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What is the Virtual Island Summit?
A zero carbon conference. The Summit will use modern technology to maximize opportunities for participation and minimize harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Interactive sessions in various formats. The Summit will imitate a traditional in-person event with opportunities to interact with speakers and other attendees with the goal of creating an online community.
The SDGs and beyond. The Summit will covers all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in addition to other topics pertinent to island communities.
A diverse range of viewpoints. Speakers and attendees from 100+ island communities including the Arctic, Caribbean, Europe, Indian Ocean, Pacific Islands, South America and beyond…
Cross-sector collaboration. The Summit will emphasize the need for input and partnerships from across the private, public, academic and NGO sectors.
Meet our Sponsors
Building on 100 years in the development, production and application of batteries Leclanché is a leading provider of turnkey battery energy storage solutions (BESS) based in Switzerland and operating internationally.
Leclanché is currently developing the largest solar generation plus energy storage project ever to be built in the Caribbean, a 35.6 MW solar energy plant and 44.2 MWh battery storage facility that will be built on government provided land in the Basseterre Valley, adjacent to the City of Basseterre and the current SKELEC PowerStation on the island of St. Kitts.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance between countries and territories in the Eastern Caribbean. It also performs the role of spreading responsibility and liability in the event of natural disaster.OECS currently has eleven members which together form a continuous archipelago across the Leeward Islands and Windward Islands. The membership of OECS is comprised of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Monserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique are also associate members of OECS.
Pathable was formed in 2007 by a group of people with deep roots in technology, social networking, and event industries. Our collective experience, forged and honed at companies like Microsoft, Intel, Sirius XM, and Zillow ensures that our company has a culture of delivering robust, high-quality software and support when and how you need it.
Our goal is to help attendees around the world through our event technology platform and services get the most out of the conferences and tradeshow you manage. While growth is important, our team and values are our priority. We strive to be conscientious, inclusive, and innovative, creating event technology your attendees want and need rather than chasing overnight success.
BuzzMaker is an award-winning global political and public affairs consultancy. BuzzMaker has operated at the highest levels of campaigns in 30 countries, territories and regions around the world. Our references include several sitting and former Prime Ministers, Presidents, Opposition Leaders and major international brands.
We have deep experience providing government relations, public affairs, public relations, communications and advertising campaigns in dozens of small island developing states. In total, we've worked in 16 islands in the Atlantic and Caribbean and, beyond our island work, we've worked on every continent in the world. If you're looking to advocate for a policy change, advance an issue position, understand and engage with government and civil society stakeholders or win an election, we'd love to help.
Edge is the independent education charity dedicated to making education relevant. We believe a coherent, unified and holistic education system can support social equity and enable all young people to fulfil their potential.
Edge’s research shows that a broad and balanced curriculum, including creative and technical subjects, rich employer engagement, teacher autonomy and interactive pedagogy, can help to bring learning alive and prepare students for more than just a set of exams.
Edge runs the Island Education Network, which brings together islands around the British Isles and British Overseas Territories to discuss issues relating to education policy in an island setting.
The Institute of Island Studies is a research, education, and public policy institute based at the University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown.
The Institute of Island Studies is committed to contributing to the formulation and enhancement of public policy applied to small islands and, in particular, to Prince Edward Island. To that end, we will use our resources to engage stakeholders on current and topical island issues via public symposia, lectures, policy papers, and research projects. We will strive to be inclusive and take an objective, evidence-based approach to island issues, serving as a forum for collaboration and consensus among those with differing points of view.
The Island Studies constellation at UPEI also includes an undergraduate Minor in Island Studies and a Master of Arts in Island Studies Program, which is an interdisciplinary, and policy-driven graduate program that critiques islands on their own terms. Finally, the Institute of Island Studies is the proud institutional home of Island Studies Journal, an open-access scholarly journal dedicated to the study of islands.
UWE Bristol is a University Alliance university with a common mission to make the difference to our cities and regions. We use our experience of providing high quality teaching and research with real world impact to shape higher education and research policy for the benefit of our students and business and civic partners. We innovate together, learn from each other and support every member to transform lives and deliver growth.
Ricardo supports clients to decarbonise their use of energy. In the past 10 years we have worked with over half of the FTSE 100 businesses, providing advice on cutting energy costs and carbon emissions. We are the consultant of choice for these organisations because of the strength of our track record combined with our experience in providing support for governments. The strength of our team lies in our ability to combine strategic, financial and technical advice as an integrated consultancy service. Furthermore, our knowledge of the policy and regulatory landscape worldwide enables us to support both public and private sector clients on many fronts. Our services include: Smart grids; Energy regulation; Power sector planning; Low carbon and sustainability; Private investors services; Capacity building and training; Renewable Energy; Combined heat and power (CHP)
The University of Delaware’s Island Policy Lab leverages a history of partnerships on technology and innovation policy through its Biden School of Public Policy & Administration, Energy and Environmental Policy Program, the College of Earth, Oceans and Environment, Mangone Center for Marine Policy, the International Scientific Committee on Ocean Research and others. The new Island Policy Lab works with the UN Universities Consortium of Small Island States providing a unique participatory space dedicated to island research where innovative researchers can experiment and carry out professional projects. The overarching goal of all work is to contribute to sustainable policy solutions in island contexts. Researchers brainstorm fresh ways of thinking about complex socio-economic and environmental questions, so as to create practical solutions. The laboratory works collaboratively with a global network of public and private partners. Researchers benefit from the lab's flexible and experimental approach, that combines research and action, mobilizes skillsets from different disciplines, and enhance the evidence base for data driven, science-based policy strengthening in island jurisdictions.
Funded by the INTERREG VA France (Channel) England Programme, the Intelligent Community Energy project (ICE) aims to design, implement and promote innovative smart energy solutions for isolated territories facing issues in terms of efficiency, reliability and sustainability in the Channel area. It runs for 50 months, from June 2016 to August 2020, but aims to deliver durable impacts beyond its duration. The project designs and produces an innovative low-carbon energy system (smart grid), able to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of the territories concerned (50% to 100% compared to a fuel-based system) and secure energy access security. It will cover the entire energy cycle from production to consumption, exploit local renewable energy sources and integrate new and existing technologies currently at different levels of readiness, in order to deliver a comprehensive innovative solution.
It’s the oldest science festival anywhere outside Edinburgh, and in its 30th year welcomes the challenge of going online as an opportunity to reach out worldwide. Speakers have included Jane Goodall and Nobel laureates Peter Higgs, Brian Josephson and Sir Paul Nurse, and the Festival has a particular interest in cutting-edge ideas, and in the connections between science and history, music, and the arts generally. Astronomy and archaeology are also featured strongly. From the start it has highlighted Orkney’s energy potential, and the old island challenge of turning waste into resources. It is also involved in several innovative upcycling projects. It wants to share the skills of creating a science festival and will next year launch an online course for communities seeking to develop their own. It opens in the week before the Virtual Island Summit, with events over the seven days of 3-9 September. On the preceding weekend, 29-30 August, it features events from a new Foraging Fortnight in Scotland. After the session that it’s hosting on Wednesday 9 September, it warmly invites all Summit attenders to continue the discussion at its closing ceilidh, with traditional music too. Everything can be accessed through its website www.oisf.org, or email [email protected]
Our mission is to empower countries with innovative education programs, break-through technologies and reliable capital to meet and exceed national climate, clean energy and sustainability goals, customized to the needs of each country. We are a global organization starting in Greece working towards the empowerment of each country to reach climate neutrality through our holistic approach to clean energy and sustainability. We partner with governments, project developers, top tech companies, other non-profit organizations, international organizations, and civil society. Our team includes pioneers in renewable energy, geo-spatial mapping, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and human rights.
The Sustainable Development Movement Summit creates an exciting space where Senior Government Officials, Industry and Private Sector Leaders, Global Entrepreneurs and Civil Society converge over two days. Come to network, experience real transformation and chime in on the exchange of thoughts, best practices, untold stories and strategies concerning sustainable growth and development within the Caribbean.
It is with this awareness, that SDM2020 will attract and drive change among over 3000 delegates from across the region and internationally. And with a highly engaging integrated digital and electronic media campaign, the ‘MOVEMENT’ – leading up to the summit and beyond- is expected to connect with over 30 million persons worldwide.
The Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation (CARILEC) is an association of energy solution providers and other stakeholders operating in the electricity industry in the Caribbean. CARILEC was established in 1989 with nine (9) members as part of an electric utilities modernization project funded by USAID and implemented by NRECA under a five-year "Co-operative Agreement." Currently, CARILEC comprises over one hundred members. This includes thirty-three (33) Full Members that are electric utilities, and over eighty (80) Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Associate and Affiliate Members that are companies involved in some aspect of servicing the electric utility business.
The Waitt Institute creates and implements sustainable ocean plans in partnership with committed governments and local stakeholders. They currently have partnerships with the governments of the Azores, Barbuda, Bermuda, Curaçao, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Maldives, and Tonga. The Waitt Institute is a founding member and the organizing body of the Blue Prosperity Coalition, a network of NGO’s, academic institutions, foundations, and other organizations working together to assist committed governments to protect the environment and improve the economy at the same time.
Soloricon is a consulting and advisory services company, dedicated to providing strategic support in our areas of expertise. Our solutions are practicable, cost effective and designed to make optimal use of your existing resources of partnerships, and these are an important element of our approach. We seek to develop partnerships with our clients, and between our clients and strategic agencies that can provide the level of support that is required for success.
Our consulting team has a wide range of experience in the areas which we cover, in both the public and private sectors.
Our focus is on the development challenges of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and developing countries. We strive to help these countries confront and overcome the obstacles to their sustainable development. Equally importantly, we help them identify opportunities and take advantage of these so that they can find themselves on a long term growth and development trajectory.
in Saint Lucia, stimulating digital entrepreneurship, and enhancing the management of water resources is also highly lauded.
A growing, diverse and resilient island community that has prospered over time thanks to the pioneering efforts and ingenuity of the generations of people who have chosen to make this archipelago their home. Sustainable by nature, where the sun and wind are harnessed to generate power, and agricultural practices not only feed local families, but go hand in hand with the preservation of the unique flora and fauna of our home. We are a thriving and forward-looking society where sharing best practice is second nature and our culture is founded on hard work and collaboration – we are the Falkland Islands.
The St Helena Research Institute (SHRI) is a collaborative organization founded on St Helena creating and promoting opportunities for research, ensuring research and new knowledge is accessible and used for the benefit of St Helena. Established under the Lifelong Learning Sector of the Education and Employment Directorate, we work to build and maintain effective partnerships and networks, locally and internationally, to support and conduct research. The St Helena Research Institute is part of a growing network of Research Institutes across the South Atlantic and UK Overseas Territories, generating and sharing knowledge for the benefit of the Overseas Territories.
The Ministry of Economic Development of Curacao gives direction to sustainable economic development in order to realize a higher level of prosperity for the society of Curaçao and stimulates a strong competitive position and high quality production. This is achieved by providing optimal service, strengthening the economic structure and effectively responding to social and international developments.
The Ministry is responsible for policy, implementation and control on the following areas:
- Business, consisting of (micro) SME policy, economic development, capital market, competition policy, infrastructure, knowledge, economic and Agricultural fisheries production and business establishment policy.
- Economic Development and Innovation, consisting of market forces, innovation, energy, industry development, employment and macro-economic stability.
- Foreign Economic Cooperation, consisting of trade policy, international business and foreign investment.
Primo Energy was founded in 2013 to provide “Last Mile” power. We have learned that sometime Last Mile is in our own backyard. We design and build hybrid energy platforms using wind, solar, and battery storage. Our products are easily be erected and can be fitted with lights, USB charging, WIFI extension, AC power and more. Distributed power can provide energy for remote locations, island territories, and disaster relief. With typical island resources of good wind and solar, our EnergiTree is the most efficient way to provide power.
Virtual Island Summit 2020 Session Recordings
Meet our Speakers
Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘utoikamanu
Former United Nations High Representative
Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu is the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. She assumed her role in May 2017.
Ms. ‘Utoikamanu is responsible for monitoring and following up on the implementation of all three Programmes of Action under the purview of UN-OHRLLS. She is also called on to advocate for the issues and concerns of these vulnerable countries as well as to ensure their integration into and coherence with global processes, including those related to the 2030 Agenda and other global development frameworks. Ms. ‘Utoikamanu also coordinates advocacy work related to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in forums and platforms outside the United Nations.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. ‘Utoikamanu was Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Tourism, Tonga; Acting Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council of the University of the South Pacific (2015); Deputy Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Chair of the Council of the University of the South Pacific (2009-2016); Deputy Director General and Director of Education, Training and Human Development of the Secretariat of Pacific Community (2009-2015); Permanent Representative and Ambassador of the Government of Tonga to the United Nations, United States of America, Cuba and Venezuela and High Commissioner to Canada (2005-2009); and Secretary for Foreign Affairs and European Commission’s National Authorizing Officer for Tonga (2002-2005).
A Tongan national, Ms. ‘Utoikamanu speaks Tongan and English. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics (1980) and a Masters in Commerce in Economics (1983) from the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘utoikamanu
Former United Nations High Representative
Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu is the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. She assumed her role in May 2017.
Ms. ‘Utoikamanu is responsible for monitoring and following up on the implementation of all three Programmes of Action under the purview of UN-OHRLLS. She is also called on to advocate for the issues and concerns of these vulnerable countries as well as to ensure their integration into and coherence with global processes, including those related to the 2030 Agenda and other global development frameworks. Ms. ‘Utoikamanu also coordinates advocacy work related to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in forums and platforms outside the United Nations.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. ‘Utoikamanu was Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Tourism, Tonga; Acting Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council of the University of the South Pacific (2015); Deputy Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Chair of the Council of the University of the South Pacific (2009-2016); Deputy Director General and Director of Education, Training and Human Development of the Secretariat of Pacific Community (2009-2015); Permanent Representative and Ambassador of the Government of Tonga to the United Nations, United States of America, Cuba and Venezuela and High Commissioner to Canada (2005-2009); and Secretary for Foreign Affairs and European Commission’s National Authorizing Officer for Tonga (2002-2005).
A Tongan national, Ms. ‘Utoikamanu speaks Tongan and English. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics (1980) and a Masters in Commerce in Economics (1983) from the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
Former United Nations High Representative
The Honourable Frank Bainimarama
Prime Minister, Fiji
Frank Bainimarama has been the Fijian Prime Minister since 2007. Under his leadership, Fiji has undergone a broad program of social, economic, electoral and constitutional reforms, leading up to the establishment of Fiji’s first genuine parliamentary democracy of equal votes of equal value in 2014.
The Prime Minister is one of the leading global voices calling on the international community to commit to more ambitious targets to curb the carbon emissions that are warming our planet. Joining his fellow leaders from the Pacific, he is committed to drawing global attention to the impact climate change is having on vulnerable communities, including Pacific Islanders and the residents of other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and low-lying areas of the world.
Session: Grand Opening – Eastern Hemisphere.
The Honourable Frank Bainimarama
Prime Minister, Fiji
Frank Bainimarama has been the Fijian Prime Minister since 2007. Under his leadership, Fiji has undergone a broad program of social, economic, electoral and constitutional reforms, leading up to the establishment of Fiji’s first genuine parliamentary democracy of equal votes of equal value in 2014.
The Prime Minister is one of the leading global voices calling on the international community to commit to more ambitious targets to curb the carbon emissions that are warming our planet. Joining his fellow leaders from the Pacific, he is committed to drawing global attention to the impact climate change is having on vulnerable communities, including Pacific Islanders and the residents of other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and low-lying areas of the world.
Session: Grand Opening – Eastern Hemisphere.
Prime Minister, Fiji
Dr. The Honourable Ralph Everard Gonsalves
Prime Minister, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Dr. The Honourable Ralph Everard Gonsalves, Political Leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP), was appointed by His Excellency the Governor-General to the Office of Leader of the Opposition with effect from October 1, 1999. Dr. Gonsalves succeeded the distinguished statesman, the Honourable Vincent Ian Beache, who voluntarily demitted that Office. On December 6, 1998, Dr. Gonsalves was elected Political Leader of the ULP in succession, to Mr. Beache. He is now into his third term as Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, his Unity Labour Party (ULP) having successfully contested the General Elections of 2001, 2005 and 2010.
Dr. The Honourable Ralph Everard Gonsalves
Prime Minister, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Dr. The Honourable Ralph Everard Gonsalves, Political Leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP), was appointed by His Excellency the Governor-General to the Office of Leader of the Opposition with effect from October 1, 1999. Dr. Gonsalves succeeded the distinguished statesman, the Honourable Vincent Ian Beache, who voluntarily demitted that Office. On December 6, 1998, Dr. Gonsalves was elected Political Leader of the ULP in succession, to Mr. Beache. He is now into his third term as Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, his Unity Labour Party (ULP) having successfully contested the General Elections of 2001, 2005 and 2010.
Prime Minister, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Grace O’sullivan Mep
Member of the European Parliament, Republic of Ireland
My vision: My overarching vision is for a fairer, more equitable Ireland, where the most vulnerable in society are given top priority in all political decision making.
What I stand for: I stand for access and equality of opportunity. As a mother and ecologist I want my three children to grow up in an ecologically sound country that will recognise their various abilities and be a safe and secure place to live. I want all people, whatever their ability or background, to have a reasonable expectation of a living wage and a roof over their heads.
My priorities: My number one priority is people and the well being of society in general. If we are thriving as individuals, the country, too, is healthier. “Your health is your wealth” is more than a catchy adage. Human health and the health of the environment underpin our ability to survive and are a priority for me. I want to see housing policy and property development that puts the needs of people first – a core principle in providing a decent quality of life for all.
Prioritising the protection of the natural world – air, sea, and land – whilst creating sustainable, green jobs for life.
My experience I’m a mother of three, an ecologist, and an environmental education specialist. I’m a former Greenpeace activist, a former Irish surf champion, and a green entrepreneur. Having grown up in Tramore, Co. Waterford, I’ve been a lifelong nature-enthusiast and environmentalist, with a particular love of the sea. Two years ago I was honoured to be elected as a member of Seanad Éireann. Since entering the world of politics I have worked within committees and on the ground in a number of key areas with an ecological and human dimension to them, tackling environmental and social issues head-on, with passion and dedication.
Grace O’sullivan Mep
Member of the European Parliament, Republic of Ireland
My vision: My overarching vision is for a fairer, more equitable Ireland, where the most vulnerable in society are given top priority in all political decision making.
What I stand for: I stand for access and equality of opportunity. As a mother and ecologist I want my three children to grow up in an ecologically sound country that will recognise their various abilities and be a safe and secure place to live. I want all people, whatever their ability or background, to have a reasonable expectation of a living wage and a roof over their heads.
My priorities: My number one priority is people and the well being of society in general. If we are thriving as individuals, the country, too, is healthier. “Your health is your wealth” is more than a catchy adage. Human health and the health of the environment underpin our ability to survive and are a priority for me. I want to see housing policy and property development that puts the needs of people first – a core principle in providing a decent quality of life for all.
Prioritising the protection of the natural world – air, sea, and land – whilst creating sustainable, green jobs for life.
My experience I’m a mother of three, an ecologist, and an environmental education specialist. I’m a former Greenpeace activist, a former Irish surf champion, and a green entrepreneur. Having grown up in Tramore, Co. Waterford, I’ve been a lifelong nature-enthusiast and environmentalist, with a particular love of the sea. Two years ago I was honoured to be elected as a member of Seanad Éireann. Since entering the world of politics I have worked within committees and on the ground in a number of key areas with an ecological and human dimension to them, tackling environmental and social issues head-on, with passion and dedication.
Member of the European Parliament, Republic of Ireland
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali
President, Guyana
Dr. Hon. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is a Guyanese politician, sitting Member of Parliament and a former Minister of Housing in Guyana. Ali was elected Presidential Candidate for the People’s Progressive Party on January 19, 2019.
EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION
Ali was born in Leonora, a village in the West Coast Demarara region of Guyana. The child of two educators and one of two sons, Ali also spent much of his formative years on the island of Leguan. He is a past student of the Leonora Nursery and Primary schools and Cornelia Ida Primary. Ali completed his secondary education at St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown, Guyana. He holds a doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the West Indies.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Ali served as Project Manager of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Project Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Finance and Senior Planner in the State Planning Secretariat.
POLITICAL CAREER
Ali became a member of the National Assembly of Guyana in 2006. He was subsequently appointed to the portfolios of Minister of Housing and Water and Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce.
During his tenure as Minister, Ali performed the functions of President and Prime Minister on separate occasions. In 2015, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) went into opposition during which time he served as chair of the Public Accounts Committee and co-chair the Economic Services Committee of the Parliament of Guyana.
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali
President, Guyana
Dr. Hon. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is a Guyanese politician, sitting Member of Parliament and a former Minister of Housing in Guyana. Ali was elected Presidential Candidate for the People’s Progressive Party on January 19, 2019.
EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION
Ali was born in Leonora, a village in the West Coast Demarara region of Guyana. The child of two educators and one of two sons, Ali also spent much of his formative years on the island of Leguan. He is a past student of the Leonora Nursery and Primary schools and Cornelia Ida Primary. Ali completed his secondary education at St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown, Guyana. He holds a doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the West Indies.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Ali served as Project Manager of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Project Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Finance and Senior Planner in the State Planning Secretariat.
POLITICAL CAREER
Ali became a member of the National Assembly of Guyana in 2006. He was subsequently appointed to the portfolios of Minister of Housing and Water and Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce.
During his tenure as Minister, Ali performed the functions of President and Prime Minister on separate occasions. In 2015, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) went into opposition during which time he served as chair of the Public Accounts Committee and co-chair the Economic Services Committee of the Parliament of Guyana.
President, Guyana
Alexa Lightbourne
Special Advisor to the Premier of Bermuda, Government of Bermuda
A seasoned management professional, Alexa Lightbourne currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Premier of Bermuda. Her previous government experience included serving as a Policy Analyst in the Ministry of Health.
In the political sphere, she managed the Progressive Labour Party’s successful 2017 general election campaign in Bermuda and was involved as a campaign consultant with political parties in Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis and Grenada. She also worked on President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign for President.
In the corporate sector, she was a consultant with Deloitte and worked on a number of private sector management projects. Ms. Lightbourne holds an LLB from the University of Westminster.
Alexa Lightbourne
Special Advisor to the Premier of Bermuda, Government of Bermuda
A seasoned management professional, Alexa Lightbourne currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Premier of Bermuda. Her previous government experience included serving as a Policy Analyst in the Ministry of Health.
In the political sphere, she managed the Progressive Labour Party’s successful 2017 general election campaign in Bermuda and was involved as a campaign consultant with political parties in Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis and Grenada. She also worked on President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign for President.
In the corporate sector, she was a consultant with Deloitte and worked on a number of private sector management projects. Ms. Lightbourne holds an LLB from the University of Westminster.
Special Advisor to the Premier of Bermuda, Government of Bermuda
Benito Wheatley
Special Envoy, British Virgin Islands Government
Benito Wheatley is the Special Envoy of the Premier and British Virgin Islands (BVI) Government Advisor on International Relations, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN).
He was formerly the BVI Representative to the UK and EU during which time he served as the Territory’s chief diplomat and Director of the BVI London Office, as well as Senior International Strategist for the Premier’s Office with responsibility for UN and the Commonwealth. Benito is a member of the prestigious International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and AMLP Forum—The Financial Crime and Corruption Association.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Diplomacy and International Strategy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Morehouse College. He has represented the BVI in numerous international fora on a range of subjects such as financial services, climate change, biodiversity, hurricane recovery and constitutional relations, among other things.
Benito Wheatley
Special Envoy, British Virgin Islands Government
Benito Wheatley is the Special Envoy of the Premier and British Virgin Islands (BVI) Government Advisor on International Relations, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN).
He was formerly the BVI Representative to the UK and EU during which time he served as the Territory’s chief diplomat and Director of the BVI London Office, as well as Senior International Strategist for the Premier’s Office with responsibility for UN and the Commonwealth. Benito is a member of the prestigious International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and AMLP Forum—The Financial Crime and Corruption Association.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Diplomacy and International Strategy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Morehouse College. He has represented the BVI in numerous international fora on a range of subjects such as financial services, climate change, biodiversity, hurricane recovery and constitutional relations, among other things.
Special Envoy, British Virgin Islands Government
Hon. Lisa Hanna Mp
Shadow Minister Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Government of Jamaica
As a 14 year old, she co-hosted, for 4 years, the Jamaican TV Talk Show named “Rappin” that exposed youth views and inculcated in her empathy for all youth. She was Queens High School Head Girl and UNDP appointee as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. In 1993, she won the Miss Jamaica World and Miss World Titles.
She’s a Karate black belt and a Karate Instructor and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communications from University of the West Indies (UWI). Her leadership qualities shone during her stint at UWI when, as a final year undergraduate, she conceptualized and raised funds to build a much needed Computer Lab for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. She also served as External Affairs Chairperson for the Student Government.
Lisa Hanna became Jamaica’s youngest female Member of Parliament when she was elected in 2007 to represent South-East St. Ann. She has twice been re-elected. She was also Chairperson of her Party’s Region One between 2008-2016 and Youth and Culture Minister from 2012-2016,
In 2013 under her leadership she formed an Inter- Ministerial Committee for Children which involved all relevant Ministries, The Office of the Children’s Advocate; and other State Agencies that worked with Children. This approach yielded great results including the separation of children from Adult Correctional Facilities and police lock ups, the introduction of the Arts For Life Programme at the South Camp Facility for Girls to teach drama, dance and art, the allocation of increased resources to help find missing children under the Ananda Alert System, a 50% reduction in violence in schools under the Safe Schools Programme, more children being removed from state care to family environments, the removal of children being locked up for uncontrollable behaviour, the introduction of the Smiles Mobile Unit to help children with counseling, additional resources to build child friendly spaces at police stations across the country, the introduction of the Children’s Advisory Panel and the implementation of The Keating Report to name a few.
The UN acknowledged these achievements and as a result, Marta Santos Pais, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Children and Violence travelled to Jamaica to host the first ever regional conference discuss best practices and solutions for countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
By 2014 Jamaica recorded solid progress at UNICEF, especially with finding solutions to persistent problems involving child rights. Jamaica’s success, particularly in the way we turned around our approaches to children in lockups and correctional facilities, resonated globally through the walls of the UN. From our interventions and programmes, Jamaica moved up 52 places in the most recent UNICEF Kids Rights Index, to be ranked 51 out of 163 countries globally.
As Minister, she also spearheaded the successful lobby for Jamaica’s first ever election to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee leading to Jamaica’s Blue and John Crow Mountains’ dedication as an official World Heritage Site.
She is Treasurer of the People’s National Party (PNP). She currently serves as the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
She’s Married to Richard Lake and is Mother to Alexander Panton.
Hon. Lisa Hanna Mp
Shadow Minister Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Government of Jamaica
As a 14 year old, she co-hosted, for 4 years, the Jamaican TV Talk Show named “Rappin” that exposed youth views and inculcated in her empathy for all youth. She was Queens High School Head Girl and UNDP appointee as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. In 1993, she won the Miss Jamaica World and Miss World Titles.
She’s a Karate black belt and a Karate Instructor and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communications from University of the West Indies (UWI). Her leadership qualities shone during her stint at UWI when, as a final year undergraduate, she conceptualized and raised funds to build a much needed Computer Lab for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. She also served as External Affairs Chairperson for the Student Government.
Lisa Hanna became Jamaica’s youngest female Member of Parliament when she was elected in 2007 to represent South-East St. Ann. She has twice been re-elected. She was also Chairperson of her Party’s Region One between 2008-2016 and Youth and Culture Minister from 2012-2016,
In 2013 under her leadership she formed an Inter- Ministerial Committee for Children which involved all relevant Ministries, The Office of the Children’s Advocate; and other State Agencies that worked with Children. This approach yielded great results including the separation of children from Adult Correctional Facilities and police lock ups, the introduction of the Arts For Life Programme at the South Camp Facility for Girls to teach drama, dance and art, the allocation of increased resources to help find missing children under the Ananda Alert System, a 50% reduction in violence in schools under the Safe Schools Programme, more children being removed from state care to family environments, the removal of children being locked up for uncontrollable behaviour, the introduction of the Smiles Mobile Unit to help children with counseling, additional resources to build child friendly spaces at police stations across the country, the introduction of the Children’s Advisory Panel and the implementation of The Keating Report to name a few.
The UN acknowledged these achievements and as a result, Marta Santos Pais, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Children and Violence travelled to Jamaica to host the first ever regional conference discuss best practices and solutions for countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
By 2014 Jamaica recorded solid progress at UNICEF, especially with finding solutions to persistent problems involving child rights. Jamaica’s success, particularly in the way we turned around our approaches to children in lockups and correctional facilities, resonated globally through the walls of the UN. From our interventions and programmes, Jamaica moved up 52 places in the most recent UNICEF Kids Rights Index, to be ranked 51 out of 163 countries globally.
As Minister, she also spearheaded the successful lobby for Jamaica’s first ever election to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee leading to Jamaica’s Blue and John Crow Mountains’ dedication as an official World Heritage Site.
She is Treasurer of the People’s National Party (PNP). She currently serves as the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
She’s Married to Richard Lake and is Mother to Alexander Panton.
Shadow Minister Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Government of Jamaica
Celeste Connors
Ceo and Executive Director, Hawaii Local2030 Hub and Hawaii Green Growth, Former Director for Climate Change and Environment, National Security Council at the White House
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 and Executive Director, Hawaii Local2030 Hub and Hawaii Green Growth, Former Director for Climate Change and Environment, National Security Council at the White House
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.
Ceo and Executive Director, Hawaii Local2030 Hub and Hawaii Green Growth, Former Director for Climate Change and Environment, National Security Council at the White House
Marisol Andrade Cárdenas
Mayor, Municipality of Porvenir, Tierra Del Fuego
Marisol Andrade Cárdenas, was born on August 23, 1962, in the Porvenir Commune, Tierra del Fuego Province, near Chile.
Basic studies carried out at the Bernardo O’Higgins School, secondary education is carried out at the Higher Institute of Commerce, with the title of Accountant; In the city of Punta Arenas, in the same city, she carries out higher education at the University of Magallanes, graduating as an Accountant Auditor.
In the workplace, she worked at Hospital de Porvenir, Head of the Accounting Department and in the Provincial Government of Tierra del Fuego, position, Head of Administration and Finance. She currently holds the position of Mayor of Porvenir.
Marisol Andrade Cárdenas
Mayor, Municipality of Porvenir, Tierra Del Fuego
Marisol Andrade Cárdenas, was born on August 23, 1962, in the Porvenir Commune, Tierra del Fuego Province, near Chile.
Basic studies carried out at the Bernardo O’Higgins School, secondary education is carried out at the Higher Institute of Commerce, with the title of Accountant; In the city of Punta Arenas, in the same city, she carries out higher education at the University of Magallanes, graduating as an Accountant Auditor.
In the workplace, she worked at Hospital de Porvenir, Head of the Accounting Department and in the Provincial Government of Tierra del Fuego, position, Head of Administration and Finance. She currently holds the position of Mayor of Porvenir.
Mayor, Municipality of Porvenir, Tierra Del Fuego
Pedro Pablo Edmunds Paoa
Mayor, Municipality of Rapa Nui
Pedro Edmunds Paoa has been Mayor of Easter Island for six terms and is a member of the Council of Elders and Honui, which groups together the Rapa Nui clans.
As a Culture Manager and Leader, he participated in the first genealogical research of the Rapa Nui people, in language conservation projects, in toponymy studies and in the projection of the Indigenous Law, which recognized the original peoples of the country.
As a participant in various seminars worldwide and the creator of the LOVE Plan, with its components being Self-Sustainability, Continuous Improvements, Resource Optimization and Respect, Pedro promoted an alliance with the United Nations, making Easter Island a mirror territory of the application of the 2030 Agenda, the basis of the work carried out by the municipality during the pandemic, reaching a territory without coronavirus and establishing itself as the first commune to return to classes.
Pedro Pablo Edmunds Paoa
Mayor, Municipality of Rapa Nui
Pedro Edmunds Paoa has been Mayor of Easter Island for six terms and is a member of the Council of Elders and Honui, which groups together the Rapa Nui clans.
As a Culture Manager and Leader, he participated in the first genealogical research of the Rapa Nui people, in language conservation projects, in toponymy studies and in the projection of the Indigenous Law, which recognized the original peoples of the country.
As a participant in various seminars worldwide and the creator of the LOVE Plan, with its components being Self-Sustainability, Continuous Improvements, Resource Optimization and Respect, Pedro promoted an alliance with the United Nations, making Easter Island a mirror territory of the application of the 2030 Agenda, the basis of the work carried out by the municipality during the pandemic, reaching a territory without coronavirus and establishing itself as the first commune to return to classes.
Mayor, Municipality of Rapa Nui
Hon. Lourdes “Lou” A. Leon Guerrero
Governor of Guam
The Honorable Lourdes “Lou” Aflague Leon Guerrero is the ninth Governor of Guam and the first female governor of the territory. She is also a registered nurse, a businesswoman, a policymaker, a mother, and a grandmother.
Since taking office in January 2019, she eliminated GovGuam’s $83 million general fund deficit, paid tax refunds the fastest in Guam’s history, raised salaries for nurses, law enforcement officers, and teachers, and ended two costly federal receiverships. Within her first year in office, she worked with the Guam Legislature to raise the minimum wage, legalize cannabis, and deliver millions in long-overdue war reparations to Guam’s World War II survivors.
Within months of the unprecedented global pandemic, Governor Leon Guerrero created the island’s first-ever unemployment program, providing $808 million to over 30,000 displaced workers. This is in addition to over $100 million in direct aid distributed to over 2,500 local businesses and multiple innovative programs to aid Guam families in recovery. Under her leadership, Guam also achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation. She continues to champion healthcare initiatives, including establishing the island’s first-ever paramedic program, and she is currently on a mission to rebuild Guam’s only decades-old public hospital.
A graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam (AOLG), Governor Leon Guerrero embarked on a career in nursing, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University and later a Master of Public Health from UCLA. She has worked as a staff nurse in hospitals in both California and Guam. Governor Leon Guerrero has also held several management positions in health care at the Guam Memorial Hospital and FHP Inc. and served on the GMHA Board of Trustees. To this day, Governor Leon Guerrero continues to be passionate about health care and has maintained her licensure as a registered nurse.
Hon. Lourdes “Lou” A. Leon Guerrero
Governor of Guam
The Honorable Lourdes “Lou” Aflague Leon Guerrero is the ninth Governor of Guam and the first female governor of the territory. She is also a registered nurse, a businesswoman, a policymaker, a mother, and a grandmother.
Since taking office in January 2019, she eliminated GovGuam’s $83 million general fund deficit, paid tax refunds the fastest in Guam’s history, raised salaries for nurses, law enforcement officers, and teachers, and ended two costly federal receiverships. Within her first year in office, she worked with the Guam Legislature to raise the minimum wage, legalize cannabis, and deliver millions in long-overdue war reparations to Guam’s World War II survivors.
Within months of the unprecedented global pandemic, Governor Leon Guerrero created the island’s first-ever unemployment program, providing $808 million to over 30,000 displaced workers. This is in addition to over $100 million in direct aid distributed to over 2,500 local businesses and multiple innovative programs to aid Guam families in recovery. Under her leadership, Guam also achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation. She continues to champion healthcare initiatives, including establishing the island’s first-ever paramedic program, and she is currently on a mission to rebuild Guam’s only decades-old public hospital.
A graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam (AOLG), Governor Leon Guerrero embarked on a career in nursing, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University and later a Master of Public Health from UCLA. She has worked as a staff nurse in hospitals in both California and Guam. Governor Leon Guerrero has also held several management positions in health care at the Guam Memorial Hospital and FHP Inc. and served on the GMHA Board of Trustees. To this day, Governor Leon Guerrero continues to be passionate about health care and has maintained her licensure as a registered nurse.
Governor of Guam
The Honourable Enele Sopoaga
Former Prime Minister of Tuvalu and Current Leader of Opposition
The Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga is the former Prime Minister of Tuvalu and current Leader of Opposition. Hon. Sopoaga holds a Master of Arts in International Relations, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom. He was born on the 10th February 1956. Below is a summary of Hon. Sopoaga’s skills and experience:
Extensive foreign policy analytical and application skills
Development and management of Tuvalu’s diplomatic relations for over twenty years:
foreign policy analysis and implementation, bilateral negotiations, multilateral negotiations, representation in conferences and implementation strategies.
National Sectoral planning skills
Project design, implementation and management. Negotiations and donor co-operation.
Analysis and implementation of macroeconomic policies and aspects of fiscal policies.
Sustainable development experience
Over thirty years of practical work experience both at the local and regional level in thePacific, and management of regional and international affairs and development issues which affect small-island developing States. Extensive involvement in high-level negotiations with development partners on development assistance programmes; advocacy and negotiations on climate change and global warming issues particularly mitigation and adaptation to their adverse effects.
The Honourable Enele Sopoaga
Former Prime Minister of Tuvalu and Current Leader of Opposition
The Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga is the former Prime Minister of Tuvalu and current Leader of Opposition. Hon. Sopoaga holds a Master of Arts in International Relations, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom. He was born on the 10th February 1956. Below is a summary of Hon. Sopoaga’s skills and experience:
Extensive foreign policy analytical and application skills
Development and management of Tuvalu’s diplomatic relations for over twenty years:
foreign policy analysis and implementation, bilateral negotiations, multilateral negotiations, representation in conferences and implementation strategies.
National Sectoral planning skills
Project design, implementation and management. Negotiations and donor co-operation.
Analysis and implementation of macroeconomic policies and aspects of fiscal policies.
Sustainable development experience
Over thirty years of practical work experience both at the local and regional level in thePacific, and management of regional and international affairs and development issues which affect small-island developing States. Extensive involvement in high-level negotiations with development partners on development assistance programmes; advocacy and negotiations on climate change and global warming issues particularly mitigation and adaptation to their adverse effects.
Former Prime Minister of Tuvalu and Current Leader of Opposition
His Excellency David W. Panuelo
President of the Federated States of Micronesia
His Excellency David W. Panuelo is the Ninth President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
Born April 13, 1964, Panuelo completed his early education on his home island of Pohnpei, and continued his education in the United States of America where he received his Bachelor’s in Political Science from Eastern Oregon University in 1987. Panuelo returned to his beloved home and, aspiring to serve the Nation and its citizens, started his career with the FSM National Government in the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Foreign Service Officer. A year later, he was confirmed as the Deputy Ambassador for the FSM Embassy to Fiji where he served until 1993 where, upon his return to Palikir, he was re-appointed to serve his Nation in the same role at the FSM Mission to the United Nations from 1993 through 1996.
After nearly a decade serving the FSM abroad, Panuelo returned home and, having been recognized as deep, strategic, and passionate thinker, was immediately offered a Cabinet position in the Pohnpei State Government, which he accepted so as to address more focused and pragmatic issues at the state level. In 1997, Panuelo was named the Director of the Department of Resource Management and Development for the State of Pohnpei and, for the next four years, devoted his energy and cross-cultural experiences to enhance the development of resources in Pohnpei, correlating with Pohnpei’s increased GDP per capita. At the end of the Administration in 2000/2001, he returned to the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs and served as the Assistant Secretary for the Division of American and European Affairs.
In 2003, Panuelo—recalling the Government’s desire to grow the private sector and create jobs for the citizens of the Nation—resigned from government work to re-direct his energy and efforts to the development of the private sector. For the next seven years, Panuelo established various businesses ranging from construction to human services, including the non-profit Care Micronesia Foundation.
Having demonstrated to himself that the FSM is capable of sustaining a healthy private sector, Panuelo entered his name in the national elections of 2011 with the goal of developing the Nation’s economy and human capacity.
On May 11th, 2011, Panuelo was seated as Pohnpei State’s two-year Senator from Congressional District Three to the 17th Congress, and was re-elected unopposed in 2013 and 2015. During the special election of 2015, Panuelo entered the race for, and was seated, as the State of Pohnpei’s four-year at-large representative to the 19th Congress, which he maintained into the 20th Congress.
Panuelo campaigned for the March 5th, 2019 election for the State of Pohnpei’s at-large seat for the 21st Congress, highlighting his various service-centered and people-centered accomplishments—including growing the FSM Trust Fund from $11,000,000 to more than $250,000,000—and on May 11th, 2019, Panuelo was elected by the 21st Congress of the FSM to serve as the Nation’s ninth President.
Panuelo is the loving father of five beautiful children and seven equally beautiful grandchildren.
His Excellency David W. Panuelo
President of the Federated States of Micronesia
His Excellency David W. Panuelo is the Ninth President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
Born April 13, 1964, Panuelo completed his early education on his home island of Pohnpei, and continued his education in the United States of America where he received his Bachelor’s in Political Science from Eastern Oregon University in 1987. Panuelo returned to his beloved home and, aspiring to serve the Nation and its citizens, started his career with the FSM National Government in the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Foreign Service Officer. A year later, he was confirmed as the Deputy Ambassador for the FSM Embassy to Fiji where he served until 1993 where, upon his return to Palikir, he was re-appointed to serve his Nation in the same role at the FSM Mission to the United Nations from 1993 through 1996.
After nearly a decade serving the FSM abroad, Panuelo returned home and, having been recognized as deep, strategic, and passionate thinker, was immediately offered a Cabinet position in the Pohnpei State Government, which he accepted so as to address more focused and pragmatic issues at the state level. In 1997, Panuelo was named the Director of the Department of Resource Management and Development for the State of Pohnpei and, for the next four years, devoted his energy and cross-cultural experiences to enhance the development of resources in Pohnpei, correlating with Pohnpei’s increased GDP per capita. At the end of the Administration in 2000/2001, he returned to the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs and served as the Assistant Secretary for the Division of American and European Affairs.
In 2003, Panuelo—recalling the Government’s desire to grow the private sector and create jobs for the citizens of the Nation—resigned from government work to re-direct his energy and efforts to the development of the private sector. For the next seven years, Panuelo established various businesses ranging from construction to human services, including the non-profit Care Micronesia Foundation.
Having demonstrated to himself that the FSM is capable of sustaining a healthy private sector, Panuelo entered his name in the national elections of 2011 with the goal of developing the Nation’s economy and human capacity.
On May 11th, 2011, Panuelo was seated as Pohnpei State’s two-year Senator from Congressional District Three to the 17th Congress, and was re-elected unopposed in 2013 and 2015. During the special election of 2015, Panuelo entered the race for, and was seated, as the State of Pohnpei’s four-year at-large representative to the 19th Congress, which he maintained into the 20th Congress.
Panuelo campaigned for the March 5th, 2019 election for the State of Pohnpei’s at-large seat for the 21st Congress, highlighting his various service-centered and people-centered accomplishments—including growing the FSM Trust Fund from $11,000,000 to more than $250,000,000—and on May 11th, 2019, Panuelo was elected by the 21st Congress of the FSM to serve as the Nation’s ninth President.
Panuelo is the loving father of five beautiful children and seven equally beautiful grandchildren.
President of the Federated States of Micronesia
Ovais Sarmad
Deputy Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
Mr. Ovais Sarmad joined the United Nations Climate Change secretariat (UNFCCC) on 1 September 2017.
Mr. Sarmad advises the Executive Secretary on a range of issues relating to the inter-governmental affairs and strategic planning of the UNFCCC process. He provides oversight to the overall operations of the UNFCCC covering human and financial resources as well as organizational development.
Previously he served as Chief of Staff/Chef de Cabinet at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva. Mr. Sarmad worked in several management and policy capacities in IOM over a period of 27 years. Prior to IOM, he worked in the private and public sectors in London, where he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He graduated from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, as a Bachelor of Commerce.
He is married to a Spanish national and has two boys.
Ovais Sarmad
Deputy Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
Mr. Ovais Sarmad joined the United Nations Climate Change secretariat (UNFCCC) on 1 September 2017.
Mr. Sarmad advises the Executive Secretary on a range of issues relating to the inter-governmental affairs and strategic planning of the UNFCCC process. He provides oversight to the overall operations of the UNFCCC covering human and financial resources as well as organizational development.
Previously he served as Chief of Staff/Chef de Cabinet at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva. Mr. Sarmad worked in several management and policy capacities in IOM over a period of 27 years. Prior to IOM, he worked in the private and public sectors in London, where he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He graduated from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, as a Bachelor of Commerce.
He is married to a Spanish national and has two boys.
Deputy Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
Meet our Partners
SMILO, a France based NGO, supports small islands of less than 150km² towards the sustainable management of their territory and resources. Our approach aims to guarantee that human development respects and fosters islands’ good ecological and environmental status, thanks to a shared governance. The main objective is to bolster integrated operations for the preservation and sustainable management of the island’s natural resources, in relation to water and sanitation, waste, energy, biodiversity, landscapes and heritage issues. The local dynamics and these sustainable practices are recognised with the awarding of the Sustainable Island” label. Currently, 18 islands are involved in our labelling process. Within this process, SMILO manages the Islands Fund, which finances concrete operations on the islands. SMILO international Network contributes to strengthening cooperation and solidarity between islands and island partners. Over 40 members are part of this network and are located in West Africa, the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean.
For Explorers, Culture Lovers, Historians, Sun Seekers and Enthusiasts!
Aruba’s first 24/7 tourism digital TV channel, broadcasting what makes Aruba authentic, the truly unique things that make Aruba so interesting and inviting, all over the world. To stimulate the tourist market to visit our touristic attractions, while serving them a glimpse of our Art, Culture and History to stimulate them to visit our galleries, museums, cultural events, historic landmarks and sites.
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is an intergovernmental organization of 44 low-lying coastal and small island countries, including five observers. Established in 1990, the main purpose of the alliance is to consolidate the voices of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address climate change.
As a voice for the vulnerable, AOSIS’ mandate is more than amplifying marginalised voices as it also advocates for these countries’ interests. In terms of size, AOSIS closely resembles the countries it represents on the global stage, but often punches far above its weight, negotiating historic global commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions, among other achievements.
To achieve its goals, AOSIS often draws on partnerships, including with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission, to bolster its capacity to effectively influence climate negotiations, some of the most complex and difficult in the world. AOSIS also makes vital contributions by helping its members to pool their resources and amplify their collective voice in climate talks. This goes beyond just speaking up to securing ambitious agreements with tangible benefits for vulnerable communities.
The Dominica Association of Industry & Commerce was formed on February 22nd 1973. We are the leading private sector representative body in Dominica with membership across various sectors and industries.
The objectives of the Association include: fostering economic growth and social development; promoting and protecting the commercial interests of the State; representing members to Governments, including promoting, supporting or lawfully opposing such legislative or other measures as may be deemed necessary. We have representation on various committees and boards to ensure the interests of our members are voiced.
Established in 2012, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) is the realization of a bold vision to create reliable, long-term funding for conservation and sustainable development in the Caribbean region. The CBF and a group of National Conservation Trust Fund form the Caribbean Sustainable Finance Architecture, which, among other objectives, supports and incentivizes targeted Caribbean nations to meet the goals of the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI), national conservation priorities, and targets under other international and regional commitments.
The Planetary Press is an online news source focused on reporting in sustainability, environmental advocacy, corporate social responsibility and climate change. It is a platform for people to share their work. It is a place for organizations, cities, governments, companies, journalists and individuals to share the good that they’re doing and the impact that they’re having. TPP highlights sustainable solutions around the globe that inspire others to make a measurable difference.
The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability was established in 2009 to lead and support the transition of our island region toward a sustainable future. CIS has since become a focal institute in our region for conducting sustainability-related research and community engagement in the broader areas of environment, economy, society, and education. CIS advances the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals in locally and culturally effective ways. The center facilitates the Guam Green Growth (G3) Initiative and is a founding member organization of the Local2030 Islands Network
CIS also provides expertise and serves as an honest broker of information on an array of sustainability issues for Guam and Micronesia. The center’s team develops watershed restoration technologies; surveys island biodiversity; conducts coral reef educational outreach; provides energy audits for small businesses; coordinates recycling efforts; and builds local capacity in the marine and environmental sciences, among other projects. CIS encourages action on sustainability to decrease reliance on imports, improve energy independence, and increase food security, in order to reduce the export of money and build a thriving local economy that is more resilient to disasters and global changes.
The Tasmanian Way is a platform to inspire a whole-of-Tasmania approach to reduce emissions, build resilience and transition to a sustainable way of doing things for the health, well being and prosperity of all Tasmanians. The Tasmanian Way is a commitment by change makers to ambitious and measured goals and targets to make Tasmania a global sustainability leader.
Women Who Live on Rocks was created in 2013 as a space for women (men welcomed too) to connect over their shared experiences on tropical islands. We are now a large collaboration of lighthearted women writers filled with positivity and wit who’ve come together to celebrate the humourous (and sometimes not so humourous) eccentricities unique to life on a tropical island.
While all of our contributing writers do live on islands, our community of island souls stretches across the globe. After all, you don’t have to physically reside on a rock to appreciate all that island life has to offer.
The South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) is a young but rapidly growing Research Institute based in the Falkland Islands and operating in the South Atlantic and beyond. SAERI’s remit includes research into both the natural and physical sciences in the UK South Atlantic Overseas Territories and beyond. It aims to deliver world-class environmental research from the Falkland Islands that informs the effective stewardship of our planet as well as to grow a sustainable research institute in the Falkland Islands
Community Energy Scotland is a registered charity that provides practical help for communities on green energy development and energy conservation.
Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company was formed in 2004 as a subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Building on the success of this, and in response to a growing sustainable development agenda in Scotland, the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company evolved into an independent Scottish charity, Community Energy Scotland.
Community Energy Scotland was incorporated on 9th November 2007 as a Company Limited by Guarantee with no share capital (Company No. SC333698) and a registered Scottish Charity (No. SC039673). The organisation has spread from an initial base in the Highlands to cover the whole of Scotland, offering local development officers throughout the country.
Since 2000, the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum (OREF) has been an integral part of the development of a diverse and successful renewable energy industry in Orkney. As a membership organisation, OREF is open to businesses and individuals with an involvement or interest in Orkney’s renewable energy sector.
OREF aims to address strategic issues affecting Orkney’s renewables sector through focused collaboration with members, the local community, key stakeholders, and Orkney’s world-leading academic and research organisations.
Enterprise St Helena
Established as a statutory body at arm’s length from the St Helena Government, Enterprise St Helena (ESH) is responsible for the economic development of St Helena Island, and is the lead body responsible for promoting and enabling private sector development. The organisation is made up of 3 main areas of focus these are Tourism, Local Enterprise and Investment.
The Island Movement, with its team of experts in the field of sustainable development and financing, strategic planning, rural development and energy transition, forms a platform aiming to contribute continuous development of the islands by giving professional support to islanders and island institutions.
Through our activities Island movement connects and supports most Croatian islands. The idea is based on strengthening local communities by creating joint cooperation of all relevant stakeholders, networking them with experts and connecting with European islands and their practices.
We are recognized as one of the leading organizations for island development in Croatia.
The University of the Highlands and Islands is an integrated university encompassing both further and higher education. We are not a traditional university. We are different. We are part of a new breed of tertiary institutions, the only one in Scotland and one of only a few in Europe. Based in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, our distinctive partnership of 13 independent colleges and research institutions is locally based and rooted in communities, but with national and international reach, as part of a regional university structure. Our reputation is built on our innovative approach to learning and our distinctive research and curriculum – all enriched by the people, natural environment, economy, culture and heritage of the Highlands and Islands and its communities. We have 40,000 students at the heart of our university partnership and we are measured by their success. Our curriculum portfolio across both further and higher education is designed to meet current and future local and regional needs and to attract other students to the Highlands and Islands to study. We have recently reaffirmed our commitment to island communities with the publication of our first ever islands strategy which sets out plans to enhance our activity across Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.
We are an association representing Puerto Rico’s solar and energy storage industries bringing reliable, clean, affordable and local energy to the entire island. We advocate solar and storage technologies as a central solution to the energy needs of Puerto Rico, and promote public policy that will benefit the growth of these industries. We bring awareness and understanding of these technologies to both government policymakers and the public, and facilitate collectively beneficial collaboration and good business practices within the industry.
The Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance (SCELG) is an international impact oriented policy relevant research centre based at the University of Strathclyde Law School in Glasgow, Scotland. Its members work on a diverse range of environmental law and governance areas and collaborate with national, regional and international partners in a wider number of projects and consultancies. SCELG’s work on islands is framed around its EILEAN Initiative that aims to better understand how island communities engage in legal and political processes to promote resilience and sustainability. SCELG has collaborated with Scottish Government in the implementation of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, which has led to the first National Islands Plan. SCELG has partnered with Island Innovation in carrying out a global survey on Islands and COVID-19 between March and June 2020. The survey had led to a final report that conveys data from 83 islands in 54 countries.
The Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) is a specialized institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Established within the framework of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC), the CCREEE is the implementation hub for sustainable energy activities and projects within the CARICOM region. Our strategic programmes include: Knowledge Transfer and Management; Energy Access; Sustainable Industry and Business; Sustainable Transport; Finance and Project Support; Climate Resilience and Sustainable Buildings.
Island Resilience Partnership (IRP) is a non-profit organization that helps island nations achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the creation of cross-sector partnerships. IRP has established partnerships with the Independent State of Samoa, Kingdom of Tonga, and Sint Maarten to accelerate their transition to renewable energy and resilient infrastructure. In order to elevate island voices and build support for island solutions, IRP has partnered with March For Science (MFS) to co-organize the Island Resilience Forum, a live-streamed event to the MFS Facebook community of 840k+ science advocates around the world. IRP is a proud organizing partner of the SC1.5NCE Not SILENCE campaign.
he Journal of Caribbean Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy (CESaRE) was developed in 2016 out of a recognized need to modernize and revolutionize the Caribbean’s scientific research publishing.
There are hundreds of publications falling under the broad field of environmental sciences, found scattered over a large variety of international journals, without a central (Caribbean) location to collate this knowledge. With the global shift towards renewables over traditional energy sources, together with a collective rise in environmental consciousness, CESaRE is the perfect opportunity for highlighting such research conducted in the Caribbean. CESaRE will provide a suitable forum to encourage research dissemination in the region and promises to be more than just a collection of academic articles. Our innovative media and growing audience will provide a nexus for Caribbean leaders, key industry partners, and authorities to catalyze more effective decision making processes within our increasingly vulnerable region.
Caribbean Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (CAPSS)
The Caribbean Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (CAPSS) was initially established as The Caribbean Association of Headmasters and Headmistresses (CAHH) on March 31, 1955 at the University College of the West Indies (U.C.W.I.) Mona, Jamaica. Jamaica hosted the first Conference of the Association in 1961.
At the conference in 1974 hosted by Trinidad and Tobago, the Constitution was amended resulting in the change of name to The Caribbean Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (CAPSS).
CAPSS flagship event is its biennial Conference rotated among the member Associations of CAPSS the next one being held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2021.
CAPSS also hosts periodic training, webinars and offers a support system for its members in a number of areas whilst also being the representative body with various stakeholders in education.
Over the past sixty-five years, CAPSS membership has grown from four to fourteen territories in the English Speaking Caribbean.
In 2017, CAPSS partnered with Restore A Sense of I Can ( RSC) an NGO focused on education and technology to work together with education reform in the Caribbean.
The Manila Hub was the first Global Shapers Hub in the Philippines and one of the earliest hubs to be formed in the world. Our mission is to develop and nurture diverse young leaders who channel their energy and enthusiasm to shape a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world starting with Manila. We are a diverse collective of young leaders. From internationally awarded directors to public school teachers. From doctors to board game designers. We span different industries creating programs and projects within our four focus areas: mobility, policy, climate change, and human trafficking.
For too long many islands and rural areas of Scotland have been written off as in terminal decline. This has often overshadowed an appreciation of the extraordinary innovation, entrepreneurialism and resilience that have sustained, and are increasingly growing, many such communities in spite of the challenges of remoteness they face. These assets have helped underpin positive achievements, such as a revival of traditional Gaelic culture, a flourishing of community organisations, the development of smart energy projects that have put Scottish islands at the forefront of sustainable energy solutions, and the return of younger people who are making positive contributions to their local communities and economies. CoDeL was set up on Uist in 2018, by Thomas Fisher, Theona Morrison and Gemma Steele to:
analyse micro-trends on islands and rural areas of Scotland to identify trends that are missed in data aggregated across larger areas
contribute positively to community development based on a deeper understanding of what is actually happening in small communities
create opportunities for younger people to influence and reshape their local communities.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat has signed a partnership agreement with the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) to establish a regional collaboration centre in Saint George, Grenada in an effort to assist in the development of clean development mechanism (CDM) projects in the region.
Countries supported: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname
The Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP), a grassroots initiative organized as a means for cultivating enduring rural island-wide economic partnerships, in collaboration with Indigenous communities, that ensures economic resilience, and generates long-term prosperity without depleting natural or social resources.
The rural islands of BC — Bowen, Cormorant, Cortes, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Malcolm, Mayne, Pender, Quadra, Salt Spring, Saturna, Texada, Thetis, including the Broughton Archipelago, and the Indigenous communities with traditional or reserve lands on these islands.
The Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange (DCSX) was stablished in 2009 in Curaçao, and is the only authorized Securities Exchange in the Dutch Caribbean.
The DCSX is licensed by the Minister of Finance and supervised by the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
The DCSX is a regulated international Exchange for the listing and trading in domestic and international securities.
Our mission is to create prosperity by connecting investment opportunities to investors and reach that by being the regional financial center of choice for listing of securities.
DCSX is an affiliate of the World Federation of Exchanges and an official member of the Association of Capital Markets of the Americas.
At the DCSX we have developed listing rules for the issuer tailored to the needs of the market. We realize that for the domestic and international business community to prosper, matured start-ups as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, must be in the position to attract capital on a regulated, practically- oriented Exchange and to do so at fair costs. It is this start-up and SME community that the DCSX is focused on servicing.
The DCSX ensures transparency for the investor and guarantees visibility for the issuer at all times.
Our strength lies in understanding their core business and the specific challenges they face. Unlike the traditional software provider and advisory firm, BearingPoint is a niche player by choice and exclusively focused on improving public services and enhancing compliance for governments. At BearingPoint, domain and IT experts co-create to develop solutions that deliver
fundamental results.
Our mission is to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and developing countries reach their full potential. BearingPoint Caribbean specializes in the digitalization of governments, and offers technology solutions that make public services better, faster, and smarter. The Public Services Suite was developed in close collaboration with the Dutch Tax Administration and is tailored to small-scale countries, including both Dutch best practices and the best practices gained in more than 30 years of serving governments in the Caribbean. With technology as a catalyst, we use our expertise and knowledge to transform small-scale countries and help them move forward.
We are BearingPoint. Born and raised in the Caribbean. For more than 30 years we have partnered with governments, providing them with tailored technology solutions and consultancy to improve their processes.
Our strength lies in understanding their core business and the specific challenges they face. Unlike the traditional software provider and advisory firm, BearingPoint is a niche player by choice and exclusively focused on improving public services and enhancing compliance for governments. At BearingPoint, domain and IT experts co-create to develop solutions that deliver
fundamental results.
Our mission is to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and developing countries reach their full potential. BearingPoint Caribbean specializes in the digitalization of governments, and offers technology solutions that make public services better, faster, and smarter. The Public Services Suite was developed in close collaboration with the Dutch Tax Administration and is tailored to small-scale countries, including both Dutch best practices and the best practices gained in more than 30 years of serving governments in the Caribbean. With technology as a catalyst, we use our expertise and knowledge to transform small-scale countries and help them move forward.
IBIS Management Associates Inc. is a regional FinTech company with over 20 years of leadership in the Caribbean. We established in the year 2000 and headquartered in Curaçao of the Dutch Caribbean. IBIS Management Associates Inc. is a leading solutions provider and consulting firm specialized in the development and implementation of best practice Straight-Through-Processing (STP) payment systems, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, Application development and others.
Over the past 20 years we have provided solutions and advisory services to more than 50+ Institutions throughout the Caribbean, Americas and Europe. These include Central Banks, Retail Banks, Commercial Banks, Trusts, Corporate Service Providers and government institutions as well as Global Corporations. We are a privately owned company; our founders are ex-bankers and system engineers, with many years of experience within the international payment-processing sector as well as banking operations. The company maintains a full-time staff consisting of
experienced banking consultants, software engineers and client support staff and business- and product development responsible for specialized practice areas.
We also provide support to organizations throughout the region such as orphanages, shelters, kid’s hospital programs and training centres. IBIS Management created the Banks 4 Kids Charity Fund that makes annual donations to children’s wellbeing organizations throughout the Caribbean.
Lying at the cross-roads of the Mediterranean, UM has been, over its 400-year history, the hub for international academic exchange on the island. UM is the leading higher education institution in Malta and its structures are in line with the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education area.
At UM we to carry out academic research and provide a vibrant higher education setting in the arts, sciences and the humanities as required for Malta’s economic, social and cultural development. Our courses are designed to produce highly-qualified professionals in multiple disciplines. Our alumni community is growing exponentially: well over 3,500 students graduate in various disciplines annually.
We are committed to high standards of research and teaching and every member of staff at UM plays an important role and contributes to an outstanding student experience.
YOUNGO is the Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC. It consists of youth-led organizations, groups, delegations, and individuals working in climate change-related fields. YOUNGO runs various Working Groups focused on specific aspects of climate change within the UNFCCC negotiations, while ensuring that perspectives of young and future generations are taken into account in the multilateral decision-making processes.
The Penghu County Government (澎湖縣政府) is the local government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) that governs Penghu County, an archipelago of over 90 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait. It is one of 22 subdivisions within Taiwan, and one of the country’s three smaller island counties. The government is located at Penghu County Hall in Magong City, the largest city on located on the largest island, which is also named Magong. The islands were formerly known as the Pescadores Islands and cover an area of 141 square kilometers
Solar Head of State (SHOS) is an international non-profit organization that promotes access to solar energy. Their model was inspired by a campaign initiated in 1979 by US president Jimmy Carter who had solar water heaters installed on the White House to conserve energy and set an example for the American public amidst an energy crisis. Since then, the NGO has focused its work on small island developing states (SIDS) with installations of solar panels on government buildings in Jamaica, Saint Lucia and the Maldives. SHOS is now working in partnership with the Organizational of Eastern Caribbean States and the Pacific Island Development Forum to install solar panels on government buildings across these organizations’ combined 24 member states.
In 2007, the University of Magallanes fulfilled a dream longed for by the community of Porvenir, on the Chilean side of the island of Tierra del Fuego. Under the coordination of the Technological School of the University of Magallanes, about 60 students joined these three new technical course (University Technician in Tourism; Administration Technician; Higher Level Technician in Basic Education) becoming the pioneers of the permanent regional presence of the institution in Tierra del Fuego.
In addition, the University of Magallanes, through the University Center Porvenir, develops various outreach activities to the community such as participation in the Anniversary Week of Porvenir, training activities and projects with the business sector. As another proof of the boost to university activities in the Province of Tierra del Fuego, the University of Magallanes received a house in the town of Sombrero, which was handed over as a loan by the National Petroleum Company on April 18 in a ceremony that counted with the presence of executives of the company, university authorities and the commune.
Frequently Asked Questions
The summit is the first of its kind, and totally free! You can learn from world-leading experts from diverse backgrounds about the latest projects being deployed in island communities, with applications far beyond. Each session will be interactive with opportunities to ask questions and make connections. This year we are expanding to have even more features!
The summit is totally free!! You can sign up and all you need to take part is and an interet connection and the Zoom webinar software.
All are welcome to participate in the summit – feel free to invite friends and colleagues. Participants can take part in every session, or simply chose the sessions most relevant to them and are all encouraged to join the social media conversation.
The summit will be broadcast LIVE, taking place over multiple days in various timezones. Ideally, we want guests to join live as there will be opportunities to ask questions and interact with fellow attendees. However, all sessions will be recorded and made available online a few weeks after the summit.
We are no longer accepting speakers for this year’s event. If you would like to nominate a speaker for a future event click here.
We are no longer receiving sponsorship application for this event. But you can click here if you’re interested on sponsoring any of our events.
We always welcome ideas! Please get in touch.
We always welcome ideas! Please get in touch.
