CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS
Forum
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Esther Adedeji Project Officer with Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development Nigeria Adedeji has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Sciences from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria and a Master of Environmental Management degree from the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. She recently completed a certificate in climate change adaptation in agriculture and natural resource management at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Currently, Adedeji is engaged in a project to improve the health and socioeconomic status of people working in sawmills. |
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Zoë Caron Climate Policy and Advocacy Specialist for World Wildlife Fund Canada Toronto, Canada Caron has been captivated by energy since seeing the tremendous power of nature harnessed at a hydroelectric dam when she was eight years old. She co-authored Global Warming for Dummies with Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May. Her passion and expertise in renewable energies has garnered her recognition from ELLE magazine, Alternatives Journal, Vanity Fair, and Green Living Magazine. |
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Will Catton Physics Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Otago New Zealand Catton did his bachelor’s and master’s degree in physics at the University of Cambridge, before returning to New Zealand to study energy efficiency issues. His article “Progress, Laughter, Sex (but not in that order)” describes the importance of humor in human evolution and won the 2008 NZ Royal Society Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing in non-fiction. And, he can juggle five balls. |
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Kerry Cheung Science and Technology Policy Fellow for the American Association for the Advancement of Science Washington, D.C., United States Cheung was awarded both a master’s and a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, and his Bachelor’s degree in Applied Engineering Physics from Cornell University, New York. His AAAS fellowship placement is with the U.S. Department of Energy where he examines the development of smart grid technology. He also helped organize the Silkscreens Film Festival that over two days attracted 500 attendees. |
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Felipe De Leon Carbon Advisor for Anaconda Carbon based in Central America Escazu, Costa Rica For over five years De Leon has developed clean energy projects throughout Central America as part of the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism, including three wind power projects, two hydropower projects, and the development of the Colombian carbon market. He studied industrial engineering at the Universidad Interamericana de Costa Rica and Sustainable Management at the Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas. He is also involved in recording independent music at Conquista Records recording studio. |
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Lia Helena Demange Environmental Law Candidate Pace Law School, New York Biography coming soon. |
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Jian hua Ding Researcher for China Urban Construction and Development Research and Engineering Institute Beijing, China As part of her current position, Ding drafted the section on waste management and greenhouse gas emission for “China Low-carbon Eco-city Development Report 2011” that will be used by the Chinese Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Development as national policy. She studied Chinese Language and Literature at the Beijing International Studies University, Beijing, China before receiving a M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California. |
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Aaron Leopold Energy and Transport Expert for International Institute for Sustainable Development New York, United States Leopold received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Buffalo and a Master’s in Global Political Economy from the University of Kassel in Germany. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Environmental Politics at the Hemlholtz Centre for Environmental Research at the University of Kassel where his thesis is investigating the “food versus fuel” biofuel debate in Brazil, Europe, and the United States. |
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Marc McArthur Manager for Ottawa Cleantech Initiative Ottawa, Canada McArthur studied Mechanical Engineering at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. He co-organized the first Canadian Cleantech Summit in April 2010 in Ottawa with 250 national and international attendees. Plus, he created Impact Magazine, a biannual, bilingual magazine that covers the cleantech sector in Canada. In addition to cleantech he also has a genuine interest in martial arts. |
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Jakob Nygard Working toward M.Sc. Student in Political Science at the University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark Nygard is studying political science, global energy governance, and environmental law at the University of Copenhagen, with time spent studying at the University of California at Berkeley. In September, he will be researching and analyzing environmental and energy policy for the European Parliament in Brussels. Nygard is an avid sailor and spent six weeks as a crewmember sailing the two-mast yawl, Nordkaperen. |
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Lauren Riga Assistant Director for the Environmental Law & Economics Institute United States Riga is a United Nations Delegate and actively preparing for the upcoming sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. She trained the international youth caucus facilitators for the previous United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2010. She obtained her Master of Science in International Commerce and Policy with an emphasis on global energy from Valparaiso University, Indiana and a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Communications from Rollins College, Florida. |
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Vagish Sharma Senior Executive for Energy Operations and Management, Jagurih Group New Delhi, India Sharma’s position with Jagurih has him responsible for strategic planning on climate change mitigation, carbon financing, and the development of renewable energy in India. He received a Master’s of Technology in Environmental Biotechnology with specialization in Energy and Climate Change Policy Management at Amity University in Noida, India. His research on microbial fuel cells won him a Young Entrepreneur selection in 2009 and 2010 by the Indian Department of Biotechnology. |
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Ted Sherk Project Coordinator for Sustainable Technologies at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Toronto, Canada Sherk received a Master’s in Environmental Studies as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics from the University of Waterloo. His thesis examined the difference in energy use for Ontario households that adopt solar energy projects versus non-adopters. He financed much of his university expenses by playing classic and jazz bass for local groups. |
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| Gita Syahrani Legal Advocate for DNC Law Firm Jakarta, Indonesia Syahrani has studied international, energy, and environmental law and policy at the University of Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia and the University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland. Through DNC she has advised the Indonesian government on a national low carbon and clean energy investment strategy. In addition to law, she has produced, announced, and written a variety of TV and radio shows. |
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Jose Maria Valenzuela Visiting Fellow at the Climate Policy Initiative at Tsinghua University Beijing, China As an observer at the recent UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Cancun, Valenzuela was chosen to deliver the final message on behalf of the Research and Independent NGO constituency. He received his undergraduate degree from El Colegio de Mexico, Mexico City and a Master in International Development at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China where he examined low carbon development pathways for Mexico and China. |
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Wei Wei Project Manager for the China Youth Climate Action Network Beijing, China Wei studied economics and business at Beijing’s Capital University of Economics and Business, where one of his projects investigated heavy polluters and how the government should levy environmental taxes. He represented Greenpeace China at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. He begins a master’s degree in Public Affairs from Columbia University this fall. |
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| Arthur Yip Technical Business Analyst Assistant for the National Research Council (Canada) Industrial Research Assistance Program Canada As an intern at NRC-IRAP, Yip assists in providing advisory services to the clean energy technology and innovation cluster in Vancouver, Canada. He has also had other work experiences at the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources Canada. He studies chemical engineering and geography and leads local Engineers Without Borders Canada initiatives at the University of Waterloo, Canada. |
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