People

Alexia Kelly

Alexia Kelly has worked for more than 17 years at the intersection of policy and finance to address the climate crisis. Alexia currently serves as Managing Director of the Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative (CPMI) at High Tide Foundation. The CPMI accelerates ambitious climate action and capital mobilization through robust rules and guidance for voluntary corporate action and disclosures, and by building the next generation of high-integrity carbon and environmental services markets. In this role she serves on the Board of the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets (ICVCM) and on the Board of the Advanced and Indirect Mitigation Initiative, as well as on the Expert Advisory Group of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI).

Prior to joining High Tide Foundation, she served as Director of Net Zero & Nature at Netflix, where she led the company’s inaugural greenhouse gas inventory, renewable energy strategy, Science Based Target and global carbon credit portfolio. Previously, she worked at the U.S. Department of State, where she served as lead negotiator to the UNFCCC on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. She has also held senior roles at the World Resources Institute, The David and Lucille Packard Foundation, The Climate Trust, and in private equity.

She currently serves on the Board of Craft3, a non-profit Community Development Finance Institute focused on equitable access to finance, and as the Global Co-Chair of the Global Climate Action Partnership. She resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children.

Almir Narayamoga Suruí

As Chief of the Paiter Suruí People, Almir Narayamoga Suruí is an accomplished Brazilian Indigenous leader. From a young age, Almir was the Head of the Indigenous movement in Rondônia, leading one of the largest negotiations with the Federal Government to guarantee the integrty of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Territory. In conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment, Almir helped to develop the Territorial and Environmental Management Plan of Indigenous Lands, an initiative replicated in several demarcated Indigenous lands throughout Brazil. Almir was elected counselor of the CNPI – National Council of Indigenist Policy, a collegiate body that defines the Indigenist policy of Brazil. He has led reforestation projects and advocated for the protection of the Amazon rainforest against illegal logging.

Having studied Applied Biology at the Catholic University of Goiás, Almir has also received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR). He was awarded the title of “Hero of Technology” by Google for leading an initiative in partnership with the technology company to bring internet access to the Paiter Suruí People, developing their skills in IT, the use of GPS and Google Earth. Among other awards, Almir has been awarded the title of “Human Rights Defender” by the International Society of Human Rights, as well as the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation. In 2013, he was elected by the UN as “Hero of the Forest”.

At COP-15 in Copenhagan, Almir helped to launch the Suruí Carbon Project, offering the world a unique alternative to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation through REDD+. He has also led an initiative to produce coffee in an environmentally responsible way in Rondônia.

Almir’s daughter, Txai Suruí, is a young Indigenous leader and spoke at the opening of COP-26.

Como Cacique do Povo Paiter Suruí, Almir Narayamoga Suruí é um talentoso líder indígena brasileiro. Desde jovem, Almir foi o chefe do movimento indígena em Rondônia, liderando uma das maiores negociações com o Governo Federal para garantir a integridade do Território Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau. Em conjunto com o Ministério do Meio Ambiente, Almir colaborou na elaboração do Plano de Gestão Territorial e Ambiental das Terras Indígenas, iniciativa replicada em diversas Terras Indígenas demarcadas em todo o Brasil. Almir foi eleito conselheiro do CNPI – Conselho Nacional de Política Indigenista, órgão colegiado que define a política indigenista do Brasil. Ele liderou projetos de reflorestamento e defendeu a proteção da floresta amazônica contra a extração ilegal de madeira.

Formado em Biologia Aplicada pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás, Almir também recebeu o título de Doutor Honoris Causa pela Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR). Ele foi premiado com o título de “Herói da Tecnologia” pelo Google por liderar uma iniciativa em parceria com a empresa de tecnologia para levar acesso à internet ao Povo Paiter Suruí, desenvolvendo suas habilidades em informática, uso de GPS e Google Earth. Entre outras premiações, Almir recebeu o título de “Defensor dos Direitos Humanos” pela Sociedade Internacional de Direitos Humanos, bem como pela Fundação Bianca Jagger de Direitos Humanos. Em 2013, foi eleito pela ONU como “Herói da Floresta”.

Na COP-15 em Copenhague, Almir ajudou a lançar o Projeto de Carbono Suruí, oferecendo ao mundo uma alternativa única para reduzir as emissões de desmatamento e degradação por meio do REDD+. Ele também liderou uma iniciativa para produzir café de forma ambientalmente responsável em Rondônia.

A filha de Almir, Txai Suruí, é uma jovem liderança indígena e falou na abertura da COP-26.

Clarice Wambua

Clarice is an Environmental Lawyer practising at Pan-African law firm, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. She is based at the firm’s Nairobi office and leads the team on Environmental Law as well as the Pro Bono and Human Rights practice. Clarice is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with over 15 years’ experience in legal practice, and she has particular expertise in climate change law. Clarice provides advice to public and private sector entities at the national and sub-national level on their engagement with the carbon markets and is actively involved in supporting the development of a national legal, policy and institutional framework for climate change in Kenya and the wider African region. Clarice also has experience providing gender and human rights-based approaches to climate action.

She holds a Master of Laws LLM (with distinction) in Climate Change Law and Policy from the University of Strathclyde, a Master of Science (Msc) (with distinction) in Africa and International Development from the University of Edinburgh, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Nairobi. In 2022 she was included in the University of Edinburgh Climate 75 honoree (list of 75 alumni from the University of Edinburgh who are making an impact and contributing to positive change), and the Legal 500 Green Guide EMEA 2022 recognized her climate change and sustainability law work in Kenya. In 2019, she was a recipient of the Top 40 Under 40 Women in Kenya Award, from the Business Daily.

Hanna-Mari Ahonen

Hanna-Mari Ahonen has worked with international carbon markets and climate policy since 2002. She has managed carbon credit project portfolios and funds on behalf of Nordic governments and companies, participated in UN climate negotiations as the European Union’s carbon market expert and promoted the high-integrity design and use of carbon market cooperation.

At Perspectives, she focuses on supporting public and private clients to promote ambitious climate action and sustainable development co-benefits through high-integrity carbon market cooperation, including voluntary carbon markets and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. She also participates in research on carbon removal technologies.

Recently, Hanna-Mari managed the Nordic Dialogue on Voluntary Compensation, which brought Nordic stakeholders together to co-create a Nordic best practice approach to voluntary carbon markets, drawing on and complementing relevant international and national initiatives. Hanna-Mari has also contributed to several studies on good practices for voluntary carbon markets for the Finnish government.

Hanna-Mari holds a M.Sc. in Environmental Economics, and she has studied in the Universities of York and Helsinki.

Lisa DeMarco

Lisa DeMarco is a Senior Partner and the CEO at Resilient LLP. She is called to the bar in Canada and
England and is recognized as a global expert in climate and energy law. Lisa has over 25 years of
experience in all aspects of climate change and clean energy law. She assists financial institutions, energy
companies, innovators, governments, non-governmental organizations and Indigenous business
organizations on domestic and overseas renewable power and energy transition projects, as well as sustainable and climate finance transactions. Her assistance also covers carbon dioxide removals, carbon capture use and storage, climate-related financial disclosure, corporate climate strategy, environmental and social governance (ESG), green bonds, net-zero target setting and pathways, the Paris Agreement, carbon trading (domestic, international, voluntary, and compliance), climate-related compliance and litigation, and sustainable business strategy. She represents several governments and leading energy companies in a wide variety of international dispute resolution proceedings, and natural gas, power, pipeline and energy storage matters before the Ontario Energy Board and the Canadian Energy Regulator.

Lisa is the current Chair of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), a director of the boards of Blue Dot Carbon Corp., the Advanced Energy Centre at MaRS, and Planetary Technologies, and a member of the Climate Economy Strategic Council. Lisa is ranked by Chambers Global as one of the world’s leading climate change lawyers and regularly attends on the United Nations climate
negotiations.

Lisa has a Bachelor of Science (Hon.) in Human and Environmental Biology (Western University), a Master of Science in Environmental Toxicology (University of Toronto), a Bachelor of Laws (Osgoode Hall), and a Master of Studies in International Environmental Law, summa cum laude (Vermont Law School).

Nicolette Bartlett

Nicolette Bartlett is the Chief Impact Officer at CDP – CDP is an international not-for-profit organization providing the global environmental disclosure-based tracking system.  In her role, Nicolette is responsible for leading on strategy development for the organization as part of CDP’s Executive Leadership Team and manages the Impact Department, responsible for Environmental Impact, Disclosure content and Thought Leadership, Policy, Development, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.

Nicolette previously held the positions of Global Director of Climate Change at CDP and Carbon Pricing Director and has been the lead author of many CDP publications.

Before joining CDP Nicolette was a Senior Program Manager at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, leading on international climate policy projects; including the international engagement of The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group, developing a Green Growth Platform in Pacific Alliance countries, supporting the development of business groups on climate change and research analyzing the role that non-state actors play in driving down emissions.

Nicolette sits on various boards and advisory bodies, including the Science-Based Targets Initiative and We Mean Business boards, the Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative (VCMI) Expert Advisory Group, and is a Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Peter Browning

Peter Browning is a recognized pioneer of environmental communications, responsible for some of the world’s most impactful strategic campaigns on climate change and nature over the past two decades. This includes the first communications strategy for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and initiatives such as the European Hydrogen Highways Initiative, Nature4Climate for The Nature Conservancy, and the Peoples’ Climate Vote for the UN Development Program (UNDP).

In 2017, Peter launched Browning Environmental Communications, a mission-driven communication consultancy working with governments, IGOs, NGOs, foundations, scientific organizations, and corporations to accelerate action on climate change and environmental restoration.

Peter developed his skills in communications at CNC-Communications & Network Consulting (now part of Publicis), and served as the first Communications Director of Sir Richard Branson’s non-profit, The B Team. A graduate in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford, he also worked for several years as a foreign correspondent in Paris.

Swapan Mehra

Swapan Mehra is the Founder and CEO of Iora Ecological Solutions, one of India’s leading environmental advisory firms that enables climate action through integrated nature-based solutions. IORA specialises in developing Ecosystem-based Solutions for Climate Change, Agriculture, Forestry and Biodiversity and Land Use Sector (AFOLU).

Swapan is an environmental finance and climate policy expert with over sixteen years of experience in developing climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Master’s in Business Administration from IIFM Bhopal.

Swapan has contributed for development of some of India’s pivotal policy documents in India, including Long Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LTLEDS) National REDD+ Strategy, NDC Goal 5 Roadmap, and the “devolution formula” for India’s 14th and 15th Finance Commissions. He is a World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader (2020), a Donella Meadows Fellow at the Balaton Group, a LEAD India Fellow, and a FICCI Young Business Leader. He also led carbon finance and climate investment teams at Evolution Markets and AES India during the early CDM days.

Gilles Dufrasne

Gilles leads Carbon Market Watch’s work on global carbon markets. He has been following carbon market negotiations at the UN climate and aviation agencies as well as private sector use of carbon credits. Gilles is a member of the expert panel of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), and the Expert Advisory Group of the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI).

Tom Owino Uduol

Tom works as the Projects and Technical Director at the Nairobi Office of Climate Impact Partners, which a merger of two companies (Natural Capital Partners and ClimateCare Climate)  that have led the voluntary carbon market through expertise, integrity, and innovation. From the Nairobi office, he supports Climate Impact Partners projects development work with technical input. Tom has over 16 years’ experience working on climate change, initially on carbon asset development and commercialisation, and later on provision of climate change policy advisory and consultancy services to governments in Africa. He has worked on projects in Africa and Asia covering various technologies: wind, geothermal, hydro, biomass/biogas, solar PV, lighting and SHW systems, household and industrial energy efficiency. He is currently engaged mostly on the development of Article 6 projects and in providing technical support to Climate Impact Partners on the delivery of high-quality carbon financed projects.

Prior to the current assignment, he works as Vice President, Environmental Markets Division of JP Morgan Investment Bank.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Technical Science degree in Chemical Engineering and Fuel Technology from the University of Sheffield (UK). He also serves in the Technical Governance Committee (Energy Technical Advisory Sub-Committee) of the Gold Standard and is a Certified Auditor for ISO 9000 Quality Management Systems and ISO 1401 Environment Management Systems.

Kelley Kizzier

Kelley Kizzier is the director of corporate action and markets at the Bezos Earth Fund. In this role, she works to identify strategies and solutions for ambitious corporate action, environmental markets, and hard to abate sectors. She was most recently Vice President for Global Climate at the Environmental Defense Fund, where she promoted ambitious and effective global climate and company action. Her work included multilateral climate agreements and global cooperation through carbon markets.

Kelley is a former official at the European Commission’s Directorate for Climate Action, working on international carbon markets, GHG accounting and transparency, and EU climate commitments. She was a lead negotiator for the EU in the international climate negotiations for more than a decade and served as the co-chair of the Article 6 negotiations under the Paris Agreement. Kelley currently plays a leading role in several voluntary carbon market initiatives.

Sandeep Roy Choudhury

Sandeep is a co-founder at VNV Advisory Services, a social enterprise working with communities & climate change in Asia and East Africa. He heads VNV’s ownership on low carbon social development projects such as sustainable agriculture, social forestry, blue carbon, clean cooking, clean air, drinking water, rural energy access and waste management. Sandeep’s work encompasses over 6 million rural households across 18+ countries in the region & over 100+ NGOs and social development partners: currently working on over 5 million hectares of natural ecosystems through blended climate finance for restoration with a landscape approach and building climate smart agriculture capacities for small holders .

He manages a climate change impact fund to invest in start-ups related to climate solutions as well as is the director of a blue carbon revolving fund called Mangroves.Now . He also works as an advisor to the private sector in the Asia region with issues related to corporate sustainability and its relation to community impacts and action and is a co-founder of Sustainnext, an ESG based technology firm. He is on the board of numerous non-profits working on climate related projects including Planting on Demand, Bangladesh Bondhu Foundation & Environment Protection Centre Nepal. Sandeep has over 19 years of industry experience , has a degree in Electronics and is a Salzburg global fellow . He is also a director at “Carbon Initiative Forum”, a non-profit working on climate policy awareness for the youth and has currently serving on the accreditation board at the International Carbon reduction and offset Alliance (ICROA) and also on the board of the Centre for governance and ethics (CEGET) of the UN global compact.

Scarlett Benson

Scarlett is a Director at Systemiq, a systems change advisory firm. In this role she works with a number of coalitions and standard setters; Scarlett is the Director of Corporate Standards at the Food and Land Use Coalition, sits on the Steering Committee of the Science Based Targets Network Land Hub and has recently led the Science Based Targets initiative’s work on beyond value chain mitigation (BVCM). In her 12 years of professional experience, Scarlett has authored more than twenty reports on climate and nature including the Food and Land Use Coalition’s seminal “Growing Better” report and has advised a number of large multinational companies.

Lorna Ritchie

Lorna Ritchie is Director of Public Affairs for the Integrity Council (ICVCM). Over the last ten years, Lorna has worked as a policy advisor on climate change for the UK government. Lorna led the UK Presidency’s Adaptation Negotiations at COP26 and prior to that, led the UK’s carbon markets negotiations including on CORSIA and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.