FRIDAY SPEAKER DIRECTORY
Get to know our past speakers and view their Climate Forum presentations.
FRIDAY SPEAKER DIRECTORY
Get to know our past speakers and view their Climate Forum presentations.
Sarah Stabler
Sourced Education for Cultural Renewal
Sarah Stabler is the Head of School at Springhouse, an intergenerational, vitality-centered learning community in Southwest Virginia where they are fundamentally transforming the purpose and practice of education.
Sarah Stabler moved to Floyd, VIrginia in 2017 to get involved with Springhouse’s adult programming and became a full-time staff member later that year. She has always been interested in thriving and enjoyed studying religion at Colorado College. Before coming to Springhouse, Sarah studied permaculture design at Quail Springs Permaculture; completed an 18-month sustainable agriculture fellowship with the Allegheny Mountain Institute in 2016; and worked in the field of garden-based education. In 2021, she completed a master’s degree in Ecological Design Thinking at Schumacher College, where she loved meeting people from around the world and exploring where theory and practice meet.
Currently, she is the Head of School at Springhouse, where she leads Springhouse’s school programs and helps support our School Founders cohort. In addition, she leads Sacred Dance and loves working on Springhouse’s sustainability efforts alongside dedicated teenagers.
Relevant Links:
Website
Email Sarah
Nathan White
The Colorado River Basin Climate Mitigation & Management Strategy
Nathan is the CEO and CoFounder of a visionary project management team at Agess, Inc. with an aim to terraform earth to preindustrial levels. Can it be done? Only if we try. What is the tool? Seawater.
With over twenty years of education and practice Nathan is an architectural designer, a real estate developer and a construction advisor leading this turnkey team of subject matter experts and industrial partners in all fields of regenerative systems for developments of all scales.
Nathan has worked as a Development Project Manager for Development Services Department with the City of San Diego for nearly a decade and also as adjunct faculty teaching Finance and Management with NewSchool of Architecture and Design bridging government policy, education and implementation.
His largest efforts are aimed to restore the Colorado River Basin and the heart of Africa with low cost, environmental restoration and a return on investment. His vision to restore the planet and provide a profit is a paradigm shift with infinite opportunities.
Relevant Links:
Website
Karanbir Singh
Satisfaction Economy & Possible Implementation & Transition Tracks
Karanbir Singh entered the learning design and development world with an altruistic intent and a plan, straight out of college in 2002. The plan kicked off with investments in specific internet domains towards systematic, connected, and future-based implementation, and focused on-the-job learning. The domains included .coms for Circles In Structure, Cognitive Balance, and Learning Median, a learning consultancy established in 2009. The focus of his on-the-job learning was to understand and apply learning models and strategies.
Prior to launching his own brand, Karanbir gained experience in a fortune 500, a startup, post graduate studies, and as a freelancer for a short time. Since then, with the evolution of my objectivity, other social, connected projects were organically added to his plan and its execution.
Karanbir’s involvement in learning became more personal when he took on the role and responsibility as a primary parent. He also, during this extended time, has overcome debilitating physical, mental, and emotional traumas, many times over. Expanded thought and action led to projects such as Satisfaction Economy (SE), Earth Spark! (a foray into values for young kids), Evolving in Education (a nonprofit set to revolutionize public education globally) and more! Through these experiences, Karanbir’s ability to connect science, learning, and reality has shaped his counsel and interactions with a very wide audience towards learning excellence.
Grateful for these experiences and relationships, he continues to look forward to many more engaging and mutually beneficial partnerships in learning. Addressing the polycrisis holistically and in time requires a paradigm shift in human consciousness and systems which defines much of his approach, work and social endeavors.
Amber Smith
Amber Smith is the Founder and Executive Director of Evolving in Education. Her journey into education has been anything but conventional. A primary background in the fields of underwater construction, demolition, bridge inspection, topside welding, and environmental cave conservation taught Amber the value of perseverance and adaptability. Despite being a homeschool dropout, she fought through challenges, earned a GED, and pursued diverse courses in psychology, welding, CAD, computer science and aviation.
These experiences led Amber to realize that education should be about equipping people with the tools and mindset to thrive in any environment. Certified by the NTSB in underwater and topside bridge inspection and holder of ann FAA private pilot certificate, her passion now lies in building a brighter future for today’s and tomorrow’s youth by empowering educators and learners through innovative education.
The Amber’s most profound motivation comes from her twin daughters, whose energy, curiosity, and joy inspire her every day to create a better world--not just for them but for all children. Amber believes that the future is not something we enter; it is something we create.
Amber founded Evolving in Educationvto transform public education by fostering a love of learning, creative problem-solving, and resilience. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive in an environment that adapts to their needs, and every educator deserves support to make this vision a reality.
Relevant Links:
Website
LinkedIn
Email Amber
Javier Gascon
Automating Systems for Climate Companies
Javier is extremely passionate about sustainability and climate tech. He reads constantly about these topics and love to understand how they work. Javier is a very analytical person with a solid understanding of marketing technology, analytics, systems architecture, AI and lots of different online platforms.
Javier feels like fighting climate change and leaving the world better than he found it is his duty. Given his skills and interests, Javier currently runs two projects to support this goal.
Relevant Links:
Website
Website
LinkedIn
Email Javier
John Rothgeb
John is an Austin native, world traveler, SPM expert and strategist, entrepreneur and futurist who has traveled, taught, consulted and trained on five continents.
John's work is teaching people that we have all the tools to solve the climate crises and that it can and will be economically beneficial for everyone on the planet in many unexpected ways.
Relevant Links:
LinkedIn
Email John
Thalya Therese
Transforming Environmental Education From K-12
Thayla Deloris is the founder of Youths in Climate Action (Y.C.A.); a non-profit organization based in Cameroon that creates awareness on environmental related issues and holistic empowerment of youth.
Relevant Links:
Email Thalya
David Hakan
Carbon Footprint Eating
Following a 28-year career teaching science for second grade, David Hakan sought to make a tangible difference in the global environmental and social crises we face, so he co-founded the KANSAS CITY DRAWDOWN SOCIETY and built the Carbon Footprint Eating initiative. He has a thriving second career as an award-winning singer-songwriter and music video producer. He is also one of the project advisors for the Pachamama Alliance. He is helping Pachamama Alliance design the Community Climate Action Training which helps people get into action on reversing global warming using climate justice.
Relevant Links:
Carbon Footprint Eating Website
David's Website
David's Youtube Channel
Email David
Alan Anderson
Citizens’ Climate Lobby En-ROADS Software
Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) are building support for a national bipartisan solution to climate change. Alan will be demonstrating En-ROADS software that was developed by Climate Interactive, MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative and Ventura Systems. It allows users to simulate future global temperature changes based on our mitigation choices. CCL has been focused on passing Carbon Fee and Dividend legislation which has been predicted by economists to be the fastest, fairest and most practical way to drastically reduce greenhouse gases. Their grassroots, bipartisan, non-confrontational lobbying approach has resulted in a seat at the table when congress is discussing and formulating climate legislation.
Alan is a retired engineer with past careers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Commissioned Corps and the USDA Forest Service, spanning 41 years, during which he observed, measured, and managed natural resources (Oceans, Forests, and Grasslands). Experience during these careers have honed an already heightened concern for the impacts we are having on our environment. He has spent a fair amount of 10 years of retirement time volunteering for various environmental groups whose missions include the preservation of a sustainable environment.
Relevant Links:
Email Alan
Terry LePage
Feeling and Being With the Climate Crisis
MDiv, PhD. Terry combines heart and head with her clear and insightful writing, speaking and facilitation. She has worked as a research chemist, transitional minister and hospice chaplain. She currently lives in Southern California and facilitates Nonviolent Communication practice groups, grief circles and social justice groups both locally and for the international Deep Adaptation Forum.
If you’d like to explore her book in advance, you can locate a free audiobook of her book, Eye of the Storm: Facing Climate and Social Chaos with Calm and Courage, in this link: opendoorcommunication.org/eye
Relevant Links:
LinkedIn
Email Terry
Linda Abeja
Community-Led Climate Solutions: Empowering Youth for Sustainable Change
Linda is an influential leader and mentor in the fields of youth development and mental health. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Amariatek Foundation and Vice President and head of the Human Capital Development Cluster at the Youth Coalition for the SDGs. In January 2023, Linda was recognized as one of the 40 most influential Ugandans under 40 years of age.
As a life coach and mentor, Linda works with adolescents and youth in both school and out-of-school settings to support them in mental health, creating peaceful and violence-free classrooms, and entrepreneurship development. Her goal is to equip young people with the life skills they need to tackle life's challenges and to prepare them for a smooth transition from childhood to adulthood.
Linda is driven by her passion to make a positive impact in the lives of young people and to help them reach their full potential.
Relevant Links:
Amariatek Foundation Website
Youth Coalition for the SDGs Website
LinkedIn
Sujan Barua
Justice for the Planet and Humanity
Sujan Barua passionately discusses the critical condition of Mother Earth, emphasizing that humanity has driven the planet to a point where it is "dying" and now in urgent need of rescue, much like a patient in an ICU. Barua stresses the dire consequences of human actions, including pollution from fossil fuels, deforestation, and other environmental degradations that have led to widespread suffering and death. He highlights the hypocrisy in society's approach to global crises, noting that while many acknowledge the problems, few take meaningful action. He mentions his personal efforts, such as solo campaigns in Dhaka, to raise awareness about issues like noise and air pollution, and he criticizes the global indifference to the escalating climate crisis.
Sujan argues that humanity is both the virus and the cure for the planet's ailments, urging collective action to "save" Earth rather than merely praying for salvation. He also discusses the widespread impacts of pollution on human health, citing alarming statistics about deaths caused by air, water, and noise pollution. Despite the grim reality, Barua remains hopeful, calling for innovative solutions and greater global cooperation to address these challenges before it's too late. His message is a call to action, imploring individuals, governments, and organizations to take responsibility for the future of the planet and humanity.
Melissa Subban
Utilizing Breathing and Meditation in the Workplace
Melissa Subban is a renowned People Strategist and Change Manager, dedicated to creating joyful and engaging human experiences in the workplace. With over 18 years of experience in the corporate world and additional expertise in the SMME sector, she has successfully founded two start-ups and actively participates in various international programs.
As the Chief Office Fairy at HappyFactory, Melissa specializes in advising companies on designing and implementing unique people strategies, customer journeys, and communication plans. Her approach is grounded in human-centered design, aiming to enhance interactions for customers, vendors, employees, and stakeholders alike.
Melissa is passionate about activating leadership potential and fostering happy, productive environments. She is a prolific mentor, offering guidance on business modeling, career planning, and change management. Her creative energy is also channeled into running three Meetup groups focused on mind-body-spirit practices.
When not advising or mentoring, Melissa enjoys painting, yoga, and exploring other holistic practices. Her work is a testament to her belief in the power of positivity and well-being in professional settings.
Melissa Subban is available for speaking engagements, employee program designs, and private consultations on creative business development.
Watch Melissa's other EmpowerEd Presentation:
Happy Factory: Creating Joyful and Engaging Human Experiences in the Workplace
Relevant Links:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Email Melissa
Enock Sangaka Mong’are
Climate Change Literacy and Awareness in Schools
Enock is the project lead and chairperson of Green Initiative Kakuma, a community-based organization in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya, that promotes and advocates climate change adaptation, climate justice and mitigation practices, promotes climate change awareness and advocates for climate smart sustainable agriculture. He has successfully led implementation of Nakoyo smallholder farmers women groups capacity building project where 34 smallholder farmers were trained on climate smart agricultural practices between February 2024 and March 2024.
Enock holds a certificate in project management, a post graduate diploma in education and a bachelor's degree in Chemistry.He has undergone training on climate governance, diplomacy and negotiations leadership under the African Group Network of Experts Support (AGNES). He is also a student at the International School of Climate Mobilities at Earth Refuge and a student at Climate Change Artificial Intelligence Summer School. Enock is an alumnus of the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre Incubation hub and an alumnus of the East Africa Community Youth Leadership fellowship.
Relevant Links:
Page IX Website
LinkedIn
X
Email Enock
Email Green Initiative Kakuma
Callum Dewar
Climate Justice and the Church
Callum was Company Secretary and latterly Company Captain, of the Boys’ Brigade in Lenzie Scotland. While managing their volunteer officers and helpers, he took on the position of Chair of Trustees of the charity and has been closely involved in this work for seven years.
Callum shares how the Boys' Brigade, in partnership with Global Fellowship, is seeking ways to increase climate justice in the church. Global Fellowship have been involved in COP26 and COP27. Callum will bring attention to the work of the Church of Scotland, such as the recent Climate Debate at the General Assembly 2023.
Relevant Links:
Boys' Brigade Website
Email Callum
Zac Clark
The HomeMore Project
Zac Clark, the founder, current President, and Executive Director at The HomeMore Project. Zac moved to San Francisco with aspirations of working for one of the big tech companies when he was exposed to the current homelessness situation in San Francisco and discovered his passion for assisting in the development of struggling communities. Zac was introduced to the nonprofit sector in high school. He served as the Student Logistics Director at Leadership Initiatives, a Washington, D.C.-based organization focused on connecting high school students to working remotely in developing communities in Nigeria.
Zac contributed his efforts toward Leadership Initiatives for nearly three years before beginning his Marketing and International Business undergraduate studies at the University of San Francisco. Zac spent most of his free time building The HomeMore Project, participating in many extracurricular activities, and working for a Venture Capital Firm called SVLC.
Zac is currently a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning Candidate concentrating on Community Economic Development and Affordable Housing at UCLA. He is looking to utilize the resources and networking opportunities to continue building The Project to become a household name in the State of California. Zac is a dedicated social change-maker who enjoys applying his unique perspectives to address some of the world's most pressing challenges.
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Sheila Shefu Mbiru
Leveraging Education for Climate Action
Sheila Shefo Mbiru is an accomplished Knowledge Management Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in environmental and climate change education, and has been instrumental in driving policy development and innovative initiatives in Kenya's climate education sector.
Notable achievements include leading the formulation of Kenya's National Climate Change Learning and Awareness Strategy (2021 – 2030), recognized for its inclusive approach and actionable steps towards a sustainable, low-carbon emissions economy.
Sheila received accolades for coordinating the first Climate Change Training Program for government officers, which garnered international acclaim for its effectiveness in raising awareness and empowering government officials to address climate challenges.
Sheila also led the successful execution of the inaugural Kenya Climate Change Art and Essay Competition, providing a platform for learners to express their climate action ideas creatively.
Her efforts earned her the Systems Shaping Award for her significant contributions to national education systems change in climate education.
Currently serving as the Head of Program, First Lady’s Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) at Mama Doing Good, she leads national initiatives that equip and empower learners for environmental conservation and climate action, fostering a generation of environmentally conscious and climate-ready citizens in Kenya.
Relevant Links:
Website
Facebook
X
Instagram
Email Sheila
Bukenya Bushenyi Willy
KCDO Supporting HIV Positive Children and Youth in Uganda
Bukenya George Willy Bushenyi holds advanced education with diplomas in Education (ICT and Physics) and social work and social administration, a degree in public administration and a master's degree in organizational management and business administration.
He and Rev. Fr. Vincent Kateregga began KCDO as a social enterprise organization in 2013 with the passion of supporting HIV positive children and youth, since their location is where the first positive person in Uganda was identified. 60% of Uganda's total population are youth and children below 20 years of age, and KCDO are supporting and caring for 256 HIV positive youth.
Current projects:
• Kyamaganda Community Development Organization (KCDO)
• St. Nicholas Milling Centre (SNMC)
• Bazira Kiteesa Sports Ground (BKSG)
• St. George Coffee Factory
• Zaverio Estates
• St. Paul Secondary School and Kaboyo SchoolsAll these projects support the community for transformation and livelihood improvement. They strive to continue working IN and WITH the community for better standards of living.
Relevant Links:
Website
Email Bukenya
Buyana Delphin Joseph
Innovation Talent Academy: Empowering Youth and Women Refugees
Buyana Delphin Joseph, born in DR Congo, a visionary at the age of 23, serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Innovation Talent Academy (ITA) while being a refugee in Uganda. As a dynamic young entrepreneur, Delphin brings extensive experience in entrepreneurship and leadership training, mentoring, and facilitation. His impactful journey includes pivotal roles at Youth Initiatives for Development in Africa (YIDA) and the establishment of ITA.
With expertise in entrepreneurship, business management, leadership, Adobe Assets, and a diverse range of computer skills, Delphin is motivated by a humanist philosophy and a commitment to minimalist, versatile solutions. In addition, he spearheads the Hand Craft Empowerment Program at ITA, creating baskets from recycled plastic waste materials, addressing the climate crisis. His passion and unique approach drive ITA's mission to empower marginalized youths, particularly women refugees, through innovative programs like the Hand Craft Empowerment Program and other technologies. Delphin's leadership reflects dedication to building coherent, concise, and impactful solutions for a brighter future.
Relevant Links:
LinkedIn
Email Buyana
Michelle Oira
Developing Your Life Bank
Michelle is a passionate advocate for human potential. Her unique blend of business sense and coaching expertise enables her to guide individuals and organizations on a transformative journey towards wealth, success, and fulfillment. With a solid foundation in risk management honed over 25 years at leading Philippine financial institutions coupled with her academic pursuits, including a Master's in Management from the Asian Institute of Management, she brings a unique perspective to her work.
A pioneer in personal and professional development, Michelle is the Philippines' first certified Wealth and Joy Coach and B.A.N.K. Personality Coach and Trainer. Armed with other certifications in TetraMap, NLP, and Points of You, she empowers clients to live their best lives and create a positive impact on the world.
Relevant Links:
Website
Facebook
LinkedIn
Email Michelle
Jennings Ingram
Promoting Ethical Organizations and Businesses
Jennings is a podcast host and social media marketing specialist. A background in Permaculture and Environmental Science, she is an extremely creative, feminine, highly intelligent person with a knack for effective, supportive expression online. Jennings is the founder of Jennings Creative, a digital marketing agency, where she works with ethical organizations and businesses, thought leaders and brands to expand their audiences and generate engagement.
Emily Emond
Adopting Zero Waste Practices
Emily is a student at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where she serves as President and Founder of SD Mines Environmental Change and Sustainability Club. Ecofriendly since 2020, Emily focuses on generating zero waste and identifying ways individuals can change their environmental impact—especially youth who do not control household choices like grocery purchases and energy consumption. She works to provide support, information and simple solutions, making it easier for people to switch to an ecofriendly lifestyle.
Relevant Links:
Instagram
Email Emily
Maylynn Quan
Supporting Youth in Uganda Through Art & Tech
Maylynn is a freelance photographer based in Toronto and the founder/director of a not for profit organization called kids Canada. Kids Canada supports schools, organizations and local professionals in Uganda and Canada, providing a platform for children using art and technology to break down negative gender cultural and racial stereotypes. Founded on the belief that a child's home life affects their success in and out of school, Kids Canada supports the family unit as a whole by kickstarting microbusinesses to provide school fees and basic life needs. Maylynn’s vision for children is to build a world of compassion, kindness and human rights for all. She is eager to connect with like-minded individuals who aim to support the empowerment and education of youth worldwide.
Relevant Links:
Maylynn's Website
Kids Canada Website
Martha Alter Hines
Living the One Light: Connecting with the Divine Universe to Thrive
Martha Alter Hines, MSW, is a mom, an author, a healer, and an astrologer. Martha has twenty years of experience as a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and body worker. She has primarily studied Evolutionary Astrology with Ari Moshe Wolfe and is currently a student of Heather Ensworth as well.
Martha bridges her trauma informed clinical background with her astrological knowledge, as well as a deep understanding of ourselves as beings of the cosmos, Earth, divine, heart, mind, and so much more.
Martha was born in Thailand and grew up in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya, and the United States. Therefore, she has a deep passion for alleviating the suffering of our world.
Martha is dedicated to serving our world, to helping us each to thrive, and to supporting us to come back into the infinite wisdom and healing that is our natural state of being.
Relevant Links:
Website
Facebook
Youtube
Teachable Site
Beni Oren
Beni Oren is an aspiring polymath. His main discipline has been meditation. He cares deeply about the collective well-being of our planet and is an ambassador of the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible. He is a writer, philosopher, and researcher of our higher human potentials.
Rajesh Nair
Empowering Youth to be Entrepreneurs Through Education
Rajesh Nair (Founder, CEO-EnCube Labs) has a diverse background as an engineer, designer, serial entrepreneur, and educator. Rajesh's academic achievements include multiple Master's degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Engineering and Management, UMass, Amherst in Manufacturing Engineering, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Electronic Product Design. He received his Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication from IISc. He has founded four companies in the United States and was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year by New Hampshire High Tech Council. He holds 13 US patents. Rajesh has also served as a founding faculty and Professor of Practice in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Asia School of Business (ASB) in Malaysia, started by MIT-Sloan, and as a Visiting Scholar at MIT. During his time at these institutions, He conducted research on nurturing young innovators and entrepreneurs from underserved communities and developed the Zero-Maker-Innovator-Entrepreneur framework and training methodology, which focuses on building confidence, self-learning skills, and critical thinking abilities in children. Rajesh has conducted over a hundred workshops in seven countries for school and university students from underserved communities. Rajesh's ultimate mission is to create one million entrepreneurs through his work.
Peter Thomas Sudiyasa Philips
Conscious Education Design
Peter pioneers new meta for Biomimicry and Education. Peter is a bridge to co-creative possibilities for bold people, businesses and brands. Peter conducts business from the HEART where 'HE and WE' channel Profits to Purposeful People, and Projects that heal and uplift Humanity and our beautiful planet Earth.
Relevant Links:
Biomimicry Works Website
Peter's Website
Podcast
LinkedIn
Email Peter
Daniel Pecenka
Transitioning From Traditional to Regenerative Farming Practices
Daniel was born and raised in Mitchell, SD. In 2017, he e earned an undergraduate degree in Natural Resouces Management from South Dakota State University. Since 2019, Daniel has worked as a technician at Ecdysis Foundation where he collects, researches and categorizes soil and biological samples advising farmers and supporting their success in regenerative agricultural practices. Daniel is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Plant Sciences with an emphasis in Entomology. His project involves exploring ways that insects can be used to estimate ecosystem health within perennial grain production.
Relevant Links:
Ecdysys Foundation Website
Ecdysis PDF
Featured Project
Email Daniel
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David Kawanuka Naggenda
Girls Empowerment and Education in Uganda
David is a social / community worker, Director and Founder of a nonprofit Charity NGO called "Let The Girl Be-Uganda (LEGIBE)-Girls Empowerment and Education." Let The Girl Be Uganda (LEGIBE) is an organization serving and protecting vulnerable girls in Mukono District near Lake Victoria, Uganda. LEGIBE provides a safe and welcoming community for these girls to come together and hone their independent skills in crafts so they can make money for themselves, music and dance to spark and inspire joy, and counseling so that these girls can speak about and process what they have experienced.
Dr. Kelechukwu Okezie
Gender Inequity, Poverty and Food Insecurity in Nigeria
Okezie Kelechukwu (PhD) is the founder and Executive Director of Neighborhood Environment Watch Foundation. A front line environmental non profit organisation in Nigeria. Dr Okezie is a globally recognized social entrepreneur, an Ashoka Fellow, and environmental and human rights activist. Dr. Okezie firmly believes that social and environmental justice are intertwined and works with impacted communities to demand for social and environmental justice. His advocacy work has challenged systemic inequalities and disrupted imbalanced access to social justice. Through his organization, the Neighborhood Environment Watch Foundation, he has been a vocal advocate for policies and practices that prioritize the well-being of all, especially the vulnerable and marginalized communities and his passion is on trees planting and indigenous forests conservations.
Malika Vira Sawmy
Facilitating Systemic Transformation for a Sustainable and Equitable Future
Malika Virah-Sawmy is a facilitator, researcher and community weaver, dedicated to systemic change and working with companies, institutions such as the UN and with social and Indigenous movements. Her work is rooted in theory and practice in systems change, collective leadership, futures thinking, innovation, learning, generativity, embodiment, ancestral teachings, and healing. She works at the intersection of knowledge, love, power and social justice, with a passion for Global North-South healing.
She has worked the last 20 years as a sustainability practitioner and systems scientist across the world from Asia, Australia, Africa to South America, with action-based work on inclusive business models, sustainable production, consumption, and trade, nature based solutions, and community and indigenous rights. She now lives in a community dedicated to collabarory efforts between artists, social innovators and rural communities, just outside Berlin.
Fiston Muganda
Redesigning Education to Improve World Conditions
Fiston Muganda is a visionary activist and social entrepreneur, born and raised in Congo until circumstances led him to seek refuge in Uganda at a young age before moving to Canada. Since then, Fiston has emerged as a dynamic force in the realm of education, entrepreneurship, and refugee advocacy.
Armed with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from ID4AFRICA and another in Data Research from 60 Decibels, Fiston has embarked on a relentless pursuit of knowledge and professional development. His journey has seen him assume diverse roles, from CEO of the Unidos project in Nakivale refugee settlement to Community Support Officer at Project Hello World. Fiston has also lent his expertise as a Lean Data Research Assistant at 60 Decibels and as a country representative at Full Circle Learning.
Currently serving as a Vision Keeper at Full Circle Learning Uganda, Fiston is deeply committed to innovating within Uganda's education landscape. His passion for transformative change extends to his work at Lo*op Center Inc, where he coordinates the Open Portal Network project, fostering connections within the education sector.
Fiston's dedication to social impact is reflected in his extensive affiliations with organizations such as Ulab MIT, SDG4Youth, Learning Planet, and YouthxYouth, among others. He is also pursuing a B.A. in Human Relations with a specialization in Organizational Development at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, further honing his skills in catalyzing systemic change.
Relevant Links:
Email Fiston
Anodea Judith, PhD
Women as Peacemakers
Anodea is the author of a dozen books and mixed media addressing social change, psychology, yoga, women’s leadership, and models for personal and cultural evolution. She is the founder of the teaching organization, Sacred Centers, a global teacher whose courses have reached over 170 countries, and whose books are in 28 languages. She is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Council of the Source of Synergy Foundation and is often called a prophet for our time.
Her double award-winning book: THE GLOBAL HEART AWAKENS: HUMANITY’S RITE OF PASSAGE FROM THE LOVE OF POWER TO THE POWER OF LOVE, is the topic of her chat with WSS, looking at humanity’s past and future with a global vision of a heart centered paradigm, based on gender equity, peace, and ecological sanity. Her SHE RISES MOVEMENT project seeks to awaken feminine leadership styles, and create a Matriot Act that would put the health of our environment at the top of the global priority list. With Michael Wayne, she co-hosts the podcast: VOICES FOR THE FUTURE.
Relevant Links:
Anodea's Website
She Rises Movement Website
Voices of the Future Website
Sacred Centers Website
Rita Ezenwa-Okoro
The Role of Play in Enhancing Collaboration
Rita is a thought leader, creative culturist, performance activist, and communications expert who believes in the transformative power of performing arts for human development. Her visionary leadership shines as the Executive Director of the Global Play Brigade. This movement uses play to soften borders and barriers between people across the globe. She is also the founder of the United Nations and BMW Group’s Intercultural Innovation Award-Winning Street Project Foundation. This organization implements inclusive creative arts-led leadership programs for at-risk youth in Africa. She is a Mandela Washington Fellow, recipient of the Lagos State Award of Excellence in Youth Development and Entrepreneurship Development, respectively, a three-time global fellow of the International Society of the Performing Arts (ISPA), and now the first Nigerian to serve on the board of ISPA, a 75-year-old prestigious organization for performing arts leaders across the world. Rita is also the author of Doing. Being. Becoming. For the love of the creative arts, a book about her performance journey as a grassroots creative youth organizer in Nigeria. Besides developing creative strategies for businesses through her Marketing Communications firm ROC, Rita is also a movie buff, public speaker, singer, and world traveler who considers herself a global citizen.
Relevant Links:
Dionna Brown
Youth Voices and Climate Change
Dionna Brown (she/her) hails from Flint, Michigan, with deep connections to Detroit, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Currently serving as the National Director of Youth Environmental Justice Programs for Young, Gifted & Green, she is dedicated to educating and empowering youth. Her leadership of a transformative summer camp, which enlightens Flint's youth on the intersection of environmental justice and public health, is a testament to her commitment to fostering future activists. Dionna's resilience and dedication to her community were shaped during the Flint Water Crisis as a teenager, driving her tireless advocacy for justice. A proud alumna of Howard University with a Bachelor's in Sociology, Dionna is on track to graduate in May with a Master’s in Sociology from Wayne State University. She has plans for further studies, pursuing a Master's in Public Health and a Juris Doctorate, to become an environmental justice attorney. Dionna's passion for environmental and climate justice, alongside her interests in race, gender, law, politics, and social justice, motivates her ongoing learning and advocacy efforts. Fluent in Simplified Chinese, Dionna enjoys cooking, baking, reading, family time, and travel. She firmly believes in the value of being teachable and is dedicated to making a positive impact in her community and beyond.
Relevant Links:
Website
Linktree
Email Dionna
Michael Wayne
From Scarcity to Abundance: Incorporating a New Transformative Economics
Michael Wayne, PhD, L.Ac, is a doctor of Chinese and Integrative Medicine, an author of five books and a filmmaker. He has made a feature film, a feature documentary, a video web series, a video interview series, and currently co-hosts a podcast called Voices for the Future. He is currently in pre-production for a documentary film entitled “How to Save Democracy.” His work has been focused on the theme of positive societal change—politically, economically, environmentally, and culturally. As he has gone deeper in the weeds of positive societal change, he has come to see and understand the root causes of the problems society and the world face, and what the solutions are.
His most recent book, “Toward a More Perfect Union: From Scarcity to Abundance for All” focuses is on politics, economics, health, climate change, and the evolution of consciousness, and discusses not only these issues, but also presents solutions, and how we can achieve a more sustainable, regenerative, egalitarian, and redistributive society.
Michael says, “These topics are all deeply interconnected, and I am immersed in all three. Our political and economic systems are deeply skewed toward the interests of the wealth class, and favor the agenda of fossil fuel energy companies, which has led to the climate crisis. To change things, we need to create a more responsive and direct democracy, and an economic system that favors a more sustainable, regenerative, egalitarian, and redistributive approach. And underlying all that will take a transformation to a more evolved and sophisticated way that we think, act, and behave.”
Relevant Links:
Voices of the Future Website
Book Website
Michael's Website
Matthew Friedman
Modern Slavery and the Private Sector
Matt Friedman is an international human trafficking expert with more than 30 years’ experience. He is CEO of The Mekong Club, an organization of Hong Kong’s leading businesses which have joined forces to help end all forms of modern slavery. Mr. Friedman previously worked for USAID and the United Nations in over 40 countries. Mr. Friedman offers technical advice to numerous governments, banks and corporations working to eliminate all forms of modern slavery and is the author of fourteen books. In 2017, Mr. Friedman won Asia’s prestigious “Communicator of the Year” Gold Award.
Relevant Links:
LinkedIn
The Mekong Club Website
“Where Were You: A Profile of Modern Slavery” book
“Be the Hero: Be the Change” book
Tom Bosschaert
Building Sustainable Cities
Tom is the founder and director of Except, and the visionary force behind its development. He is also the chairman of the Environment Committee of the World Institute for Change Management and Innovation (WICMI) in Switzerland. Tom founded Except at the age of 19 in 1999 with a mission to find systemic solutions for our societal challenges by combining science, business, design, and communication. In the past decades, he has developed several hundred projects globally, for groundbreaking sustainable cities, buildings, business, policy, and industry. Tom’s vision shows that we can flourish globally when we simultaneously integrate environmental, societal, economical, and technical aspects in our society. He is a frequent keynote speaker, and author of the Symbiosis in Development (SiD) framework and books.
Tom has been recognized in the past few decades as a leader in sustainable thinking, the circular economy, and systemic innovation. In 2014 he was elected number 38 of the most influential sustainability professionals in the Netherlands by national newspaper Trouw, and ranked 21st on the Dutch Sustainable Real Estate awards. At his initiative, the UCo center for sustainable entrepreneurship was opened in Utrecht in 2017. This center has brought over 150 sustainability pioneers together in the first energy-neutral, circular, and future-proof listed heritage building in Europe.
Robyn Whittaker
Establishing Communities of Care and Belonging
Robyn is a Collaboration Convenor seeking to understand how best the conditions for effective collaboration can be fostered through relationship building. A medical doctor by practice, she has shifted her practice from a focus on the individual, to address social therapeutics, and in particular to understanding how the conditions for relationality and trust for supporting societal wellbeing might be facilitated. Through Kaleidoscope Lights and Africa Voices Dialogue, Robyn supports organizations, sectors and systems to engage in deeper forms of co-creative work.
Robyn has a particular focus on human development, and on understanding the "how" of deep collaborative work to support the evocation of human potential and the evolution of functional and relational impact ecosystems. She currently explores this through work in the fields of learning ecosystems and youth development in South Africa (with DBE E-Cubed and EdEco Connect), on the African continent (with Africa Voices Dialogue, Catalyst 2030, Talenttalks Africa and The Room), and globally with the NetEdu Project and Purpose Alliance.
Relevant Links:
Kaleidoscope Lights Website
Africa Voices Dialogue Website
The NetEdu Project Website
Katy Bee
The Joy First Foundation
Katy is a life coach, clown, improvisor, laughter yoga leader, and in training to be a Chief Well-Being Officer with the World Happiness Academy. She offers public speaking programs discussing joy, happiness, and how to bring joy to self and others spontaneously.
Relevant Links:
Sign up for the Joy First Foundation Newsletter
Joy First Foundation Website
Joy First Foundation Facebook
Joy First Foundation X
Joy First Foundation Instagram
Joy First Foundation YouTube Channel
Joy First Foundation TikTok
Katy's LinkedIn
Laughbox Podcast
If you’d like to contribute to our ongoing EmpowerEd Friday Speaker events, please do so here.
Keri Evjy
Regenerative Land and Life Design Solutions
Keri is an earth keeper and guild assisting healing for people and the planet through nature-inspired land and life design. For more than 26 years, she has been an educator and ecological designer observing natural patterns and demystifying holistic life design practices to cultivate abundant and resilient lives and landscapes for individuals and organizations. Her transformative programs include group curriculum and one-on-one coaching experiences through Regenerative Life Design. Her book, Regenerative Life Design Playbook, an earth-inspired multimedia toolkit to flourish in life, career and relationships, was released July, 2022. Keri is also the founder of Healing Roots Design, a regenerative landscaping company cultivating planetary health and re-wilding through edible and medicinal landscape design, install and maintenance. She thrives in a cooperative home she stewards with friends in Asheville, NC.
Relevant Links:
Healing Roots Design Website
Regenerative Training Website
Purchase "Regenerative Life Design Playbook" here
Nissaf Sleymi
Game-Based Learning for Sustainable Water Management
Nissaf Sleimi is a purpose-driven social innovator and a visionary founder of an ecofriendly game service. With a profound background in civil engineering, she seamlessly transitioned into the world of entrepreneurship after gaining extensive knowledge in business and project management. Nissaf is not only a dedicated woman, but also a passionate person of education from early age and trainer in sustainability and green buildings. She aims to share her knowledge and broad mind to help young generations in need. Driven by a strong commitment to making a positive impact and grit to lead the educational landscape, Nissaf leverages her academic expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to create engaging educational games that promote sustainability and environmental consciousness. She exemplifies the fusion of academic acumen, business prowess, and a deep-seated commitment to fostering a culture of sustainability through innovative and impactful initiative for the planet and future generations.
Relevant Links:
Linktree
Emily Liu
Compostology: Diverting Food Waste
Emily is an 18-year-old student from Rockville, Maryland, dedicated to advancing inclusive climate solutions. She is the Director of Compostology, a youth-led organization pushing the movement for food waste consciousness nationwide. Emily has been involved with student advocacy since her freshman year, where she discovered the power of her voice to drive change. Outside of her pursuits in environmentalism and student advocacy, Emily has played the violin for the past 11 years.
Thomas Poetter
Optimizing Performance and Creativity with FlowState
Thomas Poetter graduated as master of computer science from the University of Kaiserslautern with an IQ of 140 (at the time the only opportunity to study AI, today called RPTU) with artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) as key focus areas. Working with DFKI (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence) during his studies, Thomas was the only German AI graduate around the year 2000, one of the first entrepreneurs who received in 1998 a 2 years’ start-up stipend from the Fraunhofer society, in his case from the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE).
Inspired by Fraunhofer’s success with MP3, Thomas achieved a comparable success with his 8 patents around innovations for watermarking text-based contents (eBooks, documents, web pages, etc.) and for secret inconspicuous communication. His business plans received 3 awards and €40k in prize money, among them 2nd best in Germany (VW’s Promotion startup contest) and Thomas was 2x best German participant of the business French contest “Golden Word” (Mot d’or with over 30 000 participants). The patents are now being used by IBM, SAP/Sybase, Amazon, Intel, Microsoft, Nuance, Fuji Xerox, AT&T, Amazon, Fraunhofer, Yandex, Adobe, Discord, Certicom and many others.
Since then, he and his company have successfully helped thirteen DAX30 corporations, the German government and more than 100 international Fortune 500 corporations making each project a success and achieving significant innovations in the fields of AI, IT architecture, cybersecurity, big data and artificial intelligence – improving the lives of more than a billion people. His publications have achieved more than 30 000 downloads, ranking him in the top third of all researchers in spite of never ever having gotten research subsidies like most of the researchers.
Relevant Links:
Potentialism / Per Con Flow Summary
YouTube Channel
TikTok
Flow State Video Presentation
Katie Spreitzer
Co-designing Sustainability Focused Learning Innovations to Support and Empower Youth
Katie is a Master's student earning a Master's of Sustainable Solutions (MSUS) and a Master's of Public Policy (MPP) at Arizona State University. She is interested in sustainable education for youth and environmental justice and policy. Her research involves intergenerational education, particularly among marginalized youth, and how to co-create sustainable food-energy-water systems in communities. Her future plans involve developing sustainable policy changes to mitigate climate change impacts on underrepresented communities.
Relevant Links:
LinkedIn
Dr. Nancy D. O’Reilly, PsyD
Women Connect4Good: A Conversation
Nancy D. O'Reilly, PsyD, founded Women Connect4Good, Inc., a 501(c)3 foundation, to help support other organizations working to advance women and girls. She also serves on the boards of several social-profit groups, including the National Women’s History Museum. Dr. Nancy’s latest books, In This Together: How Successful Women Support Each Other in Work and Life (Adams Media/Simon & Schuster, January 2019), and Leading Women: 20 Influential Women Share Their Secrets to Leadership, Business, and Life, were both released as audiobooks in 2022, and she has two new titles scheduled to be released in 2024. Supporting women is Dr. Nancy’s passion and purpose. Her popular podcast “Smart, Amazing Conversations with Dr. Nancy” examines the stories of life and leadership of smart, amazing women and men whose stories connect us, and helps listeners understand that the possibilities are endless if we support each other and lift one another up.
Master Teresa Yeung
Qi Gong for Women’s Health
Master Teresa Yeung is a rare female generational Qi Gong master who has been practicing Qi Gong for 29 years. She is a three-time #1 International Bestselling Award-Winning Author, speaker, and trainer, as well as the founder of Pureland International Qi Gong, a Canadian registered private Qi Gong institution. In 2023, she presented with her daughter, Jacqueline, at the Science of Tai Chi and Qi Gong as a Whole Person Health conference, a landmark event organized by the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine in conjunction with Harvard Medical School and Brigham Women’s Hospital. Their presentation focused on Qi Gong to Improve Vision and Qi Gong for Menopausal Transition. Master Teresa is the leading successor of Grandmaster Weizhao Wu’s lineage, who has positively impacted millions of people. Additionally, she is a provider of continuing education professional development activities (PDA) accredited by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncturists and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in the USA.
Relevant Links:
Website
Book an Appointment
Wu's Eye Qi Gong®
Remote Fa Chi Remote Healing Certification
Chi Gong: The Natural Menopause Solution
School: PurelandQiGong.com
Youtube.com/c/PurelandQiGong
Instagram
Facebook Group Menopausewellness
Facebook/qibreaks
Twitter/masterteresa
LinkedIn
Mary McGillicuddy
Preparing for Green Careers
Mary is a career advisor and instructor at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability, where she supports undergraduate and graduate students with career exploration and preparation.
Relevant Links:
LInkedIn
Email Mary
David Delano D’Angelo
Promoting Environmental Sustainability in the Philippines
David Delano D'Angelo is an environmental activist, influencer, vlogger, digital marketing consultant, gamer, streamer, host, and cosplayer. David is part of various organizations advocating for the protection, rehabilitation, and nurturing of nature. In 2022, he ran for Senator in the Philippines, carrying an environmental agenda. David is now the President of the Green Party of the Philippines, committed to pushing policies and programs on environmental protection and sustainable development. The party is currently organizing in 16 regions, 31 provinces, and 162 cities and municipalities across the Philippines. David is also a Board of Trustee at Green Convergence - Philippines, an organization dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability in the Philippines by offering training programs on responsible mining, environmental impacts on indigenous peoples, and the energy transition in the transport sector.
Relevant Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Tiktok
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Red Cloud Interactive
Tindahan Ng Kalikasan (Green Eco Store)
Asia Pacific Greens Federation
Global Greens
Green Party of the Philippines
Green Convergence Philippines
Bayanihan Para sa Kalikasan Movement, Inc.
Rotary Club of Alabang Madrigal Business Park
Soomaya Javadi
Promoting Education for Afghan Women and Girls
Soomaya is an Afghan human rights advocate dedicated to the empowerment of women and the preservation of human rights. She was born in 1997 in a Hazara family, one of the most persecuted ethnicities in Afghanistan by the Taliban.
Originally a dentistry student on the verge of graduation, her life took a dramatic turn when Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August 2021. As a Hazara woman, she faced immense peril, prompting her courageous journey through countless Taliban checkpoints to reach safety in Canada. Now residing there, she continues to tirelessly shed light on the plight of her people and serves as an influential voice for the marginalized. Soomaya's firsthand experiences and unwavering determination fuel her powerful narratives, inspiring change and fostering a deeper understanding of Afghanistan's complex struggles.
Currently, Soomaya is a student at the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Health Studies with focus on Biology, Development, and health. She aspires to reclaim her professional life, preparing to apply for dentistry school once again.
Relevant Links:
Soomaya at the United Nations Opening, Geneva Summit 2023
Soomaya at Saskatoon City Hall
Soomaya at the Learning Planet Festival 2024
Soomaya on Now or Never Program, CBC National
Soomaya on Rachel Johnson’s Difficult Women Podcast
Soomaya at the Canadian House of Commons
LinkedIn
Trish Kane
Exploring the Healerverse
Trish s the CEO and Founder of Healerverse Platform, an online sanctuary for holistic healing and connection, which brings together a global community of healers, lightworkers, and individuals seeking a deeper sense of purpose. After a near-death experience, Trish embarked on a decade-long journey of self-healing, guided by powerful healers and a supportive community. Now, her passion is to empower others on their own paths to well-being. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, inspiring audiences with her message of hope and healing and an author, sharing her personal story and insights to empower others.
Relevant Links:
Trish's Website
Healerverse Website
LinkedIn
Cindy Forde
Bright New World
Cindy is a thought leader and acclaimed author with over 25 years dedicated to systems change. In 2023, she won the Change Champion Award alongside leaders such as David Attenborough and Malala Yusufzai. Her ground-breaking children's book, ‘Bright New World, Building a Better Planet,’ garnered critical acclaim, selected among the best new children's books by The Guardian and hailed as "outstanding" by New Scientist. It has been adopted by the Australian National Curriculum. She is the founder of Planetari, pioneering Earth-led education, earning a Climate Positive Award at UN COP28. Previously MD of Blue Marine Foundation and CEO of Cambridge Science Centre, she has an MSc in Sustainability and Business Practice, is guest faculty at University of Cambridge's Homerton Change Makers program, she serves on the Steering Committee of She Changes Climate among other boards. She was named a Shero for Black History Month 2023 by Environment Magazine and is currently writing a book on colonization and climate change.
Relevant Links:
Cindy's Website
Planetari Website
UPCOMING GLOBAL SOLUTION COLLABORATION FORUMS
Join us at one or all of the following collaborative events.
EmpowerED: Global Solutions Collaboration Forum
ZOOMEvery Friday, from 9:00 am PT to 11:30 am PT, the EmpowerED Global Solutions Collaboration Forum serves as a hub for sustained collaboration among climate-focused…
Re-Envisioning Education: A Transformational Bridge for a Just and Sustainable Future
ZOOMThe 90-minute event will feature a presentation and interactive discussion with John Jones, CEO of World Systems Solutions. John will discuss the benefit of blending different educational offerings and modalities into one cohesive, global system and how the PHOENIX platform can amplify the potential of educators to offer personalized, collaborative learning that empowers future generations to co-create a just and thriving world.