Bolder

Gabriela Bucher, executive director, Oxfam International. Oxfam is one of the largest charities in the United Kingdom and aims to eradicate poverty. Gabriela previously served as COO of Plan International, a development organization. She is from Cali, Colombia.

Dr. Peter Walter, a biochemist who studies the unfolded protein response, or the mechanism by which human cells detect misfolded proteins and repair them. Dr. Walter is a principal investigator at the Walter Lab and professor at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and an investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). His research focuses on our treatment of cancer, neurodegeneration, and aging and has earned him a Lasker Award -- "America's Nobel Prize" -- and a Breakthrough Prize -- "the Oscars of science."

Barbara Hendrie, North American regional director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The UNEP coordinates responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system and oversees the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Barbara was previously a senior government official at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID) in the British government. She was the inspiration of the Common Good Award at her alma mater, Bowdoin College, and was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) by Prince Charles in 2010.

Chris Jochnick, president and CEO, Landesa. Landesa is a nonprofit focused on land rights and has helped 180 million poor families in 50 countries gain land rights since its founding in 1967. Chris was previously director of private sector development at Oxfam America, working with Fortune 500 companies to implement socially responsible policies, and founded two economic and social rights nonprofits while living in Latin America for a decade.

Rachel Hall, executive director of US government advocacy, CARE USA. CARE is one of the largest and oldest humanitarian organizations focused on fighting global poverty. Rachel advocates to the US government for CARE's policy priorities on global health, food security, and female empowerment. She was previously a legislative assistant in Congress and taught kindergarten in Brooklyn, New York.

Thanu Yakupitiyage, US communications director, 350.org. 350.org is a grassroots environmental activism organization that aims to end the use of fossil fuels and has members in nearly every country on earth. Thanu has also worked for the New York Immigrant Coalition and is a DJ.

Provash Budden, Americas regional director, Mercy Corps. Provash leads Mercy Corp's work in North and South America and heads projects on land rights, financial services, education access, and other areas. Budden's work with Mercy Corps and Catholic Relief Services has led him to places as varied as Honduras, China, Gaza, Sudan, and other countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Tasneem Essop, executive director, Climate Action Network (CAN). CAN is the largest environmental network in the world, with over 1,800 member organizations across 130 countries. Tasneem previously served as an environmental policy advocate for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and as a regional environmental minister in her home country, South Africa. 

Dr. Alejandro Sanchez-Alvarado, a molecular biologist who studies regenerative biology, or how organisms regenerate tissues. Dr. Sanchez-Alvarado is executive director and chief scientific officer at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City and an investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). His research has promising applications for tackling human diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and aging.

John Oldfield, clean water expert and former principal at Global Water 2020. John helps implement clean water policies and projects across the world.