Hörn Halldórudóttir Heiðarsdóttir is a specialist in energy transition and energy efficiency at the Icelandic Environment and Energy Agency. She has a B.Sc. in both industrial and software engineering from the University of Iceland and has held various project leadership roles, all with a focus on climate change, innovation and decarbonisation. Some of Hörn’s previous roles include being a statistics consultant at the FAO, where her team created a new database on GHG from the global food system, and a Project Lead at Transition Labs where she worked with leading climate tech companies from all over the world and helped them deploy their solutions in Iceland.

Former Associate Director in Partnership and Culture and Professor in Materiality Innovation, Parsons School of Design, The New School Tiago Valente is a renowned innovator, creative director, activist and artist focused on human-centric experiences, diversity, equity, social Justice initiatives. His work blends cutting-edge technology with compelling narratives across luxury, fashion, beauty, design, art, and culture sectors. Leading his hybrid consultancy and creative agency, Tiago brings a unique, holistic approach to every project. At Parsons, The New School, Tiago has advised on strategic partnerships and culture initiatives while teaching courses in Integrated Design, Brand Storytelling, Luxury Experiential Design, and Leadership Development.  His keen eye for human behavior and trends allows him to create deeply resonant experiences that emphasize sustainability, social justice, and cultural inclusivity.  He is a Board Advisory Member of “Gamers against Guns” (Roblox) and “Zimbabwe Fashion Week Trust”, working with the United Nations, European Union, British Council & Culture Fund in the development of a variety of social impact projects. Tiago’s award-winning work includes a Webby Award in 2024 and has been showcased internationally, including at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the current Venice Biennale of Art in 2024.

Jessica Weis is the Program Director of the Women in Energy Program. As Program Director of the Women in Energy initiative at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy,  she leads strategy, programming, and partnerships that support the advancement of women in the energy sector. With a background spanning higher education, government, and the nonprofit sector, she brings nearly 20 years of experience in program development, facilitation, management, and coaching. Prior to Columbia, she spent nearly ten years in the New York City government, creating job training programs and supporting New Yorkers getting their GED. She also served as Program Director of the Petey Greene Program, which provides academic support to incarcerated students. She began her career with direct service in AmeriCorps NCCC, where she developed a lasting commitment to service and social impact.

Micki Weiner is both the Impact Manager for The CSO Shop, providing companies with fractional sustainability services, and founder of Petal + Ash, a luxe lingerie brand currently in development, prioritizing beautiful design and natural materials, made to move with your body, feel soft on your skin, and leave nothing behind — on your body or the planet. With a masters in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and design certificates from Fashion Institute of Technology, Micki brings expertise in circularity, materials impact, and creative problem-solving to the intersection of fashion and climate. A former professional dancer turned entrepreneur, Micki’s journey is a testament to reimagining possibilities.

Dr. Erica Downs is a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA, focusing on Chinese energy markets and geopolitics. Dr. Downs has a distinguished career in Eurasian energy policy with a focus on China. She has over 20 years of experience working in the public and non-profit sectors. She previously worked as a senior research scientist in the China Studies program of the CNA Corporation, a senior analyst in the Asia practice at Eurasia Group, a fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, an energy analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, and a lecturer at the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, China. Dr. Downs has published extensively in the areas of Chinese energy policy and politics, decarbonization and geopolitics. She holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. from Princeton University and a B.S. from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Esmé is a recent graduate of Columbia University with a B.A. in Sustainable Development. Her research has explored Gen Z’s relationship with sustainable and secondhand fashion, including two independent projects examining how past trends may inform the industry’s future. She is passionate about the circular economy, consumer behavior, and using effective communication to bridge gaps in climate knowledge, and is continuing to explore the evolving world of sustainable fashion.

Ashley is a senior at Columbia University studying sustainability – and already a changemaker in climate-conscious fashion. As President of EcoReps and Coachtopia Scholar, recognized for her student leadership in circular fashion innovation and drive to inspire others to align their values with their fashion choices,  Ashley organized the university’s first sustainable fashion show, using the runway as a platform to raise awareness of fashion’s environmental impact while celebrating emerging student designers. She also works at Ferrara Manufacturing, a premier NYC tailoring house known for high-quality U.S. garment production – gaining hands-on experience in sustainability through craftsmanship and innovation. 

Dhaya is a sustainability strategist and designer working at the intersection of design, innovation and strategy to develop projects that aims to replace the current extractive systems with regenerative and resilient models. With nearly 12 years of experience across the fashion supply chain and regenerative agriculture, she has worked across merchandising, design, business development, garment production, sales and marketing. Dhaya has worked with global brands such as Lee and Levi’s, as well as multinational conglomerates including the Landmark Group along with co-founding and scaling a farming collective supporting regenerative agricultural practices. Dhaya holds a B.Sc. in Apparel and Fashion Technology from PSG Tech, a Fashion Design degree from Parsons School of Design, New York, a Master’s in Fashion Management from NIFT, Hyderabad, and an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, New York.

Adore Knight is a Master’s candidate in Public Administration, focusing on Development Practice, at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). She is dedicated to transforming current supply chain models of the fashion industry into more sustainable human-centered design systems, while advocating for stronger environmental protections in underserved communities. Her experience includes creating an award-winning community engagement plan in the South Africa-USA Community Engagement Exchange Program, researching environmental and health disparities caused by petrochemicals at the Environmental Defense Fund, and expanding solar energy access for low-income residents at the DC Department of Energy and Environment. She currently serves as President of the Ethical Fashion Working Group at SIPA and creates art and designs clothing in her free time.

Regina Szeto is a global brand strategist and sustainability advocate with over 20 years of leadership experience across the fashion, luxury, and lifestyle industries. She has held senior executive roles at LVMH, Calvin Klein Inc., and Delsey Paris, leading cross-border market expansion and brand development. After a decade working in Asia, Regina returned to New York to focus on purpose-led transformation at the intersection of fashion, innovation, and cultural exchange. She played a key role in facilitating the Global Fashion Agenda’s first summit in China and facilitated high-level industry dialogues in partnership with WWD China. She currently advises on fashion-tech innovation, brand partnerships, and global cultural initiatives, with a focus on connecting international markets and driving creative, strategic purpose-driven impact.

Michelle Gabriel is an educator, researcher, and strategist focused on the systems, policies, and approaches needed to drive sustainable transformation in the fashion industry. A leading voice at the intersection of society, business, fashion, and sustainability, Michelle is a lecturer at Columbia University and Yale University. Michelle is currently completing her Ph.D. in social policy and political economy at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. Her research and publications bridge theory and practice, with a focus on fashion system behavior, sustainability strategy, public policy, and political influence.

Amy Myers Jaffe is Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU’s School of Professional Studies and a research professor teaching graduate courses on global climate finance, energy justice, and climate policy. She is the author of Energy’s Digital Future: Harnessing Innovation for American Resilience and National Security. Jaffe has held leadership roles at the Council on Foreign Relations, University of California, Davis, and Rice University’s Baker Institute. She serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Net Zero Transition and has received the Senior Fellow award from the U.S. Association for Energy Economics.