About the summit

The MIT Sustainability Summit is an annual student-run event that has grown to include hundreds of attendees ranging from professionals, academics and students. Past Summits have featured discussions with thought leaders and expert practitioners alike.

As one of the world’s preeminent research universities, MIT and its five schools --science, engineering, architecture and planning, humanities and social science, and management--are in a unique position to bring business and societal leaders together with academic researchers and students to address challenges in sustainability.We invite you to join us at the 2023 MIT Sustainability Summit as we explore the future of carbon markets.

Meet the team

Saman Baghestani
Co-Managing Director
MBA 2024, MIT

ABOUT: Saman is a 2024 MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management.  Saman worked with the Sloan Sustainability Initiative to launch the world's largest curated resource hub for corporate sustainability practitioners to find sustainability help, information, frameworks, and tools.  Prior to Sloan, Saman worked as a product manager building web experiences.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Climate change is the single greatest risk and opportunity humans have ever faced.  We must act now to improve the quality of our lives, the health of the planet, and to ensure future generations can thrive.

Javad Musthaq
Co-Managing Director
SFMBA 2024, MIT

TBU

Nwakaego Uzoh
Co-Director of Content
MBA-MCP 2024, MIT

ABOUT: Nwakaego Uzoh (wah-kay-go oo-zoh) is a 2024 MBA-MCP candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management and MIT School of Architecture and Planning. Coming from a background in supply chain and innovation strategy, she pursuing a dual degree in business and city planning at MIT with the goal of driving change in the built environment. Through her research, she is looking to incentivize compassion and sustainability in the ways we live and work.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Knowing that today’s actions affect the future means that sustainability is non-negotiable.

Eugenia Carrara
Co-Director of Content
CTL 2024, MIT

ABOUT: Eugénia Carrara is a seasoned executive, renowned for her expertise in transforming the food sector through sustainability policies and initiatives. With over a decade of experience her career includes guiding top political figures, leading international organizations, mentoring startups, and serving on NGO boards.She has advised the Mayor of Paris and the Minister of Ecology, contributing significantly to food systems transformation with major players such as the OECD, the FAO, the EU and COP28. Specializing in strategy for innovation, and data-driven decision-making, her work is marked by a commitment to enhance systems change, leveraging AI for good, and sustainability. Eugénia's goal is to drive impactful changes in organizations committed to reach net-zero emissions, planetary health, and ultimately inclusive global wellbeing.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Sustainability is imperative in a world confronting global warming and breaching planetary boundaries. It demands a systemic change to maintain a safe operating space for humanity, underscoring the urgency to transform our actions. This shift is crucial to avoid ecological tipping points and safeguard planetary health, making it not just an option, but an absolute necessity.

Nicolas Cisneros
Co-Director of Content

TBU

Emilie Flamme
VP of Content
MCP 2024, MIT

ABOUT: Emilie Flamme is a Master in City Planning Candidate with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Planning. Her research focuses on climate adaptation strategies for coastal resilience. Emilie also works on Public Interest Technology research and is an Editorial Team Member of the Public Interest Technologist with Professor Larry Susskind. She is an MIT Sea Grant STREAM Grant 2023 recipient and a 2023 DUSP-PKG Fellow.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Climate change will continue to create unprecedented changes to our world and our communities, we must find effective pathways to confront these challenges head on. The 2024 Sustainability Summit is one step forward to tackle these challenges.

Benjamin Mejia-Tickner
VP of Content
MBA 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Ben is a 2025 MBA Candidate at MIT Sloan focused on the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability. Prior to graduate school, he worked as a process engineer focusing on the design and construction of water treatment infrastructure and environmental remediation. He is passionate about transforming businesses into becoming more sustainable and helping develop technologies to address climate change and soil and water pollution. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, photography, and exploring global cuisines.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? As someone coming from the environmental services sector, I have seen firsthand the noxious effects of unsustainable business practices. As such, I believe that sustainability should be at the center of all business decisions if we expect to have a livable planet in the years to come.

Aliki Lavda
VP of Content
MSMS 2024, MIT

ABOUT: As a Sloan graduate student with a background in Chemical Engineering, I am deeply passionate about sustainable product development and social innovation. My expertise is rooted in operations consulting within the Energy and Healthcare sectors. Previously, I served as a Sustainable Product Manager for L'Oréal in Paris, where I further honed my skills in environmentally responsible product innovation.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? I chose sustainability because I've seen firsthand the damage we're doing to our planet. It's personal. I want a future where nature thrives, not just survives. The Summit is my chance to be part of the solution, to learn, share, and push for real, impactful change.

Jenny Yao
VP of Content
LGO 2024, MIT

ABOUT: Jenny is in her second year of pursuing the MBA and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering dual degree at MIT. She previously studied Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto. Upon graduation, Jenny worked in engineering, management, and analytics consulting for over five years, where she collaborated with several energy and utilities organizations. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys working on climate tech startups, making short videos, watching musicals, playing basketball, and finding innovative ways to improve global sustainability.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? It’s what our home planet needs right now and it’s time we roll up our sleeves.

Silvia Duque
VP of Content
MCP 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Silvia is an aspiring Master in City Planning candidate at MIT's School of Architecture and Planning, specializing in environmental planning and policy. With a solid foundation in urban management and development, Silvia is committed to enhancing urban environments through Nature-Based Solutions. Before graduate school, Silvia worked at a global environmental NGO leading policy and capacity-building initiatives to protect urban biodiversity for sustainable development. Silvia is interested in policy and design for green, fair, and accessible public spaces that democratize the city, foster urban biodiversity, and leverage ecosystem services. In her free time, she enjoys building Legos, walking dogs, and practicing yoga.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Immediate and integrated action is crucial to preserve the environment, foster economic well-being, and promote social and racial equity. Sustainability isn't just a choice; it's the only way to secure a livable future.

Viktoria Waldenfels
MPA 2025, MIT & HARVARD

ABOUT: Viktoria is a first year MPA student at the Harvard Kennedy School. She spent 3 years with PwC Germany consulting companies on their sustainability and climate strategies. Then, she joined a German software company to steer their climate strategy. She is especially interested in natural ways of storing carbon, e.g. soil carbon sequestration.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Why not?

YURI SAKAI
MCP 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Yuri Sakai is a Master in City Planning Candidate with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Planning. Her interests are finance, governance, and politics of urban resilience. She works for MIT Cybersecurity Clinic with Professor Larry Susskind and Dr. Jungwoo Chun.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? As our world faces a planetary emergency, there has never been a more critical time for urban planners to make concrete efforts. The 2024 Sustainability Summit is a step and catalyst toward accelerating those contributions.

Marissa Cui
Director of MARKETING
MBA 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Marissa is a first year MBA student at MIT Sloan. Her background is in product design and user research, most recently leading design at Stripe Climate / Frontier. She is interested in carbon management and the intersection of climate, tech, and design.

Aoying Huang
VP OF MARKETING
MBA 2024, MIT

ABOUT: Aoying Huang is a member of the Sloan MBA Class of 2024 and serves as the Co-President of the MIT Asia Business Conference. Additionally, she has been elected as a 2024 Siebel Scholar. Prior to Sloan, she worked as a Product Manager for Microsoft's Azure Cognitive & Applied AI Service and as a Senior Product Manager at Gartner, focusing on digital experience. She will join Samsung’s Global Strategy Group in South Korea post graduation. Aoying completed a double major in Sociology and Applied Mathematics-Economics at Brown University.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Exploring ways to ensure the world we live in remains livable, both materially and socially.

Jinia Sarkar
VP of MARKETING
MS Environmental Health 2024, HARVARD

ABOUT: Jinia Sarkar is a second year M.S. Environmental Health student at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Prior to this program, she graduated from Georgetown University with a B.S. in Human Science and worked at a healthcare consulting company, Advisory Board, where she pursued best practice research on service line strategy and sustainability at hospitals and health systems. Her current research focuses on understanding flood events and its impacts on mental health, as well as tools physicians can use to address climate impacts on patients. In her free time, Jinia enjoys playing her clarinet and baking.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? As someone who has witnessed her hometown face two 1,000-year floods in the span of two years, Jinia is passionate about decarbonization and natural resources conservation towards mitigating climate change.

Kathleen Bansil
VP of MARKETING
Harvard

ABOUT: Kathleen is part of Harvard University’s sustainability family and is excited to be a part of this year’s summit. She has been in the financial sector for over a decade and is currently serving as an Investor Relations Senior Analyst at NRG Energy. This career journey has fostered a deep commitment to create a collaborative world between finance and sustainability.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Sustainability is an integral part of our future. It is our pathway to ensure we live in a more resilient and equitable world. Our planet has been vulnerable for quite some time and with the evolution of sustainability efforts globally, more people are now realizing that sustainability is not just a trend, but a necessity.

Tunca Alikaya
VP of MARKETING
EMBA 2024, MIT

ABOUT: Tunca Alikaya is 2024 Executive MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management. He is currently scaling up SLB's (formerly Schlumberger) corprate start up Celsius Energy, focusing on geothermal heating and cooling technologies in the Northeast U.S. With over a decade of experience at Schlumberger, Tunca has worked in fifteen countries across five continents, in core oil & gas well construction businesses. His commitment to energy transition, and decarbonization is rooted in this rich global management experience. Tunca is deeply passionate about advancing deep climate technologies.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? With a background in energy sector, I understand the critical need for sustainable and clean energy. And I personally can contribute to energy transition to fight against climate change.

Pincha Rutchatawuttipong
VP of MARKETING
MBA 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Pincha is an MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management, with a focus on Finance and Sustainability. At Sloan, she is involved in several leadership roles, including VP positions in the MIT Impact Investing Initiative, MIT Sustainability Conference, and Asia Business Conference. Her work experience includes a researcher role at a sustainability think tank, focusing on sustainable financial practice, and strategic roles at a major bank, leading significant migrations and digitization projects. Pincha is also the founder of the Route volunteer network, demonstrating her commitment to social impact. Her work embodies strategic insight, a dedication to sustainability, and a passion for creating positive change in the finance sector

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Given the pressing climate challenges, I believe that prioritizing sustainability is essential, not optional. Stakeholders should adopt a long-term perspective in their decision-making processes to address these global issues effectively

Patrick Mundunga
VP of Content
SFMBA 2024, MIT

ABOUT: As a dynamic and goal-oriented leader, my expertise lies in the realms of project portfolio management, social impact programming, and entrepreneurship. My professional journey is rooted in civil engineering, an educational path that began at Makerere University and is being further honed through a Sloan MBA Fellowship at MIT. In my career, I have embraced pivotal roles, including being the CEO of Africa Non-profit Chore (ANCHOR) and the Africa Regional Head of Office at Invisible Children Inc. These positions have not only allowed me to oversee projects with multi-million-dollar budgets but also to spearhead significant fundraising initiatives and cultivate meaningful partnerships. My skill set is diverse, covering strategic planning, adept data analysis, effective grants management, and innovative business development strategies. With a deep commitment to generating social impact, I have been instrumental in guiding and equipping youth towards successful career paths and enhancing resilience in communities facing social and environmental challenges. As a VP of Marketing of the MIT Sustainability Summit, I am passionate about sharing insights and collaborating on initiatives that drive sustainable development and positive change in our world.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Sustainability because I have seen, firsthand, the nefarious effects of climate hazards and energy poverty against underserved remote communities who bear the brunt of irresponsible development.

Sungmoon Lim
VP of Content
MCP 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Sungmoon Lim is a Master in City Planning Candidate, where she conducts research on decarbonization policies affecting the built environment with MIT's Sustainable Urbanization Lab. Sungmoon is also a member of the Schwarzman School of Computing, where she studies the relationship between computing and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the climate justice implications of mining minerals, manufacturing hardware, and running data centers. Prior to MIT, she worked at the nexus of sustainability and technology at Google, the United Nations, and Smart City Expo. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Stanford University. She hopes to make cities more equitable, sustainable, and joyful, particularly for aging populations.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Climate change is a moral issue as it is an environmental, political, and economic one.

Hind Alhashem
Director of OPERATIONS
MBA 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Hind is a 2025 MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management. Before joining MIT, Hind had a rich experience working at Saudi Aramco, where she undertook various positions with a focus on technology and digitalization, ultimately culminating in her role as the Head of Digital Investment and Venturing. Passionate about navigating the dynamic intersection of business and technology, Hind is concurrently pursuing the Sustainability Certificate and Enterprise Management Certificate at MIT. Beyond academia and corporate endeavors, Hind finds joy in sports, reading, and exploring new places with family and friends.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? A noble way of giving back to our universe.

Faith Cerny
Director of OPERATIONS
MCP 2025, MIT

ABOUT: A current first year Master in City Planning student, I intend to study and implement equitable sustainable urban development responsive to the climate crisis. Prior to MIT I worked in construction project management in the greater Washington, DC area executing LEED-certified healthcare and commercial building projects. I have previously contributed to management of NYCHA’s recovery and resiliency program to restore housing developments damaged by Hurricane Sandy in New York. Similarly in Louisiana I worked with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity leading construction of new affordable homes post-Hurricane Katrina as an AmeriCorps Direct National Service member. My undergraduate education in architecture at the University of Virginia inspired a career engaged in addressing critical societal challenges by way of innovative design thinking and purposeful building practice. Outside of work and school I enjoy running and backpacking to reconnect with the natural environment.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Understanding the built environment’s immense contribution to CO2 emissions, I see an urgent need to assess and improve its environmental performance, renovate existing buildings through deep green retrofits, and construct new developments incorporating sustainable materials and energy efficient designs to mitigate climate impacts.

David Yeo
Director of OPERATIONS
MSMS 2024, MIT

ABOUT: A 2024 MSMS candidate at MIT Sloan. Prior to joining MIT, I worked in the developing business across IT, consulting, food and higher education. David is currently focusing on helping impact-driven companies through embracing innovative processes for their businesses. He is currently pursuing Sustainability Certificate to complement his experience in helping businesses to grow sustainably.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? David is passionate about harnessing sustainable innovation in the food industry.

Grace Bambushew
VP of OPERATIONS
MBA 2025, MIT

ABOUT: I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University. Following this, I commissioned in the US Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer with a specialization in Nuclear Propulsion. I served in the Navy for six years, onboard the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Spruance, and the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, both homeported in San Diego, CA. After I separated from the Navy, I worked at ASML, a semiconductor technology company, in the integration department for four years before coming to Sloan.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Amidst global sustainability challenges, MIT’s distinctive resources provide an unparalleled opportunity for impactful learning and involvement in the sustainability community. I hope to learn as much as I can during my time here, so I can make a substantial impact on sustainability practices in the business world.

Summer Cooke
VP of OPERATIONS
MBA 2025, MIT

ABOUT: I am an MBA candidate at MIT Sloan, holding a B.S. in Environmental Sciences. My background includes over four years as an Engineer Officer in the U.S. Army, with roles such as Task Force Engineer and Platoon Leader. Alongside my studies, I am a part-time Product Manager at Strella Biotechnology, a company dedicated to improving fruit ripeness prediction to minimize waste and enhance quality. Additionally, I am a certified Sustainability Associate with the International Society of Sustainability Professionals. My personal interests in CrossFit and snowboarding provide a dynamic balance to my professional and academic commitments, offering both physical challenges and outdoor adventures.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? My path to sustainability awareness began during my service in the U.S. Army in the Middle East, a setting that starkly exposed me to environmental degradation, water scarcity, and social inequality. These experiences shaped my deep interest in exploring and contributing to the complex nexus of urban sustainability, social justice, and environmental responsibility, propelling me towards a dedicated involvement in this essential field.

Ameyo Attila
VP of OPERATIONS
MBA 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Ameyo is a dynamic first-year MBA candidate at MIT Sloan, blending her rich experiences from Google with a fervent passion for sustainability and community service. Ameyo's dedication to environmental sustainability and food security is profound. She actively volunteers with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, championing food recovery and waste reduction efforts.Ameyo's leadership extends onto her campus roles, notably leading the Food and Agriculture Club and serving as the operations director for a significant (un)conference, highlighting her leadership skills and her commitment to energy and sustainability matters. Along with her expertise in corporate sustainability and sustainable consulting, underlines her passion for fostering a more sustainable future. Keen to delve into climate solutions and engage with fellow thinkers at MIT, Ameyo is on a quest to make substantial contributions to the sustainability of the food system and corporate sustainability initiatives.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? I'm on a mission to contribute meaningfully to the food system by reducing food waste and combating food insecurity. I believe in the power of sustainable practices to create a healthier planet and more equitable communities, and my efforts focus on transforming food systems for lasting environmental and social impact.

Hibah Khan
VP of OPERATIONS
MBA 2025, MIT

ABOUT: Over the past three years, I have been deeply involved in climate change initiatives at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., working closely with policymakers and government officials to foster awareness and drive meaningful action against climate change. My role has encompassed a broad range of activities, from collaborating with research agencies to identify gaps in climate change knowledge, to partnering with governments to assess the economic impacts of natural disasters. A key achievement in my career was leading the development and launch of an unprecedented IMF study that assesses climate mitigation policy preferences across twenty-eight countries, a project unveiled by the IMF's Deputy Managing Director in Singapore. This paper has gained international recognition, cited by influential bodies such as the World Economic Forum and Bloomberg News. With ambitions to further my education with an MBA from MIT Sloan, my goal is to pivot towards advising businesses on integrating sustainable growth practices with climate change mitigation and risk management strategies. Leveraging my extensive experience in advising governments and my research into individual behaviors, I aim to bridge the crucial gap between corporate objectives and the pressing global sustainability agenda.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Sustainability merges my commitment to future generations with my expertise in climate policy and economic growth. Through my work at the IMF and research, I've seen the tangible impact of sustainable practices. Pursuing sustainability in business is the next step in addressing global challenges and driving meaningful change.

Sara Ahmad
Member/Volunteer
MMSc Global Health Delivery, Harvard med

ABOUT: Sara’s most recent role has been as a Childhood TB National Program Manager at the Indus Hospital and Health Network, Pakistan. Prior to this role, she worked on projects including TB Reach 3 and 4, and the DR-TB Contact Screening and Infection Treatment, a collaboration with Harvard Medical School. She was also the manager for NGO Schools Program and Dental Health Program at Naya Jeevan, a micro-health insurance firm providing health coverage for the urban-poor in Pakistan. Sara received her dental degree from Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, and MBA in Health and Hospital Management from Institute of Business Management.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY? Owing to our rapidly growing population, in the future more resources will be needed in order to accommodate for it and, unfortunately, the resources that we take benefit of now are not all renewable.