Side Event Speakers
Get to know the engaging speakers leading our SIDS4 side events.
Hon. Gilmar Pisas
Gilmar Simon Pisas (born 28 October 1971) is a Curaçaoan politician and Prime Minister of Curaçao, serving since 14 June 2021. He previously served as prime minister between 24 March 2017 and 29 May 2017, and as a member of the Parliament of Curaçao until June 2021.
Hon. Gilmar Pisas
Prime Minister of Curacao
Joseph Easton Taylor-Farrell
Joseph Farrell is a politician and a current Member of Parliament in Montserrat.
Career
In 2006, Farrell successfully contested the general election and served in the Legislative Counsel for three years, two years as a member of the opposition and one year a back bencher.
As a member of Movement fo Change and Prosperity (MCAP), in the 2009 general elections, he was once again successful and with my party gaining majority seats in the Legislative Assemble, he was given the portfolio of Minister with responsibility for Agriculture, Land, Housing, and the Environment. Ecclesiastical Affairs also formed part of that portfolio.
Farrell successfully contested the 2014 general election for MCAP, and currently sits as an opposition Member of Parliament.
In 2019, Farrell successfully led MCAP to victory in the 18 November 2019 general election. He was sworn in as the third premier of Montserrat on 19 November 2019.
Joseph Easton Taylor-Farrell
Premier, Government of Montserrat
Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke
Senator the Hon Dr Joyelle Trizia Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment is easily described as a Climate Action advocate, defender of youth involvement in decision- making, and a climate and gender justice specialist. Professionally, she became one of the youngest females to become a Director of a government office, the Department of Constituency Empowerment in 2012. Shortly thereafter, Dr Joyelle Clarke worked as an educator, bridging her passion for environment and youth together under the banner of one of the strongest youth-led environmental programmes in St Kitts and Nevis. The Cayon High School Environmental Club members became ambassadors for the students to a project called the St Mary’s UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Project which allowed for even more advocacy and youth-led conservation work. Dr Clarke has been involved in Social Impact Assessments and Sustainable livelihoods research for over 15 years. During this time, she has led projects on livelihoods-transition, conducted research and developed programs in various capacities as a government official and community activist. Her key livelihoods research focused on assessing the transition of former female sugar workers to tourism and agricultural livelihoods, post-sugar production in St Kitts. Dr Clarke has also been intimately involved in retraining exercises with key female groups of former sugar workers to retool and reskill women with the necessary assets for succeeding in new tourism-based livelihoods. The Honourable Minister’s project-related work ranges from livelihood support, community-based development initiatives, sustainable tourism and environmental conservation. She was engaged in developing and executing community-based projects in collaboration with community groups on behalf of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. Projects included climate change initiatives such as reforestation programs, and the establishment of school-based agricultural programs. She has worked extremely close with female farm cooperatives, assisting with the transition from traditional farming to environmentally friendly, climate resilient farming methods. So far, she has co-founded a mentorship program called, “Women Empowering Girls”; She serves as a mentor in GirlsCare Jamaica; Co-founder of a consultancy firm that assists companies and communities to shape mutually beneficial relationships, called Relate Consultancy. In addition to being a director and an educator, she sat on the Opposition benches as a Senator and advocated extensively for matters relating to the environment, climate action, youth empowerment and gender justice. Added to that, Hon Dr Clarke served as a Research Supervisor for the University of the West Indies and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College. All of her hard work, passion and dedication has now transitioned to this period of public service as she holds the title of Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment. A portfolio aligned to her passion, her training and her advocacy.
Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke
Minister of Sustainable Development, St Kitts and Nevis
Hon. Shawn Edward
Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Government of Saint Lucia
Dr Shelly Ann Cox
Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox is an experienced ocean professional and fisheries management specialist. She holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management from the UWI Cave Hill Campus, and a BSc (Hons) in Environmental and Natural Resource Management with Marine Biology from the UWI St. Augustine Campus. Shelly-Ann has ten years’ experience in applied interdisciplinary climate related research and fisheries management research.
Dr Shelly Ann Cox
Ocean Professional, University of the West Indies
Arieta Gonelevu Rakai
Ms Arieta Gonelevu Rakai is the Regional Programme Officer, Islands at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). She leads the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative, promoting partnerships and support for just energy transition in island economies. With 20 years of experience in renewable energy, Arieta specializes in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). She holds a BTech in Electrical Engineering from the University of the South Pacific and an MSc in Renewable Energy from Murdoch University.
Arieta Gonelevu Rakai
Regional Programme Officer, Islands at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Mayra Santaella
Mayra Santaella, has worked for the UNFCCC secretariat for 14 years. She is currently the Regional Lead at RCC Caribbean, based in Grenada.
She has worked with non-Party stakeholders under the Stakeholder Engagement Division supporting the Marrakesh Partnership and the Global Climate Action work.
Mayra Santaella
Team Lead. UNFCCC RCC Caribbean
Eugene Rhuggenaath
Eugene Rhuggenaath became the World Bank Group Executive Director representing the Constituency of Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania, and Ukraine on November 1, 2023.
Prior to joining the World Bank Group Executive Board, Mr. Rhuggenaath was the Chairman of the Caribbean Netherlands Pension Fund Supervisory Board (PCN). He held several senior positions in the Curacao Government between 2015 and 2021, including Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, and Minister of Economic Development;
In addition, Mr. Rhuggenaath has experience working in the private sector, in international financial services as Managing Director. In this capacity, Mr. Rhuggenaath worked in International Financial Center and Exchange (IFC&E), and CITCO Banking Corporation, respectively.
Eugene Rhuggenaath
Executive Director, World Bank Group for the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Donald Cooper
Don Cooper is the Director of the Transparency Division of UN Climate Change. He served as an Undersecretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and in the Ministry of Health and Environment, managing the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission (BEST). He has extensive experience managing development projects, developing national actions to implement Multilateral Environment Agreements, and supporting negotiations for governments and the UN.
Donald Cooper
Director Transparency Division, UNFCCC
Dr. Annett Fleischer
Dr. Annett Fleischer was born in Germany and has lived and worked in several countries including Mali, Cameroon, Uganda, Maldives and currently Saint Lucia. She has been part of international teams, NGOs, research institutions and development organizations. Currently, Dr. Fleischer coordinates the Caribbean component of the GIZ Global Carbon Market Programme. In addition, she is responsible for the Euroclima programme for the Eastern Caribbean.
Dr. Annett Fleischer
Head of GCM Project, GIZ
Pamela Abreu
Pamela Abreu Toribio is a distinguished professional in the field of sustainable engineering and climate change mitigation. She graduated with honors from a master’s program in Design Engineering with Sustainability in the UK as a Chevening Scholar. Pamela is an Industrial Engineer with extensive expertise in Planning, Documentation, Project Management, Innovation, Design Thinking, and Sustainable Processes. She is proficient in four languages: Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese, and has over five years of experience in sustainable projects.
Currently, Pamela serves as a Mitigation Analyst at the National Council for Climate Change in the Dominican Republic. In this role, she identifies carbon market initiatives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and provides technical assistance for the design and execution of climate change mitigation projects on both national and international levels. Additionally, she conducts awareness-raising talks related to Climate Empowerment Action.
Pamela’s previous experience includes her role as a Sustainable Engineering Trainee at Sustrans in England, where she planned and developed urban design engagement events and supported on-site engineering builds to enhance sustainable mobility. She also worked as a Planning and Performance Management Analyst at Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, leading sustainable projects and creating flowcharts for financial and technological processes across multiple countries.
Pamela has been recognized for her significant contributions, including a research project on the impact of different types of street lighting on wildlife, gender vulnerability, community safety, and the environment. She was also a standout trainee at the UNFCCC GIR CASTT Program in Greenhouse Gas Inventory Management. Furthermore, Pamela has represented the Dominican Republic at international seminars and conferences and led initiatives aimed at reducing paper use and improving sustainable mobility.
With a strong commitment to sustainability and climate change mitigation, Pamela continues to advocate for innovative and effective solutions to environmental challenges both locally and globally.
Pamela Abreu
Analyst, Department of Climate Mitigation, Government of the Dominican Republic
Miguel Galante
Senior Policy officer, Environment and Climate Focal Point at the Multilateral Cooperation Unit of Camões IP
Unnikrishnan Nair
Unnikrishnan Divakaran Nair serves as Head of Climate Change at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where he steers the climate change program. He emphasizes key initiatives like the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, utilization of geospatial data for climate action, the Commonwealth Climate and Gender Programme, and the Commonwealth Living Lands Charter. His focus extends to 56 small and vulnerable Commonwealth countries.
Unnikrishnan Nair
Head of Climate Change, Commonwealth Secretariat
Pepetua Election Latasi
Ms. Pepetua E Latasi is the Director of the Department of Climate Change and Disaster, Government of Tuvalu, and is responsible for overall coordination of climate change and disaster-related matters at the national, regional and international level.
She played a key role in developing Tuvalu’s National Adaptation Programme of Action – and in supporting the implementation of priority actions through the NAPA 1 and NAPA 2 projects – and was involved in the preparation of the project proposal for the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project.
Ms Latasi is the designated National Focal Point for the UNFCCC.
Pepetua Election Latasi
Director of Climate Change Department, UNFCCC NFP, Government of Tuvalu
Lay Sêck
Abdulai Sêca, born in Guinea Bissau, on May 6, 1973, in the city of Bissau, where I studied Primary and Secondary. In 1996 benefited from a scholarship to study in Brazil, within the scope of the University Agreement program – PEC G, signed between the Government of Guinea Bissau and the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2002, I graduated from the TOURISM course at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS), in the city of Porto Alegre.
In 2003 I started working on the design, preparation and implementation of Cooperation and Development Projects that contribute to guaranteeing the environmental and social resilience of communities living in coastal areas.
I coordinated two Projects co-financed by the European Union and the Italian NGO MANI-TESE (FOOD 2006/129-418 and Europe Aïd /128139/L/ACT/GW), which had impressive results, especially in the structuring and officialization of a community initiative called UNIPESMARCA – Fishermen’s Union of the Cacine River Bank and the Creation of a Fishermen’s Cooperative as a Promoter of Sustainable Development in the Region of Tombali and Quinara.
In November 2012, I joined the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas (IBAP), occupying the role of Coordinator of the Ecotourism Department responsible for:
Lay Sêck
National expert on Ecotourism, Guinea-Bissau IBAP
Alicia Nicholls
Alicia Nicholls is the Junior Research Fellow with the SRC. She is also a member of the teaching faculty of the SRC’s flagship Masters in International Trade Policy (MITP). Alicia first joined the SRC as a Research Consultant in 2010-2011 after graduating the MITP programme (Cohort 6) with distinction in 2010. In April 2019, Alicia rejoined the SRC team full-time initially as a Trade Research Assistant. She recently completed the Research Supervision course and the Post-Graduate Diploma in University Teaching and Learning (PGCUTL).
Alicia Nicholls
Council Member of the Caribbean-ASEAN Council
Ashley Lashley
Founder, UNICEF Youth Advocate, CARICOM Youth Ambassador Executive Director, The Ashley Lashley Foundation
Celeste Connors
Celeste Connors has twenty years of experience working at the intersection of economic, environment, energy, and international development policy. Before joining Hawai‘i Green Growth, she was CEO and co-founder of cdots development LLC, and served as the Director for Environment and Climate Change at the National Security Council and National Economic Council in the White House where she helped shape the Administration’s climate and energy policies, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Celeste also served as a diplomat in Saudi Arabia, Greece, Germany, and U.S. Mission to the UN. Celeste is a Senior Adjunct Fellow at the East-West Center. Celeste has served on numerous boards including her current service on Hawaiian Electric Industries, the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA), the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience at the University of Hawaii and Icebreaker One. Celeste grew up in Kailua, O‘ahu.
Celeste Connors
CEO, Hawaii Local2030 Hub & Co-Chair, Local2030 Islands Network
Henk Rogers
Henk Brouwer Rogers is a Dutch-born entrepreneur and clean-energy visionary who has dedicated the past decade of his life to ending the use of carbon-based fuels.
As the principal and visionary philanthropist of Blue Planet Foundation, Rogers’ efforts led to Hawaii becoming the first state in the nation with a law requiring that 100% of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2045. More than 20 U. S. states and territories have since followed suit with similar renewable-energy goals.
Rogers is now focusing beyond Hawaii to help other jurisdictions enact mandates for 100% renewable energy in their regions. His newest initiative, Blue Planet Alliance, takes a “mandate first” approach to initiate global climate change action by creating measurable and scalable results among individuals, organizations, cities, states, countries, and eventually, the world. The Alliance’s mission is to get humanity to become 100% sustainable by 2045, and the vision is to create a world in which humanity and nature live in harmony. Starting in 2022, the Alliance have signed Blue Planet Climate Agreements with six UN Member States, one sovereign state, and one US Territory — Kingdom of Tonga, Government of Tuvalu, Republic of Palau, Country of Curacao, Government of Grenada, Commonwealth of Dominica, Republic of Vanuatu, and the US Territory of Guam — to help them achieve the 100% renewable-energy transition, and we are determined to sign more agreements in 2024.
He is also the founder of Blue Planet Energy, the leading provider of the most powerful energy storage solutions that power homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. The company’s innovative, non-toxic, fire-safe Blue Ion technology has allowed Rogers to take his own residences off-grid. Blue Ion battery systems are non-combustible, long lasting, efficient, and use environmentally friendly lithium ferrous phosphate.
Rogers is also renowned as a global leader in the gaming industry, having created Japan’s first Role-Playing Game, Black Onyx which was the #1 game in 1984. Rogers is the founder of Tetris Company, who holds the exclusive intellectual property rights to Tetris, one of the world’s most popular video games which has sold over 600 million units to date. Rogers revolutionized the industry when he brought the now legendary game to U.S. and world markets more than three decades ago. His story has been captured in a new movie, “Tetris,” produced by Apple TV Plus, starring Taron Egerton as Rogers The story revisits how Rogers went inside the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War to obtain the rights to Tetris. The movie premiered in March 2023 at SXSW.
Henk Rogers
Founder, Blue Planet Alliance
Khadija Stewart
Khadija is an ocean and climate activist with a passion for inspiring behaviour change through knowledge sharing and innovative storytelling. She holds a MSc in sustainable development with Management Studies and a 2nd MSc in Climate Change and Development from the University of London.
Throughout her environmental journey, she has represented Trinidad and Tobago at several UN conferences and Youth Programs and she is a Peace Boat Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassador.
Presently, she is now the founder of Ecovybz Environmental Creatives a company focused on educating the public through environmental content creation and powerful storytelling initiatives focused on Climate Change, Ocean Conservation and Water Resources. She is also the host of the EcoVybz Podcast and works for Sustainable Ocean Alliance as the the Caribbean Regional Representative.
Khadija Stewart
Global Deep Sea Mining Campaign Lead, Sustainable Oceans Alliance
James Ellsmoor
I am the Founder and Director of Island Innovation, which I started after seeing the opportunity to connect rural and island locations around the world working on similar development issues. Island Innovation began with a newsletter and a series of virtual events, and has evolved into a community of over 127,000 members.
In addition to founding Island Innovation I am also the co-founder of Solar Head of State (SHOS), which works with governments to push action on renewable energy. The NGO has focused on small island developing states (SIDS) with solar installations on the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Government House in Saint Lucia and the Presidential Palace of the Maldives. SHOS is now working with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Pacific Island Development Forum to install solar on the official residences across these organizations’ combined 24 member states.
I grew up on a farm in Shropshire, England, and after working in the Caribbean, United States and Colombia I have settled in Lisbon, Portugal. My Master’s Degree is in “Island Studies” from the University of the Highlands and Islands.
James Ellsmoor
Chief Executive Officer, Island Innovation
Viliame Kasanawaqa
Viliame is excited about sharing expertise of Small Islands and Developing States (SIDs) produced solutions and leveraging scientifically verified traditional wisdom to build resilience in the Pacific region. With 20 years of experience working on development related initiatives in the Pacific States of Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, he is a highly qualified professional headquartered in Shipwrecked Lab, Suva. Strong consulting expert with an MA (Research) in Islands and Small States from University of Malta, a MSc in Project Management-Built Environment from University of Newcastle Australia, and a Bachelors of Engineering from Deakin University Australia.
Viliame Kasanawaqa
Regional Infrastructure Specialist, VfM Procurement for Pacific Infrastructure - Consultant
Stacey Alvarez de la Campa
Stacey is the Partnerships Manager, Program Coordinator, and Lead Facilitator of the Caribbean Climate Justice Academy and Academic Council Liaison with Island Innovation.
She has worked with the University of Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance as an educational consultant, and is a member of the 2021-2022 cohort of the Anant Fellowship for Climate Action. She has successfully completed Climate Leadership Training with the Climate Reality Project and is jointly certified in Climate Law and Governance by The University of Cambridge, The Centre for International Sustainable Development Law, and the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law.
Stacey has been invited to speak at numerous panel discussions and webinars, including the Expert Roundtable Session on Climate Justice held at Climate Law and Governance Day at COP26, numerous sessions at COP28, the 2023 Archipelagic and Island States Forum held in Bali, convenings of the European Geosciences Union, and sessions at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Stacey was also invited to participate in consultations with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment.
She was invited to join the Climate Change Litigation Initiative (C2LI), a platform created by the IUCN’s Climate Change Law Specialist Group, as the National Rapporteur for Barbados. This platform allows users to explore three climate change litigation scenarios in over 30 countries through reviewing consistently updated information on standing, grounds and remedies.
Stacey was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, grew up in Barbados, and possesses undergraduate degrees in Law as well as Literature. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Island Studies with the University of Malta’s Islands and Small States Institute.
Stacey Alvarez de la Campa
Partnership Manager, Island Innovation
Dr. Stefano Moncada
Stefano Moncada, Ph.D. in Economics, he lectures and conducts research in the areas of development, poverty, climate-change, islands and small states studies, with a focus on small island developing states (SIDS). Prior to join academia, Stefano worked in the Italian Parliament as policy analyst. Stefano is the Director of the Islands and Small States Institute, senior lecturer and researcher, part of the Executive Committee of the European Association of Development and Training Institutes (EADI), Coordinating Lead Author for the Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MedECC), and acts as expert reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Dr. Stefano Moncada
Director, Islands & Small States Institute, University of Malta
Riddhi Samtani
As an environmental specialist, Riddhi works across a portfolio of climate change mitigation and adaptation projects ensuring that environmental and social frameworks are integrated from design, build and implementation. One of her university research projects explored collecting data that indicated climate change in her home country. Working with the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, she compiled her research by conducting PADI certified scuba-diving to gather data on water toxicology, coral reefs, and marine biodiversity. Riddhi built on her scientific studies to apply her talents to real-world issues at the US Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. for six months. In her free time, Riddhi works as a project coordinator for Environmental Protection in the Caribbean on a data collection project titled, ‘Why Do We Litter, Sint Maarten?’. She has also worked with the St. Maarten Pride Foundation (a local environmental NGO) and was instrumental in passing environmental legislation by voicing concerns from a youth perspective to parliament and Holland’s Royal Family. She believes in the power of cooperation and shared responsibility and is interested in understanding strategic methods of starting a climate justice movement, how to reach marginalized populations and increase engagement.
Riddhi Samtani
Youth Delegate, Caribbean Climate Justice Leaders Academy
Emilie McGlone
Emilie McGlone has been working with Peace Boat since 2004 and currently is the United Nations liaison and Director of the New York-based office of Peace Boat US, a non-profit organization working to promote peace, sustainable development and respect for the environment through educational programs organized onboard the Peace Boat, a chartered passenger ship that travels the world on peace voyages. Emilie works in partnership with UN representatives, Nobel Peace Laureates, NGO Leaders, youth and communities from around the world to create opportunities for international cooperation focused on environmental sustainability, cultural awareness and peace education. In 2015, Emilie founded the “Youth for the SDGs” scholarship program, which was officially endorsed by IOC UNESCO in June of 2023, as a ‘Contribution’ to the UN Ocean Decade. This program will continue to educate and provide experiences for youth leaders working towards ocean and climate action around the world until 2030.
Emilie McGlone
Director of Peace Boat US, UN Ocean Decade Programs
Muskaan Khemani
Muskaan is a researcher at the Center for Climate & Health at Boston University School of Public Health. Growing up in Cura’ao, she became really passionate about the ways that climate change would affect her home. She works on research in the US and internationally on climate change and health, and she is helping build capacity through projects in Cura’ao.
Muskaan Khemani
Research Data Analyst, Center for Climate & Health, Boston University Netherlands
Carlon Mendoza
Carlon is an attorney-at-law and legal consultant called to the bar in Trinidad and Tobago and Belize. He served as the Legal Counsel for the Belize Tourism Board and has held the post of Magistrate with the judiciary of Belize. His work currently focuses on climate change law and policy, disaster law and disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean. At Climate Analytics Caribbean, his projects include providing legislative support and developing a model Climate Change law for the Caribbean as well as advising the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) on just transition issues.
Carlon Mendoza
Climate Policy Advisor, Climate Analytics
Vanessa Toré
Vanessa Toré was born and raised in Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean. She is the Director of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Economic Development of Curaçao. She was also the acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Development until May 2014. She has held both positions since respectively July and August of 2011. In June 2015 she assumed a new challenge by becoming a Policy Advisor to the Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning. From November 1994 till June 2011 she worked at the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (17 years). She was the manager of the Investment, Trade Promotion and Business Services department where she designed and implemented various programs and services for entrepreneurs, SME’s, Investors and Exporters. She holds an MBA degree and has followed training in Management, International trade and Investment promotion in Geneva, Netherlands, USA and Canada. She participated in various trade related committees internationally and recently she served a two year term on the board of the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA). She speaks Papiamentu (mother language), Dutch, English and Spanish fluently and communicates at an intermediate level in Brazilian Portuguese. In her spare time she dedicates time voluntarily to Culture where she is active in the Jazz Scene of Curaçao promoting local Jazz musicians internationally.
Vanessa Toré
Director Foreign Economic Cooperation at Ministry of Economic Development of Curaçao
Kneyone Murray
Kneyone Murray, founder of Kneyzus Energy hails from Trinidad and Tobago. He is a dynamic individual known for his accomplishments in entrepreneurship, art, renewable energy, project management, and global sustainability efforts. He holds key roles such as Global Ambassador for the Blue Planet Alliance, Peace Boat US Youth for the SDGs Scholar, and Sustainable Ocean Alliance Young Ocean Leader, demonstrating his commitment to sustainable development. Through innovative approaches like utilizing organic materials for clean energy and developing bioplastics using seaweed, Murray is an inspiring example of how passion and creativity can drive impactful solutions for global challenges.
Kneyone Murray
Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador, Kneyzus Energy, Youth for SDGs scholar
Naya Sena
Majored in Biological Sciences by the University of Cabo Verde, Naya has worked on sea turtles and seabirds conservation projects in different protected areas in Cabo Verde. During her Masters, she researched marine plastics and their effects on seabirds. Currently, Naya’s research focuses on coastal sustainable development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), with a particular emphasis on community participation in decision-making processes, community empowerment and nature-based solutions. Moreover, She is coordinating the launching of ECOP Cabo Verde Node and is also part of ECOP Africa. Recently graduated from The University of Tokyo, Japan, Naya is continuing her research as a postdoc at the same university, hoping to contribute to ocean science in SIDS and empower ECOPs from SIDS.
Naya Sena
Representative from Cabo Verde | Researcher at the University of Tokyo, Japan
Shanna Emmanuel
Shanna Emmanuel has been involved in Environmental Management for the last 11 years, working first for the Government of Saint Lucia with the Department of Fisheries, as a biologist, and then Sustainable Development within the climate change unit supporting reporting to the UNFCCC, as well as mitigation actions, and climate finance. For the last three years she has worked with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission within the environmental sustainability division. There is currently supporting the Climate and Disaster Resilience Unit, which coordinates climate change work throughout the member states. She has a passion for using island-solutions to solve island problems, and advocates for Caribbean innovation to be at the forefront of work.
Shanna Emmanuel
Programme Officer, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
