women shaping

our future

For the 2024 edition, join us on Monday 25 March at the ChangeNOW Summit.

2023 campaign unveiled

“We created the Women for Change initiative for this reason: driving attention to these amazing Women changemakers, giving them concrete opportunities to connect with those who can bring significant value to their projects.We reveal the portraits of 25 women who we believe will have a massive positive impact not just on their communities but also on the world in the next ten years.“

25 women shaping the future

Meet 25 women who will have a massive positive impact on the world in the next ten years. Discover those women’s unique and powerful stories. They push boundaries and are a powerful call to action for a better future, where humanity must address pressing challenges such as climate, resources, biodiversity, and the human factor.

Climate

Adenike Titilope Oladosu

Founder/Executive Director of I Lead Climate Action Initiative

Bio

Adenike Titilope Oladosu is an agricultural economics graduate and ecofeminist, leading the ILeadClimate Action Initiative to restore Lake Chad, mobilize for green democracy, and empower women and young people. She's a fellow of the Panel on Planetary Thinking and received the Amnesty International Nigeria ambassador of conscience award.

Impact

Adenike Titilope Oladosu is an ecofeminist and climate justice activist who raises awareness about climate-induced issues in conflict zones and rural communities. Her tireless efforts have inspired many, advocating for disarmament, regional stability, and sustainable livelihoods. Her presence at international conferences and recognition from numerous organizations inspire action toward facing global climate change.

Omnia El Omrani

Youth Envoy to the President of COP27

Bio

Omnia El Omrani is a medical doctor, the first Youth Envoy to the President of COP27, and a member of the Youth Sounding Board of the European Commission. She's also involved with the Lancet-Chatham House Commission on Post-COVID Planetary Health and the UNFCCC Youth Constituency.

Impact

Omnia El Omrani is a passionate climate activist and doctor who advocates for the health impacts of climate change. As the first Youth Envoy to the President of the UN 27th Climate Change Conference, she works to create safer, cleaner, and greener cities for children and youth.

Kotchakorn Voraakhom

CEO and Founder of Landprocess and Porous City Network

Bio

Kotchakorn Voraakhom is a landscape architect from Thailand who builds productive green public spaces to tackle climate change in urban areas. She opened the Chulalongkorn Centenary Park in 2017, the first green infrastructure in Bangkok to reduce flood risk. Kotchakorn has been recognized for her climate work by TIME, Bloomberg, and the UN.

Impact

Kotchakorn Voraakhom, an architect and dedicated activist, transforms the way cities are designed by increasing their resilience against climate change impacts in Southeast Asia. Her innovative designs and work set a new standard for sustainable urban planning, inspiring change globally.

Joycelyn Longdon

PhD Candidate and Founder of ClimateInColour

ClimateInColour

Bio

Joycelyn is a Cambridge PhD candidate who investigates forest conservation from a justice perspective and founded ClimateInColour, an online education platform for the climate curious. It aims to make climate conversations more accessible and diverse.

Impact

Joycelyn Longdon's work as the founder of ClimateInColour is both innovative and inspiring. Her online platform provides a unique approach to educating and encouraging discourse among the "climate curious," making environmental topics more accessible and diverse. She animates a community of 30k+ individuals.

Rhiana Gunn-Wright

Climate Policy Director

Roosevelt Institute

Bio

Rhiana Gunn-Wright is a climate policy expert who co-authored the Green New Deal with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and established a climate mobilization office. She advocates for generous funding for ARPA-E and the creation of a green bank to support communities without access to clean water or transportation.

Impact

Rhiana Gunn-Wright's policy advice has been instrumental in advancing the Green New Deal and prioritizing a zero-carbon economy in the US. As a Roosevelt Institute policy advisor, she has contributed significantly behind the scenes, showing how policy and activism can work together towards a sustainable future.

Heïdi Sevestre

Explorer

Bio

Heïdi Sevestre, a glaciologist, became passionate about glaciers at 17. After studying glaciers in Antarctica for 2 months in 2015, she was featured on the cover of Science magazine in 2017. She presented a series of documentaries called "Terres extrêmes" from 2017 to 2019.

Impact

Heidi Sevestre is a pioneering glaciologist whose work studying glaciers worldwide and field-based research transformed the understanding of the impacts of climate change. She is also dedicated to science outreach through lectures and documentaries, inspiring action towards a sustainable future and ensuring the public is aware of pressing issues.

Tori Tsui

Climate justice activist and writer

Bio

Tori Tsui is a climate justice activist and writer involved in various initiatives raising awareness about the climate crisis. She sailed to COP25 and facilitated Sail for Climate Action, bringing youth activists to climate conferences. Tsui co-founded the Pass the Mic initiative and authored "It's Not Just You," a book on the intersection of climate change and mental health from a climate justice perspective.

Impact

Tori Tsui puts the emphasis on intersectionality, inclusivity and transformative action. She highlights the connection between the climate crisis and mental health issues, and her work inspires many to prioritize these issues. Tsui's focus on inclusivity ensures that marginalized communities are represented in the fight for a more sustainable future.

Biodiversity

Sônia Guajajara

Indigenous Ministry

Bio

Sônia Guajajara, an indigenous activist from Brazil's Guajajara tribe, works to protect the environment. She was elected as a federal deputy in São Paulo in October 2022 and will serve as Minister for Indigenous Peoples in Lula's upcoming third government in 2023.

Impact

Sônia Guajajara is a trailblazing leader who fights for indigenous rights and the environment. As Brazil's first indigenous minister, she challenges the legacy of destruction left by the Bolsonaro administration, working to demarcate indigenous lands and combat environmental crime in the Amazon region.

Zaya

Model and activist

Bio

As a model, conference speaker, and activist for indigenous rights and the environment, her main motivation is to amplify the energy, voice, and power of representation in the crucial fight for Mother Nature, which affects every person on the planet.

Impact

Zaya Guarani is a leader and representative for indigenous people, advocating for their rights and environmental protection. As the first fully indigenous model, she inspires many to fight for a sustainable future that honors and protects the land and its people, raising her voice for their cause both within and outside Brazil.

Akilah Jaramogi

Founder

FACRP

Bio

Akilah is a forester, environmental consultant, and social entrepreneur from Trinidad and Tobago. She leads the Fondes Amandes Community Re-forestation Project and has won numerous awards, including the Hummingbird Gold Medal Award. Akilah also attended the International Civil Society Week in Fiji in 2017 to collaborate on global environmental challenges.

Impact

Akilah Jaramogi is an environmental activist who promotes ecological sustainability and seeks to prevent forest and bushfires. Her advocacy for practices like agroforestry and permaculture aims to reforest hillsides and create a more sustainable future. She is passionate about environmental protection and is committed to creating a better world.

Ulrike Pfreundt

Co-Founder

rrreefs

Bio

Ulrike Pfreundt is a German ocean scientist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of rrreefs in 2020, an environmental impact startup safeguarding ocean biodiversity with eco-engineered modular reef systems. She's won awards and is an ETH Zürich and Singularity University alumna.

Impact

Ulrike Pfreundt uses the 3D printing technology to save coral reefs and preserve marine species. Her project recreates dead reef structures, reviving these vital ecosystems. Pfreundt's work with rrreefs is a concrete example of how innovative solutions can protect and restore the natural world.

Marine Calmet

Lawyer, president of the NGO Wild legal

Wild Legal association

Bio

Marine Calmet, an environmental lawyer and Or de question spokesperson, opposes mining projects in French Guiana and fights for nature's rights. She develops solutions inspired by ecosystem intelligence and indigenous knowledge, and is president of Wild Legal. Her book Becoming Nature's Guardians won the 2022 European Institute of Ecology Book Prize.

Impact

Marine Calmet is a passionate advocate for the rights of nature and finding innovative solutions to the ecological crisis. She is inspired by indigenous wisdom and ecosystem intelligence to protect our future and inspire a new generation of nature guardians. Calmet works through lectures, publications, and advocacy to find practical solutions for the planet's pressing challenges.

Kat Bruce

Founder and director of NatureMetrics

Bio

Kat is a biodiversity scientist and founder of NatureMetrics, a leading nature technology company. She's involved in the UK Business and Biodiversity Forum, the TNFD data catalyst, and has been a leading voice in the fast-emerging field of NatureTech at recent Climate and Biodiversity COPs.

Impact

Kat Bruce's mission is to revolutionize biodiversity assessment through her company, NatureMetrics. She aims to bridge the gap between research, industry, and policy to advance biodiversity monitoring and improve natural world management. Using novel molecular tools, her company provides an unparalleled evidence base to drive environmental decision-making.

Resources

Rekik Bekele

CEO of Green Scene & Board Member of Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association

Bio

Rekik has a decade of experience in renewable energy and has managed projects for solar micro, mini-grid, and improved cook-stove. In 2021, she was named Influential Woman of the Year by the Ethiopian Women in Energy Network and serves as a Bard Member of the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association.

Impact

Rekik Bekele founded GreenScene, a company that offers high-quality solar-powered electrification to off-grid communities in Ethiopia. Since 2016, her efforts have empowered families by providing accessible and affordable electricity, transforming their lives and increasing their quality of living.

Charmian Love

Co-Founder and Activist in Residence at B Lab UK, Global Director of Advocacy at Natura&Co

Bio

Charmian Love is a social entrepreneur who developed the Regenerative and Circular Economy Lab and teaches an MBA course on the subject. Love co-founded Volans and chaired B Lab UK before becoming an Activist in Residence in 2021.

Impact

Charmian Love, a highly experienced entrepreneur, has over 15 years of experience dedicated to accelerating the transition to a more regenerative, circular, and inclusive global economy. She believes that business can be used to create a better world, advocating for businesses to become a force for good and drive positive social and environmental impact.

Julia Faure

Co-fondateur

Loom
En mode climat

Bio

Julia Faure is a French entrepreneur who produces sustainable and ethical clothing. She co-founded the collective "En mode climat" and "Loom." Faure authored a piece called "Nous," urging for eco-contributions to be tied to a company's greenhouse gas emissions to incentivize sustainability.

Impact

Julia Faure's sustainable clothing company and "En mode climate" movement has united over 500 actors in the fashion industry to call for binding laws and regulations for real change in the sector. Her work inspires public authorities to take action and regulate the industry towards a more sustainable and ethical future.

Miranda Wang

Co-Founder

Novoloop

Bio

Miranda Wang is a climate tech entrepreneur and CEO of the California-based venture Novoloop. Novoloop was recognized for sustainability and as a Startup to Watch. Wang is a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee and a United Nations Young Champion of the Earth.

Impact

Miranda Wang created Novoloop to transform unrecyclable plastic waste into valuable chemicals using pioneering chemical technologies, making significant strides in reducing plastic waste in the environment and tackling the global plastic problem.

Azadeh Farajpour Javazmi

Founder and CEO

Bettersoil

Bio

Azadeh Farajpour Javazmi is a scientist and entrepreneur who founded betterSoil. She has a master's degree in Sustainable International Agriculture and a network of partners in nature-based solutions.

Impact

Azadeh Farajpour Javazmi, founder of betterSoil, promotes sustainable agriculture and soil preservation. Her company brings together scientists, farmers, and politicians to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical sustainable agriculture, promoting climate-resilient agriculture and ensuring soil health preservation for future generations. To date, its project extends to four countries.

Liz Ricketts

Co-founder

OR Foundation

Bio

Liz Ricketts is a committed American stylist fighting against fast fashion. She founded The OR Foundation to raise awareness of the environmental impact caused by the recycling of clothes in Europe, particularly in Ghana.

Impact

Liz Ricketts, co-founder of OR Foundation, advocates for sustainability and justice in the fashion industry. She calls for a circular economy and revolution in waste technology, aiming to spark a sustainability revolution that benefits people working in the industry and the planet itself.

Charlot Magayi

Founder

Mukuru Clean Stoves

Bio

Charlot Magayi is a stove designer, climate activist, and Earthshot Prize winner who founded Mukuru Clean Stoves.
She is a leading environmental activist in Kenya who reduces indoor air pollution in low-income countries to improve public health.
Forbes named her one of their 30 under 30 in 2022.

Impact

She provides affordable cookstoves to people in Mukuru, which reduce pollution to 10%, toxic emissions by up to 90%, use up to 60% less fuel, and decrease the risk of burns compared to traditional cooking. Her work helps build a cleaner, safer future for all.

Shriti Pandey

Founder

Strawstructure

Bio

Shriti Pandey's technology compresses crop waste into eco-friendly building panels, approved by the Indian government as a cheaper alternative to traditional materials. She was a climate fellow and received seed funding, and listed on the 30 Under 30 Asia for Industry, Manufacturing & Energy in 2021.

Impact

Shriti Pandey created Strawcture Eco to use straw as a building material, promoting fire resistance, thermal insulation, and sustainability. Her work reduces the environmental impact of traditional building methods and helps combat the harmful effects of burning straw.

Human Factor

Alice Aedy

Co-Founder and CEO / Photographer

Earthrise Studio

Bio

Alice Aedy is a documentary photographer, filmmaker, and campaigner. She founded Earthrise, a creative studio aimed at communicating climate through optimism and imagination to build a better world.

Impact

Alice Aedy communicates inspiring stories through documentaries, photos, and multimedia campaigns to raise awareness about climate and social justice. She highlights human stories of those impacted by the climate crisis, refugee crisis, and women's rights. Her work aims to shed light on topics such as textile production, indigenous communities, activism, and breast cancer.

Sarah Mardini

Professional swimmer, activist

Volunteer lifeguard with Emergency Response Centre International (ERCI)
Free Humanitarias

Bio

Sarah Mardini is a former Syrian swimmer, lifeguard, and human rights activist who faced false charges of espionage and aiding illegal immigration by Greek authorities in 2018. Her story was the inspiration behind the 2022 Netflix film "The Swimmers."

Impact

Sarah Mardini's inspiring journey from war-torn Syria to refuge in Europe demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit. Her humanitarian work and advocacy have inspired many to join her in amplifying the voices and stories of refugees, working towards a world where they are treated with compassion and dignity.

Adaora Oramah

Founder and CEO

AMAKA Studio

Bio

Adaora is a Nigerian-American creative strategist with expertise in content creation, business development, and strategy. She has worked with established media, advertising, and design firms such as VICE, OkayAfrica, Omnicom's RAPP Worldwide, and Aruliden.

Impact

Adaora Oramah founded a digital publishing platform to amplify the voices of pan-African women creators, allowing them to share, monetize and promote their stories. Her passion for inclusivity and community drives her to empower women and promote diversity in the storytelling landscape.

Windi Muziasari

CEO and Founder

Resistomaps

Bio

Dr. Windi Muziasari discovered the alarming threat of antibiotic multi-resistance during her Ph.D. studies, leading her to found Resistomap. She is the founder & CEO of this promising startup that provides accessible antibiotic resistance monitoring to researchers using high-throughput gene profiling.

Impact

Her global initiative aims to mitigate the deadly effects of AMRs by building a database, with the hope of saving millions of lives. Launched in 2018, Resistomap has analyzed over 10,000 environmental samples in 45 countries, mitigating the spread of antibiotic resistance. Her dedication to this global health issue is an inspiration to those seeking to make a positive impact in the world.