John Goedschalk
John Goedschalk is the Founder and CEO of BioTara AG, a Swiss-based company dedicated to building regenerative supply chains that make standing forests more valuable alive than dead. With over 25 years of leadership experience across government, business, and conservation, John has shaped environmental regulations and advanced climate-friendly policies in Suriname and beyond. He has led community-based conservation initiatives and developed sustainable product lines that connect Amazonian communities directly to global markets. Under his leadership, BioTara is pioneering carbon-negative ingredients for the cosmetics industry while empowering Indigenous and tribal communities to thrive as stewards of the forest. John combines entrepreneurial rigor with deep commitment to people and planet, positioning him at the intersection of climate solutions, regenerative business, and global impact investing.
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.