Anna Shpitsberg is the Chief Climate Officer at the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), where she leads the agency’s climate team and strategy. She is a clean energy investment, power markets, energy policy, and international development specialist. Throughout her career, she has guided companies on growth strategies, investment reviews, and decarbonization options; supported utilities and regulators undergoing energy reforms and procurements in over 30 countries; and aligned with policymakers seeking to strengthen clean energy deployment and supply chains. 

In her prior role, Shpitsberg served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Transformation at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, she led the creation and management of the Clean Energy Demand Initiative and the Mineral Security Partnership to increase investment in critical infrastructure and supply chains. 

Before joining the Department of State, Shpitsberg served as Director for Global Power and Renewables at IHS Markit, where she co-led the power and renewables service product; advised executives on trends that impact their business strategy; led corporate renewable research, including the outlook for the United States; consulted on renewable transactions; and managed the buildout of power market analysis in Africa and the Middle East. Shpitsberg also established and managed the U.S. Department of State’s Power Sector Program that partners with and advises utilities, regulators, system operators, and ministries across the world.

Ms. Shpitsberg holds a BS from Binghamton University in Finance and an MEM in Environmental Economics and Policy from Duke University with a focus on power systems and the energy-water nexus.

Ir Prof. Anderson Ho Cheung SHUM received his Ph.D. and S.M. degrees in Applied Physics from Harvard University and B.S.E. degree (summa cum laude) in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. He is currently Vice-President (Research) of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). He also serves as the Chair Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering in the Department of Chemistry and Department of Biomedical Engineering of CityUHK. Previously, he served as Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation) (2021-2024), Full Professor (Tenured) (2019-2024), Associate Head (2020-2021) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Assistant Dean (2018-2020) in the Faculty of Engineering at University of Hong Kong (HKU). His research interests include aqueous two-phase systems, emulsions, biomicrofluidics, biomedical engineering, and soft matter.

Prof. Shum is highly recognized for his pioneering contributions, receiving international scientific honors including but not limited to: The 15th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize by Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE, 2024), Awardee of RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS, 2024), Gold Medal and International Special Award in 8th International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN, 2023), Gold Medal in 48th International Exhibition of Inventions (Geneva, Switzerland, 2023), the inaugural Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology (HKEST) Award by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE, 2023), NSFC Excellent Young Scientist Fund (2019), IEEE Nanomed New Innovator (2018), HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award (2016-17), HKU Research Output Prize (2017), and Early Career Award by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (2012). First in Hong Kong, Prof. Shum has been selected as Global Young Academy Member (since 2021).

He was also selected as Young Fellow of Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (2024); Fellows of the International Association of Advanced Materials (FIAAM, 2023), Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (FHKIE, 2023), Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, 2017); Awardee of Croucher Senior Research Fellowship (2020); and as President (since 2021) and Founding Member (since 2018) of Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences. He currently serves as Editor-at-large for Droplet by Wiley; Editorial Board Members for Scientific Reports (Springer Nature), and Colloids and Interfaces by MDPI AG; as well as Editorial Advisory Board Member for Lab-on-a-Chip (RSC) and Associate Editor for Biomicrofluidics (American Institute of Physics).

Ms. Sigam is a natural capital governance expert with over 30 years of multilateral experience. She holds an MBA from MIT and has taught economy at university. At UNCTAD, she led major programmes on Africa’s oil and gas trade, risk management and finance, forging partnerships across 30+ countries. She also helped shape the Africa Mining Vision and drove its implementation through the African Minerals Development Center,  where she led Human and Institutional capacity development. She is currently advancing UNCTAD’s work on just transition strategies for oil and gas producing developing countries, as well as diversification and value addition in critical energy transition minerals. She also serves on the boards of nonprofit organisations in Africa and Switzerland.

Alex Silva has worked at the Financial Control Department of Itaú Unibanco since 2011, and his main activities include the elaboration and coordination of the integrated report and the financial statements, in accordance with local and international standards. In addition, he participates on the Framework Panel group and the Banking Network, both led by the International Integrated Reporting Council. He has been a member of the Brazilian Commission for Integrated Reporting since its founding in, 2012. Alex Silva holds a postgraduate degree in Accounting and Finance from Fipecafi Business School, and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of São Paulo.

Mr. João Falcão Silva is a senior economist at the World Bank's Development Data Group, where he has been making significant contributions since October 2023. He currently leads the update of the World Bank's Debtor Reporting System Manual and reporting templates, as well as spearheading the compilation of external debt statistics.

With over 18 years of experience in external and monetary statistics from the Central Bank of Portugal, João held the position of Head of Unit for the Central Balance Sheet, Monetary and Financial Statistics, and External Statistics. In these roles, he was instrumental in data compilation, methodology development, innovation, and dissemination. Furthermore, João shared his expertise as a lecturer at the Nova School of Business and Economics.

He holds a PhD in International Economics, a master's degree in public economics, and an undergraduate degree in Economics.

Johanna Silvander is an international lawyer and social scientist working in the Productive Capacities and Sustainable Development Branch of the Africa, LDCs and Special Programmes Division of UNCTAD.  She manages major productive capacities development programmes and UN Joint Programmes, coordinates and co-authors research and provides policy advice focusing on legal, sectoral and sustainability issues linked to productive capacities.

Prior to UNCTAD, Ms Silvander served for 10 years at the International Labour Organization (ILO) both in the field in Africa and in the ILO headquarters in Geneva. She started her career in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, where she served for five years in the area of trade policy, trade negotiations and Aid for Trade, as well as human rights.

Ms Silvander holds a Master of Social Sciences Degree with a specialization in International Law (Åbo Akademi University, Finland), as well as a Bachelor of Laws (Åbo Akademi) and a Master of Laws Degree (Helsinki University, Finland).

Ernesto is a seasoned diplomat and trade negotiator, currently serving as Coordinator for Trade and Investment Law and Treaties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. With 18 years of experience, he has spearheaded negotiations for key FTAs, including RCEP, Indonesia-Australia CEPA, Indonesia-Canada CEPA, and Indonesia-EU CEPA, as well as numerous BITs. His expertise extends to managing treaty-based disputes, particularly Investor-State disputes. A two-time overseas diplomat, having served in Brussels and Berlin, he holds the rank of Counsellor.

Kevin Simmons is Head of Experimentation at United Nations Development Programme.

He is a technology investor and strategic advisor to CEOs of technology startups. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, with service at the United States Military Academy at West Point, he excels at leadership and team dynamics in high-stress environments.

Kevin is a former project manager for global oil giant Chevron where he managed complex engineering and construction projects in six (6) and his work has been featured in the leading industry publication Offshore. He holds advanced management and business degrees from Stanford University, Rice University and the University of Oxford.

He has helped launch or co-found four technology startups, including UK award-winning Aceleron where he was the Chief Finance and Operations Officer, and notable US-based Innclusive which was featured in The Fast Company; The Washington Post; and Forbes. 

Roger is the current Chair and CEO of the Australian Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and a current member of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and the New Zealand AUASB. He is also a Scientia Professor of Accounting at UNSW Sydney Business School. He is recognised as a leading international auditing and assurance researcher whose current areas of interests include improving the measurement and assurability of corporate reporting, both financial and nonfinancial disclosures. Roger’s research has appeared in the leading journals, including The Accounting Review, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory and Contemporary Accounting Research. Roger’s contribution to academia and the profession have been widely recognised, including being a recipient of the Order of Australia.

Sergej Simoniti graduated in law at Faculty of Law of University in Ljubljana. His first employment has been as a general legal councel at Gerenarali d.d. insurance company in Slovenia. In the same employment he was later responsible for casualty underwriting. In 2000 he started an independent consultancy in the field of insurance. In 2002 he joined Sava re reinsurance company. He has been active on the legal issues concerning reinsurance arrangements and later for legal support in the expansion of Sava Re group in the Balkans. Furthermore he played an active role in Sava Re's initial public offering. He ended his employment with Sava Re as group compliance officer. In 2011 he has been nominated by Slovenian parliament as the director of Insurance Supervisory Agency. In this capacity he is also a member of the EIOPA's Board of Supervisors. Furthermore, he has been elected by the same body as member of EIOPA's management board. He is also a member of the Financial Stability Committee and Market Conduct subcommittee at IAIS. He has also authored various books, articles and other publications in the field of insurance both in Slovenia and abroad.