Speakers
Prof. Enedir Ghisi obtained his PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds, in the UK, in 2002. He is currently a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, located in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. So far, he has edited 10 books, published 15 book chapters, 190 conference articles and 194 journal articles. He has concluded the supervision of 16 PhD and 41 master's students. Currently, he supervises 9 PhD and 3 master's students. His research topics are thermal performance of buildings, energy efficiency in buildings, lighting, sustainability, building simulation, life cycle assessment, water consumption and rainwater harvesting in buildings. In studies carried out at Stanford University since 2020, Prof. Enedir Ghisi was recognised as one of the 100,000 most influential scientists in the world for the whole career and also for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Biljana Balabanova is a full professor at Faculty of Agriculture, Goce Delcev University, Stip, Republic of North Macedonia. She has a PhD in environmental chemistry. Her main field of teaching is chemistry, biochemistry and soil chemistry. For more than 18 years she has been intensively involved in research work for monitoring and identification of polluted areas as well as developing and introducing analytical methodologies with implementation of atomic and mass spectrometry. She is an author on more than 150 scientific papers. In 2018 she was awarded as honorary professor at Shenyang University in China. In the same year she was awarded by the municipality of Stip for a special contribution in the affirmation of the city of Stip in the field of science. In 2023 and 2024 she has received recognition awards for scientific contribution at Goce Delcev University.
Dr. F. Senem Gungor is an Associate Professor in Communication Studies. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Hacettepe University and an M.S. in Communication Studies from Portland State University. She has extensive experience in crisis communication, corporate reputation, and public relations. Dr. Gungor has worked on international projects, including the 9/11 New York City Crisis Recovery Project. Currently, she is a faculty member at Baskent University, teaching courses in Intercultural Communication, Crisis Management, and Strategic Communication. She has published extensively in academic journals and actively contributes to TÜBİTAK and international conferences.
Dr. Charles Mbalyohere is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management at The Open University UK and a Senior Fellow of the UK’s Higher Education Academy. He has extensively researched the transition to renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa. His focus is on affordable and reliable Solar PV and biogas-based technologies and EV battery reuse for energy storage. Decentralised strategies have emerged as critical in his research findings. He is a recipient of several research awards and is Director of an Energy Research Cluster at his institution. He is also Founder and Chair of an annual Regional Renewable Energy Expo in Uganda.
Khadija Shams studied PhD in Economics at the University of Glasgow, UK; and was employed by the Scottish Government in the Equality Statistics Team of the Communities Analytical Services Division. She is presently working as an Associate Professor in Economics at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, Pakistan. Her area of interest includes: Economics of Inequality and Deprivation; Economics of Happiness and Development Studies.
Dr. Ifeanyi Daniel Nnodu holds Physics, Computer Science, and Meteorology degrees, and a PhD in Climatology. Currently CEO of Zenith Solar Technologies Ltd., he formerly served as Director of Weather Forecasting at NiMet. His expertise spans weather, climate, and environmental sciences. He received the DAAD award for studies in Hamburg
Mikheil Pipia, Doctor of Geography, Director of the Institute of Hydrometeorology of the Georgian Technical University, main scientist. Field of interests: meteorology, climatology. Currently, he is involved in a scientific project that studies the climatic characteristics of dangerous meteorological events (heavy rainfall, strong wind, hail, etc.).".
She has a PhD in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM) currently Director of Tanzania Media Women’s Association, Zanzibar (TAMWA, ZNZ) interested in networking with researchers across the globe around climate change area. AWARDS: • Awarded as a success story of East Africa Women Leaders by the World Women Leadership Congress,2020 • Awarded a lifetime achievement on women empowerment in Zanzibar by Zanzibar Youth Award, 2021. • Awarded for promoting women in the media by Pan African Economic Summit, 2022 • Awarded by Women of Courage Award in 2023 for contributing to the growth of NGO sector in Zanzibar.
Kiyofumi Sato is a Project Researcher at the University of Tokyo, specializing in life cycle assessment, energy system optimization, and regional-level business. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo Graduate School in March 2024. His research focuses on developing sustainable solutions by integrating environmental and economic perspectives. Dr. Sato was awarded the Young Researcher Presentation Encouragement Award at the Japan Society of Solar Energy 2023 Young Researcher Presentation Meeting for his innovative work.
Dr. S. Tuğçe Kalkan is currently working at Ege University Center For Environmental Studies. Her research interests include environmental biotechnology, carbon capture and utilization techniques and life cycle analysis (LCA). Her current projects are related to 'CO2 Utilization, hydrogenotrophic biomethane production and LCA.
Dr. Brandon L. Toliver, P.E., holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, master’s degrees in business administration and international relations, and a Ph.D. in engineering management. A leader in infrastructure resilience and defense planning, he has overseen multi-million-dollar projects, managed $1 billion+ portfolios, and worked across four continents. Currently serving as a resilience and readiness coordinator, he is a two-time NSPE Federal Engineer of the Year Top Ten Finalist. His expertise includes Engineering | Strategic Planning | Program Management | Defense Research & International Collaboration.
Dr. Ritu Soryan is an esteemed academic with 24 years of experience in education, specializing in Human Values, Professional Ethics, Business Communication, and English Literature. A Ph.D. holder from Rohilkhand University, she has authored over 15 books and numerous research papers. She has taught B.Tech, MBA, and MA students at institutions like Poornima Institute and Dronacharya Group. A sought-after speaker, she has presented at global conferences and is an active member of professional organizations. Dedicated to faculty development and ethical leadership, Dr. Soryan continues to contribute to value-based education and international learning initiatives.
Jhonatan Vicuna is a Senior Analyst in Social Policy at the Central Reserve Bank of Peru. He holds a Master of Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID) from Harvard Kennedy School, where he was awarded the John F. Kennedy Fellowship due to his academic achievements. He also holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Economics from Universidad del Pacífico. He is interested in analyzing pressing social policy issues from a welfare perspective, particularly in his home country Peru, covering topics such as the economic impact of climate change, public management quality, and long-term health and demographic challenges.
Ajoy Ghosh is an architect currently pursuing a Master’s in City Planning at IIT Kharagpur. His research focuses on the impact of tourism on microclimatic conditions, analyzing factors such as carbon emissions, urban heat stress, and energy consumption. With expertise in GIS-based spatial analysis and environmental data modelling, he employs data-driven methods to assess long-term climate impacts. His work aims to develop sustainable urban planning strategies and inform policy decisions by examining tourism-related activities and climate trends.
Sanchayan Mitra, an architect, graduated from the Om Dayal Group of Institutions with a bachelor's degree in architecture (B.Arch). is enrolled in the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India, as a Master of Architecture student studying sustainable built environments. Two months of research experience at the Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee, together with a year of job experience in the landscape architecture sector. Disaster-resistant methods and sustainability are currently being developed for India's rural areas. enthusiastic about sustainable development, disaster management, and climate risk adaptation and mitigation.
Mathilde Henry is Head of the Advocacy Department at CARE France, where she works on climate adaptation, loss and damage and local communities in developing countries. With 15 years of experience in international cooperation, she has conducted and published numerous studies for United Nations agencies. A former Ph.D. student in Political Science in Paris (2011-2013), Mathilde holds degrees in Human Rights Law (EUIC) and Political Science & International Relations (Sciences Po), and a Harvard Certification in Climate Change. She also worked as a political analyst for the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
International lawyer Raijaleena Brink possesses an LLM from Tilburg University and has practised law since 2007, currently through her company Leo´s Peace. Brink conducted earlier an MA and a Bachelor´s thesis in Economic Law. Her main research involves whether women are protected by International Climate Change Law and Criminal Law.
Suchit Etagi Prabhu is a graduate student pursuing an M.Tech in Infrastructure Design and Management at IIT Kharagpur. With four years of experience as an architect, Suchit developed a keen interest in managing and designing large-scale infrastructure projects. Volunteering with Waste Warriors Society in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand further deepened his understanding of the urgent need for effective waste management practices in ecologically sensitive, tourist-heavy regions. Passionate about environmental project management, he is dedicated to optimizing solid waste infrastructure to address sustainability challenges and improve the resilience of fragile ecosystems.
An M.Arch student at IIT Kharagpur, specializing in Sustainable Built Environments, a LEED Green Associate and GRIHA certified professional. With almost 4 years of architectural experience and research experience of 2 months at NTU, Singapore, currently working on Green Building Adoption by Indian corporates. Aiming to redefine architecture as an upcoming sustainable architect.
Abhishek is an MTech student at IIT Kharagpur, specializing in Infrastructure Management. With 2 years of experience in construction management as an architect and disaster risk research at UNDRR, his work examines the economic impacts of extreme heat on urban infrastructure. Abhishek aims to integrate climate and economic resilience into urban development in response to climate change.
Animesh Jaiswal is an MTech candidate at IIT Kharagpur, specialising in Infrastructure Design and Management. He possesses expertise in sustainable infrastructure development, policy evaluation, and financial structuring. With experience at KPMG, he employs a data-driven approach to addressing complex transportation challenges, emphasising strategic planning and innovative financing solutions for infrastructure projects.
Herivelto Fernandes Rocha, a PhD student in Environment and Society at the State University of Campinas (Brazil) and a professor at the Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of São Paulo. He holds a master's degree in Geography from the São Paulo State University and works in coordinating scientific initiation research projects and other research initiatives related to the territorial development of peasant communities in Brazil.
In 2023, she earned her Master’s degree in Business and Data Analytics from Université Grenoble Alpes, France. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, focusing on the ecological transition of the luxury industry in the context of climate change.
Elvin Hajiyev holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University and is pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Engineering. As an HSE intern at SOCAR STP, he focuses on industrial safety, sustainability, and renewable energy. His research interests lie in environmental systems optimization and innovative energy solutions.
An architect and aspiring urban planner, currently pursuing a Master’s in City Planning at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. She had the opportunity to contribute to several architectural projects and transportation planning initiatives as an intern. Her areas of interest include city planning, transportation, climate change mitigation, and environmental sustainability. Her research explores the relationship between urbanization and climate change, aiming to establish this connection through quantitative analysis. As a graduating city planner, she is passionate about exploring new developments while minimizing their environmental impact and creating sustainable, resilient cities.
Angki is an M.Tech student at IIT Kharagpur, specializing in Infrastructure Design and Management. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from IIT Tirupati. Her research focuses on elucidating spatiotemporal land use change in undulating hilly terrain, aiming to enhance understanding of urban expansion, land transformation, and sustainable development .
Pavithra B, a second-year Master’s student in City Planning at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. With a background in architecture and experience in Urban spatial analytics, she is passionate about understanding.
Anisha Ghosh is an architect currently pursuing a Master’s in City Planning at IIT Kharagpur. With a background in urban planning and sustainability, she is passionate about integrating data-driven strategies into city development. She has worked on electric vehicle adoption research, life cycle assessments, and urban policy analysis. Anisha has also presented her research at ICSSR-sponsored conferences at IIT Kharagpur, focusing on sustainable mobility and urban resilience.
Rashi Sharma is a Master of Public Administration candidate at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), specializing in Economic and Political Development with a focus on data analytics and leadership. She has a background in public policy from University College London and international politics from Oxford University. With experience at PepsiCo, the United Nations, and the Government of India, Rashi is passionate about sustainable investing, financial inclusion, and women-led development. A recipient of the Scholarship for Advanced Standing, she has authored multiple publications and presented research at global forums.
Betül Aksoy is a master's student at the Solar Energy Institute of Ege University, working in the field of energy technologies. She completed her undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at Ege University. Her research focuses on the recycling of photovoltaic panels and cooling systems integrated with phase change materials. She won first prize in the Best for Solar Ideathon (2022) competition with the project titled "Recycling of Crystalline Silicon (c-Si) Photovoltaic Panels."
Ipshita Jhirwal is an M.Tech student at IIT Kharagpur, specializing in Infrastructure Design and Management. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from NIT Jaipur. Her research focuses on analyzing the impact of environmental parameters on indoor thermal comfort, aiming to develop strategies for optimizing thermal conditions in residential buildings.
Mr. Madhusudan Hamirwasia is an M.Tech candidate at IIT Kharagpur, India, specializing in Infrastructure Design and Management. His research focuses on analyzing public sentiment and emotions towards EVs and developing Battery-as-a-Service models for the shared sustainable mobility world. With expertise in infrastructure and business development, he has firsthand experience in designing and project implementation at Reliance’s Jio BP, one of India’s largest EV CPOs. He employs a data-driven approach to tackling complex transportation challenges, emphasizing strategic planning and innovative design solutions for infrastructure projects, leveraging his expertise in No-Code AI tools from MIT. He is also a startup founder and an award-winning researcher, earning a silver medal and the Excellence in Knowledge Creation award in architecture school.
Peter Wamalwa is a Kenyan, with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Economics from University of Nairobi and PhD in Economics from University of Cape Town, South Africa. He has worked for the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenya Institute of Public Policy and Research Analysis and a Lecturer at Maseno University. He is a coach and facilitator for financial stability assessment, public finance, econometric and governance. His research interests are monetary policy, deficit financing, financial markets and asset price stability.
Takamasa Urasawa is pursuing a Master’s in Technology Management at The University of Tokyo. His research focuses on optimizing renewable energy utilization and the social implementation of technology, particularly through applications of battery storage in Japan's electricity markets. Specifically, his work investigates the economic and technical aspects of energy arbitrage by examining different forecasting and optimization methods in electricity markets.
Vaibhav M. Sannakki is a final-year M.Tech student in Infrastructure Design and Management at IIT Kharagpur. His research focuses on optimizing bus scheduling and charging strategies for mixed fleets, integrating electric and conventional buses for sustainable urban mobility. He interned at StudioKunst Pvt. Ltd., contributing to GIS-based urban planning and sustainable development. Holding a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from KLE Technological University, Hubballi, he has worked on financing models for high-speed rail and metro station parking solutions. Passionate about sustainable mobility, he aims to develop data-driven solutions to enhance urban transport and promote clean energy transitions.
Dhruv Repuriya is a master's researcher in Infrastructure Design and Management at RCGSIDM, IIT Kharagpur, with a background in architecture and sustainability from GCA, Lucknow. With experience in the ESG sector at KPMG, his research bridges infrastructure and sustainability, focusing on forest-based carbon credits, climate-positive infrastructure, and policy evaluations for carbon pricing instruments using GIS and spatial analysis techniques.
Hamidreza Naghdi is a highly experienced engineering consultant with over four decades of expertise in mechanical engineering, tool design, and production line development. Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of innovation in mechanics and materials science, driving the development of efficient, sustainable, and high-performance solutions for industrial applications. His work extends beyond technical advancements; he is deeply committed to analysing and mitigating the environmental impacts of engineering innovations, ensuring that progress aligns with sustainability. Passionate about research and forward-thinking solutions, he continues to contribute to ground-breaking developments that enhance both human life and environmental well-being.
Devulapally Pooja is an M.Tech candidate in Infrastructure Design and Management at IIT Kharagpur, with a B.Arch from NIT Trichy. Her expertise includes urban infrastructure, spatial analysis, transportation planning, and sustainable design. She has contributed to research and industry projects, integrating GIS, data analytics, and architectural solutions for efficient urban development. Recognized with multiple academic proficiency awards, she is committed to innovative, data-driven approaches in urban infrastructure and spatial planning.
Jigyasa is a PhD Research Scholar (Economics) in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Her research area involves studying the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers and the counteractive actions adopted. In this regard, she employs a multidisciplinary approach involving theories related to economics and psychology. Her analysis uses a mixed-method approach (quantitative and qualitative techniques). She is inclined towards policy-driven research and wishes to expand her research in climate change and sustainability.
Julia Díaz-Borrego Algaba is an Architect and predoctoral researcher in the Department of Architectural Construction I at the University of Seville, where she teaches and conducts her PhD. Her research focuses on indoor and outdoor thermal comfort, urban design, and climate change adaptation. She is a member of the HATIBAE research group, specializing in climate resilience and energy efficiency in architecture. Throughout her career, she has contributed to international conferences, collaborated on environmental characterization projects, and explored sustainable strategies to mitigate urban vulnerability to extreme heat.
Madhushree Maji is a second-year Master’s student in City Planning at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. She has two years of experience as a Senior Architect at L&T Construction EDRC, where she contributed to large-scale healthcare and infrastructure projects. She is passionate about leveraging new technologies in transportation and urban planning to drive sustainable development. Her research focuses on evaluating the feasibility of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) adoption in Kolkata.
Reeshba Reji Sheeba is an architect and final-year M.Tech student in Infrastructure Design and Management at IIT Kharagpur. Her research explores urban security, analyzing crime patterns and urban design using GIS-based spatial analysis and space syntax. She interned at IIT Jodhpur’s AI Centre for Sustainable Cities, working on heat mitigation, walkability, and urban data analytics. A B.Arch graduate from MCAP, Trivandrum (CUSAT), she received the Academic Excellence Award and multiple accolades for her thesis. Ranked AIR 67 in GATE AR 2023 (99.2 percentile), she is passionate about urban resilience and data-driven solutions for safer, more inclusive cities.
Associate Professor at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, Georgia
Dr. Khatuna Gigauri is a guest lecturer at Ilia State University and an associate professor at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) in Tbilisi, Georgia. She is a Doctor of Life Sciences and an expert in highland ecology. She has been teaching the following two courses at the above-mentioned universities: Global Climate Change and Politics and Ecological Perspective of Global Climate Change.
From 2005 until now, she has been the coordinator of the international project – Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA-WORDWIDE) in Georgia, co-funded by the European Union. Since 2019, she has been a participant in the international project – SoilTemp-Towards a global database of microclimate.
Her areas of interest are highland ecology and the impact of climate change on alpine biodiversity. She is the author of more than 10 publications in the last decade.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Trinh studied extensively in the field of Biochemistry at Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (Vietnam), then expanded his research to the field of philosophy and published the work "Convergent Philosophy" (2019). Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Trinh is an academic member of the Philosophy department of the Academy of Education (ATINER) and World Academic Association, Athens, Greece.
Ass. Prof. Giga Tvauri is the Academic Director of GRUNI SDGs (Grigol Robakidze University). He has Master of Business Administration and PhD candidate. His research covers Sustainable Development and renewable energies.He is a lecturer in several universities - courses on sustainable development and sustainable technologies. In 2023, he won the doctoral grant of Shota Rustaveli Scientific Foundation. He is an external expert of the European Association of Scientists and Technologists (COST) and a member of the same organization's ’’Sustainable Hydropower’’ Managenent Committee (Cost Action). .
Murray Moinester, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Tel Aviv University, https://murraymoinester.com, carried out research in experimental high energy particle and nuclear physics at leading accelerator laboratories. He has extensive experience in experimental and computational methods. Since retirement, he works in the fields of particle physics, infrared spectral imaging and climate engineering.
Ali Assalmi, a Moroccan national, holds a degree in private law from the Multidisciplinary Faculty of Nador (FPN), Morocco, and is currently pursuing a degree in public law. Alongside his academic pursuits, Ali invests in agricultural endeavors, specializing in seed preparation tailored to diverse soil and climatic conditions. His work integrates global research to optimize water usage and enhance agricultural productivity.
María Jesús González, Aeronautical Engineer, as part of Airbus Defence and Space's Technologies team, supports the development technologies that define the future of Airbus, mainly focused on aerospace decarbonization through Clean Sky 2 and Clean Aviation programmes. With a career starting in 2008 at Airbus, she’s led transformation projects focusing on productivity, disruptive technologies, and digitalization. She's a staunch advocate for sustainability, inclusion, and diversity.
Gerasimina-Theodora Zapanti is a PhD candidate at the University of West Attica. Supervised by Professor Constantina Skanavi, her research explores the intersections of climate change, social resilience, and tourism, particularly the impacts of natural disasters on tourist destinations. She contributes to the Skyros Project, a program to enhance environmental awareness and education. In addition to her academic pursuits, Gerasimina has professional experience in project management for multinational companies and national NGOs that aim to address climate change, sustainability, and green cities.”
Mr. David Thomas serves as an adjunct tutor at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, possessing a BSc. in Economics and Statistics and an MSc. in Economics from the aforementioned institution. Concurrently, he is an Agricultural Economist at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining in Jamaica. Additionally, David is actively engaged as a climate change youth activist and serves as a distinguished country ambassador for Jamaica.
Shaima Almeer is a senior space data analyst at Bahrain's National Space Science Agency. At NSSA she is responsible for acquiring data from satellite images and analyzing them into meaningful information aiming to serve more than 21 governmental entities. Shaima is also committed to publishing scientific research papers, aiming to support and spread the knowledge to others. Shaima has also been selected as an artificial intelligence country advisor to Bahrain by the International Group of Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Imre Cseresnyés graduated as a biologist MSc, and earned his PhD in environmental sciences (2013). He is an associate professor at the Institute for Soil Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungary. His main research field is the application and development of non-destructive root investigation methods, principally dielectric measurement techniques.
Ms. Khatuna Gigauri is an associate professor at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, specializing in the fields of climate change, highland plant ecology, and biodiversity. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Life Sciences from Ilia State University, where her research focused on plant ecology and adaptation in mountain environments.
Naser Hussain is a research associate working in the Energy and Building Research Center at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. His work is in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and power generation. He has a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master's degree in Applied Mathematical Sciences.
Prmaet Kaewmesri received the bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from MAEJO University, Thailand, in 2012, the Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Thailand, in 2014, and the Ph.D. degree in Applied Mathematics from the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Thailand, in 2019. He currently the innovation development of Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). His research interests include climate change, climate model, weather prediction, remote sensing, and teleconnection.
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