Maxx Dilley is the director in charge of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) climate programme and deputy director of the WMO Services Department, based in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to joining WMO he was a policy and partnerships advisor at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and led the UNDP Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery Team. More previously he was a Research Scientist in the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) at Columbia University in New York, where he directed the Africa program and co-directed climate impacts research. Before that he worked for two years at the World Bank Disaster Management Facility and for seven years at the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance in Washington, DC.

Dr. Dilley has a Doctorate and Master of Science degree from the Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware, all in Geography. His primary areas of expertise are in climate and disaster risk management. He has designed, managed and contributed to disaster and risk management programs in Africa, Latin America and Asia and has authored numerous papers on disaster reduction and climate-related topics.

Peter Morley is a partner and heads up European operations at EM, a strategic and financial communications agency focusing on Russia and markets across Eurasia, with offices in London, New York, Moscow and Beijing. Peter advises clients across a range of sectors on capital markets communications and strategic media relations. He previously worked as a journalist and editor in the UK and Russia.

Ilias Skamnelos is a World Bank Practice Manager for the Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice in Europe and Central Asia.

He engages with policymakers to build stable, efficient and inclusive financial systems, and foster private sector development and job creation. Ilias is a Ph.D. macro-financial economist with World Bank experience spanning multiple regions - including Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and South Asia - and has served as advisor to the Vice-President of Finance and Private Sector Development.

He received his Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham, focusing on financial crises, and studied economics at LSE.

Ayuna is Head of Europe, Primary Markets and Co-Chair of LSEG’s Women Inspired Network UK Chapter. She was appointed to the role in 2018 having previously held a number of positions in Primary Markets, including Head of Russia & CIS.

Ayuna has brought many high-profile IPOs and listings to London Stock Exchange to help build a portfolio of over 200 listed issuers worth c. $1 trillion.

In her capacity as Co-Chair of LSEG’s Women Inspired Network UK Chapter, Ayuna champions gender equality and plays an active part in LSEG’s Diversity & Inclusion work.

Outside LSEG, she serves as Chair of TheCityUK’s Eurasia Market Advisory Group and Member of TheCityUK’s International Trade & Investment Group.

Ayuna was featured in Management Today’s 35 under 35 Women in Management in 2017.

In 2018, she was shortlisted for the Asian Women of Achievement Award in Business category.

Ayuna holds a Master’s in International Business from Grenoble Graduate School of Business and MA in Linguistics & Intercultural Communications from the Moscow State University.

Michael Mann has been Special Envoy for Arctic matters since April 1, 2020.

Prior to that, he was the EU’s Ambassador to Iceland.

Between 2011 and 2017, he was head of Strategic Communications at the European External Action Service, doubling up as Chief Spokesperson to High Representative/Vice President Catherine Ashton from 2011 to 2014.

Mr Mann worked as a European Commission Spokesperson between 2002 and 2011, covering a wide range of portfolios.

He began his career in Brussels as a journalist, working for the Financial Times, Reuters and Bloomberg News, among other media.

Sergio spent more than 15 years in various technical and managerial positions in the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment and associated agencies before engaging with sustainable finance in 2017. He started his career at the Brazilian National Institute for the Environment, at first working with the environmental assessment of energy projects and then moving over to Protected Areas. During his time in government he was appointed as Director of Protected Areas and then deputy National Secretary for Biodiversity, having raised USD 230 million for the third phase of the Amazon Region Protected Areas Program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a MPhil in Animal Biology from the University of Brasilia and is currently finishing his PhD at the University of Oxford. In the past 5 years Sergio started working with ESG and sustainable finance and in early 2021 joined the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance as a sherpa to the representative of the NGO Agent Green. More recently Sergio was appointed as Head of Impact for Planet First Partners.

Feb 21 – Current Planet First Partners (London) – Head of Impact

Jan 21 – Current EU Platform for Sustainable Finance – Sherpa, biodiversity specialist

Mar 20 – Nov 20 Liminal Capital Partners (London) – Partner ESG Impact & Regulatory

Mar 18 – Mar 19 ESGine (London, New York) – Head of ESG Research and Head of Product

Jan 17 – Jan 19 Coalition for Private Investment in Conservation (CPIC)

Jan 17 – Oct 20 Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI)

Sep 15 – Oct 16 Executive Secretariat – Brazilian Ministry of the Environment (MMA) – Chief of Staff for the Vice Minister, Director of Strategic Management

Mar 11 – Aug 15 Secretariat for Biodiversity and Forests – MMA – Analyst, Special Projects coordinator, Director of Protected Areas and Acting National Secretary

Nov 02 – Dec 07 Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Resources – MMA – Analyst, Coordinator for the Conservation of Ecosystems, and Coordinator for the Cerrado and Pantanal Biomes

Michael Mann has been Special Envoy for Arctic matters since April 1, 2020.

Prior to that, he was the EU’s Ambassador to Iceland.

Between 2011 and 2017, he was head of Strategic Communications at the European External Action Service, doubling up as Chief Spokesperson to High Representative/Vice President Catherine Ashton from 2011 to 2014.

Mr Mann worked as a European Commission Spokesperson between 2002 and 2011, covering a wide range of portfolios.

He began his career in Brussels as a journalist, working for the Financial Times, Reuters and Bloomberg News, among other media.

Dr Sian Prior is Lead Adviser to the Clean Arctic Alliance, a coalition of 21 non-profit groups campaigning to protect the Arctic from the impacts of international shipping.

The campaign focuses on reducing black carbon emissions from shipping and prohibiting the use and carriage of heavy fuel oils in the Arctic.

Sian specializes in interpreting marine science to support conservation and management policy and advocacy. Priority areas of work include ocean governance and ecosystem-based management in relationship to shipping and offshore industries, marine protected areas and fisheries management. She has over 30 years of experience of contributing to a variety of international and regional marine management and conservation frameworks.

Viacheslav Fetisov is a Member of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Physical Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs.

He was born on April 20, 1958 in Moscow and was trained at the CSKA Youth Sports School.

In 1983, he graduated from the Twice-Red Banner Military Institute of Physical Culture (in Leningrad) with a major in team and physical culture and sports.

1976 to 1989, he served in the Armed Forces of the USSR (CSKA).

He is Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Coach of Russia, Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation, two-time Olympic champion, thirteen-time Champion of the USSR, ten-time European champion, seven-time World Champion, three-time Winner of the Stanley Cup. 1982 to 1989 he was CSKA Captain and Captain of the National Ice Hockey team.

1989 to 1998 he competed in the National Hockey League, playing for the Detroit Red Wings and the New Jersey Devils (USA). 1998 to 2002 Viacheslav held a cjaching position with the New Jersey Devils (USA).

September 2001 to April 2002 he served as the Chief and General Manager of the Russian National Ice Hockey team.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Domestic Hockey Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame of the International Ice Hockey Federation. He is Member of the Triple Gold Club and a UNESCO Champion for Sport. He was awarded the Gold Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee.

In April 2002 he was appointed Chairman of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Physical Culture and Sport. In 2004 he became Head of the Federal Agency for Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism. 2004 to 2008 he was Head of the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sports.

2008 to 2016 he was Member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation representing the Legislative Assembly of Primorsky Region.

In 2016 he was elected to the State Duma from the Podolsk single mandate district.

He has numerous state awards for his outstanding contribution to the development of physical culture and sports: the Order of Merit for the Fatherland (2nd, 3rd, and 4th Class), the Order of Honor, the Order of Friendship, the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, two Insignia of Honor orders, the Honorary Insignia for Contribution to the Development of Physical Culture and Sports.

• He is Special Representative for the development of sports, representing the State Duma at international inter-parliamentary and public organizations.
• Currently he is UNEP National Goodwill Ambassador for Russia,
• UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Sport,
• World Tourism Organization's Goodwill Ambassador for Tourism,
• Member of the Supreme Council of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
• Member of the Supervisory Board of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration,
• Global Ambassador of the Special Olympics,
• Global Ambassador of Moscow,
• Chairman of the Russian Society for Nature Protection.

In 2005 Mr. Sergey Korotkov was appointed the Director of the UNIDO Centre for International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation.

The Director coordinates a number of UNIDO projects related to industrial development of the regions and subjects of the Russian Federation, as well as projects in the CIS and BRICS countries. He also supervises the activities of the Center aimed at finding Russian and foreign partners and investors for the implementation of major national projects.

Mr. Korotkov maintains liaison and cooperates in the framework of project activities with Federal Ministries and Agencies, as well as other interested organizations of the industrial and economic bloc.

The Director is responsible for the preparation and implementation of long-term agreements between the headquarters of the UNIDO in Vienna and Russian partners involved in the programmes and projects of UNIDO.

• 2005 – now – Director of the UNIDO Centre for International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation;
• 2003 – 2005 – UNIDO project manager for Russian-Brazilian Centre for Technological Cooperation Project;
• 2001 – 2003 – Head of the Department of foreign relations ‘Geospectrum’ ltd.
• 1995 – 2001 – Senior expert at Russian Trade Mission in Brazil;
• 1993 – 1995 – Senior expert at State Committee for Industrial policy of the Russian Federation;
• 1991 – 1993 – Attaché at Soviet (Russian) Embassy in Jamaica, Trade Department
• 1990 – 1991 – Expert at Department of foreign economic relations of the USSR;
• 1990 – Trainee at Soviet Trade Mission in Cuba;
• 1981 – 1988 – Jr. researcher at Research Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy.

Erik Solheim is a well known global leader on environment and development as well as an experienced peace negotiator. He served as Norwegian minister of Environment and International Development from 2005-12. During that period he initiated the global program for conservation of rainforests and brought through game changing National legislation - among them the Biodiversity Act and legislation to protect Oslo city forests. He brought Norwegian development assistance to 1%, the highest in the world.

Erik has been chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (the main body of world donors) as well as Executive Director of UN Environment. He led the peace efforts in Sri Lanka as the main negotiator of the peace process and played a vital role in peace efforts in Nepal, Myanmar and Sudan.

Currently he is senior adviser at World Resources Institute and President of the Belt and Road Green Development Institute in Beijing. Erik is Chief Mentor of Global Alliance for Sustainable Planet and Chairman of the Board of Afroz Shah Foundation in Mumbai. He is adviser to April/RGE worlds largest paper and pulp company in Indonesia and to Aker Horizons, Norways leading green industry player. He serves as cochair of Treelion a green blockchain company in Hong Kong.

Daniel Bouzas is UNEP FI´s Regional Coordinator for Europe. UNEP FI is the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative; a partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector to mobilize private sector finance for sustainable development. UNEP FI works with more than 350 members – banks, insurers, and investors – and over 100 supporting institutions – to help create a financial sector that serves people and planet while delivering positive impacts.

Daniel oversees UNEP FI´s activities in Europe, with key support through the thematic and sectorial activities including a key focus on European (specially EU) regulation, critically engaging with European and global regulators and supervisors, and managing flagship projects on the application of the EU Taxonomy to core banking products and to insurance underwriting. Daniel was previously working as Policy Adviser on Sustainable Finance at the European Banking Federation. He has experience on different areas of EU policy-making, financial services, sustainable development and international affairs.

Born on 21 April 1978 in Leningrad, Elena Borisenko graduated from St. Petersburg State University, majoring in jurisprudence. She is a Full State Counselor of Justice of the Russian Federation, 2nd class.

For about 8 years, Elena Borisenko was engaged in private legal practice in St. Petersburg.

In 2008 – 2009, she served as the Advisor to the Head of the Federal Service for State Registration.

September 2009 through February 2010, she was the advisor to the Minister of Justice.

Starting February 2010 and through to March 2011 - Director of Department for Legal Assistance and Interaction with the Judiciary System of the RF Ministry of Justice.

March 2011 through June 2012 - Advisor to the RF Minister of Justice and Authorized Representative of the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation.

From June 2012 until July 2012 Elena Borisenko held the position of the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation. During her work in the Ministry of Justice of Russia, she was in charge of legal profession development, pro bono legal assistance, practice of law, notaryship, forensic analysis, as well as legislation improvement in the field of arbitrazh.

Being the Deputy Chairwoman of the Management Board, Elena Borisenko supervises the issues of legal risks management for Gazprombank and Gazprombank Group of Companies.

On 7 September 2020 by the Resolution of the Association of Russian Lawyers the Sustainable Development Committee (ESG) was established, where Elena Borisenko is the Chairwoman of the Association of Russian Lawyers’ Committee for Sustainable Development (ESG) and Member of the Panel of the Russian Lawyers Association.

Chairman of LLC ‘INDEPENDENT ENERGY’, Russia. Prior to that served as CEO and deputy chairman of the Board of Akkuyu Nuclear, Turkey.

Worked at Bank Uralsib (Russia), in various management capacities, including the bank’s CEO, first Deputy Chairman, Board Member, Chairman of Uralsib Asset Management. Founded United Capital Investment Group (USA), also was a member of the Supervisory Board of London-based M&A advisory Silkroutefinancial. Earlier worked in the banking system of Azerbaijan, where he served as the Deputy Chairman of the National Bank. Led negotiations with the IMF and the World Bank and structured first IMF loans received by the country. Was one of the founders of the Currency Control Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 1995 he served as Board Chairman of the International Bank of Azerbaijan. Held various positions with the government and Azerbaijan President’s Administration.

Mr. Akhundov is a graduate of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy and the Business School at the University of Texas, he also holds degrees of the Japan

Center for International Finance and the Joint Vienna Institute of the IMF.

Tom Blackwell is the Chairman and co-founder of EM, a corporate and financial communications consultancy focused on Russia and other emerging markets, with offices in New York, London, Moscow and Beijing. EM was created following the successful MBO and carve out from M: Communications, where Blackwell worked as the head of the UK agency's Russian office. Prior to joining M: Communications, Tom worked for The PBN Company, where he was a Managing Director and led the firm’s global financial communications practice.

Farnam is HSBC’s Head of ESG Solutions for EMEA, where she advises HSBC’s capital market clients across all sectors on sustainable finance and ESG considerations.

She also sits on HSBC’s Green Bond and Loan Committee, and acts as HSBC’s representative to the ICMA Green Bond Principles Executive Committee, where she co-chairs the Climate Transition Finance Working Group and co-leads work on the Just Transition.

Farnam joined HSBC in 2017 after completing her MBA at the Said Business School at the University of Oxford. Prior to that, she was with leading ESG ratings firm Sustainalytics, where she developed its second opinion services for green/social/sustainability bonds and designed the firm’s methodology for the assessment of human rights risk in corporate activities as well as corporate compliance with the UN Global Compact Principles.

She has over ten years of experience working with investors, issuers, and other stakeholders on the integration of environmental and social factors into investment decisions, including the development of investment strategies for some of the world’s largest asset owners.