2024 Green Champions

Naza Alakija is an Iranian humanitarian and the Founder & CEO of Evoca Foundation, an NGO which works across the pillars of climate action, education and supporting women and girls.

Naza advocates for girls’ and young women’s access to education and funds innovative grassroots movements that deliver holistic solutions to the climate crisis and build equitable futures for all. Naza is a Senior Adviser to UNICEF and a number of other leading global institutions.

Renata Koch Alvarenga is a global climate advocate from Brazil, and has been involved in gender and climate justice spaces for the past 9 years. Renata has a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University, and is the Founder and Executive Director of EmpoderaClima, a Brazilian organization for gender equality and climate action with global reach, focused on youth empowerment in Latin America through education and access to decision-making spaces. She has been on boards and youth councils of various international organizations, including UN Women, UNICEF, the World Economic Forum, Vital Voices, and the New York Times. Renata has professional experience in politics and diplomacy, having worked at the British Mission in Brazil and the United Nations Youth Office. Currently, she works at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC as a Disaster Risk Financing Specialist for the Caribbean.

Amy Bann is an independent board member, former F500 corporate sustainability director, and attorney. She is a recognized leader in climate governance, serving for over a decade as an industry negotiator and advisor shaping global carbon frameworks at the United Nations and in the private sector standard launched by the United Nations’ Special Envoy for Climate Finance. She currently serves on various climate-related company and organization boards.

Lauren Bash aka @ReLauren (she/her) is a climate optimist, activist, and storyteller from Los Angeles. Her social channels aim to make conversations about sustainability and climate more inviting and less judgemental, through (sometimes silly) educational content around the principles of climate action, community, and slow living.

Born in Minnesota and grew up in small town Michigan learning to crochet, knit, embroidery at the hands of her parents. She began working with a full-time seamstress and tailor in Berkeley. Since then, she has been running the business, currently named Sew That. Denese left home with her husband moving into a community where she started a small sewing business, doing alterations, pattern making, shirts and mending. Later moving to Berkeley, she acquired a sewing business and has been working since. PLARN (plastic shopping bags spun into yarn like fiber) Recently Denese has been working out of her Seattle home which has bought new discoveries like designing and fabricating wearable art pieces. This “plarning” stuff started in 2019 with a curiosity into a discovery on social media. She asked herself how does it work? How does it look and act? How can she manipulate plarn into something exciting and wearable? Today she has incorporated recycled plastic, repurposed fabrics and bits of plastics found in daily life into a wearable pieces of art.

Dr. Lydiah Kemunto Bosire is the founder and CEO of 8B Education Investments, a fintech enabling African brilliance to have a global impact. 8B is the first education financing marketplace for African students going to study abroad. 8B connects African students with information on global colleges and universities, the financing options they need to enroll, and the career support they need to succeed, thereby thereby providing colleges and employers access to the world’s fastest-growing talent pool. The mission of 8B is enabling African brilliance to have a global impact. Prior to leading 8B, Lydiah’s career spanned nearly two decades as a diplomat including working at the Executive Office of the UN Secretary General, the UN Secretariat, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization.

Dr. Lydiah Kemunto Bosire currently serves on the Board of Directors of WorldQuant University, is an advisor to the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence program at Schimdt Futures, and has been on the Council of the Global Citizen Impact Funds. Previously, she served on the founding Board of Directors of Keep a Child Alive, on the UWC Atlantic College Advisory Council, and was a mentor of the Oxford Women in Business network.

Dr. Lydiah Kemunto Bosire holds a D.Phil in Politics from the University of Oxford (New College). She also holds an MSc in African Studies from Oxford (St. Cross College), and an MPA and a BA from Cornell University. She has run the New York and Paris marathons, and sometimes helps her husband’s efforts to share with the world the secrets of wines from the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Kayla is a technical product leader working to make convenience more sustainable. At Amazon, she leads Packaging product development, including developing technical solutions that minimize packaging use at scale. In her time at Amazon, she's helped reduce the use of oversized corrugate boxes and scaled curbside recyclable alternatives that make flexible shipping packaging more sustainable. Now, she's leading efforts to partner with Amazon's Selling Partners to design products and for e-commerce, avoiding added additional shipping packaging altogether.

Prior to Amazon, Kayla worked in State and local planning and policy development, making our natural resources accessible and sustainable for future generations. She holds Masters degrees in Energy and Earth Resources and Business from the University of Texas at Austin, and a bachelors in Community Development from Portland State University.

Directing external relations for Amazon Worldwide Sustainability, Sally unites organizations and individuals around solving urgent climate crisis issues. With 20+ years of experience managing teams that create impact, she’s passionate about accelerating decarbonization solutions through collective action.

Rebecca is the founder and CEO of Glacier, a recycling startup building AI and robotics to help recyclers, brands, governments, and other stakeholders measure and improve recovery rates for their highest-priority recycled commodities.

Glacier works with several innovative recyclers across the US, major brands including Amazon and Colgate-Palmolive, and municipal and government agencies including the City of Phoenix and Michigan Department of Environment.

Glacier's circularity work has been featured in several leading publications, including CBS, NBC, Inc., Axios, and TechCrunch.

Rebecca is a Waste360 40 Under 40 winner. Prior to founding Glacier, Rebecca was a consultant at Bain & Company and advisor to several early- and growth-stage startups. She is also a mentor for the Google Circular Economy Accelerator.

Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist, author, and climate activist working in painting, bookmaking, illustration, collage, performance, and sculpture. His illustrated works include The Day The Crayons Quit, Here We Are (Notes for Living on Planet Earth), and The Fate of Fausto. His first book intended for a wider audience, Begin Again, was released in October 2023.

Jeffers’s fine arts practice includes For All We Know, The Dipped Painting Project, and The Moon, The Earth and Us, and his work has been exhibited at institutions like the Brooklyn Museum, The Irish Museum of Modern Art, and the National Portrait Gallery in London, among others.

Nicole is the founder of Arts and Climate Change, an organization using art as a tool for climate communication. She uses watercolors to help visualize the world we want to live in. Her clients include the US Department of Energy, Harvard, The Guardian, and Sunrun. She published a coloring book about clean energy called Electrify Everything.

Before working in climate, Nicole co-founded and sold an after school program to teach kids how to code. After her time working in education, she was the Chief of Staff at Climate Finance Solutions and Head of Operations at Dashboard.Earth. Most recently, she was an Artist-in-Resident at My Climate Journey.

Dr. David Kirtley is the founder and CEO at Helion, a privately funded fusion company focused on magneto-inertial fusion generators. He is passionate about inventing and developing disruptive technologies that will improve access to energy, reduce carbon emissions, and provide a better future for following generations. Dr. Kirtley is an NSF and NASA Advanced Concepts Fellow with expertise in high-Beta plasmas for energy and space propulsion applications.

Andrea Learned is a corporate and policy sector climate influence advisor and the host of the award-winning podcast, Living Change: A Quest for Climate Leadership. With a 25-year career in marketing, communications and thought leadership platform development, Andrea is known for her focus on building and amplifying climate leadership that will shift social norms in the B2B space.

A recognized marketing to women expert in her early career (during which she co-authored the book, Don’t Think Pink: What Really Makes Women Buy – And How To Increase Your Share of this Crucial Market), Andrea has also presented internationally on that topic. “Gender and the Sustainable Brain” - her 2011 Reuters article - succinctly connects the dots of her unique focus shift from marketing to women to sustainability and climate leadership.

Matt Leducq has 15+ years of experience in renewables business, has overseen $5B+ in transactions in EPC, OEM, and long-term investments, and bountiful experience leading transactions for utility scale solar, community solar, stand-alone storage, electric vehicle, fuel cell & microgrids. Prior to becoming CEO of Forum Mobility, Matt was the Executive Director of NextEra Energy’s distributed generation team where he oversaw all greenfield origination, land acquisition, early-stage development, and M&A. His team built the distributed generation pipeline to nearly $2B in owned assets. Matt has also held various leadership roles with Suntech, Yingli, EI Solutions, and PowerLight, where he started his career as a construction manager in 2003. He holds a BA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Paulina has over 25 years of experience working on issues of civil rights, social environmental justice, equity, education and diversity. Paulina is keenly in tune with the strengths and challenges of this community as it moves toward environmental health and social and climate justice. Paulina highly regarded organizer, facilitator, community and policy strategist, movement builder focused on building systems of power and shifting power outward to those most impacted by injustice and oppression. Developed consulting with governments, organizations, community and foundations to identify ways to shift power dynamics, and develop frameworks for collaborative co- creating and transformative governance. Through this work and her leadership in social, environmental, and racial justice organizations, Paulina has developed expertise in multi-sector stakeholder engagement, networks, collaborative problem solving, and building power with BIPOC communities of color, immigrants, and refugees. Paulina emigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador and has made Seattle her home for the past 22 years. She first joined DRCC/TAG as a volunteer, advocating in her community for access to a safe, clean environment for South Park’s families. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights Law from St. Thomas University and currently serves as the Executive Director.

Alyssa Macy serves as the CEO of Washington Conservation Action (WCA) and a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon. Under her leadership, WCA has taken significant strides in transforming from a historically white led environmental organization to a multicultural environmental justice organization with a deep commitment to upholding and honoring tribal sovereignty. Prior to WCA, she was responsible for $33 million in tribal programming, services, and natural resources as her nation’s Chief Operations Officer. Alyssa has built power in Indian Country from the grassroots to the United Nations for more than two decades. She served on the Indigenous Global Steering Committee for the first ever United Nations World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014 and recently worked with Tribal leaders to build Native Vote Washington, a permanent project of WCA focused on strengthening democracy and Native voting access in the region. In 2023, she received the Indigenous Leadership Award from Ecotrust, recognizing her efforts to protect and uplift tribal sovereignty, advocate for salmon protection, and her leadership in Washington state’s environmental community. She is a breast cancer Thriver, an avid photographer and is happiest adventuring in nature.

Influenced by Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Caravaggio, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jacob Lawrence, NW Indigenous Art, Hieroglyphs, African American Gee’s Bend Quilt Traditions along with Asian American line work, Carol Rashawnna Williams’ imagery takes on a strong conceptual trajectory as elements grow together seen in her paintings, public art sculptures and large scale installations, reflecting the organic nature of the Pacific Northwest.

Growing up overseas and in the PNW, the impact of nature on her work speaks to social, environmental, and racial justice. Utilizing diverse perspectives, forms seem to fall, swim, fly even drip and grow through various levels of reality. Her play on language, texture, and gender, coupled with a unique perspective on collective knowledge, resourcing, and sharing elevates her art to master status. Taught by International Photographer/Artist Bob Haft and International Artist Hiro Kawasaki faculty from The Evergreen State College, Carol’s work has a strong conceptually organic trajectory. Images that are genderless, spiritual yet ‘earthy’ seem to evoke tragedy and hope at the same time. Carol has a BA in Advanced Studio Fine Arts and a MA Degree in Organizational Systems Renewal/Development (emphasis in Diversity and Leadership).

In 2024 Carol launched her Studio Gallery, K-Love 4 Art Gallery Studio, in SODO that showcases artwork, products, commissions, consultations and private event space for intimate gatherings and celebrations, and is the only female black-owned gallery studio space in PNW focused on climate, environmental, and social justice topics. Gallery represented by international gallery, Access Art, New, NY, in 2023 she received the NW Pacific Green Building SLAM award for BIPOC STAHC, a community development model focused on building equity for artists of color through sustainable business and housing models and garnered a $1.7 million grant through the EDI, City of Seattle to launch Brown Indigenous People of Color Sustainable Tiny Art House Community (BIPOC STAHC) as a pilot model.

https://harrell.seattle.gov/2023/09/20/mayor-harrell-announces-9-5-million-to-community-organizations-through-the-equitable-development-initiative/

Her work in the environmental field includes large-scale installations and currently Carol was commissioned to produce outdoor installation focused on Climate Challenge, through the City of Edmonds, to launch in the fall of 2024.

Carol is the Recipient of Cornish College of the Arts, Neddy Artist Finalist Award 2020, the Infamous Conductive Garboil Award 2018 through Artist Trust & 4 Culture, and the Rachels Network - Catalyst Finalist Award, for Female BIPOC National Environmental Leaders, was selected to participate in Al Gores three day intensive Global Environmental Leadership training. Carol is a long-term member of Environmental Professionals of Color, Sustainable Seattle Interweave, and a founder of Race & Climate Justice. Her work is currently on exhibit at Oynx Fine Art Gallery in Pacific Place Mall and in permanent collections at the Seattle Convention Center, City of Seattle, Port Townsend, the Evergreen State College, Blanca Spain, and numerous other institutions and homes in the Pacific NW.

Chris Roe is Director of Environment at Amazon. In this capacity, he manages the strategy and execution of Amazon’s commitment to reach The Climate Pledge, a goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of the Paris Agreement. Chris has over 15 years of experience driving initiatives in corporate energy and sustainability.

Prior to Amazon, Chris led energy, water, and sustainable building initiatives within Boeing’s real estate and manufacturing operations. Chris has a Master's degree in Engineering from Cambridge University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington. He currently serves on the board of the Smart Electric Power Alliance and the Smart Building Center.

Andrew is an experienced leader at the intersection of business, government, and sustainability. Part of the founding team at Lime, he led market development and government relations through its global expansion. Andrew then built and continues to lead sustainability at Lime.

Prior to Lime, Andrew served on the Board of Directors of the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) while an executive at AllEarth.

Finally, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director in the U.S. Congress for Rep. Peter Welch, authoring the Home Star Act, which was recently adopted in the IRA as the Homes Act. Andrew has been at the helm of mobility, renewable, and efficiency leadership for the last two decades.

Lina Taylor is a two-time Olympian and a Finalist for the International Olympic Committee’s Climate Action Awards. With a diverse background encompassing science, corporate sustainability, entrepreneurship, and leadership development, Lina harnesses a multi-disciplinary approach to tackle systemic climate challenges. As the visionary founder and CEO of Climate Executive Coaching, she accelerates impactful results for climate and sustainability leaders worldwide. Lina's compelling presentations on "Building Resilience" and "Succeeding Against the Odds" have inspired thousands of employees and leaders across some of the world's most influential companies, driving meaningful change and fostering a resilient, sustainable future.

Leila Toplic is a business leader working at the intersection of climate, technology, and ethics.

With over two decades of experience, Leila has held strategic roles at Microsoft, led transformative initiatives at NetHope, and played a key role at various startups.

Leila currently serves as the Chief Communications and Trust Officer at Carbonfuture, the digital trust infrastructure for carbon markets dedicated to ensuring a just and livable future for all.  At Carbonfuture, she leads global communications and guides the development and deployment of the digital Trust Infrastructure, safeguarding the integrity and trustworthiness of carbon removal.

Previously, at NetHope, Leila led the Emerging Technologies Initiative, focusing on Trustworthy AI and leveraging AI for climate adaptation. She authored the notable 'Digital for Climate Adaptation' landscape assessment that explores the role technology plays in supporting climate adaptation and the resilience of vulnerable communities around the world. Key findings are based on consultations with 38 global NGOs and technology partners, and feature 24 examples of programs and initiatives where technology has reduced the uncertainty caused by climate variability, such as climate-smart agriculture and anticipatory action.

Leila's extensive background also includes 11 years at Microsoft and significant work across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in AI Ethics in 2021, Leila actively contributes to boards and initiatives that advance responsible innovation in technology, promoting equity, inclusion, and human rights. She serves on the boards of the Negative Emissions Platform and EqualVoice and is a member of the Expert Committee for the Digital Trust Label in Switzerland.