Dr. Alexa White is a Principal Strategist at the intersection of state and federal climate policy and technical resilience. As the co-founder of the Aya Research Institute and Asé Analytics, she directs nationally scaled research initiatives and has engineered primary data frameworks utilized by federal and state agencies for environmental equity screening. As a Systems Scientist with a Ph.D. in Ecology, Dr. White specializes in nature-related risk and supply chain integrity. She translates complex scientific data and emerging California mandates into actionable corporate strategy. Her track record includes successfully directing legislative strategies across the U.S.—from Alaska to Louisiana—and leading campaigns that have reshaped high-impact industrial development and national corporate accountability standards. Dedicated to scaling data-backed solutions, she bridges the gap between rigorous ecological science and global corporate frameworks to build a more resilient and equitable future.

For more than 35 years, Joel has been a well-respected voice on business, sustainability and innovation. An award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker and strategist on corporate sustainability practices, climate tech and the clean economy, he has advised a wide range of companies on how to align sustainability with business success.

Michael Chen is a Workplace Sustainability Program Manager at Okta, where he leads global initiatives to decarbonize operations, advance renewable energy goals, and embed sustainability into real estate and procurement. He has previously managed corporate sustainability programs at Meta and Google (via JLL), with experience spanning emissions management, employee engagement, and sustainable building certifications. Named to the Trellis 30 Under 30 list, Michael is passionate about driving private-sector climate action and building accountability across value chains. A former math teacher in Thailand, he brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to future generations.

I make sustainability sexy! I write and perform award-winning climate stand-up comedy, to support CSOs at strategy events and leadership summits. Using insights from my own comedy career and the interviews from my 25M+ download podcast, I’m able to write bespoke jokes to boost your internal sustainability comms. Find out more and watch comedy clips at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate

Ami Vitale’s career stands as a testament to her deep dedication to documenting and addressing global crises. As an acclaimed National Geographic photographer, writer, and documentary filmmaker, as well as the founder of Vital Impacts, Ami has consistently spotlighted critical issues affecting our world. Her journey began in conflict zones, where she observed firsthand how environmental degradation, from resource scarcity to climate change, intensifies human suffering and conflict. This early exposure shaped her understanding of the profound connections between human and environmental crises. Vitale’s work focuses on the stories of individuals living on the front lines of war, climate change, and extinction, who refuse to let cataclysm define their futures. Through her compelling journalism, she highlights stories of resilience and innovation, emphasizing the delicate balance between humanity and wildlife and the urgent need for conservation. Vitale’s work connects viewers to critical local conservation issues of global importance, underscoring our interconnectedness with one another and the natural world. In addition to her journalism and filmmaking, Vitale is the founder and Executive Director of Vital Impacts, a non-profit organization that leverages the power of art to inspire and mobilize youth as agents of change. Vitale and her non-profit have raised over $5 million to support vital conservation projects. Ami is a Conservation International Innovators Fellow, an honorary fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and a recipient of the prestigious Lucie Humanitarian Award, the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service, and an inductee into the North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame. She has also received the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting, been named Magazine Photographer of the Year at the International Photographer of the Year awards, and is a six-time recipient of World Press Photo awards. Instyle magazine featured her alongside Jane Goodall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in its series “Fifty Badass Women,” celebrating women who exemplify courage and action. A sought-after speaker, she continues to share her experiences and insights with audiences worldwide, and was featured on the National Geographic Channel TV series about her nearly 2 decades of work to save the northern white rhinos from extinction.

Cassandra Garber is the chief sustainability officer of General Motors, pursuing the company’s vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. She oversees the development and execution of GM’s global sustainability strategy and drives the company’s commitment to responsible business practices and environmental and social impact. Cassandra has led teams and activities across nearly every aspect of sustainability, including goal setting and execution, enterprise-wide integration and operations, sustainability-inspired innovation, reporting, philanthropy, volunteerism, and environmental programs and partnerships. She has deep expertise in climate action, circular economy and digital inclusion, and she is passionate about delivering both business and societal value through strategic sustainability programs and transparency. Prior to GM, she served as chief sustainability officer for Dell Technologies, leading a global team in driving strategy and integration across the AI-focused enterprise. Cassandra also served as vice president of sustainability and ESG for McKesson, where she established its first-ever sustainability department. She also held global sustainability leadership roles at 3M and the Coca-Cola Company and spent 10 years at General Electric in a variety of communications and marketing roles.

Hana Kajimura is the Interim CEO of Trellis, a media and events company dedicated to empowering professionals to confront the climate crisis. Prior to Trellis, she led sustainability at Allbirds, where she helped pioneer industry-leading climate and environmental initiatives. Hana brings deep expertise at the intersection of business, sustainability, and leadership, and is passionate about building communities that drive meaningful climate action.

Heather Clancy, vice president and editorial director at GreenBiz, specializes in chronicling the role of technology in enabling corporate climate action and transitioning to a clean, inclusive and regenerative economy. An award-winning journalist, she started her journalism career on the business desk of United Press International, and her articles have appeared in Entrepreneur, Fortune, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. Clancy was the launch editor for the Fortune Data Sheet, the magazine's newsletter dedicated to the business of technology. She co-authored the Amazon best-seller for entrepreneurs, "Niche Down, How to Become Legendary By Being Different." She is proud to serve on the boards of the WSLA Alumnae Group, a mentorship organization dedicated to nurturing feminine leadership in the corporate sustainability movement, and EcoAthletes, a collective of collegiate, professional and amateur athletes dedicate to using their voices to surface solutions to climate change.

Jennifer Morris is Chief Executive Officer of The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization that partners with communities across the globe to overcome the barriers to climate and biodiversity solutions. Jennifer leads over 4,000 global staff working together to develop breakthrough tools and ideas, amplify local knowledge, influence decision-making, and forge new paths to funding in pursuit of a world where people and nature thrive. For more than 25 years, Jennifer has dedicated her life to protecting the environment for people and nature.

Kim Marotta is the Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer and Head of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) at Suntory Global Spirits, a global premium spirits leader with iconic brands including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, and Hibiki. Kim spearheads the company’s development and implementation of long-term sustainability initiatives through its Proof Positive strategy, ensuring a comprehensive approach across the entire value chain. Kim also plays a crucial role in integrating risk management into the company’s core strategies to drive growth and enhance organizational resilience. Before joining Suntory Global Spirits, Kim spent nearly two decades with Molson Coors Beverage Company and its predecessor companies, where she served as Global Senior Director of Sustainability and ERM. Kim holds degrees from Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. After completing law school, she served as The Deputy State Public Defender and an adjunct law professor at Marquette University Law School. Kim currently serves on the boards of Maker’s Mark Distillery and Marquette University National Alumni Association. Kim also served on the Keurig-Dr. Pepper advisory board and was appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin to the Great Lakes Protection Fund. Recognized as a leader in sustainability, Kim has been named among Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability, Assent’s Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders, and Triple Pundit’s Top 35 Female CSR Leaders. She is a sought-after speaker and has been featured in media outlets such as Fortune, The Guardian, the Economist, Reuters, Cheddar News, and CNBC. Additionally, she has been an invited lecturer at the University of Chicago, the University of North Carolina, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Marquette University.

Matt Dwyer is the Head of Product Impact & Innovation at Patagonia, an outdoor apparel company with a mission statement of “We’re in business to save our home planet.” He works at the intersection of technology, business, and advocacy, and leads the company’s efforts to address the root causes of the social and environmental effects of running a business – its carbon, waste, water, and chemistry footprint from its supply chain. Matt has a background in materials science and engineering and previously led technology development at W.L. Gore & Associates.

Theresa Lieb is a food systems analyst at GreenBiz, where she curates content and creates a community that make food and agriculture more sustainable, just, nourishing and resilient. As conference chair she is responsible for developing VERGE Food. Theresa brings international expertise in corporate sustainability, supply chains, development policy and finance. Prior to GreenBiz, she has worked with the United Nations, German Development Bank, ClimateWorks Foundation and WeWork. Theresa holds an MPhil in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford and a BSc in International Development and Policy Science from Leiden University.

Yalmaz Siddiqui is Vice President of Environmental Sustainability at The Walt Disney Company. He leads global environmental sustainability across Disney’s multi-faceted businesses including Parks & Resorts, Movies, Television, Consumer Products, etc. One of his primary roles is to drive internal understanding of, and progress towards Disney’s ambitious 2030 environmental goals, including net zero greenhouse gases from direct operations and zero waste in parks and resorts. His team also works across the company to collect and aggregate environmental data for internal and external reporting. In addition he oversees Disney’s conservation and biodiversity work, as well as its employee commuting program. Prior to Disney, Yalmaz was Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at MGM Resorts International from 2016 to 2022. He helped advance MGM’s approach to social and environmental sustainability including by leading goal setting processes and establishing infrastructure for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting. He also worked directly with business unit and functional leaders to implement multiple industry-leading initiatives including food donations, environmentally preferable purchasing, and sustainable events. Yalmaz started his corporate environmental journey at Office Depot where he led global environmental strategy from 2006 to 2016. Over that decade he helped reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 40%, grow sales of environmentally preferable office products from $1.2 Billion to $3.2 Billion, and achieve recognition as America’s greenest large retailer by Newsweek Magazine for three consecutive years. His career began at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and IBM Business Consulting where he was a Management Consulting focused on customer strategy and performance improvement. Yalmaz is a global expert in sustainable purchasing and was the Founding Chair of the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council. He also serves on the Board of ReFED, America’s leading non-profit focused on driving system-wide change to reduce food loss and waste. In 1992 Yalmaz received a Bachelor of Commerce with concentrations in Marketing and International Business from McGill University in Canada, and in 1994 earned a Masters of Philosophy in Environment & Development from the University of Cambridge in England.