and the FilmAid Philanthropic Leadership Award.
My-ah Pen, she/her
Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet Founder
Maya Penn is a 24-year-old award-winning environmental and climate solutionist, entrepreneur, and multidisciplinary artist. She is the founder of Maya’s Ideas, an eco-friendly fashion brand she launched at just eight years old, and Maya’s Ideas 4 The Planet, her nonprofit dedicated to environmental justice. Recognized by President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, she has been a three-time TED speaker, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and a sought-after sustainability consultant for Fortune 500 companies. As an animator and filmmaker, Maya made history when her animation was featured in the first-ever digital report presented to the U.S. Congress. Through her production company, Upenndo! Productions, she is creating job opportunities for young artists and is currently directing ASALI: Power of The Pollinators, executive produced by Viola Davis and JuVee Productions. Maya has been a key player in the launch of Coachtopia, Coach’s circular fashion innovation lab, and was featured on the cover of Vogue alongside Billie Eilish. Named one of WWD’s Most Influential ESG Leaders in 2023, she continues to drive sustainability and social impact worldwide.
Mar-ee-on-ah Rib-ee-row, she/her
CLARICE CEO
Mariana Ribeiro is an executive, impact strategist, and strategic communicator with over a decade of experience leading social and environmental mobilization campaigns. She is the CEO of CLARICE, a studio dedicated to research and audiovisual storytelling about women redefining power and challenging the status quo. Throughout her career, Mariana has worked with companies, UN agencies, philanthropies, NGOs, and grassroots movements worldwide. She previously led Purpose Brasil and spearheaded gender-focused initiatives like Mapa do Acolhimento and Beta Chatbot. She has also developed acclaimed audiovisual projects, including the impact campaign for The Edge of Democracy (Netflix), which was Oscar-nominated in 2020. An MBA graduate in Marketing (FGV/SP) and a specialist in Design for Social Change (School of Visual Arts, NYC), Mariana's work has earned recognition from Google Stories Challenge, Cannes Lions, the Emmy Awards, and the Anthem Awards. She currently serves on the boards of five organizations focused on gender, democracy, LGBTQ+ rights, civic space, and climate justice.
Mare-ee Rob-in-sun, she/her
The Elders Founding Member & Former President of Ireland
Mary Robinson is a globally recognized voice on climate change and frequently highlights the need for drastic action from world leaders, as well as the intersectionality of the climate emergency: from intergenerational injustice to gender inequality and biodiversity loss. Mary is a founding member of The Elders and was appointed Chair in November 2018 following the death of Kofi Annan. She makes it a priority to bring the concerns of ordinary people to the international stage.
Climate Justice, Government, Policy
Hay-lee Say-nt Den-iss, she/her
Institute for Human Rights and Business Just Transitions Head
Haley St. Dennis leads the just transitions interventions at the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), seeking to drive change at the critical nexus of business, human rights, and climate action. Committed to advancing corporate accountability in the face of the climate crisis, she champions policies and initiatives that prioritise the rights of those most affected by industrial transitions, ensuring that decarbonisation, adaptation, and resilience efforts lead to truly transformational business shifts. A seasoned strategist and advocate, Haley has a proven track record of building initiatives that bridge private sector responsibility with rights-based approaches across diverse sectors and local realities. She has played a key role in incubating groundbreaking initiatives to address major human rights imperatives, including the establishment of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), Centro Regional de Empresas y Emprendimientos Responsables (CREER), the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB), and the Centre for Sport and Human Rights (CSHR). In all her climate action work, Haley integrates storytelling, true cost accounting, and catalytic ecosystem building to drive systemic change that aligns economic practices with environmental and social equity.
Sol-ee-tear Town-send, she/her
Futerra Co-Founder
Solitaire Townsend is the co-founder and Chief Solutionist of Futerra, a global change agency specializing in sustainability strategies and creative communications. Since its inception in 2001, Futerra has collaborated with organizations such as Google, the United Nations, and IKEA to promote social justice and environmental restoration. A recognized leader in sustainability, Solitaire was named "Ethical Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2008 and "Agency Lead of the Year" at Adweek's Sustainability Awards in 2023. She has served as chair of the UK Green Energy Scheme, trustee of Ashden, and was a founding member of the United Nations Sustainable Lifestyles Taskforce. Solitaire is also an accomplished author and speaker. Her TED Talk, "Are ad agencies, PR firms and lobbyists destroying the climate?" has been widely viewed, and she has contributed to publications such as Forbes and The Guardian. Her books include The Happy Hero: How to Change Your Life by Changing the World and The Solutionists: How Businesses Can Fix the Future.
Floor-ah Vah-no, she/her
ActionAid Country Manager
Flora Vano is a Ni-Vanuatu climate activist and feminist leader, serving as the Country Manager for ActionAid Vanuatu since 2017. In this role, she has been instrumental in establishing the Women I TokTok Tugeta (WITTT) network, a platform empowering over 5,000 women across Vanuatu to lead disaster preparedness and climate resilience initiatives. Under her leadership, the Women Wetem Weta (Women's Weather Watch) program was developed, enabling women to disseminate early warning messages and vital climate information to their communities, reaching approximately 40% of Vanuatu's population. Flora has represented Vanuatu at multiple United Nations Climate Change Conferences, advocating for increased support for women-led climate resilience initiatives and emphasizing the need for global accountability in addressing climate change impacts. Her dedication to community-led disaster response and climate adaptation has been pivotal in enhancing resilience among Vanuatu's most vulnerable populations.