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Shadi Bakour

CEO and Co-Founder of PATH
Shadi Bakour, a visionary and dynamic leader, is the CEO and Co-Founder of PATH, a pioneering sustainability-focused bottled water brand at the forefront of the beverage industry. Recognized for innovation and environmental responsibility, Shadi has led PATH to become a trailblazer, introducing the first 100% refillable BPA-free aluminum water bottles meticulously sourced in the USA.
Under his guidance, PATH has achieved significant milestones, such as eliminating over 750 million single-use plastic bottles from landfills and oceans. Shadi's mission goes beyond providing premium water; he is dedicated to tackling the plastic crisis, promoting environmental education, and advocating for choices emphasizing reduction and reuse.
Prior to founding PATH, Shadi was the CEO and Co-Founder of Exumme, a tech hardware start-up successfully acquired in 2014. Prior to that, he worked in consulting and private equity at Booz Allen Hamilton and Abraaj Capital.
10:30 - 11:30 AM Fireside Chat

Sept. 25 Day 3

The PATH to Eliminate 10 Billion Single-use Plastic Bottles

It turns out that life in plastic is not so fantastic. Single-use plastics are everywhere, and so are the risks they pose, ranging from PFAS contamination, microplastics and reporting requirements to waste management systems that struggle to keep up. Hear from Shadi Bakour, CEO and Co-Founder of PATH Water, as he leads a conversation on how bold innovation in packaging can deliver measurable change, including the company's mission to eliminate 10 billion single-use plastic bottles. This session will challenge business-as-usual thinking and explore how investors and brands can collaborate to disrupt conventional approaches to sustainability with innovative solutions that prove impact at scale.

1:00 - 1:45 PM Fireside Chat

Sept. 23 Day 1

Climate Action Beyond Advocacy: The Entrepreneurial Engine

This session moves beyond the narrative of policy advocacy to explore how today's most innovative business leaders are not just "market takers"—operating within existing systems—but "market shapers" who are actively redefining climate action. By building commercially viable, climate-positive businesses, leaders are opening up new pathways for collaboration among markets, policymakers, and investors. Moderated By: Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder, Global Citizen.