Board and Advisory Team
Board Members
Catherine Banat
Independent Board Director ReGen III
Blending financial acumen with sustainable investing practices, Catherine Banat offers more than three decades of executive leadership innovating capital markets, championing ESG, steering financial growth, and providing seasoned board-level governance and strategic insight. She is a recognized thought leader in the economic value of sustainability and ESG and the contribution these factors can make to improve returns, reduce business risks, and play essential roles in good governance. Her training and experience in credit, finance, and capital markets underpin her belief that all decisions around sustainability should incorporate a deep commitment to financial performance and shareholder value. She serves on the Board of ReGen III, a Canadian-based company contributing to the circular economy in the oil & gas sector. She also serves on the Board of Women and Climate.
“Women and Climate provides a community and resources to women around the globe that seek to accelerate climate action professionally and personally. The amazing growth trajectory of participation in Women and Climate speaks to the importance of the organization at this time.”
Global Head of Buy-Side Strategy and Partnerships, Bloomberg, LP
Laila Mirsepassi
Laila Mirsepassi is Global Head of Buy-Side Strategy and Partnerships for Bloomberg, LP. She leads a team responsible for market intelligence, product strategy and client solutions development, as well as strategic partnerships for Bloomberg’s Buy-Side Solutions business.
Prior to joining Bloomberg, Laila held various leadership roles at BlackRock across the Aladdin business and in hedge fund solutions. She began her career at DCMA.
Laila grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an outdoor enthusiast. She is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University.
“Women and Climate is so important because it creates space for all women, especially those who want to make an impact but may not feel like climate experts. We are building a community that encourages every person to ask questions, learn, grow confidence, and ultimately feel empowered to change the world! ”
President
Digital Prophets Network
Elaine Rubin
Elaine is an entrepreneurial business builder and connector with 30+ years of experience in identifying and capitalizing on emerging trends, technology, marketing and business growth opportunities. She has spent her career as an executive at 1800flowers.com, iVillage, ibaby.com, Amazon, as a director on Moosejaw, Bluenile, Smart & Final, National Retail Federation, Destination XL boards, and as a trusted advisor to hundreds of companies, start-ups to enterprise, private to public, at all stages. Elaine is an active member of Extraordinary Women on Boards, grounded in today’s market challenges, committed to improving our future, and passionate about driving profitable outcomes while doing good for people and planet.
“My first exposure to WAC was at the 2023 NYC Climate Advisory meeting. I was so impressed with the mission (to create a joyful and safe inclusive community), the passion and dedication of all the women I was fortunate to meet, and the HUGE opportunity to activate and engage with others to accelerate climate solutions. I am looking forward to many more gatherings (virtual and IRL) and the invaluable learnings from the wisdom of the crowd. ”
Advisors
Director
Peace Boat US
Emilie McGlone
Emilie McGlone has been working with Peace Boat since 2004 and currently is the United Nations liaison and Director of the New York-based office of Peace Boat US, a non-profit organization working to promote peace, sustainable development and respect for the environment through educational programs organized onboard the Peace Boat, a chartered passenger ship that travels the world on peace voyages. Peace Boat holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and works in partnership with UN representatives, Nobel Peace Laureates and community leaders from around the world to create opportunities for international cooperation focused on environmental sustainability, cultural awareness and peace education. Emilie works to foster youth education and develops specific programs to learn about important global issues onboard the Peace Boat. Peace Boat has recently launched a new initiative to build an Ecoship to sail around the world, showcasing green technology and design, while inspiring positive change to radically reduce our carbon footprint. Peace Boat is a committed campaigner for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, sailing with the SDGs Logo on the hull of the ship. Peace Boat's Ecoship Project will build the world’s most sustainable passenger ship. A flagship for the SDGs, Ecoship seeks to address ocean acidification with reduced carbon emissions and significantly reduce marine pollution.
“Women and Climate is an incredible initiative that brings together women from diverse fields to work together towards sustainability, climate action and furthering the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This kind of network is imperative to female leaders across the globe.”
CEO and Co-Founder
Pantys
Emily Ewell
Emily Ewell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Pantys, the leading fashion femtech brand innovating in health and sustainability for menstruation, maternity and incontinence. Passionate about health, sustainability, inclusion and innovation, Emily is a global thought leader with multiple patents and more than 20 years of experience working across private, public and nonprofit sectors in the US, Europe and Latin America. Her background is chemical engineering with a dual MBA/MPH (Masters in Public Health). Today Emily is recognized as one of Bloomberg's 500 Most Influential People in Latin America and a UN ImPact Leader representing the SDG #12 in Brazil.
“Intertwining women's rights with climate action is essential for addressing the global climate crisis holistically. Women play a significant role in resource management, contributing to climate resilience at a local and global level. Incorporating gender perspectives in climate is key for developing sustainable climate solutions, policies and outcomes. ”
Executive Producer
Birba
Vivian Wood
Vivian is an environmentalist who rallies support for ideas and industries that are shaping a better world; namely energy, clean technologies and sustainability. Advancing transformative ideas, through events, media and marketing, all in the pursuit of a greener and more equitable future.
With 20+ years experience in marketing and business development (across Australia, the USA, UK, South Africa and now Oman) and through her role as Executive Producer at 'Birba' Vivian works to foster international business relationships, igniting trade and advocating for environmental consciousness.
“Seeing the first edition of 'Women and Climate' in Doha for the first time, and launching it amidst controversy was a huge win. To get it across the line and show the power of women collaborating, opened the door to more of these events in our conservative and sometimes tricky region. This is just the beginning! ”
Carbon Innovation Expert Migo
Erin Grover
Erin Grover's expertise is in blockchain + AI verified carbon credits and smart supply chain for regenerative agriculture and smallholder farmers. She has extensively researched emerging DeFi markets in Kenya, Uganda and India. She is a part of the World Economic Forum's Crypto Sustainability Coalition as a member of the blockchain and carbon working group. Prior to her work in blockchain, she worked for the United Nations, USAID and other international NGOs for over a decade.
“Our success with climate solutions will only be possible if we come together as a community. This supportive and high-quality network is important for spreading ideas and positivity, but it's also important to support women founders who are typically overlooked by media and VC's. ”
Head of Carbon Strategy Nasdaq
Sarabeth Brockley
Sarabeth B. Brockley is a seasoned professional with 12+ years of expertise in corporate sustainability strategy, international development, and ESG consulting. As the Lead Advisor for Carbon Strategy and ESG at Nasdaq, she oversees a team guiding ESG capital deployment strategies for 4,000+ global corporate clients. Sarabeth is a recognized expert in Carbon Strategy and CDR, providing valuable insights along the carbon removal procurement process. With a background in senior consulting roles at the United Nations, K2 Integrity, and others, she has contributed to foundational ESG programs and attracted long-term capital for leading organizations like Google and Nestle. A prominent speaker at COP27, COP15, and industry events, Sarabeth holds a BS in Environmental Chemistry and an MS/MA in Environment and Resources. Credentialed in CFA UK, SASB, CDP, and GRI, she is deeply committed to environmental leadership and serves as Chair at the Appalachian Mountain Club, fostering outdoor access and environmental awareness.
“Women and Climate focuses on the network effect of empowerment, and uses that collaborative energy to foster innovation and knowledge sharing — all essential tools for solving the climate crisis— ”
Community Champion
Global Shapers Community
Simge Sandal
Simge transitioned from a conventional career in commercial real estate to one with a focus on climate and sustainability. Motivated by a visit to the Fashion For Good Museum in Amsterdam, she recognized the critical need for cross-sector collaboration to implement meaningful policies. Driven by this vision, Simge spearheaded corporate sustainability at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, turning shopping malls into hubs of sustainable consumption. Her ability to drive transformative dialogues at companies and international platforms like COP27 and COP28 has been vital in bridging stakeholder gaps and elevating women's roles in discussions. As a climate tech founder, Simge applies web3 and AI technologies to advance sustainability in both private and public sectors, prioritizing the empowerment of women.
“Women & Climate stands out by facilitating crucial dialogues, showcasing women's distinctive contributions and innovations in the climate space. In parallel by addressing the pressing issue of women's underrepresentation, the organization not only fosters collaboration among its members but also broadens engagement with an extensive range of stakeholders.”
Michelle Li
Founder
Women and Climate
Michelle is the founder of Women and Climate, a non-profit organization that inspires climate action by creating a joyful and safe space. She launched her career in Silicon Valley where she worked for some of the biggest names in tech including Salesforce. A proponent for accelerating climate action, Michelle aims to activate more women to start their climate journey and provide a platform for those already working on climate solutions. She created the Women and Climate Speaker Database which now represents over 600 climate professionals and is used by small and large events alike. Michelle is a TEDx, SXSW, Bloomberg, and COP28 speaker and is also a United Nations content contributor.