Chair of the Sustainable Development Committee in the parliament of Austria

An Austrian politician and member of the Austrian National Council, Petra Bayr has served as the Vice-President of the European Parliamentarian Forum on Population and Development, a Board member of Parliamentarians for Global Action, and a Member of the Governing Council of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa.

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean

Peter Thomson of Fiji has been appointed by UN Secretary-General as Special Envoy for the Ocean to follow up on the outcomes of the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Mr. Thomson leads the UN’s advocacy and public outreach efforts inside and outside of the UN system and works with relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14. Mr. Thomson brings a distinguished experience in diplomatic services, including as Permanent Representative of Fiji to the UN and President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly during which he provided visionary leadership in guiding the preparation of The Ocean Conference in 2017.

Assistant Secretary General Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat

Mr. Harris brings over 25 years of international experience in the fields of international economics and development policy analysis, coupled with knowledge of the United Nations system, multilateral and inter–agency coordination processes. He has extensive experience in the design of macroeconomic policies and its application as a central instrument for the reduction of poverty and for resilient and sustained economic development. His work in the field of economics also focuses on the macroeconomic linkages with global social and environmental policies.

Since 2015, Mr. Harris has served as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). He joined UNEP’s Senior Management Team in 2013 as Director of the New York Office and Secretary to the Environment Management Group.

Prior to joining UNEP, Mr. Harris began his career in the International Monetary Fund in 1988, where he worked in the African Department and the Fiscal Affairs Department. In 2002, he became an Adviser in the Policy Development and Review Department, and was appointed in 2008 as Special Representative to the United Nations, in addition to serving as Assistant Director of the Strategy and Policy Review Department.

Mr. Harris holds a Bachelor of Science in German and Political Science and an advanced degree in economics. He was awarded an Advanced Studies Certificate in international economics and policy research from the Institute of World Economics in Kiel, Germany.

Vice President for Research, Advocacy and Partnerships of the Federation of Free Workers (Workers and Trade Unions Major Group)

Julius Cainglet is the Vice President for Research, Advocacy and Partnerships of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), a national trade union based in the Philippines, affiliated to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). He is with the ITUC Trade Union Development Cooperation Network and a member of the steering committee of its Asia Pacific Network. It promotes development cooperation, aid effectiveness and the SDGs. Julius acts as spokesperson, prepares statements, prepares media releases, publishes newsletters; organizes events; and networks with other trade unions, other CSOs, social partners and international organizations.
Julius is focal for workers and trade unions at the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM). He is Chairperson of the Knowledge Management and Advocacy Sub-committee of the National Child Labor Committee, tasked to help eliminate child labor in the Philippines by 2025. He is former chair of the Philippine Campaign to promote decent work for domestic workers technical working group (Domestic Work TWG). Julius is also a member of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Executive Committee, which acts as clearinghouse of Philippine labor and employment laws, policies and programs including monitoring of violations of ILO core labor standards. A labor educator and international resource person, Julius also sings.

Head of Division, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Germany and 10YFP Board Member

Executive Director, Future Earth

Amy Luers joined Future Earth as Executive Director in September 2017. Before joining Future Earth in Montreal, Amy held positions at the Skoll Global Threats Fund (SGTF) where she was Director of Climate, and at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) where she was the Assistant Director for Climate Resilience and Information. She also spent a number of years at Google as the Senior Environment Program Manager. Amy started her career in Latin America as co-founder and the first executive director of Agua Para La Vida (Water for Life), working with rural communities to enhance access to potable water.
She has published in both academic and the popular media on issues related to vulnerability to global environmental change, data, sustainability, climate policy, and science communication. A respected scientist and data innovator, Luers has been recognised as a PopTech fellow, a Switzer Environmental Fellow, Heinz Environmental Scholar, and has advised the California state government, the White House, and the United Nations. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has served on committees of the National Academies of Sciences. Luers holds a Ph.D. in environmental science and an M.A. in international policy studies, from Stanford University; a B.S. and M.S. in environmental systems engineering from Humboldt State University; and a B.A. in philosophy from Middlebury College.

President of the African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production

Dr. Jane Nyakang’o. President of African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ARSCP). Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Cleaner Production Centre. Has a PhD in Environmental Policy, Masters in Environmental Science and Technology, and Bachelors degree in Chemistry. Extensively trained in green and circular economy, resource efficiency and cleaner production.

Over the last eighteen years, provided business consultancy services in the advising and supporting organisations in areas of resource efficiency, eco-innovation, including training. Also, supporting Governments in policy review and development anchored on sustainable consumption and production. As ARSCP, building capacity and providing a platform for African countries to dialogue, take stalk of the progress made and new strategies for implementing sustainable consumption and production.

Director of Forestry and Conservation of Water Resources, Ministry of National Development Planning, Indonesia