Event: Business and Government Leaders

Wei-Tai Kwok is a volunteer public speaker who was personally trained on climate by Former Vice President Al Gore and his non-profit organization, The Climate Reality Project. Over the past 10 years, Wei-Tai has delivered 170 multi-media presentations to community groups, businesses, schools, churches and more, to press for urgent climate action. In his day […]

Cecily Mak is a mother to two sons, writer, podcast host, co-founder of Wisdom Ventures, and the visionary behind ClearLife. With over 20 years of diverse experience as an attorney, revenue leader, and COO, Cecily has spearheaded the growth of startups across various industries, including music, publishing, mindfulness, well-being, and crypto. As co-founder of Wisdom […]

Mark Wenzler serves as the inaugural director of the Climate Change Initiative at Chautauqua Institution, a non-profit dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the engagement of individuals in the important issues of our day. In collaboration with his colleagues, Mark develops programs that engage people in climate change from multiple unique perspectives and […]

Prior to joining the office, Jessica was the Assistant Secretary for the Environment for the State of New York, where she developed policy and programs to advance Governor Andrew Cuomo’s climate goals, with a focus on clean transportation, natural and working lands, and on the inclusion of equity and justice across all policies. Jessica has […]

John P. Given is an attorney in Los Angeles, California, with a solo public interest practice focusing on land use and zoning, environmental law including the California Environmental Quality Act and California Coastal Act, the California Public Records Act, and civil rights.  Before practicing law, John was a successful composer and won an Emmy Award for […]

Charlotte Streck is a co-founder and director of Climate Focus. She serves as an advisor to numerous governments and non-profit organizations, private companies, and foundations on legal aspects of climate policy, international negotiations, policy development and implementation. She is also a renowned international expert on climate change mitigation and adaptation in the agricultural and forestry […]

Julia Bucknall is a Global Director, Environmental and Social Framework, at the World Bank.  She has worked in every region of the world on operations and knowledge relating to environment, water resources management, climate change and energy.  She was the lead author of a flagship publication on water in the Middle East “Making the Most […]

Troy has worked on environmental issues for the City of Portland since 1997.  He started his career developing and implementing solid waste management programs including the City’s successful “pay as you throw” waste collection program and curbside recycling He has also managed the City’s parks and open spaces where he led efforts to expand community […]

Continually searching for the intersection of capitalism and sustainability, Antony has recently joined GO Lab of Belfast, Maine. GO Lab hopes to disrupt an $11B US building material marketplace currently dominated by energy-intensive and fossil fuel derived products. GO Lab is currently under contract to purchase and retrofit a decommissioned paper mill in Madison, Maine, […]

Tim Oey runs ZeroW.org to help people learn how to tread more lightly on our earth and pursue Zero Waste – saving our environment, oceans, climate, money, and lives by reducing, reusing, and as a last resort recycling. His household of 4 humans and 3 dogs is down to about a quart of trash a […]

Alan comes from a Cape Cod fishing family that dates back to whaling times. He grew up out on the water surfing, diving and sailing as often as possible. He move west to attend UC Santa Cruz, and upon graduating went to teach sailing on the Sea of Cortez with the National Outdoor Leadership School. […]

Nathan Kipnis is a fellow of the AIA. His practice, Kipnis Architecture + Planning, based in Evanston, IL, was recently named one of the top 25 environmental architectural firms in the US.   His designs have been extensively published locally and nationally and he was one of 25 environmental ‘Giants’ featured in the 2016 documentary ‘Green […]