Michelle Li

Founder and Co-Founder of Clever Carbon and Women and Climate

Michelle is a global thought leader focused on accelerating climate action. From Silicon Valley to Climate Champion, Michelle has built an international following through her climate projects, Clever Carbon and Women and Climate, and has spoken on prestigious global stages including SXSW, Bloomberg, COP, TEDx, and more.

Michael Sheldrick

Co-Founder, Global Citizen

Michael Sheldrick is a policy entrepreneur, author and a driving force behind the efforts of Global Citizen to end extreme poverty and build climate resilience. As a Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact, and Government Affairs Officer, he has mobilized over $43 billion in support for healthcare, education and climate from governments, businesses, and foundations. Michael is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and the author of the Amazon best-selling book, From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing and Implementing Change in a Divided World (Wiley: 2024).

Matt Bird

CEO & Editor-in-Chief, ESG News

Matt is the CEO & Editor-in-Chief at ESG News.

Kristen Siemen

Moderator: Fomer Chief Sustainability Officer, GM

About Kristen: Former Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at General Motors, Kristen spearheaded GM’s global sustainability and facility initiatives, guiding the company toward a zero-emissions future with a goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. Kristen prioritized efficiency improvements and value growth while integrating sustainability across all business operations. Kristen leadership led to significant strides in energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable materials. Under my direction, GM achieved its goal of being powered by 100% renewable energy in the U.S. by 2025 and globally by 2035, and earned numerous recognitions for our sustainability practices. Additionally, Kristen's oversaw global facilities and construction projects, including the transition to EV and battery cell manufacturing plants, and managed GM’s global facilities capital and operations budget.

Jim Manczak

Jim Manczak, CEO at ESGCX

Jim Manczak is the co-founder of ESGCX, an initiative dedicated to bringing transparency, traceability, and trust to the global carbon credit ecosystem. With a background spanning commodities trading, venture investment, and cross-border renewable energy development, Jim has built a career at the intersection of finance, technology, and sustainability. Through ESGCX, Jim is leading the creation of a next-generation workspace designed to unify project originators, developers, verifiers, certifiers, buyers, policymakers, advocates, auditors, and institutional stakeholders. His goal is to ensure carbon credits are not only credible and auditable but also accessible to all participants. Guided by his vision, ESGCX is working to transform carbon markets into a transparent, efficient, and trusted system – unlocking climate finance at scale and accelerating the global transition to net zero.

Amy Springsteel

Former Chief Sustainability Officer, Bloomberg