Abhiroop Agarwal
S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)
Abhiroop Agarwal is a postgraduate student at SPJIMR, Mumbai, specialising in Information Management and Analytics. He previously worked as a Software Development Engineer 2 at Clearwater Analytics, where he contributed to modernising financial technology systems by supporting the migration of legacy platforms to contemporary architectures. Prior to this, he spent over two years at Deloitte as a software developer, working on technology-driven solutions including AI-enabled applications. Abhiroop holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala and has been actively involved in student leadership and community initiatives, including roles in technology communities and volunteering efforts focused on education and sustainability.
Adebisi Amori
University of Ibadan
Adebisi Amori is a Nigerian social impact leader working at the intersection of health, community systems, and social equity. She is currently completing a master’s degree at the University of Ibadan, where her research explores how social networks influence antenatal care initiation among pregnant women in rural communities. She also leads The Period Care Project, an initiative promoting menstrual equity and improving menstrual health awareness in underserved communities. Adebisi’s research interests include mental health, women's health, and the political economy of health. Her work focuses on strengthening community-based responses to inequalities in a rapidly changing world, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Adi Petrov
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" / Bilitis Resource Center Foundation
Adi Petrov is a final-year law student at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and a Policy and Advocacy Officer at the Bilitis Resource Center Foundation, where he works on legal advocacy, policy analysis, and engagement with European and international human rights mechanisms. He previously worked in global mobility and international tax advisory at EY, focusing on cross-border compliance for internationally mobile professionals. He was a trainee at Deloitte Legal Law Firm, working on regulatory, technology, and digital governance matters. Adi also contributed to strategic litigation at Dobreva & Bekirska Law Office, including cases before the European Court of Human Rights. He is a Research Fellow at the student-led Vanguard Think Tank’s Eurasia track.
Advait Thakur
Apex Infosys India
Advait Thakur is the Founder and CEO of Apex Infosys India, where he leads the design and deployment of AI-enabled IoT infrastructure systems across residential and enterprise environments. He also served as Project Lead at the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre under the Government of India, building accessibility-first digital platforms and data-driven decision systems for public services. Previously, he co-founded Crophle, an agri-tech venture focused on supply-chain transparency and farmer income stability. Advait holds a B.Tech in Information Technology (Honors in Cybersecurity) and has published research on AI-driven document intelligence and inclusive digital system design.
Ahmed Adeagbo
University of Oxford
Ahmed is a pharmacist and entrepreneur focused on expanding access to primary healthcare in underserved communities. He is currently a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, pursuing an MSc in Applied Digital Health, where his research explores how technology-enabled pharmacy models can bridge healthcare gaps in African medical deserts. He will proceed to a DPhil in Clinical Medicine (Global Health & Tropical Medicine). Ahmed is the Co-founder of AXIAS Pharmacy, a digital health venture transforming rural pharmacies into tech-enabled mini-clinics providing telemedicine, diagnostics, and essential medicines. Previously, he worked in investment, strategy, and operations roles across venture capital and technology firms in Africa and the Middle East.
Ahmed Al Ghardaqa
Arab Youth Council for Climate Change (AYCCC) & Ministry of Foreign Affairs – United Arab Emirates
Ahmed Al Ghardaqa is an Emirati diplomat and international legal advisor specializing in multilateral negotiations, climate governance, and international law. He currently serves at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, where he heads the Climate Diplomacy and Sustainability Affairs portfolio and acts as a lead climate negotiator, including on Loss and Damage and climate finance. He previously served as Senior Legal Advisor to the COP28 UAE Presidency and represents the UAE as National Focal Point for legal and procedural matters under the UNFCCC. In parallel, he is President of the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change, advancing institutional youth participation in global policy processes.
Akbar Ali
GA General Assembly
Representative Akbar Ali is an American politician and small-business owner serving as the Democratic State Representative for Georgia’s 106th District. At just 21, he became the youngest member of the Georgia House after winning a special election in December 2025 to represent parts of Lawrenceville and Snellville. A Kennesaw State University graduate and former first vice chair of the Gwinnett County Democratic Party, Ali ran on a platform prioritizing lowering living costs, strengthening public schools, expanding healthcare access, and defending civil rights. Raised in Gwinnett County as the son of Pakistani immigrants, he emphasizes grassroots engagement and pragmatic, bipartisan problem-solving.
Alexander Kübler
RoBoa AG
Alexander Kübler is the CEO & Co-Founder of RoBoa AG, a startup of ETH Zürich developing snake-like robots for confined spaces. He studied Mechanical Engineering at ETH Zürich and Stanford University, before spinning out RoBoa‘s technology together with his co-founders.
Alexandra Bolotina
University of Geneva
Alexandra Bolotina is an IT Project Manager who has led the delivery of client-facing mobile and web projects for the European and U.S. markets since 2024. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Computer Science at the University of Geneva as an Excellence Master Fellowship recipient. Previously, she worked as a Python Developer, building automation tools and chatbots. She has also held leadership and outreach roles in education and community initiatives, including serving as Head of the career forum. She holds a BSc in Applied Informatics with honors.
Alla Gutnikova
University of Pennsylvania
Alla Gutnikova is an activist, researcher, and poet, currently pursuing a PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. She previously completed an MA in Contemporary Literature, Culture, and Theory at King’s College London. In 2024, her first solo exhibition, freedom is a verb, was held at Colorado Projects, Galerie Jochen Hempel. Her debut poetry collection, A Fish Called Rivka, was published by Babel Tel-Aviv in 2023. At 23, she became a political prisoner in Russia in connection with the widely reported DOXA case. Her final court statement has been translated into 11 languages.
Aman Gupta is a PGDM candidate at S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai. He previously served as a Decision Analytics Associate Consultant at ZS Associates (2022–2025), where he earned a fast-track promotion within four cycles and received the Boundary Spanner Award for high-impact client delivery. His work spanned incentive compensation strategy, stakeholder management, and analytics automation across Fortune 50 pharmaceutical clients. A mechanical engineering graduate from NIT Surat (top 10% of cohort), he holds a Government of India Design Patent for a Biomimetic Quadruped Walking Robot and published research on Humanoid Leg Mechanisms at NCAME 2021.
Amina Madad Khan
Universität Hamburg
Amina Madad Khan is a law student at the University of Hamburg specializing in IT Law and Computational Legal Theory, with a focus on artificial intelligence, digital governance, and international legal frameworks. Her recent work examines the implications of electoral AI and cognitive integrity for democratic resilience in algorithmically mediated societies. Alongside her studies, she contributes to legal research at the AI Legal Club at Bucerius Law School. Khan has participated in international moot courts, including the LSE Law Summit Moot Court, where she advanced to the semi-finals, and is currently preparing for the International Football Arbitration Moot Court. She is a merit-based scholarship holder of the Avicenna-Studienwerk and serves as its external representative, engaging in academic dialogue on technology, law, and global governance.
Andre Pancholi
Imperial College London
Andre Pancholi is a student-entrepreneur and researcher from London. He is currently interning at the United Nations Office of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, where he conducts policy analysis on post-growth development pathways, climate justice and technology governance. He co-founded Kara, an Imperial-backed HealthTech startup selected for Imperial’s WEInnovate Cohort 2025, and Pathia, an Anthropic-backed EdTech social enterprise that won Top Prize at the Homerton Changemakers Catalyst Fund. Previously, he gained investment experience at Federated Hermes (sustainable investment) and Love Ventures (venture capital), screening early-stage technology startups and conducting ESG analysis. Andre graduated First Class with Distinction in Geography from the University of Cambridge (ranked 3rd in his cohort) and is currently pursuing an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London.
Andrei Ostapov
Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography
Andrei Ostapov has developed advanced technical skills for analyzing data that are associated with specific locations (spatial data) through study at Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography (MIIGAiK) as part of an ongoing graduate program in geodesy and remote sensing. He was awarded a specialist degree from Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography in applied geodesy (2019-2024). As part of the development of his technical knowledge, he participated actively in academic life throughout the duration of his education. He presented his research at the university's annual Science Week conferences (2024-2025), and participated in a scientific expedition to the Vyatka region in Russia during 2023. In addition, he took part in the university Informatics Olympiad competition in 2021. Prior to this, he had won olympic competitions in both mathematics and history demonstrating his established background of analytical ability and his interest in science.
Angela Lintang Timur Sukowati Wijanarko
ESADE Business School
Angela is an MSc Sustainability Management candidate at ESADE Business School with an interest in sustainable finance and infrastructure development. She previously joined PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (PT SMI), a Special Mission Vehicle under Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance, where she contributed to environmental and sustainability assessments supporting national infrastructure financing projects.
In addition to her professional interests, Angela served as President of the IndoSoc cultural society during her undergraduate studies, where she led initiatives that encouraged cultural exchange and strengthened community among international students.
Anjali Sharma
Duty of Care Campaign
Anjali Sharma (she/her) is 21 years old. She is the founder of the Duty of Care campaign, which is calling for a legislate Duty of Care to protect the health and wellbeing young people and future generations, owed to them by governments. to protect At 16, she became the lead litigant of Sharma vs Environment Minister, a class action legal case which argued that the Environment Minister owes all young people a duty of care to protect them from the impacts of climate change.
Ann-Mia Ambjerg
ARIS Robotics
Ann-Mia Ambjerg is CEO and co-founder of ARIS Robotics, a Danish greentech startup developing AI-powered solutions to improve waste sorting and advance the circular economy. She leads strategy, international expansion, and fundraising, focusing on scalable technologies that align commercial growth with environmental impact. She serves as a board member of Odense Robotics and is a recipient of the Women TechEU award (2025) and recognized as one of “25 Female Entrepreneurs You Should Know” in Denmark. Ann-Mia holds an MSc in International Business from Copenhagen Business School and regularly gives talks to inspire entrepreneurship and women in tech.
Anna Kalamkarian
Adelaide University
Anna is a public health researcher and PhD candidate at Adelaide University, using linked administrative data to improve measurement of complex childhood disadvantage. She was recently recognised as a Young Woman to Watch in International Affairs. As a 2024 Global Voices Fellow, she attended the UN High-Level Political Forum and developed policy on how systems can work together to address complex disadvantage. She was awarded a Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship and undertook training at Harvard and Oxford. As Chair of the Westpac Scholars National Executive, she represented 800 scholars. She mentors and teaches public health to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Annah Chiedza Hodhera
Pan African University Institute of Governance, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Annah is a Master of Arts student in Governance and Regional Integration at the Pan African University - Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences where she is advancing her knowledge of governance systems in Africa and the fundamentals of regional integration with a research focus on promotion of intra-African trade. She holds a Bachelor of Business Studies Honors Degree in Management from the University of Zimbabwe and has over four years of professional experience in finance and administration within Non-Governmental Organizations in public health and education. Annah has served in the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe and has been actively involved in various initiatives aimed at girls' and women empowerment.
Anoushka Banerjee
XLRI Jamshedpur
Anoushka Banerjee is an upcoming Product Management Trainee at Unilever and a graduating Business Management student from XLRI Jamshedpur, India's oldest business school. She holds a Bachelor in Computer Applications from GLS University, where she graduated as the gold medalist and the highest-ranked student in her cohort. Her summer internship at Unilever, where she led Agentic AI initiatives projecting over €550K in annual savings across global markets, sparked a deep interest in AI-driven product innovation. A passionate competitor, Anoushka has earned multiple national wins across hackathons and case competitions, reflecting her innate drive to solve complex, real-world problems at scale.
Anton Changalidi
Pleias
Anton Changalidi is a Lead AI Engineer and researcher working at the intersection of AI, data science, and applied machine learning. He has delivered AI projects across domains ranging from engineering and regulatory compliance to medicine and bioinformatics, always with a focus on building practical systems that people actually use. His work includes agentic tools, AI pipelines, and data-driven applications. Earlier, he was involved in academic research on large language models and genomics. He holds degrees from Maastricht University and ITMO and is known for combining research depth with a builder’s mindset.
Anushka Purohit
CASP Innovations
Passionate, proactive, and perseverant, Anushka is a young entrepreneur and polyglot who speaks five languages, including Cantonese and Mandarin. She is the CEO and Co-founder of Breer, a food upcycling startup that collects surplus bread from bakeries and restaurants to brew local craft beer. She is also the co-founder of Grid, a Global events App bridging people from all backgrounds together for an end to end events experience. A graduate of Electronic and Computer Engineering at HKUST, Anushka aims to make a positive difference in the world. Her achievements include SCMP Student of the Year, Young Achiever of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Indians of the World Award at the House of Lords, and recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 and Tatler Gen T platforms.
Archita Chebolu
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research
Archita Chebolu is currently an MBA student at the S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research in Mumbai. She previously worked at Boeing India as a Software Engineer, where she contributed to the development of digital solutions used by airline customers worldwide, supporting products aimed at improving aviation safety and operational efficiency. Her work involved collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable technology systems. Earlier, she completed internships at Boeing and IBM, where she built tools to enhance operational processes. Archita studied engineering at Cummins College of Engineering, and has a strong interest in global perspectives and travel.
Aryan Thakur
Tsinghua University
Aryan Thakur is a Schwarzman Scholar pursuing a Master of Global Affairs at Tsinghua University's Schwarzman College in Beijing. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from the University of Georgia, where he was selected as a Foundation Fellow. Professionally, Aryan has worked at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare, contributing to clinical trial analytics at Panoptic Bio and developing AI-driven physician tools at AllAI Health. His academic research spans epigenetics at the University of Georgia's Department of Genetics and environmental health at Emory's Global Diabetes Research Center.
Ashana Singh
Toronto Metropolitan University
Ashana Singh is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she is further developing her skills and expertise to become a strong policy professional and contribute to meaningful public policy. She previously worked as a Policy Analyst at Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, where she conducted policy analysis and supported intergovernmental work related to social services. She has also held various other policy, program and communications roles across both the Ontario Government and Government of Canada. Ashana is particularly passionate about advancing social policy by contributing to equity-based policy initiatives that promote positive outcomes for diverse communities.
Asma Basly is the Co‑Founder and COO of OORB, where she leads AI‑driven product strategy and operations while actively engaging with the robotics and deep‑tech ecosystem in Africa and Silicon Valley. In the past year, she worked with CERN on MLOps and machine learning workflows for high‑energy physics, before returning full-time to OORB in September 2025 to focus on scaling the startup’s cloud robotics platform into the North American ecosystem. In recent years, she has combined her roles as an AI Engineer and IEEE volunteer, contributing to community initiatives and technology events nationally and internationally
Ayomipo Ademilusi
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Ayomipo ADEMILUSI steers a youth-led NGO in Nigeria that empowers youth and women in communities for sustainable action. He holds a Masters in Economics with interests in development, energy, public sector, and health economics. He is a 2023 Global Youth Climate Trainee with NetZero x Oxford University, and a Fellow of the 2023 (Cohort IV) Climate Leadership Fellowship (CLF), Nigeria. Additionally, he is a 2024 World Bank 'small grant for social accountability' winner, and a 2022 Youth Climate Champion with the Global Youth Leadership Center (GYLC). His selfless works across Nigerian communities have empowered about 10,000 youth and women with climate knowledge, green entrepreneurship, and digital skills.
Bárbara Fernández
University Duisburg-Essen
Bárbara Fernández is a DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Scholar pursuing a Master’s degree in Development and Governance at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her work focuses on multi-stakeholder collaboration and global governance to address complex urban challenges, particularly inclusive and sustainable development, with a strong interest in emerging technologies. Previously, she led international partnerships for the INSPIRE Buenos Aires Pathfinding City initiative to prevent and respond to violence against children and adolescents. She has also worked across executive and legislative institutions on international cooperation, civil society engagement and public policy initiatives. Bárbara holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella.
Bautista Franzini
Identia PR / Universidad de San Andrés
I am an Account Executive at Identia PR, a PR and Public Affairs agency in Buenos Aires, where I manage communications for organizations including Boston Consulting Group, Cohen Aliados Financieros, Iron Mountain, Martínez de Hoz & Rueda, the Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay, Gate Gourmet, and other clients. In this role, I develop media strategies, coordinate interviews with leading Argentine journalists, and contribute to corporate communication plans.
Previously, I worked as an Account Assistant at the same agency, supporting client management and producing digital and media content.
Since 2021, I have also worked as a freelance virtual assistant for a medical anesthesia team.
I hold a degree in Communication from Universidad de San Andrés and I am currently pursuing a Master's in Marketing and Communications, in the same university.
Benedikt is an early talent expert in the area of AI, sustainability and resilience with a focus on manufacturing. He works at SAP and supports companies during their transformations as an advisor. He was until July 2025 a Fellow at the WEF for AI and Manufacturing and before that a Project Manager in the SAP Product Engineering Board Office. Benedikt has a background in Business Informatics and in his bachelor thesis he built a quantum computing strategy for SAP’s CTO.
Besides work he studies Sustainability and Impact Management at Mannheim Business School and founded 2023 the Global Shapers Hub Heidelberg. Additionally he is part of the Youth Advisory Council of the US Consulate in Frankfurt and is an Academic Supervisor and Lecturers at DHBW in Karlsruhe.
Benedikt Schmid
Die Junge Mitte Schweiz
Benedikt Schmid (born 2001) is President of The Young Centre Switzerland, a role he has held since autumn 2025, and lead initiator of the cantonal popular initiative “For a mentally healthy youth.” Since 2024, he has also been involved in the mental health start-up Smilamind, where he contributes to strengthening youth mental health with innovative digital solutions. He previously worked in marketing and campaigning at the national secretariat of The Centre Switzerland and in field sales for ViviKola / ViCafé, and he is currently studying economics with a focus on politics at the ZHAW in Winterthur. Raised in Zurich, Vienna and Rüschlikon, he channels his broad interests and creativity in music, video and drawing into his political work.
Beniamin Strzelecki
Columbia University
Beniamin is pursuing his master's at Columbia SIPA with specialisation in energy transition finance. By building on his experience in investment strategy at AFRY Management Consulting as well as short-term assignments with the World Bank and EDF Renewables, he focuses on bridging the investment gap in clean energy investment.
Beniamin has extensive experience in climate and energy policy and advocacy, including prior work with the United Nations, IRENA and the Global Renewables Alliance. In 2023-2025, Beniamin served as the Youth Climate Advisor to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In 2021, he was a member of the Global Commission on People-Centred Energy Transition convened by the International Energy Agency. Beniamin is also the EU's Youth Energy Ambassador.
Bernabas Petros Gemecho
Addis Ababa University
Bernabas Petros is a PhD candidate in Sustainable Development at Addis Ababa University, researching how mobile applications & AI can advance Sexual & reproductive health (SRH) security in the Global South by integrating indigenous knowledge and decolonization frameworks. He is the founder of Tena Link, a social enterprise developing culturally localized and religiously sensitive menstrual tracking and SRH solutions for women and adolescents. His work combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to connect technology, public health, and sustainable development. Bernabas holds a master's degree in Development Studies and undergraduate degrees in Theology, Community Development, Management, and Midwifery, reflecting a commitment to interdisciplinary impact and democratically grounded solution.
Bigyan Babu Regmi
ETH Zurich
Regmi is an ETH for Development doctoral fellow and a doctorate-level economist with expertise in energy economics and policy. Recently, Regmi was selected as a Swiss youth delegation to the World Food Forum 2025 and a European Union-African Union Ambassador for Sustainable Transition. Growing up in Nepal, USA, and UK, Regmi has extensive experience supporting start-ups, investments, and public-private partnerships in countries including India, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Costa Rica, Malaysia, and Switzerland. Previously, Regmi completed his master's degree in development economics from the University of Oxford, where he was a recipient of the prestigious Oxford-Weidenfeld-Hoffman Scholar and Leadership Programme, designed to cultivate leaders of tomorrow.
Bingyi Xie
University of St Gallen
Bingyi Xie joined the University of St. Gallen in September 2025 as a Ph.D. researcher within the SNIS "climateB: Banking on Climate Action" project. She investigates how non-state pressures influence banks' renewable energy and fossil fuel financing activities. With a Master’s in Banking and Finance and research experience from ETH Zurich and the Ifo Institute, she leverages advanced technical skills and policy analysis. Her work contributes to international sustainability dialogues, bridging the gap between political economy and climate finance.
Bruna Amaral is a Brazilian social entrepreneur and Co-founder and CEO of Toti (2017–present), a social enterprise advancing refugee and migrant inclusion in the digital economy. She leads the organization’s vision and scalable growth strategy, building cross-sector partnerships with multinational corporations, global foundations, and multilateral agencies. Under her leadership, Toti has implemented over 50+ career programs, supported more than 2,000 refugees and migrants from 40+ nationalities, and contributed to income growth of up to 200%, while strengthening corporate ESG strategies in Brazil. Her work has received international recognition through initiatives linked to Harvard, MIT, and IOM (UN Agency) as well as public recognition from the City Council of Rio de Janeiro.
Charlotte Walker
Australian Parliament
Charlotte Walker has experience across customer service, community engagement, and public administration. She was elected as a Senator for South Australia at the May 2025 federal election and has served in the role since July 2025. Prior to this, she worked as a Customer Experience Officer at Health Partners Optical (2023–2025), supporting patients through appointment coordination and enquiries. She also served as an Electorate Officer for Leon Bignell MP (2022–2023), managing office administration and engaging with constituents. Earlier, she worked at Yankalilla Foodland (2018–2022). Walker has been active in community and political initiatives and holds qualifications in conservation and horticulture, alongside recognition for community service and leadership.
Cheng Han Lee
National University of Singapore
Cheng-Han Lee is a Technology & Market Research Analyst at SemiAnalysis in Singapore, where he covers AI compute supply chains and China's semiconductor ecosystem. Previously, he served as a Semiconductor Analyst at Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), publishing over 20 research reports on AI chips and emerging technologies while advising government stakeholders. He also gained strategy consulting experience at Arthur D. Little and Bain & Company. Born and raised in Taiwan, Steven holds an M.S. in Management of Technology from the National University of Singapore and a B.A. in Economics from National Cheng Chi University.
Chi Nnoka
University at Buffalo
Chi Nnoka is an aspiring Renaissance man and researcher focused on creative, nature-inspired approaches to challenging scientific and engineering problems. At the University at Buffalo, he developed in 2025 a non-invasive geometry-based method for characterizing insect wing mechanics while studying honey bee flight kinematics (publication forthcoming). He also conducted research on the high-agility maneuvering flight of Old World bats: as an NSF International Research Fellow (NSF IRES), he carried out field research in the rainforests of Brunei during the summers of 2023 and 2024. His interests include nature-inspired science and engineering, natural disasters, and creative endeavors for broad societal benefit.
Christian Ezequiel Emanuele
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
Christian Ezequiel Emanuele is an Argentine geopolitical risk strategist and Master’s student in International Studies at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. He works as an embedded consultant for Spotify’s Global Markets team through Upside Risk, where he produces geopolitical and macroeconomic risk analysis across more than 30 markets. His work focuses on scenario planning, early-warning systems, and market risk assessment. He is also a member of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI), where he contributes to research and discussion on global scenarios, foreign policy, and the Middle East. He also founded International Affairs Watch, an independent platform for conflict monitoring and geopolitical analysis.
Christy Wong
Columbia Univesity
Christy is a sustainability and climate finance professional with experience across East and Southeast Asia, specializing in renewable energy project finance, climate scenario analysis, and net-zero strategy. I have worked across energy markets from Hong Kong to ASEAN, applying project finance expertise and policy insights to support the clean energy transition. I am passionate about bridging finance and policy to accelerate investment in renewable energy and to build resilient, low-carbon economies.
Damilola Balogun
Youth Sustainable Development Network (YSDN)
Damilola Hamid Balogun is a systems thinker, legal professional, and social impact entrepreneur working at the intersection of clean energy, climate policy, and youth leadership in Africa. In 2025, he was named to the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list for his contributions to sustainable development and climate equity. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Youth Sustainable Development Network (YSDN), which has mobilised over 12,000 youth across 50+ countries and implemented clean energy projects in over 20 countries. Damilola has led and contributed to clean energy initiatives exceeding USD 500,000, including UK- and Innovate UK–funded solar cold-chain projects. He holds an MSc from Linnaeus University, Sweden, and advanced training in climate and energy policy from the University of Florence.
Dareem Jeffrey
EcoWash Global
Dareem Jeffrey is an award-winning entrepreneur and sustainability advocate, currently serving as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of EcoWash Global, a climate-smart enterprise delivering water-efficient, eco-friendly cleaning solutions across the Caribbean, Africa, and emerging markets. Under his leadership, EcoWash has achieved significant environmental and social impact, earning multiple international recognitions, including Global Sustainable Entrepreneur of the Year and Youth of the Year (Trinidad). Jeffrey is also a TEDx speaker and frequent contributor to regional sustainability and youth-empowerment initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Operations from the University of Trinidad and Tobago and formal training in business and conversational Spanish from the University of the West Indies.
Dhruv Johri
University of Technology Sydney
Dhruv Johri is an early career professional specializing in the intersection of technical innovation and strategy. In 2025, Dhruv graduated from the University of Technology Sydney with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and Bachelor of Business, achieving First Class Honours. He has previously applied this dual focus as a Technical Writer at Deloitte, facilitating innovation incentives and for client's engineering projects across diverse industries. His experience also extends to Alstom, a French rolling stock manufacturer responsible for major projects such as the Sydney Metro. In this role, Dhruv optimized fleet reliability for Sydney Trains and supported the product introduction of the X'Trapolis 2.0 project in Melbourne. A recognized emerging leader, Dhruv recently won the Global Leadership Challenge co-hosted by the St Gallen Symposium and the University of Oxford. Dhruv also placed 3rd at the BI Business School International Case Competition in Norway by developing a sustainability strategy for an international energy company . A believer in lifelong learning, he is currently pursuing technical qualifications in cybersecurity.
Diana Javadian
Seoul National University
Diana Javadian is the youngest MBA student at Seoul National University's Graduate School of Business. Through her applied business project, she develops international GTM frameworks for premium wellness and lifestyle brands, detailing how to navigate scientific regulations and execute strategic localization in high-barrier European markets. She also works on ReThread, an AI-driven inventory digitization tool catered to the secondhand retail market. Prior to entering her graduate program, at the age of 18, Diana completed a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology with honors, where her thesis focused on the impacts of lifestyle skin products on health and the environment. A U.S. native based in Seoul, she centers her academic focus on global market expansion and digital marketing strategy at the intersection of science and business.
Dikatauna Kwa
Eda Davara Marine Sanctuary
Dikatauna Kwa is an environmental scientist from Papua New Guinea whose work centres on coastal conservation, blue carbon systems, and community‑led environmental stewardship. She currently serves as the Biodiversity Data Manager at the New Guinea Binatang Research Centre. As Founder, Director, and Lead Researcher of the Eda Davara Marine Sanctuary, she leads coastal ecosystem monitoring, environmental education, and community‑driven conservation initiatives in Central Province, Papua New Guinea, with a strong focus on empowering young people and women in environmental leadership. Kwa is also Co‑Founder and Director of Operations at KataLite Consultancy and holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science.
Diksha Gaonjur
Seoul National University
Diksha Gaonjur is a Master’s candidate in International Development-Energy Policy at Seoul National University, where she focuses on electricity market reform and energy transitions in Small Island Developing States. She was selected among the Top 100 participants in the St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition. Originally from Mauritius, she previously worked as a Technical Officer in the public sector, contributing to national initiatives related to energy efficiency and infrastructure. Her academic and professional interests include sustainable energy policy, electricity sector governance, and the role of technology in shaping future energy systems. Diksha is particularly interested in advancing resilient and inclusive energy transitions in developing economies.
Eduardo Brito
Cybernetica AS
Eduardo Brito is a Security Engineer and Researcher specializing in privacy-enhancing technologies, applied cryptography, and distributed trust systems. He works across research, engineering, and policy, contributing to EU Horizon, European Defence Fund, and DARPA-funded projects on federated data sharing, synthetic data generation, and cryptographic protocols. His research focuses on decentralized Proof-of-Location, location-data provenance, and trustworthy software and supply-chain practices. A Charlemagne Prize Academy Fellow and St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition finalist, he collaborates with academia, industry, and European policy bodies to advance secure, scalable, and rights-preserving digital trust infrastructure.
Eliise Lehtsaar is the CEO and co-founder of the award-winning Estonian greentech startup Voon, which produces biodegradable air filters from waste wool. A serial entrepreneur since the age of 17, Eliise is passionate about creating sustainable hardware solutions with real-world impact. She is currently studying Biology and Biodiversity Conservation at the University of Tartu, with a minor in Economics. Beyond building startups, she mentors and trains hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs each year, empowering the next generation to launch their own ventures.
Emmanuel Mirus Ponon
ASEAN Youth Advocates Network
Mirus Ponon is a youth leader, researcher, and development practitioner based in Europe. He is the Founder of the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network, where he has led regional initiatives on youth participation, peacebuilding, and policy engagement. He has spoken on global platforms including the United Nations and was the youngest speaker at the UN Global Climate and SDG Conference. His work has been recognized through honors such as Tatler Asia’s GenT List, the CSR Youth Awards, and multiple national youth awards. He holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies from KU Leuven.
Endo Ozana Eloïs
LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science
Endo Ozana Eloïs is an MSc Political Science student in Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He graduated cum laude from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he combined academic achievement with youth leadership and policy engagement. He has worked as a research assistant to Dr. Julia Rone on EU digital governance autonomy and was selected as an ECHO Award finalist. His academic interests include governance, political leadership, state capacity, and long-term institutional development, with a particular focus on Africa and public policy.
Erika Ito
Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Erika Ito is a Japanese physician and MPH/MBA candidate at Johns Hopkins University focused on healthcare innovation, AI governance, and global health strategy. She has worked across clinical medicine as a surgical resident and across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, venture capital, and global development sectors. She brings seven years of international public health research experience spanning Japan, Norway, Taiwan, France, and the United States, focusing on aging policy and quality of life in dementia and chronic disease care. At Hopkins, she serves as a Student Fellow at the Lipitz Center and the Center for Global Digital Health, leading research on AI-enabled public health and dementia care.
Eugeniu Sinchevici
Parliament of Republic of Moldova
Eugeniu Sinchevici is a Member of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on the list of pro-EU PAS party, holding his second consecutive term. He is the youngest member of the legislature and has been involved in initiatives such as reforming higher education, combating disinformation and youth policy.
He also served as President of PAS Youth, the youth wing of his party, advocating for greater youth engagement in politics.
Sinchevici holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Governance from Sciences Po Paris and varios US Exchange programs.
Eve Borg Bonello
Maltese Parliament
Eve Borg Bonello is a Maltese parliamentarian and member of the Nationalist Party (EPP), currently serving as Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Public Cleanliness. She recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Law and is currently reading for a Master’s degree in Law. In April 2022, she made history by becoming the youngest Member of Parliament ever elected to the Maltese House of Representatives. Prior to her parliamentary career, Eve was actively involved in environmental and rule of law advocacy, rising to prominence through her activism during the 2019–2020 Maltese protests that followed a series of corruption scandals and culminated in a political crisis leading to the Prime Minister’s resignation. Born on May 9th, 2003, Eve represents a new generation of leadership in Maltese politics.
Eve Weisberger
Earth to Eve
Eve Weisberger is the creative force behind the musical project 'Earth to Eve.' Using her platform of 690K+ followers, she advocates for both mental health awareness and political activism through her music and self-directed visuals. While completing her undergraduate degree in music composition at the Frost School of Music (University of Miami), Eve also worked as the Graphic Design and Marketing Lead at CoinRoutes (an institutional algorithmic crypto trading platform.) Eve started her academic journey at the University of California Berkeley, where she studied Philosophy & Economics and was a member of the business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi.
Fatna Ikrame El Fanne
NGO-Youth for Climate Morocco / Harbin Institute of Technology-Shenzhen
Fatna Ikrame Elfanne is a doctoral student in environmental science and Engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology-Shenzhen. Her research is focused on the electrochemical conversion of CO2 into other products. Fatna is also a European Commission Ambassador for the Mediterranean and Middle East region, as well as a co-founder of Youth for Climate Morocco and its Director of Projects. In 2024, she was awarded the Princess Diana Award for her contributions to climate advocacy. She has received recognition for her efforts from several organisations, including Greenpeace, the African Union, and British Vogue. Before enrolling in her PhD program, she completed two master's degrees in Environmental Engineering and Water Management.
Fiona Koh
Tsinghua University
Fiona Koh is a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The Schwarzman Scholars program is a highly selective, one-year Master’s fellowship that brings together emerging leaders from around the world to study Global Affairs and develop a deeper understanding of China’s role in international politics, economics, and technology. Prior to moving to China, Fiona worked for two years as a Cybersecurity Consultant at Deloitte. She holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Information Systems and Data Science. After graduating in July 2026, Fiona plans to work in the consumer technology sector in China, with a focus on strengthening economic and commercial ties between China and Europe.
Fjolla Ujkani
Assembly of Republic of Kosovo
I am a Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, currently serving my fourth consecutive term in the national parliament (2019, 2021, 2025). My parliamentary work focuses on human rights, gender equality, European integration, and regional cooperation, and I have represented Kosovo in several European forums and inter-parliamentary meetings. Alongside my legislative role, I am pursuing postgraduate studies in Public Administration and Diplomacy at AAB University. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Prishtina. I began my public service in 2017 as a municipal assembly member in Vushtrri.
Franco Acocella
HiveTracks
Franco Acocella is an Industrial Engineer and MBA candidate at Universidad de San Andrés, currently working at HiveTracks in Product Strategy & Insights, where he focuses on analytics, product planning, and cross-functional initiatives for digital tools in agriculture and biodiversity monitoring. He has led projects involving user research, feedback systems, and data-driven product improvement. Alongside his professional role, he has developed entrepreneurial initiatives in areas such as legal technology, donations platforms, and property-related services in Argentina. His academic and professional interests include innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurship, product strategy, and technology applied to real-world operational challenges.
Franco Rodriguez Viau
Satellites on Fire
Franco is a tech entrepreneur with 7+ years of experience in AI, business development, and social innovation. As CEO, he leads corporate strategy, fundraising, partnerships, and international expansion at Satellites On Fire, where he has raised USD 905k and scaled operations across 19 countries. He studied Artificial Intelligence Engineering at Universidad de San Andrés, completed the MBA Future Leaders at thePower Business School, and holds a technical high school degree in Technology from Escuela Técnica ORT. He participated in Techstars Tel Aviv and the START Global Fellowship (University of St. Gallen). He is a 776 Fellow and Top 40 Innovator Under 40.
Friederike Biffar
Aithon Robotics
Friederike Biffar is Co-Founder and responsible for Business Development at AITHON Robotics, an ETH Pioneer Fellowship recipient (2025/26), where drives go-to-market strategy. She holds an M.Sc. in Robotics, Systems and Control from ETH Zurich, complemented by a CAS in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Technology Ventures. Her academic work earned the IROS 2023 Best Paper Award on Mobile Manipulation. She completed her B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, also at ETH Zurich. Friederike combines deep technical expertise in robotics with hands-on entrepreneurial experience in business development and strategy.
Gaia Roncalli is a space engineer who co-founded Ecosmic, a space situational awareness company focused on delivering software solutions to keep satellites safe.
In Ecosmic she first raised 1.1M euros from VC in her COO role, and then became CPO to focus on the product, which is now used by more than 60 satellites across commercial space companies and space agencies.
Before founding Ecosmic, Gaia gained experience at the European Space Agency, Airbus Defence & Space, and Thales Alenia Space. She specialised in Space Flight at the Technical University of Delft after graduating in Aerospace Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin.
Garvita Gulhati
Why Waste
Garvita Gulhati is a social entrepreneur and climate leader best known as India’s Water Girl. She began her changemaking journey at age 13 and founded Why Waste? in 2015 in response to India’s growing water crisis. Under her leadership, Why Waste? has grown into India’s largest youth-led water conservation organization, driving large-scale behavior change through nationwide campaigns, technology-led solutions, and global partnerships with institutions such as UNICEF, National Geographic, and the Shawn Mendes Foundation. Her work has reached millions, conserved tens of millions of liters of water, and mobilized young people to take everyday climate action.
In parallel, Garvita has worked in investing with a focus on financial inclusion and climate impact. She will be joining Harvard Business School later this year to pursue her MBA and deepen her work at the intersection of capital, climate, and inclusive growth.
Genesis Mwamba
Lead Me Back Foundation
Dr Genesis Mwamba is an award-winning medical doctor and young leader dedicated to advancing sustainable development in Zambia through his work at the intersection of Education, Health, and Climate Action. He is the founder and the Executive Director of the Lead Me Back Foundation.
A young leader with an extensive background in community service and developing other young leaders. Over the last 9 years, he has impacted over 250,000 people through activities like supporting vulnerable children in school, capacity building, conducting public speaking classes and advocating for equal access to quality education for all.
His childhood experience with poverty had made him believe education is the greatest equalizer, which drives his commitment to ensuring children in poverty access quality education. Through his leadership, his organization has provided over 400,000 school materials to marginalized children in Zambia.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery from Copperbelt University, his clinical experience highlighted how a lack of information among underserved patients worsens preventable deaths. This inspired him to lead Ubumi Care Clinics, focusing on early diagnosis, treatment initiation, and community empowerment.
He is the Team Lead of the Youth SDG Summit, the largest youth gathering on the SDGs in Zambia. Under his leadership, the summit has grown into a premier platform for youth engagement, advocacy, and action, directly impacting over 5,000 young people across the country. Through strategic partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs, and corporate stakeholders, he has successfully mobilized resources, facilitated high-level discussions, and empowered youth to drive sustainable change in their communities.
A public speaker with 12 years of experience on both local and international platforms. In 2022, he was one of the keynote speakers at the Posner Center Symposium. He has spoken to more than 100,000 people. A keynote speaker and panellist at events organized by International SDG Summits, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts and Youth SDG Summit.
His leadership track record is illustrated as follows: Osmosis Medical Education Fellow, 2023; One Young World Novartis Scholar Ambassador, 2023; Hansen Leadership Institute Fellow, UNITE 2030 Youth Delegate; and The Copperbelt University School of Medicine Student Leader.
Giancarlo Moreira Gama
Presidency of Brazil
Giancarlo is Climate and Economic Policy Manager at the Presidency of Brazil, where he leads climate finance, economic and social policy initiatives and manages stakeholder engagement with national and international partners. Previously, he founded and served as Executive Director of Jevy Cidades, a nonprofit focused on urban sustainability and local policy advocacy in Brazilian cities. He has also worked as a Policy Research Associate at the University of Oxford, researching urban mobility and fare-free public transport. Giancarlo holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of São Paulo.
Gnapika Vuchuru
University of Bergen
Gnapika Vuchuru is a Master's student in Information Technology and Economics at the University of Bergen, currently on exchange at the Norwegian School of Economics. She is a Research Assistant at the FAIR Centre, contributing to a study on global redistributive preferences currently under review at Nature. Concurrently, she works as a Data & Automation Analyst at Turnstone Private Equity. Previously, she interned as a Data Analyst at Frydenbø Group and worked with an impact investor in Hong Kong. She is the founder of ESTIEM Bergen, a group connecting engineering and management students in Bergen to similar groups through Europe.
Grace Alusa
Jumia Group | Strathmore University
Alusa is a Nairobi,Kenya-based operations and performance professional with experience in analytics, process improvement, and multi-market business operations. Currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Strathmore University, Alusa has a strong interest in strategy, operational excellence, and data-driven decision-making.
Professionally, she works in operations and performance management, with experience leading analytics, process improvement, and execution across complex, multi-market business environments. This work has involved driving operational efficiency, monitoring performance, and supporting data-driven decision-making across regional contexts. Earlier experience in advisory and business analysis further strengthened her practical approach to problem-solving and organisational effectiveness.
Greta Pappa
Sigma Squared Society / The System Change Foundation
Greta Pappa is the CEO of The System Change Foundation, where she leads strategic partnerships, operational development, and the execution of large-scale initiatives, including the World Systemic Forum. She also serves on the Executive Board of Sigma Squared Society as Director of Partnerships & Curation, where she has grown the community from scratch, all the partnerships and led the global summits. Previously, she was an Associate at The Bank of New York, working on financial modeling, advisory, and AI-driven process improvements. Greta holds an MSc in Business Analysis and Strategic Management from the University of Manchester and a BSc in International Business from the University of Leeds.
Hong Van Nguyen
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Van is a PhD student based in Germany, researching how companies can develop organizational structures that critically address racism. Alongside her doctoral research, she works as a freelance consultant and trainer in organizational development, focusing on racism, discrimination, and intercultural competence. She holds a M.A. in Intercultural Human Resource Development and Communication Management and a B.A. in Cultural Studies and Business Psychology. Throughout her academic journey, she has studied in Germany, France, and Vietnam and has received multiple scholarships. As a mentor for initiatives such as ArbeiterKind.de, ApplicAid, and Legmon, she encourages students from non-academic and structurally disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education. As the co-founder of "Perspektiven of Color" and founder of "Originasians," she works on building empowerment and networking spaces for People of Color.
Dr. Ian Chew is a Singapore-based climate and digital sustainability expert. He is the Founder of Greenie Web, an award-winning ClimateTech company focused on low-carbon computer code and sustainable digitization. He currently serves on the Executive Committee (Sustainability) of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (2025–2028). Ian is also Enterprise Chair (Digital Sustainability) at the Global Sustainable Futures Network and Founder of the Global Alliance for Sustainable Digitization. A Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honouree, he has advised multilateral institutions including the Asian Development Bank and spoken at forums organized by the United Nations, European Union, and The Economist.
Ikhlas Tawazun
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
Ikhlas Tawazun is a Master student in International Affairs at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. He specialises in wide-ranging political economy research and stakeholder management. His last full-time role was Energy and Sustainability Consultant at Policy+, an Indonesian think tank, working on energy transition and carbon market. Before it, he was a Partnership Consultant for Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning. Ikhlas also worked with the international business community in Indonesia through his past roles at the US-ASEAN Business Council, American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, and EU Delegation to Indonesia and ASEAN.
Itziri Gonzalez Barcenas
Schwarzman Scholars
Itziri Gonzalez Barcenas is a Mexican policy analyst, human rights advocate, and public speaker working at the intersection of migration and inclusive development. She is currently co‑developing a documentary funded by the French government and writing a book on migration, borders, and family separations. She co‑founded My Access Abroad, a platform challenging migration narratives through storytelling and cultural diplomacy. She previously worked with UN agencies, the OECD, and the CNRS on global projects spanning climate, migration, and development. A former DACA recipient, she studied at Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman Scholar and CONACYT Fellow, Sciences Po Paris, and Davidson College.
Ivy Bhattacharya
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Ivy Bhattacharya is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, under the supervision of Prof. Amit Meller. She is currently researching nanofluidic approaches for profiling biomarkers by size, charge, and surface profiles, in silicon nanochannels. She was named a BioInnovators Fellow with Teva Pharmaceuticals in 2026. She is deeply passionate about single-molecule sensing and the physics of biomolecular interactions at the nanoscale, particularly how subtle size-charge signatures in biofluids can reveal early molecular traces of disease. Her work is motivated by the belief that the next breakthroughs in medicine will emerge not from bulk diagnostics, but from decoding faint molecular signatures that enable earlier, more equitable detection of disease.
Jakub Hrbáň
Klíma ťa potrebuje
Jakub is a climate activist, campaigner and climate consultant. He focuses primarily on advocacy work through finding innovative ways to engage the public in developing climate policies and implementing needed actions. As part of the organisation's advocacy work, he has worked, for example, on the preparation of the Slovak Climate Act.
Jakub is a systems engineer and deep-tech founder specializing in autonomous, low-power, and high-reliability hardware. Starting in August 2026, he will serve as the Lead Electrical Engineer for Möbius Industries, a robotics circular economy venture in New York City. He is currently the Executive Director of Picoballoon, leading a team of eight developing atmospheric observation systems after securing €500k in Horizon Europe funding.
Previously, he co-founded the innovation platform Noove and served as a Principal Investigator for a U.S. Navy R&D project. A Forbes 30 under 30 honoree and previous St. Gallen Leader of Tomorrow, his background includes developing satellite components for a NASA-partnered mission.
Janet Joseph
Brown University
Janet Ogeneitsega Joseph is a PhD candidate currently at Brown University, where she investigates maternal-fetal immunology. Prior to this, she was a post-baccalaureate fellow at the National Institutes of Health, focusing on understanding the coronaviruses and improving treatments for mental disorders. She began her scientific career after immigrating from Nigeria to the United States. She received an Associate of Science from a junior college before completing her Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her expertise spans microbiology, infectious diseases, neurobiology, pregnancy, and public health, with a consistent focus on global health development.
Jason Adelhoefer
Tsinghua University
Siegfried Jason Adelhoefer is a medical doctor and Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University, where he examines how healthcare systems can be reformed under demographic, fiscal, and political pressure. Before moving to Beijing, he worked in general and transplantation surgery at LMU University Hospital Munich. His earlier experience spans clinical research at Charité and Johns Hopkins Hospital, including work on cardiovascular risk, prevention, and multicenter trial coordination. He also gained public-sector experience in the German Bundestag, contributing to healthcare and pharmaceutical policy analysis during the pandemic. Adelhoefer trained in medicine at Charité and studied philosophy and business administration at Humboldt University Berlin.
Javier Sebastian
Peking University
Javier Sebastián Portilla is a scholar at the Yenching Academy of Peking University, where he is pursuing a Master of Law in China Studies with a focus on Politics and International Relations. He earned a dual degree in Public Policy from Duke University and Duke Kunshan University, graduating summa cum laude. His academic interests focus on economic development, particularly how Ecuador can diversify its economy through Chinese foreign direct investment, emphasizing technology transfer, joint ventures, and value-added production. He has previously collaborated with Ecuadorian public and institutional initiatives related to trade, culture, and development. His current research explores emerging Chinese diasporas and migration flows between China and the Americas within the broader context of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Jemi Ahnaf
The Australian National University
Jemi is a geologist with four years of professional experience in the mining industry, working on exploration and research projects in precious, base, and critical minerals. He is passionate about supporting the global energy transition through responsible development and better understanding of the mineral resources that enable clean energy technologies. His work combines geological fieldwork and laboratory research to understand how mineral deposits form and contribute to future resource supply. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Earth Science at the Australian National University.
Jeremiah Thoronka
Optim Energy
Jeremiah Thoronka is an award-winning clean-energy innovator and PhD candidate in Social Innovation & Sustainability with 8+ years’ experience across energy access, climate policy, and inclusive development. He founded Optim Energy, leading teams to deploy context-appropriate solutions that transitioned 150+ households and 15 schools (10k+ people) out of energy poverty, while standardising O&M playbooks and governance models. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and inaugural Global Student Prize laureate, he blends applied research with venture execution and policy advisory to scale equitable, affordable energy for climate-vulnerable communities.
Jeremy Ho
Peking University
Jeremy is a Yenching Scholar at Peking University from Singapore. He is pursuing a Masters of Economics and is currently researching China's biotechnology industry. He has also worked as an Associate in L.E.K. Consulting in Singapore, a global strategy consulting firm, and will be returning to the company after graduation to join its Asia Healthcare Practice. He has also worked at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore as an investment banking analyst and holds a bachelors of commerce from the University of Melbourne. Before University, he served in the Singapore Armed Forces as a Commando, a renowned paratrooper regiment.
Jialu Zuo
China National Aviation Fuel International Holdings Limited
Jialu Zuo is a Sustainability Specialist at China National Aviation Fuel Group. In her current role, she focuses on international engagement and the advancement of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). She is also the founder of EcoVoyage, a youth initiative promoting sustainable travel, which received support from the World Economic Forum's Global Shaper Community Beijing Hub. Ms. Zuo holds a dual-degree Master of Public Policy from Tsinghua University and the University of Geneva, focusing on UN Sustainable Development Goals. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Renmin University of China.
jiayi zu
Nanyang Technological University
Jiayi Zu is a Master’s student majoring in Project Management at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Her academic interest focuses on the interface between art and technology, with special interest in risk management of hybrid commercial-cultural events. She previously studied Product Design at Northeast Forestry University in China and gained international experience at Politecnico di Milano in Italy. Her recent work explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and educational inequality. She is dedicated to finding systematic solutions to address the emerging “Intelligence Divide”, which, in her view, is the most critical and pressing global challenge.
Jiayuan Tian
Columbia University (School of International and Public Affairs)
Jiayuan Tian is a Master of Public Administration candidate at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He is a youth storyteller and social entrepreneur committed to expanding access to global education. Tian is the Co-Founder of OneXplore and the Founder of Youth π, a youth storytelling initiative featuring more than one thousand profiles of young changemakers. In 2025, he was invited as a Youth Representative from China to the United Nations 80th Anniversary Commemoration, where he spoke on youth action and global education equity. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Minerva University, completing a global program across seven cities. He is also a member of the UNESCO SDG4 Youth & Student Network and a recipient of The Diana Award.
Jin Tada
National Graduate Institute for Public Studies
Jin Tada is a Master’s student in Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo. He currently serves as the Lead of the Water Storytellers Collective, an officially endorsed UN Ocean Decade Action. Recently, Jin developed AI Carson, a Generative AI agent recognized by UNESCO designed to translate complex climate data into accessible narratives for marginalized youth. He also acts as an Expert Reviewer for the IPCC AR7 and UNEP GEO 7 assessments. Previously, as a Branch Manager at UNISC International, he facilitated grassroots intergenerational dialogues on urban resilience for over a decade.
John is a young finance professional working with one of the Big Four firms as an External Auditor in Mining, Energy and Utilities sector. He holds an MBA in International Business Management and currently pursuing a Master's in Governance and Regional Integration.
Jonathan Leong
Singapore University of Technology and Design
Jonathan is presently a Master of Architecture candidate in the Singapore University of Technology and Design exploring how depopulating towns can be treated as a design parameter, developing strategies for managed shrinkage and future regeneration. Previously, he concurrently finished his BSc. Architecture and a Master’s in Technology Entrepreneurship, researching stochastic risk-structuring frameworks for carbon guarantees in the Voluntary Carbon Market. Jonathan was also a junior researcher at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, studying walkability in Ho Chi Minh City and the socio-economic role of sidewalks in Saigon’s informal economy. His experience spans architectural practice in Singapore, UI/UX and business development work in the San Francisco Bay Area, and academic exchange at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou.
Jose Antonio Sanz Giner
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Jose Sanz is currently pursuing an MSc in Business Information Management at Erasmus University Rotterdam, focusing on the intersection of technology and business processes. He is also working as an Thesis Operations Intern at Auxadi, where he supports among other things the implementation of a Treasury Management System (TMS). Previously, he gained experience as a Business Development Trainee at TABS Inc., contributing to CRM projects and process improvements. He also completed a marketing internship at Sales Layer. Jose holds a double degree in International Business from the University of Valencia and a BBA with a concentration in Marketing Professional Selling from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Joshua Raoul Neuman
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
Joshua Raoul Neuman is a Master’s candidate in International Relations at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2026, he was recognized as a Leader of Tomorrow for the 55th St. Gallen Symposium after his essay on Arctic defense was selected for the Global Essay Competition’s top 100. Previously, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Currently based in Argentina, Neuman focuses his research on the intersection of geopolitics, technology, and national security.
Julian Tepfers
University of Cambridge
Julian Tepfers is a writer from Norway studying art and creativity at the University of Cambridge. He writes for newspapers, magazines, and blogs on topics such as religion, art, politics, poetry, architecture, and education. Before coming to Cambridge, he studied global intellectual history at the University of St Andrews where he graduated top of his class. Julian came to academia a little later in life, having worked several years in advertising before pursuing higher education. With this slightly unorthodox background, he strives to always approach the topics he writes about from an unconventional angle and with a creative touch.
Julieta Porta
SphereBio
Julieta Luz Porta currently serves as the CEO and Co-founder of SphereBio, a biotech startup developing a first-in-class intracellular delivery platform for individualized cancer vaccines. She leads the company’s strategic expansion and capital formation across the United States and Latin America, securing key alliances with Harvard-affiliated institutions. Previously, she was recognized as an Innovator Under 35 by MIT Technology Review and honored by NASA for her contributions to the deep-tech ecosystem. An Alumna of the University of St. Gallen (HSG), she holds a degree in Business Engineering, specializing in bridging the gap between radical scientific innovation and global market scalability.
Jumi Yu
Yonsei University
Jumi Yu is a Juris Doctor candidate at Yonsei Law School, expected to graduate in 2028, with an interest in human rights and international law. She is scheduled to attend the Hague Academy of International Law in July 2026 with full scholarship support. Her recent experience includes serving as an English–Korean interpreter on a disability rights program in Australia and participating in the Korean-Nordic Future Challenge. Previously, she worked as a research assistant at Seoul National University and interned at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. She earned a B.A. in Economics from Seoul National University, graduating summa cum laude, and studied abroad at UC Berkeley.
Juwon Kim
Seoul National University
Juwon Kim is a student at Seoul National University, where she focuses on economics and computer science. In 2025, she passed South Korea’s Diplomat Candidate Selection Exam as the youngest successful candidate. Previously, she served as a Youth Delegate for the 2024 NEXT Milan Forum, presenting policy ideas on the digital divide and education for the G7 Summit. Juwon also led the business team for the Seoul National University Solar Car Team (SNU SOLO), where she managed strategy and sponsorship for the 2023 World Solar Challenge in Australia.
Kaidi Ru is an energy and urban infrastructure consultant with interests in technology, development, public policy and the water-food-energy nexus. Outside of work, she is a World Bank Group 2024 Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador, a Future Energy Leader with the World Energy Council, and a member of the UN Women 30 for 2030 Youth Leadership Network. Kaidi holds a BA in International Development from King's College London and an MPhil in Management with Commendation from the University of Cambridge.
Currently, Kaidi is a Youth Navigator for the Asia-Pacific for the ILO Strategic Foresight Study on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), facilitating the inclusion of young people's voices and perspectives in global discussions on the future of work.
Khadija Owusu
AKAYA Foundation
Dr. Khadija Owusu is an award-winning medical doctor, global health advocate, social entrepreneur, and the Founder of the AKAYA Foundation, which delivers youth-led education, wellbeing, and leadership programmes for girls across Ghana and the diaspora. She currently trains as a GP in the NHS while leading AKAYA’s international portfolio of projects. Previously, she served as Director of Programmes at Melanin Medics and continues as a founding trustee of the organisation. Dr Khadija has spoken on global platforms including the United Nations and is recognised for her work advancing health equity, youth leadership, and gender-responsive development through community-driven models.
Khulan Battulga
Fordham University
Khulan Battulga is a graduate student at Fordham University’s M.A. in International Political Economy and Development (IPED). She has over four years of professional experience, including three years as an economist at the Bank of Mongolia. Her reserves focuses on economic growth, productivity and the housing market, integrating data driven analysis with policy development.
Kianne Lim
National University of Singapore
Kianne is a multidisciplinary designer and researcher based in Singapore. Her practice focuses on building relationships and leading with kindness. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Public Health at the National University of Singapore, applying co-design methods to health awareness and communication for cervical cancer prevention. Her recent publications examine the impact of design thinking education and slip-casting as a machine for making textured ceramic interfaces. Trained in industrial design, her project Harena was a tribute to the Asian domestic gecko and exhibited at Deyrolle, a historic taxidermy shop in Paris, France, as part of Paris Design Week 2022.
Kritika Kotecha
BITS School of Management (BITSoM)
Kritika Kotecha is an MBA candidate at BITS School of Management (BITSoM) who enjoys working at the intersection of systems, strategy, and scale. Most recently, as part of the Founder’s Office at a data centre and cloud firm, she is driving market-entry initiatives into India, working on strategic decisions that underpin critical digital infrastructure. She has also worked at the National Stock Exchange in India as an HR Strategy Intern, designing data-led approaches to retention and compensation. Prior to this, she spent two years at JPMorgan Chase, driving transformation initiatives and solving complex, high-impact business problems. With triple majors in Economics, Mathematics, and Statistics, Kritika brings a sharp, structured, and curious approach to everything she takes on.
Kwajo Tweneboa
Kwajo Tweneboa
Kwajo Tweneboa is a British housing campaigner and social commentator known for advocating for safe and secure housing in the United Kingdom. He has worked with Prince William to highlight the impact of homelessness and housing insecurity. Tweneboa regularly contributes to national news outlets and has appeared in television documentaries examining housing conditions and tenant rights. He is also the author of a book on housing and social justice. In addition, he hosts the podcast From Humble Beginnings Life Before Fame, which explores the early lives and formative experiences of well known figures. In 2023, he declined an MBE, citing the need for systemic change in the housing sector.
Kyriakos Chondrogiannis
ETH Zurich
Kyriakos received the ETH Pioneer Fellowship in 2024, with the purpose of developing and commercializing the NegSV technology that was introduced during his PhD work. Builtstop, a startup promoting innovation in the construction sector, has been eagerly developing this technology ever since. He obtained his PhD from ETH Zurich, where he conducted research in the field of seismic protection through the use of nonlinear mechanisms and metamaterials. Kyriakos initiated his engineering education at the National Technical University of Athens, specializing in Structural Engineering.
Lance Johnston
Fearless Media Group
My name is Lance Ryan Johnston, and I was born and raised in Texas. My passion for change in United States politics started in high school at the age of 17. I was shocked at what people were saying online, and I decided I would start making my own videos to further conversations online surrounding politics. I got my first job creating videos and images for Turning Point USA, which taught me hard work and sacrifice as I could no longer sit around at home playing video games all day. I am a certified Eagle Scout and know my way around the outdoors. Becoming an Eagle Scout taught me a lot of great leadership skills and how to talk to people very well. Currently, my friends and I have created a new company to further discourse online and in person all around the United States, on college campuses and in public. We also cover riots and protests around the country even when it's dangerous to do so. I want to create change all around the United States and maybe even the world.
Lara Gervaise
Virtuosis AI
Lara Gervaise is the co-founder and CEO of Virtuosis AI, a company developing clinically validated voice-biomarker models that can assess up to 25 mental, cognitive, respiratory, and cardio-metabolic conditions from a 30-second audio recording. The company emerged from her research at EPFL. She advocates for responsible, explainable AI in healthcare. Virtuosis AI was named Microsoft Startup of the Year 2023, and she was recognized by French President Emmanuel Macron among the top 100 French AI talents.
Lennox Omondi is the Founder and CEO of EcoBana Limited, leading the development of biodegradable menstrual hygiene products and community-focused distribution initiatives. Most recently, he has overseen the launch of new manufacturing capacity and youth engagement programs focused on sustainability and access to menstrual health. He has been selected for multiple international fellowships and speaking engagements highlighting innovation and social impact. Earlier in his career, Lennox contributed to projects supporting small-scale farmers and environmental conservation through circular economy practices. He continues to focus on scaling practical solutions that advance dignity, gender equality, and responsible production across underserved communities.
Lexi Applequist
Humimic Biosystems
Lexi Applequist is the Cofounder and CEO of Humimic Biosystems, where she is advancing next-generation organ-on-chip platforms to model the heart, lungs, brain, and muscle for improved drug discovery and disease research. A biomedical engineer and PhD researcher, Lexi has patented her technology, authored several scientific publications, and secured over $500,000 (USD) in research and commercialization funding. She has pitched in international competitions including the Startup World Cup and has presented her work globally across North America, Asia, and Europe. Lexi is also a dedicated mentor and science communicator and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Science) list for 2026.
Lisa Reiss is the Founder and CEO of the food tech startup All But Sugar, developing the first modular platform technology capable of replacing sugar 1:1 in taste and functionality without adverse health effects.
She is the winner of the Startup World Cup Austria (2025), the Global Sweet Swap Sugar Reduction Competition by Givaudan and Barry Callebaut (2024), and the University Startup World Cup (2023).
Reiss founded her company at 23, submitted her first patent at 24, and scaled her technology to industrial scale at 25. She holds diplomas in Nutritional Science and International Business & Management and was twice awarded the Merit Award of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education & Science. She was repeatedly listed on the Dean’s List and received Honors by Department for outstanding academic achievement.
Her vision is a food system in which sweetness is decoupled from metabolic disease and health risks, pursued by fundamentally reducing sugar overconsumption through transforming how sweetness is engineered in food systems.
Lok Sze Rachel Lo
BPP University
Rachel Lo is a law student based in London.
Rachel attended the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, China as a Global Youth Leader. She participated in the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s summer school in Geneva, Switzerland. She previously interned at the United Nations Development Programme. Rachel has a particular interest in the intersection between law, cultural heritage, and digital transformation.
Prior to her journey into law, Rachel studied Ancient & Modern History as an undergraduate at the University of Oxford, and she completed a Masters in Classics at the University of Cambridge.
Louise Emmanuelle Mabulo
The Cacao Project
Louise Mabulo is a Filipino chef, farmer, and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of food systems, climate action, and community development. She is currently a television presenter for Channel News Asia and Discovery Asia, hosting documentary programs focused on climate solutions, technology, and environmental innovation. Mabulo is a National Geographic Explorer and has been recognized by BBC 100 Women, Forbes Asia 30 Under 30, UNEP’s Young Champions of the Earth, and the UN Foundation SDG Vanguard Awards. She is the founder of The Cacao Project, a regenerative agriculture initiative in Camarines Sur, Philippines, which has supported over 200 farmers to establish climate-resilient livelihoods through agroforestry and landscape restoration.
Lucky Karim
Refugee Women for Peace and Justice
Lucky Karim is a Rohingya refugee from Burma (Myanmar) and an internationally recognized human rights activist. In August 2017, she was compelled to flee her homeland amid genocidal attacks perpetrated by the Burmese military. For the next six years, she lived as a refugee in neighboring Bangladesh. Starting in 2018, when she was just 15 years old, Lucky began working with numerous international humanitarian organizations to provide vital assistance to the Rohingya refugee community of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. At age 17, Lucky defied odds to pursue higher education at the esteemed Asian University for Women in Chittagong, Bangladesh. In December 2022, she was resettled in the United States. Since then, she has closely worked with government officials, UN agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders from around the world, focusing on the Rohingya crisis and broader issues in Myanmar. Lucky has testified before the US Congress, briefed the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, and served as a representative for the most recent UN General Assembly High-level Conference in New York. She is the first Rohingya woman to write a memoir (Born Lucky), which has been acquired by Sourcebooks publishers and will be out in fall 2027. Recognizing the power of women’s leadership, Lucky founded Refugee Women for Peace and Justice in August 2024—the first official, Rohingya refugee-led nonprofit operating directly in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. She is also a refugee advisor to the Complementary and Resettlement Pathways to UNHCR in Geneva, a Senior Fellow at the International Campaign for Rohingya in Washington, DC, and a Refugee Alumni at Refugees International.
Mahbube Ibrahimi
wild flower
Mahbube Ibrahimi is a Zurich-based upper-secondary student focused on civic engagement and education access. In May 2026, she was an invited participant at the 55th St. Gallen Symposium (University of St. Gallen), contributing to cross-generational dialogue on social and economic issues. Since November 2023, she has served as President and Team Leader of the WildFlower Association, coordinating a volunteer team and partnerships to support learning opportunities for young women in Afghanistan. Previously, she worked as a service assistant at Restaurant Negishi (March–May 2024) and volunteered at Welcome Hostel in Athens (March–June 2021). She speaks Persian, German, and English and brings strengths in teamwork, communication, and humanitarian engagement.
Mahi Shafiullah
University of California Berkeley
Nur Muhammad "Mahi" Shafiullah is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, hosted by Jitendra Malik. Recently, in 2025, he was recognized as an MIT Technology Review Innovator Under 35 and received a Best Demo Award at CVPR. He completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at New York University in July 2025, advised by Lerrel Pinto. Prior to finishing his doctorate, his experience included working as a Research Consultant at Hello Robot Inc. in 2024 and as a Visiting Scientist at Meta AI between 2022 and 2023. He previously earned his M.Eng. and S.B. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Marcel Mordarski
Imperial College London
Marcel Mordarski is a quantum scientist, policy advisor, and educator bridging deep tech and global governance. As an Imperial College London PhD Candidate, he researches quantum technologies (e.g., cryptography and machine learning in fintech) for privacy and performance. He holds a distinguished MPhil from Cambridge (Trust Scholar) and a UCL BSc. His technical experience includes quantum optimisation at NASA Ames and communication security at Quantinuum. Furthermore, Marcel advises the Polish government on digitisation, champions global knowledge-sharing via the Scientific Diplomacy Grid, designs quantum education programmes, and supports future tech as a Creator Fund venture capital Fellow.
Marceline Bresson
Peking University
Marceline Bresson is currently doing her master's in economics at Peking University in China. She focusses on green industrial policy and sustainable investing in China, two topics she previously covered for the leading financial newspaper of the Netherlands. Before joining the newspaper she was involved in the Dutch climate movement, following her return to the Netherlands after three years at the University of Oxford studying economics.
Marco Berki
Lucy Cavendish College, The University of Cambridge
Marco Berki is currently reading for an LLM at the University of Cambridge, Lucy Cavendish College. His research focuses on copyright, artificial intelligence and text and data mining, including the relationship between contractual restrictions and section 29A of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. He will continue at Cambridge as a PhD candidate in Law, where his doctoral research will examine copyright liability for process-generated model artefacts. He was awarded first prize in the vLex International Law Writing Competition. He previously completed a First Class LLB (Hons) at Reading, where he was awarded Vice Chancellors Global Scholarship for academic excellence.
Marco Kaupp is a master’s student in Politics and Technology at the Technical University of Munich, specializing in technology and energy policy. He currently works with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), focusing on policy issues related to autonomous driving and drone regulation. Kaupp previously served as a board member of the Tönissteiner Kreis Studierendenforum e.V. Earlier, he gained experience at the German Embassy in Beijing and held engineering roles in the European technology sector, including positions with Thales, Festo, and Porsche. His background combines hands-on engineering experience with a focus on emerging technology governance and international policy.
Mariam Solika
THE GOOD NEWS
Mariam Solika is an Egyptian media entrepreneur and youth leader, currently serving as Founder and CEO of The Good News (TGN), a digital media platform focused on hope-driven storytelling and youth opportunities across the Arab region. She is a UN Youth Leader (2025) with the United Nations, and a graduate of the 500 Global Creator Ventures Accelerator. Mariam has represented youth voices at regional and international forums, including COP28. Under her leadership, TGN has evolved into a multi-revenue media business delivering branded content, workshops, and community programs with a focus on impact and sustainability.
Marie Perrin is a chemist and entrepreneur passionate about sustainable innovation. She is currently an ETH Pioneer Fellow and the CEO of REEcover, a startup developing an innovative chemical process for the sustainable recycling of rare earth elements. Her work has been recognized with major distinctions, including the EPO Young Inventor Prize 2025, the ETH Spark Award, and the European Young Chemists Award. Marie earned her PhD in chemistry from ETH Zurich in 2024, focusing on bio-inspired rare earth chemistry. She previously studied chemistry at Université Paris-Saclay and ENS Paris-Saclay, and obtained a Master’s degree from École Polytechnique. Committed to societal impact, she is active in mentoring, outreach, science policy, and science communication as @theraredoctor.
Mariia Hirniak
International University of Japan
Mariia Hirniak is a Master’s candidate in International Relations at the International University of Japan, specializing in international security, foreign policy, and Japan–Ukraine relations. She is a contributor and analyst at ADASTRTA and Resurgam Hub, where she writes on geopolitics, energy security, and defense cooperation. Mariia also works as a Quantitative Researcher at Scruples Research and is involved in humanitarian initiatives supporting Ukraine, including her volunteer work with the organization Western Allance Ukraine. She previously earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv and studied social sciences at the University of Tsukuba in Japan.
Marios Dafnomilis
Presidency of the Hellenic Government
Marios Dafnomilis is a Foresight Special Adviser at the Presidency of the Government, working on the portfolios of artificial intelligence, climate change, EU and international cooperation and strategic policy planning. In this role, he actively supports the High-Level Advisory Committee on AI under the Greek Prime Minister and has contributed to the development and publication of Greece’s National Strategy on AI.
He has worked as an ESG Risk Consultant, specializing in sustainability and responsible business practices. Earlier in his career, he worked as a civil engineer on large-scale energy infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom and North Africa.
Since 2022, he has also been appointed by the European Commission as an Ambassador of the European Climate Pact. From 2021 to 2024, he served on the Executive Board of a youth NGO focused on addressing key political and social challenges faced by GenZ.
He holds an MEng in Civil Engineering. He received his Master’s degree in Geo-Environmental Engineering (MSc, DIC) from Imperial College London, being an Onassis Foundation Scholar.
Marios is also a Bertelsmann Foundation DC Fellow (alumnus) and a current World Economic Forum Project Fellow.
Marius Alexander Karlsen
The NHH Symposium / The Norwegian School of Economics
Marius Alexander Karlsen is a Norwegian business student at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), currently serving as President of the NHH Symposium, Europe's largest student-driven business conference, leading an organisation of over 400 volunteers. Alongside this, he works as a PM Advisor at DNB. Previously, he held the role of Deputy Head of Program at the NHH Symposium and completed internships at Spectrum Blue, where his market analysis contributed to securing funding from Innovation Norway, and Dr.Dropin, supporting their EdTech venture. Karlsen is pursuing an Integrated Master's in Economics and Business Administration, graduating in 2028.
Mark Kennedy Bantugon
Pili AdheSeal Inc.
Engr. Mark Kennedy Bantugon, 27, hailing from the agricultural heartland of Batangas, Philippines, is the CEO and Inventor of Pili AdheSeal Inc., a greentech startup championing the circular economy and sustainability through innovative and eco-friendly adhesive and sealant solutions. His groundbreaking contributions have earned him the distinction of being the first Filipino inventor to receive the WIPO National Award for Inventor, the highest recognition conferred by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He has also been recognized as a 2025 Tatler Asia Most Influential Honouree, a Dyson Award winner (2021), a Tatler Asia Generation T Leader of Tomorrow (2022), a UNICEF Youth Achiever Awardee for Science and Technology (2024), and the Asia CEO Awards Grand Winner for Most Innovative Company of the Year (2024) and Young Leader of the Year (2025).
Most recently, he was named the inaugural Presidential Filipinnovation Awardee, conferred by the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Moreover, he made history as the first Asian recipient of the prestigious Young Inventors Prize awarded by the European Patent Office.
Marwa Katir
Harvard Business School
Marwa Katir is a doctoral researcher in Strategy at Harvard Business School, where she studies the intersection of geopolitics and corporate behavior — specifically how businesses respond to political risk and what that means for democratic institutions. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service in International Political Economy from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. Beyond her academic work, she is broadly interested in how political identity, media, and institutions shape one another in an era of rapid technological and geopolitical change.
Mateusz Mach is a product and technology leader with an entrepreneurial background in fintech, blockchain, and AI-driven systems. He is the Founder and CEO of Nextrope, where he leads the development of blockchain- and AI-based solutions for institutional and enterprise clients. He is also the Co-Founder and CTO of Soil, a decentralized credit protocol bridging traditional finance and DeFi infrastructure. Earlier in his career, he founded Five App, a global sign-language communication platform with significant international reach. He is the author of the book Crypto Millionaires, focused on the impact of digital assets and emerging financial technologies. He was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list for innovation and impact.
Dr. Maya Nasr is a science engineer at EDF and Harvard University, where she leads in-orbit lunar calibrations and the team developing machine learning models for the MethaneSAT mission. She brings expertise in space operations, mission planning, systems engineering, technology strategy, and space law and policy. Her past work includes MOXIE for NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission, Cassini’s mission activity on Titan, and the OneWeb satellites network. She is a member of the IAF Space Economy and Earth Observation Committees, and contributes to international space law through the IISL Working Groups on the Future of the Moon Agreement and on Pluralistic Governance of Outer Space Law. She also serves on the AIAA Public Policy Committee. Maya is the former co-lead of the SGAC Space Law & Policy Project Group and co-founder and project lead of HUMANS, an ISS, Moon, and Deep Space payload for global space access. Maya is an award-winning scientist and engineer, recognized with multiple international honors, including being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Middle East 2025 list in Science and Technology. She is also a TEDx speaker, sharing insights at the intersection of space technology, policy, and global impact. She holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering from MIT.
Melissa Munoz
Center for Public Intelligence
Melissa Muñoz is the Managing Director of the Center for Public Intelligence (CPI), where she is driving the development of a Public AI Stack for Latin America. She holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Oxford.
She previously served as Director of Innovation at OGTIC and Coordinator of the Innovation Cabinet of the Dominican Republic, where she led the creation of the region’s first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in Central America and the Caribbean, and oversaw the implementation of the National Innovation Policy, managing 22 high-impact projects.
With a Master’s degree in GovTech and a background in political science, public administration, and diplomacy, Melissa focuses her work on leveraging technology to transform governance and strengthen institutions. She is also a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Board, where she advises on global strategies for AI and digital inclusion.
Memory Banda
Foundation for Girls Leadership
I am a child protection and youth participation specialist with a strong track record of advancing gender justice and empowering young people through integrated programming. My career began with grassroots mobilization at age 13 and has since expanded into leadership roles across national campaigns, advisory work, and program design. As Founder of the Foundation for Girls Leadership (F4GL), I lead transformative initiatives to strengthen ecosystems that support adolescent girls, while at Ignite Praxis I co-develop innovative approaches such as age-specific manuals for integrated sports and life skills programming. My expertise at Save the Children International integrates child rights governance, youth-led innovation, and meaningful child participation, with practical application of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Previously, at Genet, I managed youth-led projects tackling gender-based violence and promoting girls’ education, while at Timveni Child and Youth Media Organization I enhanced visibility through media engagement, interviews, and news anchoring. Additionally, my voluntary service with Plan International focused on youth engagement, further strengthening my commitment to amplifying young voices. My leadership blends strategic vision, technical depth, and partnership building, consistently driving sustainable change across Malawi’s development sectors
Michael Strudler
Wendy Windenergy
Michael Strudler has served as CEO and Co-Founder of Wendy Windenergy FlexCo since May 2025, leading business operations and the development of a vertical small wind turbine concept. He has been involved in an ongoing research collaboration with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence focusing on testing vertical wind turbines in combination with a self-sufficient energy container solution. He is named as an inventor on the European patent publication “Rotor for a Vertical Wind Power Plant” (EP4224010A1). Strudler holds a BSc in Mechatronics/Microsystems Engineering from FH Wiener Neustadt and is currently pursuing an MSc. His work received 1st prize at EUCYS 2022 and he was a finalist at the Youth Start-Up Competition (YSC) 2025.
Michelle Jadormeo
Toronto Metropolitan University
Michelle Jadormeo is a Master of Arts candidate in Public Policy and Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she is also a Geoffrey F. Bruce Fellow in Canadian Freshwater Policy. Her work primarily focuses on freshwater governance and emerging water policy challenges in Canada, with particular interest in public policy, environmental governance, and evidence-based decision-making. She also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at TMU. Beginning in May 2026, she will join Ontario’s Ministry of Infrastructure as a Junior Policy Analyst. Michelle previously completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Toronto, graduating with Academic Distinction.
Michelle Keller
Pure-DEL / ETH Zürich
Michelle Keller is currently a Postdoc at ETH Zürich and a prospective co-founder of the pharmaceutical start-up Pure-DEL. Starting in her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at ETH, together with colleagues she developed the Pure-DEL platform, a new technology for drug discovery, which for the first time enables the screening of millions to billions of synthetic macrocycles, promising to tackle so far undrugged disease targets in cancer and inflammatory disorders. Michelle obtained her Master in Chemistry at the University of Oxford and grew up in Switzerland and the US.
Milind Taneja
Dubai Public Sector
Milind Taneja is an economic advisor in Dubai who works closely with senior government leaders on initiatives that strengthen the emirate’s role as a global hub for finance and sustainability. His work bridges business and policy, supporting decision-makers in navigating a rapidly evolving international business landscape. He regularly convenes and moderates policy roundtables at major government-led events such as the Dubai FinTech Summit and Dubai AI Festival. Milind also serves as an inaugural Vice President of the HKU Business School Middle East Alumni Chapter, fostering strategic connections among alumni, business executives, and government leaders in the region. He has spoken as a youth leader at the XII Global Baku Forum and previously attended the 51st St. Gallen Symposium as a Leader of Tomorrow.
Muhammad Bilal
The Australian National University
Muhammad Bilal is a PhD candidate at the Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University. His work sits at the intersection of molecular and translational neuroscience, with a particular interest in how brain biology influences behaviour, stress adaptation, and mental health. Using multi-omics approaches, he investigates the mechanisms that shape brain function and neurological disease. Beyond the laboratory, he is actively engaged in community and volunteer initiatives that support health and education in rural areas, and he is interested in the wider societal and health impacts of emerging technologies, especially in relation to mental health and global stability. With a background in biomedical sciences, he is committed to advancing evidence-based approaches to complex public health challenges.
Muhammad Faiz Krisnadi
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
Faiz Krisnadi is a Master’s candidate in International Affairs at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, with a focus on development and climate finance. He currently serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, supporting courses in Behavioural Economics for Public Policy and Introduction to Python for Public Policy. Previously, he worked as a Research Assistant for AidData, where he supported research on Chinese development finance and investment in Indonesia through data cleaning, evidence verification, and policy-focused analysis. He is also a Young Leader with the Pacific Forum’s Young Leaders Program.
My Hoa Nguyen Thi
ACADEMY OF FINANCE
Thi My Hoa Nguyen is a Master’s student in Finance and Banking at the Academy of Finance in Vietnam. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of financial systems, sustainable development, and public policy in emerging economies. She has conducted research on green finance and environmental investment incentives in Vietnam, with her work presented at the SR-ICYREB International Conference on Student Scientific Research. Beyond academia, she gained practical experience through involvement in her family’s precious metals business, where she observed how fluctuations in gold prices and exchange rates affect financial decision-making. She was selected as one of the Top 100 Leaders of Tomorrow in the St. Gallen Global Essay Competition 2026.
Najima Noyoftova
epsilon3.ai
Najima Noyoftova is a co-founder of epsilon3.ai and serves as its Chief Operating Officer, focusing on the development and deployment of AI solutions for government and regulated industries. She is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Council on Artificial Intelligence under the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan. Her work centers on AI-driven governance (AI-GOV), digital licensing platforms, energy supervision systems, and national AI infrastructure initiatives. Najima has led multiple pilot implementations across Central Asia and international markets, contributing to national AI strategies, public-sector digital transformation, and cross-border technology partnerships.
Namrata
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Namrata is a Doctoral Candidate and Senior Research Fellow in the Energy Studies Programme at the Centre for the Study of the World Economy in the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. Her doctoral research is focused on understanding the pathways for Transport Decarbonisation in India and other countries in the BRICS grouping. Trained as a zoologist during her under-graduate and post-graduate studies, she brings a systems-thinking lens to her research to potentially address the interconnected challenges across energy, climate, and sustainability domains, while drawing insights from frameworks in public policy and international relations.
Nazareen Mwangi
Safaricom PLC
Nazareen Wangari Mwangi is a Public Relations and Communications Intern at Safaricom PLC within the Corporate Affairs cluster. In this role, she leads communication strategies for the Vodacom Hackathon and the Women in Tech outreach in Marsabit while managing media relations for large-scale events. She is currently a Master of Arts student in Corporate Communication at Daystar University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from St. Paul’s University.
Recognized as a 2025 Leader of Tomorrow by the St. Gallen Symposium, she is also a UNITAR Climate Champion, FXB International Climate Advocate and UNITAR Human Rights Trainee. Her previous experience includes serving as a Corporate Communications and Marketing Practitioner at Tourism Fund Kenya and being named Sales and Marketing Associate of the Year at Sprinkville Networks. She currently volunteers with Mama Afrika to support digital literacy and women's empowerment.
Nicolas Brewitzer
University of Rostock
Nicolas Brewitzer attends the MA Culture-Ecology-Change at the UHRO since 10.2024 with a focus on the interrelations between energy vis-a-vis cultures and ecosystems. At the same time he is a working student for the Juwi GmbH, actively scouting suitable locations for free-standing PV plant acquisitions. In the former part of 2024 he could participate in an exchange in South Africa and Namibia, while his BA in Intercultural Studies with the empirical topic of Emissions Accounting Decoupling for EU28 was completed at the UBT in 2023. Here, he was part of the MUN delegation, winning best diplomat in Marrakech and best position paper for the Model African Union, as well as Lead Trips Organiser for ESN Bayreuth.
Nikola Krstic
Anoris Technology
Nikola Krstić is the Founder and CEO of Anoris Technology, where he leads the development of custom software and technology products. He is best known as the inventor of Anora, a smart glove created to support blind and visually impaired users through haptics, environmental recognition, and assistive AI features. Through Anoris, he has worked across software, hardware, and product innovation, building solutions for both business and social-impact use. Earlier in his career, Krstić was recognized with the Zvezde Beograda 2018 award, while Anora later received the jury’s first prize at Social Impact Award Serbia 2019, 30 under 30...
Nina Zepcan
McGill University
Nina Zepcan is a high-spirited individual, driven by a strong curiosity for learning, with both practical and theoretical experience in emerging tech sectors, international relations, and sustainable advocacy. She is the first Australian McCall MacBain Scholar to study at McGill University, completing a Master of Information Science (MISt). Additionally, she is a Building 21 BLUE Fellow also associated with McGill.
She has previously completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Anthropology and Applied Linguistics along with a Diploma in Languages, specializing in Italian.
Nina is motivated through her innate drive to succeed. She has over 10 years of experience working part-time across retail, education, hospitality and supermarket sectors, whilst also studying and volunteering full-time. She displays a remarkable sense of self, versatile communication skills, and is well-equipped to tackle complex challenges. Her culturally and linguistically diverse background gifts her the interpersonal skills and confidence required to connect with a plethora of audiences, strategically placing her as vital to her community.
Nsom Karlson Nsom
Sharda University
Nsom Karlson Nsom is a PhD. Scholar in English linguistics, currently completing his PhD at Sharda University, Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Greater Noida - India. His research focuses on corpus-based critical discourse analysis, examining social media discourse related to the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon and the role of language in shaping public opinion and power relations in conflict contexts. He has presented and published research on identity crisis, multiculturalism and climate communication. Alongside his academic work, he serves as the National President of the Association of African Students in India (AASI), where he promotes academic collaboration, student welfare and intercultural dialogue among African students across the country. His broader interests include discourse studies, sociolinguistics and communication in conflict and social change.
Odin Scotten Lund is the Founder and CEO of First Query AI, an AI-driven search optimization firm specializing in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) for enterprise clients in the legal, insurance and finance sectors. He previously co-founded and served as CEO of ThePixelPaper, a digital media brand that reached 110,000 readers and generated 60 million annual impressions before being acquired in July 2025. He currently serves as Chair of the YNG Europe One Board, where he organizes leadership events across Europe. Odin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from ESSEC Business School (Class of 2026) and is fluent in Norwegian and English.
Olivia Meli
Richemont | University of St.Gallen
Olivia Meli is a Student in Strategy and International Management at the University of St.Gallen. She is about to start working as a Business analyst at Richemont's global headquarters. She recently held the position of Project Manager for the CEOs to Campus 2025 leadership forum. She occasionally plays the cello for events such as the Symposium. Prior to this, whe was working in Singapore as a Business Intelligence intern in a Startup and B-Corporation operating across APAC, which is called OnTheList. This experience came after working as a Back Office Manager in Luxembourg for Chanel. Before this, she was a Gallery Ambassador at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and this followed a first experience in Paris, at Off-White, as a sales, logistics, and merchandising intern.
Oscar Hong is currently an MBA candidate at INSEAD, where he focuses on finance, entrepreneurship, and global markets. Prior to INSEAD, he worked in investor relations at Nordic Capital in London, contributing to fundraising initiatives, managing relationships with institutional investors and supporting several large co-investment transactions. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking at HSBC in London, advising companies in the consumer and retail sector on mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets transactions. Oscar began his career with internships in asset management and venture investing across Europe and Asia. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Gallen.
Pablo Cabra is a Junior Asset Allocation Analyst at Swiss Re in Zurich, where he develops systematic equity portfolio tools in Python, co-designed and implemented a passive-enhanced strategy, and manages the portfolio in coordination with risk and operations. Previously, at Anarosa Asset Management, he defined strategic asset allocations, led the onboarding of a portfolio management system, and supported multi-asset portfolio implementation and reporting. He began his career in Product Control at J.P. Morgan and holds an MSc in Statistics from the University of Geneva, as well as dual bachelor’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Economics.
Pashtana Dorani
LEARN Afghan
LEARN Afghan is led by its founder, Pashtana Durrani, an internationally recognized educator, activist, and author. In 2018, she launched LEARN Afghan as the country’s first digital school network—now operating underground to provide safe learning environments for girls under Taliban rule. Pashtana is a Harvard University graduate with an M.Ed. in Education Policy Analysis and serves as an International Scholar-in-Residence at the Wellesley Centers for Women (wcwonline.org). She is also the author of Last to Eat, Last to Learn, a memoir chronicling her journey and the founding of LEARN Afghan (Wikipedia). Her leadership and advocacy have been globally recognized—with honors such as Global Education Champion by the Malala Fund, BBC 100 Women, UN Young Activists Award, Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, the Women’s Excellence Award from the World Economic Forum and recently, the Ginetta Sagan Award. Her lived experience and deep understanding of Afghanistan’s social and political context inform LEARN’s strategy and daily implementation.
Philipp Emanuel Neudert
RWTH Aachen University
Philipp is a transdisciplinary innovation researcher with a background in Science and Technology Studies (STS) and Philosophy and Economics (P&E), driven by two essential questions: How does innovation 'work', and how can we make it 'better'? Philipp works on these questions as a research associate at RWTH Aachen University's Human Technology Center (HumTec) in the context of projects on semiconductors/next generation computing (NeuroSys) and bioeconomy (Bioökonomie VVU). Since September 2023, Philipp serves as co-lead of HumTec's area of activity “Collaborative Innovation”, coordinating several projects studying transdisciplinary innovation dynamics in the Rhenish lignite area. In the same year, Philipp has assumed the role of an editorial assistant of the Journal of Responsible Innovation.
Piyush Chaudhari
S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)
Currently an MBA candidate specializing in Information Management at SPJIMR, Piyush was recently recognized as a National Finalist in both the marketing and operations tracks of the Asian Paints case competition. During his summer internship at Klimb, he spearheaded the development of an AI Interviewer MVP, successfully securing five enterprise pilots within a seven-week period. Prior to his MBA, he served as an AI/ML Developer at Genesys, where he engineered an end-to-end LLM-based summarization service, optimizing for latency and cost-efficiency. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. Beyond his professional work, Piyush also co-captains his campus pool team.
Pratyaksh Kalra
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
Pratyaksh Kalra is a PGDM candidate at the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, with prior experience in digital transformation consulting. Before his MBA, he worked at KPMG India as a Consultant, delivering data integration and analytics solutions for large North American financial institutes. He was promoted within 1.5 years and recognized with the Top Learner Award among 700+ employees. Pratyaksh holds a B.Tech in Computer Science from Punjab Engineering College and previously interned at Western Digital. Beyond academics, he enjoys gym and fitness, mentoring students, and participating in community service through initiatives like the National Service Scheme.
Pravar Saran
Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and University of St. Gallen.
Pravar Saran is currently a dual-degree candidate pursuing an MSc in Business Information Management at Rotterdam School of Management and an MA in Strategy and International Management at the University of St. Gallen. He has history of participation in university governance as member of the RSM Master Programme Committee and the HSG Student Parliament. His professional background includes roles in marketing and public relations. He completed his bachelor's in business administration from Amity University in India.
Qi Zheng
the University of Queensland
Qi Zheng is a first-year PhD student at the University of Queensland in Business Information Systems discipline with a focus on technology and human psychological well-being, including AI addiction and social media's impact on human well-being. She holds a Master of Business (Information Systems) from UQ. Her research examines the intersection of technology and human cognition, exploring how digital technologies shape psychological outcomes. Her work has been published at PACIS 2025, addressing stress management in digital work environments.
Rachele Didero
CAP_ABLE / UniBZ
Rachele Didero is a designer, researcher, and entrepreneur. She is the Founder of Cap_able, a research-driven studio developing AI-reactive clothing and surfaces translated into industrial prototypes. Her work has been exhibited internationally across design, technology, and research venues. She is currently Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (UniBZ) and Adjunct Professor at Politecnico di Milano. Her research explores AI-driven interfaces and materials as programmable systems, with a focus on data privacy and critical design technologies. Didero is a TEDx and IAPP keynote speaker. Her work has been recognized with the ADI Compasso d’Oro Award, the Ambrosetti Tech Forum Award, and inclusion in Forbes Under 30.
Rakshitha Madamakki
SPJIMR
Rakshitha Madamakki is an MBA candidate at SPJIMR, Mumbai. Her background is in the life sciences, holding a Master’s degree in Biology with research experience in neuroscience, oncology, and food science. Her academic work includes a publication on potential alternative therapies for triple-negative breast cancer. Her professional interest lies in bridging life sciences and management perspectives to address challenges within the biotechnology & pharmaceutical industries. Most recently, she wrote an essay on the ethical and regulatory implications of algorithm-driven embryo selection for the Symposium. Beyond her academic work, she is a classically trained flautist with an interest in intergenerational dialogue.
Reigner Wayne Batalier
The Connectory
Reigner currently leads project facilitation and drives initiatives with scalable impact aligned with global sustainability goals. At the same time, he provides IT and cybersecurity support in the public health sector, contributing to SDG 3. Previously, Reigner focused on promoting digital equity by improving literacy and safety for vulnerable communities, including abused children (SDGs 4 and 5). This work strengthened his commitment to advancing inclusive development and encouraging collective action on critical global issues, with an emphasis on ethical business practices and community well-being.
Reto Müller is a Client Underwriter at Swiss Re, responsible for the Middle East region. He manages relationships with insurers across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, supporting them in structuring reinsurance solutions and optimizing their risk portfolios. His role combines underwriting discipline with strategic client engagement, ensuring sustainable and profitable partnerships. Prior to this position, Reto worked in the CEO Office of P&C Reinsurance, where he supported senior management on strategic initiatives, performance steering, and operational priorities. Before entering the reinsurance industry, he competed internationally as a professional road cyclist. Reto holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Rezwana Rahman
Toronto Metropolitan University
Rezwana Rahman is a PhD candidate in Urban Health at Toronto Metropolitan University, where her research examines intergenerational caregiving among second-generation immigrant families. She is an experienced nurse educator and instructor, teaching across undergraduate nursing and health programs. Rezwana is also the founder of SaraaSits, a culturally and faith-aligned caregiving platform focused on companionship care. Her work spans research, teaching, and entrepreneurship, with a strong emphasis on equity, caregiving, and community-centred innovation. She has received international recognition for her scholarship, including winning the St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition in 2025.
Rory James Alexander Cameron-Martin
Cambridge University
Rory Cameron-Martin is currently pursuing an MPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge, where his research examines South Korea’s Hallyu strategy as a form of modern geopolitical power. Most recently, he was a professional athlete with the Korean National Team and Gyeonggi Provincial Rowing Team, becoming the first foreign-born mixed-heritage professional athlete in Korean rowing history and winning silver at the 2024 Asian Cup. Previously, he served as Durham University’s College Rowing Head Coach alongside his studies. He holds a BA in Marketing and Management from Durham University, where he received an academic award for outstanding achievement and completed the second and third years of his degree entirely by distance learning while training full-time.
Rostislav Pavlishchev
“Through the Wall” Charity Foundation
Russian political activist and human-rights figure known for his involvement in independent civic and anti-war activities, particularly in opposition to the current Russian government’s policies:
• He is described as a Russian human-rights activist and coordinator associated with the movement Open Russia, which is recognized as an independent civic group and is labeled a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities.
• Pavlishchev has worked with and coordinated initiatives tied to civil society organizations focused on monitoring repression and defending democratic freedoms in Russia — for example as a regional coordinator for OVD-Info, a group that tracks political arrests and human-rights violations.
• He has also been involved with the Anti-War Committee and the support project “Through the Wall”, aimed at helping political prisoners in Russian penal colonies and Ukrainian prisoners of war.
• According to some reports, he has lived in exile in Lithuania since leaving Russia and has participated in events, talks, and educational discussions about democracy, civic engagement, and opposition to repression.
There are media accounts that mention legal actions taken against him in Russia related to laws on “undesirable organizations,” a category in Russian law used to restrict activities of certain civic groups.
Roxana Chiritoiu
European Parliament
Roxana Chirițoiu serves as Policy Advisor to the Vice-President of the European Parliament, contributing to high-level negotiations and legislative processes on the EU budget, public health, and social affairs. She previously represented Romania as a Youth Delegate to the Council of Europe, promoting youth participation and democratic engagement.
Her background is rooted in civil society, where she led initiatives on climate, education, and social innovation. In 2025, she was selected among 50 young leaders globally to participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos, and she was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list.
Ryan Stasolla
McGill University
Ryan Stasolla is a North American food systems practitioner and sustainable business development specialist pursuing his Master's of Management at McGill University. Ryan's commitment to supporting regional economic development spans non-profits, startups, and small businesses. Across New York State, he has supported local food vitality, developing market opportunities for producers and artisan-makers. Ryan is thrilled to join the Leaders of Tomorrow and continue shaping his career at the intersection of international business development, social impact, and food systems.
Sachi Chan
University of Oxford
Sachi Chan is a MSc Candidate in Translational Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, aiming to understand how to bring health innovations to communities who need them most. A central part of Sachi’s work is supporting the next generation of talent in their education, entrepreneurship, and career pursuits. Sachi’s portfolio includes developing social entrepreneurship programmes with the Skoll Centre at the University Oxford, supporting healthcare improvement projects in Canada and the UK, reporting on health innovation events globally, and working with youth to fulfil their healthcare career aspirations through her platform ‘Invite Health’.
Safia Mansoor
University of Lahore
Safia Mansoor is a PhD Scholar of International Relations at the School of Integrated Social Sciences, University of Lahore, Pakistan. She received her MPhil degree in International Relations with gold medal in MPhil Social Sciences from Kinnaird College for Women Lahore. She has also served as Research Associate at the Maritime Centre of Excellence, Pakistan Navy War College Lahore. She was also selected as Gaming for Peace Fellow (Nuclear Scholars Initiative) 2025 by Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR), Pakistan. Her areas of research includes Defense and Strategic studies, Emerging Military Technologies, Armament and Disarmament.
Samuel Heiniger
Iron Energy/ETH Zürich
Samuel is a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zürich, where he develops low-cost, safe solid chemical energy carriers for ultra-long-duration energy storage. He is also the CTO and co-founder of Iron Energy, an ETH & HSG spin-off focused on commercializing this technology for utility-scale energy storage.
He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering, as well as a Master’s degree in Process Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from ETH Zürich.
During his Master’s studies, he also worked as a data scientist at a start-up and contributed to the manufacturing of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 in the pharmaceutical industry.
Sandro Tissi is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainable Management and Technology at EPFL, IMD, and the University of Lausanne. He previously served at the Federal Office for Spatial Development, where he was part of the team for Sustainable Development and contributed to the Federal Administration’s GRI-based sustainability report.
From 2021 to 2023, Sandro held the role of Project Coordinator in Corporate Sustainability at BOBST Group SA. There, he focused on GHG emission reduction measures and reporting in accordance with GRI and TCFD frameworks. As graduate of the University of St. Gallen (HSG) with a Bachelor’s in Economics, he also served as President of oikos St. Gallen, leading over one hundred volunteers in promoting a sustainable economy.
Sara Giraldo Ramírez
The Human Academy / ULiège
Sara Giraldo Ramírez is currently pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Master in Impact Entrepreneurship, a joint European program focused on innovation and sustainability. Concurrently, she founded The Human Academy, an initiative developing soft skills like storytelling and emotional intelligence through education and mentorship to foster empathy and human connection. Previously, her experience spanned finance, project management, and organizational development. She led strategic planning for corporations and facilitated complex intergenerational successions in family businesses, applying a human-centric approach. Furthermore, Sara is deeply committed to social impact, actively contributing to youth leadership and development programs that drive international collaboration. She holds a double Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Huelva.
Satyam Gupta
S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research
Satyam Gupta is an incoming Strategy Consultant at Deloitte and a recent PGDM graduate from S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai. Most recently, he worked as a Strategy Intern at Eveready Industries, where he developed e-commerce growth strategies, proposed new product concepts, and designed AI-enabled digital marketing initiatives. Alongside his consulting trajectory, Satyam actively pursues entrepreneurship and is currently building Qwalo.ai, a Voice-AI platform aimed at transforming qualitative research by automating user interviews and extracting actionable insights at scale. He previously founded and exited a small D2C pet-care e-commerce venture at age 18. Outside work, he is interested in sports, history, and travel.
Sebastian Stark
Austrian Parliament
Sebastian Stark is an Austrian politician. Since June 2025, he has served as a Member of the Federal Council (Bundesrat) for the Austrian People’s Party. In March 2025, he became Chair of the Austrian Federal Youth Council (Bundesjugendvertretung). He completed an MSc in Technical Management at HCW in 2025. Since June 2024, he has been Deputy Federal Chair of the Young People’s Party (JVP), since April 2023, he has led the JVP in Lower Austria. He has worked at STRABAG AG since October 2022 and previously earned a BA in Business at FHWien (2023), including a semester at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul (2021).
Sergei Kondratev
Lipetsk State Technical University
Sergei Kondratev is a PhD candidate at Lipetsk State Technical University, where he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Automated Electric Drive and Robotics. His doctoral research focuses on mathematical modeling of electromechanical robot systems dynamics with computer vision. In 2024, he was selected for the Heidelberg Laureate Forum and the Yenching Global Symposium at Peking University. He is a five-time prize winner of Russia's "I Am A Professional" National Olympiad in Robotics and has authored publications in Scopus/WoS Q1-indexed journals. He holds a Master's degree with Honors in Power Industry and Electrical Engineering.
Shiyao Wang
Shanghai Jiaotong University
Currently, I am studying for a full-time Master of Business Administration at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Advanced Finance. During my studies, I have gained a deeper understanding of the theoretical knowledge from my previous work experiences and have successfully combined practical experience with theoretical knowledge. In the internship in human resources at the beginning of this year, I gained a deeper understanding of the employee compensation structure, talent inventory, and team building. With 5 years of practical experience in state-owned banks, I possess rich sales practical experience, sales team management, channel development, and customer relationship maintenance capabilities, as well as a certain ability to withstand pressure and quickly grasp market dynamics and adjust marketing strategies in a timely manner.
Shwetanshu is currently pursuing an MBA with a specialization in Marketing at SPJIMR, Mumbai. Prior to this, he worked as an Influencer Manager for a travel content creator on Instagram, and previously as a Senior Analyst in the pharmaceutical industry. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi Technological University. A recipient of multiple academic excellence awards, Shwetanshu has also established a presence as a LinkedIn content creator, writing on the intersections of AI and Marketing. His career reflects a diverse background spanning analytics, digital media, and management.
Sinhwa Roh
Seoul National University
Sinhwa Roh is a graduate neuroscience researcher at the Human Brain Function Laboratory at Seoul National University. Her current research focuses on invasive neural data from epilepsy patients for language and brain-computer interface studies, including direct electrical stimulation, speech decoding, and the cortical representation of semantics. She also contributes to BCI software development and neural data analysis for clinical and government-funded research. Earlier, Roh worked on a multidisciplinary research initiative on urban food insecurity in Korea, combining field research with documentary production and a public exhibition for policymakers, NGOs, and broader audiences.
Siyanna is the co-founder and CEO of CuratedAI - a legal tech company using AI to help legal professionals research and analyze documents faster and more efficiently. She was part of the Women TechEU programme (2025) and the Techstars Berlin accelerator (2024). Siyanna is also a qualified lawyer in Bulgaria specialising in technology law and intellectual property rights. Before becoming a startup founder she worked in law firms in Brussels and Sofia, and was a Bluebook trainee at the European Commission (DG CNECT). Siyanna holds two Master’s degrees in law - from University of Cambridge and Sofia University.
Sofía Cocilovo
Colegio Carmen Arriola de Marín
Sofia Cocilovo is an interdisciplinary researcher, educator, and designer dedicated to educating tomorrow's leaders alongside the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She fulfills this mission as a Research Assistant in Philosophy of Language at UNSAM, Head Teacher of Technology and Design at Colegio Marín, and UX Design Teaching Assistant at UdeSA and Digital House. Recently, her team achieved 2nd Place in the UNCTAD/Empretec Business Simulation (March 2026). Previously, she co-led an international design team of over 70 interns at GAO Tek Inc. Sofia bridges humanities and technology by finalizing her BA in Philosophy at UNSAM while pursuing Industrial Design at UBA.
Sophie Kaitlin Drescher
SWIPZ / Moderator
Sophie Kaitlin Drescher, 19, is one of Austria’s most dynamic young moderators, speakers, and founders. Recognized as Austria’s youngest professional moderator, she began moderating at 15 and has since hosted and moderated high profile formats including LOOKAUT: Was kann Zukunft (WKO), Female Founders LTST Conferences, and multiple stages at the 4 Gamechangers Festival. She is the founder of SWIPZ, a youth driven platform combining a young speaker agency, Youth Councils for example on cancer prevention and HPV vaccination, and a media platform amplifying Gen Z perspectives. Raised in a founder family and educated at a startup focused school, she works at the intersection of media, youth participation, and impact communication.
Stacy Dina Owino
Team Restorers/iCut
Stacy is passionate about the intersection of technology, policies, and human rights. Her focus is on campaigning and accelerating the fight against Female Genital Mutilation by leveraging technology for community-centred sustainable solutions. She finds joy in mentoring high school girls in mobile app development, aiming to bridge the digital gender divide and inspire the next generation of women tech leaders. She has advocated for inclusive African women's participation in tech and the importance of diversity in developing and implementing technologies void of bias in various local and international platforms.
Suzuka Nakamura
NPO BORDERLESS FOUNDATION
Since 2025, Suzuka Nakamura has served as Director of Borderless Foundation, where she develops and implements a mobile atomic bomb museum model and leads multi-sector collaborations to advance peace education. During her university era she founded KNOW NUKES TOKYO to expand nuclear disarmament advocacy mainly by promoting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. As a campaigner with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, she attended United Nations treaty meetings in 2022 and 2023. Born in Nagasaki in 2000, she is a third-generation atomic bomb survivor. Recently she was elected to Young Leaders of SDGs.
Syed Shaharyar Ahmed
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Mr. Syed Shaharyar Ahmed is a VUFP scholarship awardee and LL.M. candidate in International Technology Law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he also serves as a Student Assistant in the Department of Transnational Legal Studies. Previously, he practiced for over five years as an attorney and partner at Ibrar Law Associates, focusing on digital governance, data privacy, and commercial litigation. His professional foundation includes specialized legal internships at global firms such as Clifford Chance and Hogan Lovells. He has authored more than 15 peer-reviewed research papers on the intersection of generative artificial intelligence and human rights.
Syeda Hudaisa Kazmi
Quaid-i-Azam University
Ms. Kazmi is a Political Analyst at the Embassy of Switzerland in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where she conducts research and analysis on international and regional political developments. She is currently pursuing a PhD in International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University. She previously completed her M.Phil and BS (Hons) in International Relations from the same institution with distinction. Her research focuses on the Middle East and Eurasia, particularly issues related to foreign policy, nationalism, multilateralism, and security. Ms. Kazmi has published several peer-reviewed articles on regional geopolitics and has presented her research at international academic conferences. She is fluent in English, Urdu, and Persian and has professional experience in research, policy analysis, and communication.
Takaya Inoue
Tsinghua University
Takaya Inoue works at the intersection of technology, data, and AI. At 19, his co-authored riddle books equipped 7,500 Japanese readers with problem-solving and creativity that AI lacks. At Tsinghua University, he researches the industrial applications of Large Vision-Language Models in the Department of Industrial Engineering, where he was named Person of the Year. A TEDx speaker, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering and has worked at leading Chinese tech companies including Xiaomi and Jingdong. As a U.S. Consulate intern and Japanese delegate to the China-Japan-ROK Tripartite Ministers’ Meeting, he led initiatives in data analysis and digital literacy.
Te-Hani Brown
Government of the Cook Islands
Te-Hani has served the Cook Islands Government as the youngest Member of Parliament for nearly 8 years. In that time, she has been an Associate Minister for Internal Affairs (who handles Youth), Health, Agriculture and Superannuation for just under 6 years, Leader of the house for 4 years and an active member of various select committees including the Public Accounts Committee. She founded the only youth organisation on the island of Atiu in 2021 to address a gap in the needs for young people on island. She is also a member of the Atiu Cook Islands Christian Church and runs multiple businesses that include; 3 mini supermakets, 3 takeaways and 2 AirBNB properties. Her background is largely in the business sector and has grown up in a family that prioritises community service. Te-Hani is a born and bred Cook Islander who completed majority of her education in country. She has travelled the world and is no stranger to adapting to new cultures.
Tejaswi Singh
UNU-MERIT (United Nations University-Maastricht Economic & Social Research Institute on Innovation)
Tejaswi Singh is a student at the United Nations University-MERIT and Maastricht University, studying Public Policy and Human Development and specialising in Governance of Innovation. She previously worked as a Policy & Political Strategy Consultant at Varahe Analytics, where she provided high-stakes clients with research and communication strategy. Earlier, she was a Mukherjee Fellow with the Policy, Politics and Governance Foundation, where she contributed to policy research and campaign strategy during India’s 2024 General Elections, including drafting the constituency manifesto for West Delhi. She was invited as a Path Breaker Youth Icon at the Young Leaders Dialogue by India’s Ministry of Youth & Sports Affairs. Singh graduated with a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Delhi in 2023.
Thi Tuyet Giang Nguyen
Wageningen University and Research
Nguyen, Thi Tuyet Giang is pursuing a Master’s degree in Communication, Health and Life Sciences at Wageningen University & Research. She is interested in exploring health inequalities among different population groups. She orients her research toward a life-course approach, aiming to identify early preventive measures so that people can enjoy better health from a young age. She is also interested in health demography.
Till Knappe
University of St. Gallen
Till Knappe is a Master's student in Accounting and Corporate Finance at the University of St. Gallen, where he completed his Bachelor's in Business Administration. He recently served as an Infrastructure Investment Intern at Foresight Group in London, supporting acquisitions and renewable energy investments. Prior experience includes investment banking internships at Raymond James (Tech & Services) and Stifel. Aspiring to build a career in finance, Till brings an international perspective shaped by exchange semesters in São Paulo and an upcoming stint in Bangkok. Outside finance, he is passionate about endurance sports, football, and politics.
Tom Rutherford
Member of Parliament
Tom Rutherford, representing the National Party, serves as the Member of Parliament for the Bay of Plenty. His political journey stems from a desire to serve his community and tackle pressing issues. Despite his youth, Rutherford brings experience and fresh insights, holding a degree in Public Policy and Political Science. Prior to his parliamentary career, he worked with the National Party and local government bodies.
When he’s not at work, Rutherford enjoys spending time with his partner, Hannah, playing cricket for Greerton Cricket Club and participating in community service, volunteering as a firefighting and a sports official.
In his inaugural speech, Rutherford pledged to address key concerns such as living costs, crime, and infrastructure, particularly advocating for the upgrade of State Highway 29. As one of the youngest MPs, he brings a contemporary perspective and emphasises active listening and humility in public service. Committed to building on past efforts, Rutherford aims to contribute to New Zealand's progress for future generations.
Tri Bang
LIFE INSURANCE GENERALI VIETNAM
Nhân Trí is a 23-year-old leadership enthusiast and currently one of four Management Trainees selected from over 2,000 candidates for the Shortcut Future Leader Program at Generali Vietnam. He also has one year of experience as Business Analyst at Klever Group. Lately, he won the The Global Leadership Challenge (GLC) 2025.
His leadership journey began during university, where he served as Partnership Development Team Leader and later as Local Finance Director at AIESEC in Vietnam, an international youth organization. Over the past three years with AIESEC in Vietnam, he led and involved in over 10 leadership development projects and delivered experiential learning to roughly 1,000 young people. He also served as Vice President of the Organizing Committee for Upshift 2025, a joint initiative with UNICEF Vietnam, empowering underprivileged youth through entrepreneurship.
Academically, he graduated with very good grade from honor program in E-commerce from Vietnam National University (VNU), where only 1% of students were selected.
Valentyn FRECHKA
Releaf Paper
Valentyn Frechka is the CEO and co-founder of Releaf, a biomaterials company turning urban green waste into fibers and biocomposites for packaging and consumer products. He leads product development from pilot production through industrial scale-up and partnerships, and manages an IP portfolio covering processes for producing leaf-based cellulose and chemo-thermomechanical fibrous mass, supported by international filings and trademarks under the Releaf brand. Earlier, Frechka focused on applied R&D in lignocellulosic processing and circular materials, translating laboratory concepts into repeatable manufacturing routes that reduce reliance on virgin wood and fossil plastics.
Wiktoria Wójcik
inStreamly
Wiktoria Wójcik - Co-founder of inStreamly and New Game +, innovative technology platforms that are revolutionizing gaming marketing. Over the past six years, she has helped over 160 brands (including Netflix, Samsung, L'Oreal, PlayStation, and Pepsi) reach gamers in 15 countries around the world. She specializes in building innovation and business resilience culture, marketing to the younger generation, and leveraging the Gen Z perspective as a competitive advantage in organizational management and development.
She has been recognized with the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe 2022 and Forbes Poland 25 under 25 awards.
She shares her knowledge about innovation, startups, and the new era of marketing. She has appeared in over 100 conferences, websites, and podcasts, including Web Summit, TedX, Infoshare, Perspektywy Women in Tech, ImpactCEE, Creator Conf, AdAge, MyCompany, and Forbes.
Yi Lin Chua
University of Edinburgh
Towards greater cross-agency policy coordination, Yi Lin's previous internship projects focused on consolidating funding norms for technology resilience and promoting digital inclusion in public services. Additionally, she served as a Youth Ambassador at the United Nations Convention on Mediation and will be assisting in East Africa’s digital transformation initiatives with UNESCO.
Ying Wai Chow
NA
Doris is a strategy consultant based in Australia, with professional experience across the Asia–Pacific region. Her work consistently focuses on strategy development, M&A research, and ESG-related initiatives, supporting organisations through market analysis, due diligence, and data-driven decision-making. She has contributed to projects involving business transformation, regulatory monitoring, and sustainable growth across corporate and financial services contexts.
Passionate about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Doris has also actively engaged in international volunteering, collaborating with global teams through CCIVS and previously through AIESEC, bringing a cross-regional perspective to strategic and impact-driven initiatives.
Yuhan Zheng
National University of Ireland
Yuhan Zheng is a climate entrepreneur and researcher focused on energy innovation governance. He currently serves as the Asia-Pacific Partnership Lead for the Nobel Sustainability Trust, where he spearheads the annual AI & Sustainability Summit and leads the development of the NST Academy framework to advance scalable sustainability projects in the region.
As a PhD candidate in geography at the National University of Ireland, his research examines the global governance of energy transitions. His professional experience includes contributing to the first Global Stocktake at the UNFCCC and chairing the Young Working Group on Just Transition at the UNECE Sustainable Energy Division. Yuhan holds several global leadership roles, including Chair of the IEEE Young Professionals Climate and Sustainability subcommittee. She also serves part-time as International Affairs Manager for the renewable energy company WAGA Technologies.
Zagy Yakana Berian
Society of Renewable Energy
Zagy is a social impact leader dedicated to empowering youth in the sustainability sector and currently serves as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. As the founder of the Society of Renewable Energy (SRE), he has built a nationwide movement that unites students, develops chapters across universities, and delivers impactful initiatives promoting renewable energy awareness and solutions.
Zichun Wang
Fudan University
Zichun Wang is a Ph.D. candidate in Economics at Fudan University, specializing in the Chinese economy, development economics, and political economy. His current research focuses on rare earth trade, market structure, and government behavior, with two papers currently under revision at leading Chinese economics journals. He has participated in several national-level research projects covering topics such as the digital economy, macroeconomic governance, and trade networks. Wang previously interned at China International Capital Corporation (CICC) and major government institutions in China. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Law from Nankai University, graduating first in his class and receiving China’s National Scholarship — the country’s highest government academic honor — for three consecutive years.
