Development and economics professional with over a decade of experience spanning international cooperation, research, and strategic philanthropy. Currently Program Manager at Partners for a New Economy, Anna Luiza co-leads the grant-making program, undertake stakeholder engagement, and conducts research on new economics frameworks that promote a well-being economy within planetary boundaries. She brings dynamism, curiosity, and strong analytical skills to the projects she is involved in. Her previous experience includes roles at the Brazilian think tank Fundação Getulio Vargas, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and Zero Waste Switzerland. Currently a research fellow at the Schumacher Institute, she holds a Master’s in Development Studies from Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies), a Bachelor Degree in Economics Sciences from the Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ) and a Bachelor Degree in International Relations from the Fluminense Federal University (UFF).

is a Brazilian interdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of food systems, climate change, and global health. She is currently a PhD candidate in Global Health and Sustainability at the University of São Paulo (USP), with a research stay at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). Her research explores the role of urban and peri-urban agriculture in advancing more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems in the face of global challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Alongside her academic work, she engages in policy-oriented research and consulting, with experience supporting organizations and initiatives related to food systems transformation. She is a member of the Young Scientists Group of the World Food Forum, an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and has served as a Visiting Specialist Lecturer at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), teaching on food systems and climate change.

is the Executive Director of the Nepal Peacebuilding Initiative, where he leads the design, execution and oversight of projects focused on peacebuilding, social cohesion, climate change adaptation and humanitarian response. With extensive experience working at the intersection of governance, security and development, he collaborates with national and international organizations to implement victim-centric transitional justice initiatives, foster social cohesion and strengthen climate resilience strategies. He has authored numerous articles on peacebuilding, social cohesion and climate change issues, contributing to critical discourse in these fields. Subindra was awarded the FCO Chevening Fellowship in 2009 at the University of Birmingham, UK. He holds a master’s degree in international relations from London Metropolitan University, UK.

is a DAAD scholar and dorctoral researcher at the University of Flensburg’s Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (ZENS) and a member of the Fossil Exit research group, focusing on just transition research. Her research explores how Global South countries navigate energy transition constraints, with a focus on natural gas and green hydrogen.

Imane holds a master’s degree in energy policy from the Pan African University Water and Energy Sciences. She has published in Sustainability Nexus Forum, Energy Reports, and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, and contributed to the edited volume “Dismantling Green Colonialism: Energy and Climate Justice in the Arab Region”.

is a doctoral researcher in law at the University of Erfurt. She holds an MA in Public Policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy and a law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. She has over eight years of professional experience in the Peruvian public sector on gender policy implementation, as well as research on intercultural issues and extractive industries in the Andes. Her doctoral research uses a socio-legal approach based on multi-sited fieldwork to examine rightsholder engagement and the legal mobilization of transnational supply chain due diligence law in the copper sector in Latin America, focusing on communities affected by large-scale mining.

is a researcher in the Transformative Industrial Policy Research Unit at the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy. He recently completed his doctorate (Dr. rer. pol.) at the University of Hamburg, where he examined developments in climate finance from private, regulatory, and intergovernmental perspectives. His current research focuses primarily on the financing of industrial transformation and the intersections of trade, climate, and industrial policy from the perspective of European competitiveness. Previously, he worked in the Global Climate Governance Research Unit, where he focused on the transformation of carbon-intensive regions, the analysis of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Global Stocktake, and the monitoring of international climate negotiations, particularly on the topic of climate finance. In addition, as a research assistant in the BMBF research project “Glocalpower” at the University of Kassel, he gained in-depth expertise on energy transition processes and their financing in Africa. His academic education includes a Master of Science in Political Economy of Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London and bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.

is a Mexican Strategic Communications Specialist and independent consultant based in Berlin. Currently, she leads the communications strategy for the Climate and Environmental Justice Lab (LabJAC), which serves as an external support office to the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

She has extensive experience in the environmental and human rights sector, having worked for both regional NGOs and global offices. Beyond civil society, her background spans journalism and academia. During the pandemic, she co-launched Reporte Sandía, a podcast focused on environmental news. Her topics of interest are environmental security, human rights and climate tipping points.

She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Journalism from the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE), a Diploma on National Security from, the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM) and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Media from Tec de Monterrey.

is a sustainable development enthusiast based in Bavaria (Germany) with professional experience across both corporate and non-profit organizations. He has worked with multinational institutions on sustainable supply chain initiatives for agricultural commodities, focusing on responsible sourcing, NDPE commitments (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation), and supplier engagement in the Southeast Asia region.

Tito also brings experience in strategic consulting, having previously worked as an energy consultant in Budapest (Hungary), where he supported companies in achieving cost savings, improving energy efficiency, and advancing corporate sustainability compliance.

He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Global Change Ecology at the University of Bayreuth to further develop his expertise in the socio-political dimensions of the ESG sector, while also improving his proficiency in the German language. His research interests include nature-based solutions and the just energy transition, particularly in the Global South.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia) and has also participated in several international courses/events in Egypt, Latvia, and Slovenia.

is a University Lecturer and Researcher, currently Director of Laboratories at the Higher Polytechnic Institute of Technologies and Sciences (ISPTEC) in Luanda. Her academic and scientific work focuses on the areas of bioenergy, sustainability and circular economy, with emphasis on biogas, biodiesel, biomass and innovative solutions for the energy transition. A PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) of the University of Lisbon, she has participated in strategic projects related to e-methanol production and resource valorization, contributing to the development of sustainable solutions in Angola. She is recognized for her commitment to training young talent, promoting women in science, and leading initiatives that link teaching and research

is a Swedish third-year doctoral student at Lund University, faculty of engineering. He specializes in critical raw materials, their future supply and demand as well as alternative solutions to possible shortages. Thus far, his works have focused on electric vehicles and battery materials such as a recently published perspective in Cell Physical Reports on the rapidly changing nature of the battery market. Additionally, several studies on battery materials such as lithium, cobalt and graphite are currently under review.

As an environmental engineer by training, Oscar is well acquainted with both sustainability competencies and quantitative methods which are well complemented by the social science focus of his doctoral studies at the division of technology and society. With many actors currently looking into securing their supply of critical raw materials and reducing dependency on third countries due to geopolitical tensions this summer school is a great opportunity to look further into these dynamics.”

works as a professor at the University of Potsdam and heads a research section on Organic and Earth Surface Geochemistry at the GFZ Helmholtz Center for Geosciences. He holds a Diplom in Geology and Paleontology from the University of Cologne, Germany, and a PhD in Applied Chemistry from Curtin University in Perth, Australia. Before moving to Potsdam, he was an Agouron Institute fellow at MIT and lead a Max-Planck-Research-Group hosted at the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM) in Bremen. Christian’s research has covered a wide spectrum of themes within the molecular bio-geosciences including, amongst others, petroleum exploration, the deep biosphere, the global carbon cycle, lipid biosynthesis, paleoclimate, paleoecology and the evolution of biodiversity.

is a Policy Advisor on E3G’s Climate Diplomacy and Geopolitics team, focusing on EU and German climate diplomacy and foreign policy. Anton holds an MA in Democratic Governance and Civil Society (University of Osnabrück) and a BA in Political Science and Sustainability in the Humanities (Leuphana University Lüneburg); his master’s thesis examined the allocation of bilateral climate adaptation finance. He has been engaged in international climate politics since the early 2010s. During this time, he supported efforts to integrate human rights into the Paris Agreement and led a youth delegations to the UNFCCC.

is an urbanist and researcher working on socio-environmental transitions, well-being, and energy equity. He is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at Sciences Po, where his research inquires into net-zero urbanization through a lens of policy and governance. His work also explores the mechanisms required to finance and scale clean energy solutions, building on his experience as an Urban Fellow at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. He brings a systems-based approach to sustainability, rooted in his earlier exploration of vernacular architecture and the ecological restoration of industrial sites in Auroville.

Ritika has extensive experience in threat intelligence, and is currently leading the geopolitical intelligence function for the Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) team in a global data and technology company. In this role, she manages geopolitical and physical security intelligence by delivering actionable foresights to senior leadership and business units whilst navigating complex global security risks to enhance business resilience.

Prior to this, Ritika worked with leading think tanks, publishing book chapters and several scholarly papers on international relations and security. She has also been invited as a speaker at several conferences and academic lectures on themes intersecting foreign policy and diplomacy.

Academically, she holds affiliations with St. Xavier’s College (India), University of Oxford (UK), and University of Zagreb (Croatia), specialising in public policy, international relations, law, and politics.

is an international cooperation professional working at the intersection of climate change, livelihoods, and food security in fragile and conflict‑affected contexts. His work explores how climate resilience and sustainable resource management can support longer‑term stability while reducing reliance on humanitarian assistance.

He is currently based in Pemba, Mozambique, where he works with the World Food Programme (WFP) on livelihoods initiatives that link ecosystem restoration, agriculture, and energy access in displacement‑affected and climate‑vulnerable areas. Previously, he worked with WFP in Uganda and Rwanda, gaining experience across different political, environmental, and displacement contexts in East and Southern Africa.

Daniel holds an MSc in Climate Change and Development from SOAS, University of London, where he focused on locally led climate adaptation and the governance of natural resources. He also holds an MSc in Theory and History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which informs his interest in the geopolitical dimensions of climate change, sustainability, and development. He is a German and Danish national.

is a policy advisor specialising in the energy transition and hydrogen economies. He has two years of experience at the German Energy Agency (dena) in Berlin, where he advises the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on the ramp-up of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives as key elements for Germany’s energy transition. In this role, he supports the development of regulations and policies related to industrial decarbonisation.

Passionate about sustainable energy solutions, John combines analytical skills with a hands-on approach to policy design. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Cologne and is particularly interested in the links between a decarbonised economy, sustainability, and geopolitical dynamics such as resource access, global supply chains, international cooperation, and strategic competition.

Outside of his professional work, John participates in a peer-education network called Young European Professionals, which regularly conducts workshops in schools to explore and discuss Europe and the European Union with pupils on an equal footing.

began her academic journey at Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Energy and resource-saving technologies. Following her graduation, she spent several years working in Sustainability Consulting and Environmental Management, focusing on sustainability risk analyses and ESG strategy development. Alongside her professional career, Tatiana volunteered with Greenpeace Russia, participating in public campaigns on climate change and ecosystem degradation, and engaging in community-building activities.

Building on her academic and professional background, Tatiana is currently pursuing an MSc in Global Change Ecology at the University of Bayreuth and working at a climate and nature risk assessment startup in Germany. Her areas of research interest include climate change adaptation, especially for vulnerable social groups, ecosystem-based solutions, and social dimensions of climate policies.

is a Government Relations Coordinator at the Brazilian think tank Meridiana and a Political Science lecturer in the graduate program at the São Paulo School of Sociology and Politics – FESPSP. Based in Brasília, Brazil, she engages with the National Congress through advocacy efforts aimed at translating and advancing low-carbon economic development agendas, with a focus on critical and strategic minerals, land use, and the energy transition—particularly sustainable aviation and maritime fuels. She holds a Law degree from the University of São Paulo (USP) and a Master’s degree in Law and Development from FGV São Paulo Law School. She is also a fellow at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), where she was selected for an exchange program in 2024. Her work lies at the intersection of climate and democracy, with a focus on how political-institutional dynamics shape sustainability policies, particularly in a global context marked by high levels of polarization and political uncertainty.

is a political scientist based at the Global Climate Forum, Berlin, where he is currently pursuing a PhD. He works in the subfields of international political economy (IPE) and critical macro-finance, with his research focusing on the financing of the green transition in light of theories of contemporary monetary systems as complex and evolving webs of interlocking balance sheets through which credit is created and debts distributed. Olan’s doctoral project looks at how states’ macro-financial regimes are being transformed by the challenge of financing this transition, with initial case studies focusing on Denmark and Ireland in offshore wind finance.

Olan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin and a Master of Public Policy from the Hertie School, where he worked as a research assistant and seminar organiser for the Hertie Social Policy Research Group. He has additionally gained research experience at think tanks such as the Trinity Centre for Social Innovation in Dublin and the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin. Before joining Global Climate Forum, Olan worked for two years as a project manager at a market research firm.

has been working at the Institute for evolutionary ecology NAS Ukraine, Kyiv since 2015, where she is engaged in research on forest and park ecosystems, urbanization, air pollution in cities. Currently, Nataliia is the head of the project at the Institute for evolutionary ecology NAS Ukraine: “Bioindicative assessment of the state of park ecosystems in the conditions of urbanization” (state number 0122U000570) and is the Fellow et The Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS), Potsdam, Germany since September 2022. Nataliia received her PhD in Ecology from the Institute of Agroecology and Nature Management of the National Academy of Sciences, Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2011. During her PhD and post-doctoral work at the Institute of Agroecology and Nature Management Nataliia established a strong scientific background in the field of methods for assessing forest, park ecosystems and data analysis, focusing on assessment of resources and the state of forest ecosystems, management of agricultural landscapes. In the last 5 years of working at the Institute for evolutionary ecology, NAS Ukraine paid special attention to assessing the role of megacities in air pollution and climate change as factors influencing the state of green infrastructure for sustainable management. Currently interested in modelling and machine learning to investigate the spread and prediction of invasive plant species with climate change.

Her field of research: Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution Ecosystem, Invasive Species, Modelling, Plant Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Environmental Conservation, Sustanability, management, urban green infrastrucnure, urban forests, sustainable development, Forest Protection, air pollution and climate change interactions.

is an international cooperation professional working at the intersection of technology, policy, and society, with academic and professional experience in energy access, water supply and sanitation, climate resilience, and environmental restoration. His work focuses on fragile, resource‑constrained and displacement-hosting contexts at the crossroads of humanitarian, development, and peace efforts.

David is currently based in Kenya, where he works with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to advance regional strategies and country programmes that promote energy access, economic inclusion, and self‑reliance for refugees and host communities across Eastern and Southern Africa. Previously, he worked in various roles in humanitarian assistance and development cooperation, including assignments with UNICEF, GIZ, and two German federal ministries, and has lived and worked in Jordan, Zambia, Uganda, and Germany.

David holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Munich, specializing in integrated water management and the water-food-energy nexus. His academic work includes research on transboundary water governance and refugee‑inclusive water management in East Africa.

is working as a market researcher at S&P Global Energy in the Agriculture and Food Solutions division. My role involves providing strategic intelligence across Latin America’s agribusiness supply and demand dynamics, with a specific focus on the soybean complex, corn, wheat, and vegetable oils.

She initially graduated in agronomy from the National University of the Northeast (UNNE), also holds a master’s degree in agribusiness from the University of Göttingen (Germany) and the University of Talca (Chile), as well as a master’s degree in agribusiness administration from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). Her field of professional expertise includes market development (crop protection), market research (qualitative and quantitative), and agricultural consultancy services. She works as a market analyst and has experience in business intelligence, market development, and consulting in the agribusiness sector in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

Her institution, S&P Global Energy, provides comprehensive data and strategic insights across the energy, commodity, and agribusiness value chains to drive sustainable market value.

is a DAAD Helmut Schmidt Scholar and Master’s student in Public Policy at the Willy Brandt School, University of Erfurt.

Originally from Vietnam, she holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations and Peace Studies from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan.

Her research interests sit at the intersection of energy policy, sustainability, and geopolitics, with a focus on how middle-income economies navigate the clean-tech transition amid great power rivalry and techno-nationalism. She is particularly interested in the role of the state in industrial and energy policy, global value chains in renewable technologies, and the tensions between energy security and sustainability.

She brings several years of experience in sustainability strategy and policy analysis across Vietnam and Germany, including roles at GIZ, CSIP, and Oxfam, spanning decarbonization, green technology, and impact investing.

is a results-driven Environmental Safeguards and Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Specialist with extensive experience in environmental management, regulatory compliance, and sustainable development. He serves as a Senior Scientific Officer with the Ministry of Environment, Abia State, Nigeria, and is currently seconded to the World Bank–assisted Nigeria Community Action for Resilience & Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Program as Project Officer, Environmental Safeguards. He holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Resource Management and an OSHA UK certification, complemented by multiple United Nations and World Bank trainings in environmental and social frameworks, gender and environment, and sustainable development.

Kalu  specializes  in  ensuring  compliance  of  development  projects  with  environmental standards, integrating sustainability into project design, and mitigating environmental risks. He also leads workplace safety initiatives through policy development, training, audits, and hazard  control.  Passionate  about  climate  action,  he  actively  promotes  environmental stewardship, stakeholder engagement, and biodiversity conservation.

I am a Southeast Asian sustainability entrepreneur and climate policy researcher working at the intersection of geopolitics, climate diplomacy, and innovation ecosystems in the Global South. My passion lies in designing transformative solutions that not only address climate challenges but also revolutionize lives and spur incredible economic growth. I am particularly interested in backing climate-focused start-ups that are financially sustainable in the long term and start-ups that have a lasting and multiplying effect on vulnerable communities. I founded SustainLaunch Labs, South Asia’s first climate-focused venture studio, which goes beyond incubation—building and scaling ventures that generate measurable environmental and social impact. Through this platform, we’ve mentored over 5,000 youth entrepreneurs; supported the launch of 50+ startups that helped create more than 15,000 green jobs across Bangladesh, Nepal, and Thailand; and impacted over 50,000 individuals.

is an environmental scientist and Research Fellow at the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) in Potsdam, Germany. Based in Potsdam, she investigates the relationship between climate change and air quality in Prishtina, Kosovo, combining particulate matter monitoring data with machine learning modelling and regional climate projections to produce future projections of air quality for Kosovo under climate change scenarios.

She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the International Business College Mitrovica, Kosovo, and completed a one year Erasmus exchange at Hochschule Geisenheim University in Germany. Before moving into environmental research, she worked as a Project Officer at the Initiative for Agricultural Development of Kosovo, where she gained hands-on experience in rural environmental challenges and climate resilience across Kosovo.

Her work lies at the intersection of environmental science and climate governance, with a focus on how scientific evidence can inform policy decisions in regions navigating the transition away from coal and the path towards EU accession.

is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India. He holds a PhD in Sociology from Utkal University, where his research focused on the Sociology of Health and Medicine, with particular emphasis on alternative healthcare system and social determinants of well being and illness using mixed methods research and narrative analysis. His other research areas include climate change as well as sustainability and development studies. He teaches papers like Sociology of Globalization, Development and Sustainability Studies, Sociology of Tribes, Classical Sociological thinkers among others.

Satwik has been actively engaged in academic research and teaching, and has contributed to scholarly discussions through international conference presentations and research publications on topics such as displacement, rural development, and emerging socio-political trends. He has written research papers on health, tribal medicine, community development as well as ecological justice. Additionally, he has guided many UG and PG dissertations and developed new syllabus curriculum in Sociology in KIIT University specifically on courses like Sociology of War, Peace and Conflict, Sociology of Love and Intimacy, Climate Change and Environment among others. He also organizes Student Seminars at KIIT University on latest topics of geopolitical interest like the Israel Hamas conflict, LGBTQ issue, Climate Induced displacement among others. He has also been a speaker over multiple panel discussions at national levels.  He is keen on exploring sociological implications of global geopolitical challenges and how they shape local realities.

has 7 years of experience working at the intersection between engineering, design, advocacy, and innovation in the water sector. She strives to bridge the gap between science, key stakeholders, and decision makers, especially as it relates to climate-vulnerable communities and unique ecosystems. During her past role she was a Program Manager at Water Environment Federation in the United States driving research on the implementation of circularity in the water sector, advancing the use of remote sensing and NASA based tools for predictions and monitoring, and advocating for funds to Congress that would help advance flood predictions across the U.S. She provided value engineering perspective on projects dealing with climate resilience between ASEAN and American water utilities. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Climate, Earth, Water, and Sustainability. She aims to continue advancing climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation in Bolivia, her home country, and other regions in the Global South experiencing the impacts of climate change.

is an experienced natural resource, commercial, and energy lawyer with international law firm experience, now pursuing doctoral research in energy law. As an admitted attorney and notary (South Africa), she combines practical legal expertise with academic research. Her current research at the University of Eastern Finland’s Center for Climate Change, Energy, and Environmental Law (CCEEL) examines the cross-sectoral regulation of hydrogen with a focus on integrated hydrogen development in hydrogen valleys and hubs. She has published peer-reviewed articles, been invited as a speaker at both industry and academic events and lectured. Beyond research, she co-hosts a podcast and actively mentors young scholars and students in the energy sector.

Sergio Rejado has over 15 years of experience in international environmental cooperation issues. He has worked in over 20 countries (as diverse as Panama, Norway, and South Sudan) in 4 continents (Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific) with international organisations (IOM, FAO, UNEP, UNESCO, UNDP, Arctic Council, European Commission), global NGOs (TRAFFIC, WWF), and private start-ups on the development and implementation of innovative solutions to our shared global environmental challenges. He holds a degree on Environmental Biology by the University of Navarre (Spain) and a joint MSc in Environmental Policy by the University of Manchester (UK). He currently works as consultant, supporting international organizations in the elaboration and implementation of innovative policy instruments, projects, and programmes to address the triple planetary crisis (biodiversity, climate, pollution), and the mobilization of the necessary financial resources for their implementation.

I am an agronomist engineer specializing in sustainable agriculture, with strong experience in project management, farmer training, and rural development. I have worked on promoting organic farming, strengthening agricultural value chains, and supporting farmers in building profitable and resilient businesses.

Through my collaboration with organizations such as GIZ and the Technical Centre for Organic Agriculture (CTAB), I have designed and delivered training programs focused on entrepreneurship, financial management, and efficient resource use. I am skilled in using digital tools like Plantix for crop diagnostics and Top Production for farm management. My work is driven by a commitment to empowering farmers, especially in rural areas, by enhancing their technical and managerial capacities. With international exposure and a solid academic background, I aim to contribute to sustainable agricultural development and improved productivity.

I am a researcher in international climate policy analysis at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), as part of the IMAGE modelling team. My current work focuses on joint scenario developments for Asian countries and improving the integration of development and climate ambition. I also engage in research questions around equity and fairness in global energy-economic modelling and implications for finance.

I previously worked for German development cooperation (GIZ) in Ghana in monitoring and evaluation and approaches to climate-resilient agriculture in a cashew value chain project. I hold a MSc in Multidisciplinary Economics from Utrecht University focusing on Macroeconomic and climate/sustainability dynamics. Besides that, I gained experience in a research project on global transitions in food, mobility and energy.

is a 2025 MPP graduate of the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, where she examined the EV lithium battery supply chain through the lens of weaponized interdependence and analyzed geoeconomic implications of policy intervention with regard to Chinese mineral-trade dominance. Her work more broadly examines geoeconomics of critical minerals; systems/nexus-analytical thinking; and how industrial policy, trade measures, and friendshoring shape strategic dependencies and may affect energy transition speed. She has an MA from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication (Washington State University), where she focused on framing analysis and political communication, and an AB from Harvard College.

She currently serves as Assistant Project Coordinator (voluntary basis) for the African Network for Solar Energy (ANSOLE), an international NGO based in Jena. In her spare time, she is an author and science writer. She is originally from the United States.

is a finance and law professional working at the intersection of international investment, regulatory governance, and sustainability. His academic and professional experience spans sovereign funds, sustainable finance consulting, and cross-border capital allocation across China, Europe, the Belt and Road regions, Africa, and the Middle East.

Yifan is currently working in Luxembourg as a fund consultant, where he focuses on the interaction between China and the EU in the realm of sustainable finance and regulatory alignment, aiming for the best structure practice and facilitating two-way investment. Previously, he worked for the sovereign fund of China, where he analysed Chinese investment and development projects across Africa, Europe, and Latin America, gaining firsthand experience in the complexities of sustainable investment and observing how geopolitical considerations increasingly shape financial mechanisms and developmental goals.

Yifan holds two Bachelor’s degrees (Economics and Sociology) from Peking University and two Master’s degrees (Economics and Law) from Peking University and the University of Amsterdam, complemented by training in Human Rights from Lund University. Yifan aims to bridge finance and geopolitics—helping international investors and policymakers, to navigate the tensions between sustainability goals and geopolitical realities.

Yifan is a Chinese Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a certified tax advisor, and a Chinese certified lawyer, equipping him with a distinctive expertise across accounting, taxation, and legal practice.

is an agroecosystems and climate researcher affiliated with Mind Nature Institute and Makerere University, working at the nexus of sustainability science, climate change, agriculture, and development. He specializes in soil–water–crop interactions, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable agri-food systems. He holds a Doctorate in Agriculture with a focus on Climate and Biodiversity Conservation from Freie Universität Berlin and Haramaya University. His research integrates field experimentation, climate modeling, and agroecological approaches to enhance resilience and productivity in farming systems. He has led and contributed to projects on soil fertility, water management, and climate adaptation in collaboration with FAO, NARO, and CIAT and has a publication record on climate impacts and adaptation, particularly in maize cropping systems, and increasingly engages in sustainability governance, climate finance, and the geopolitics of food systems to inform evidence-based policy and practice.