CONFERENCE CO-MANAGING DIRECTOR

Chris is a Leaders for Global Operations Fellow at MIT, pursuing an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and an SM Mechanical Engineering from the MIT School of Engineering. Prior to MIT, he worked at Stolt Tankers, building LNG tankers in China, drafting corporate & sustainability strategies, and developing analytical tools for trading desks. Chris is passionate about commercializing the new technologies that asset intensive industries desperately need to decarbonize. In his free time you'll often find him searching for dirt roads to explore on his gravel bike.

CONFERENCE CO-MANAGING DIRECTOR

Bryan is a dedicated advocate for sustainability and innovative solutions to combat climate change. Currently an MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management, he brings a dynamic blend of leadership and entrepreneurial expertise to the 2025 MIT Sustainability Summit. With a proven track record in launching and managing startups, Bryan has tackled challenges like minimizing supply chain shrinkage and creating eco-friendly products. Passionate about advancing sustainable technologies, he has worked on projects such as a biodegradable cleaning products brand, Tieralia, and a climate ledger tracking global warming liabilities for public companies. Through his work, Bryan is committed to driving meaningful change for a sustainable future.

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT

Fakhri is a 2026 MBA Candidate at MIT Sloan. Growing up in one of the most vulnerable region to climate change yet still underdeveloped, climate adaptation is a really close issue to him. He started his career by leading a project to provide clean water access on the remote fishermen islands in Indonesia. Afterwards he became part of the founding team for food business aggregator to help them access capital and resources to scale up their businesses and also co-founded a VC backed company on food waste and food supply chain. His last role was working on impact fund focusing on nature-based innovation in the forest and marine ecosystem. During his time at MIT Sloan, Fakhri wants to explore innovation to solve problems at the intersection of climate, food, water, and well-being.

VP - CONTENT

VP - CONTENT

Khadija Ghanizada is a 2025 master’s candidate at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, specializing in environmental planning, policy, and international development. Her passion for sustainability is rooted in her work on climate adaptation in urban food systems and her research on informal waste sectors in Kabul, Afghanistan. Previously, she led BardEATS, advancing sustainable food practices and implementing solutions like anaerobic digesters on campus. Currently, she is researching the redevelopment of West Bengal’s jute mills with Professor Brent Ryan and developing her thesis, Housing Kabul: A Comprehensive Framework for Informal Settlements, Mikrorayons, and Townships. Khadija is dedicated to building resilient and equitable communities in the face of climate change by leveraging private-public partnerships, technology, and policy.

VP - CONTENT

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Sara Muñoz (she/her) is a first-year MBA candidate at MIT Sloan whose passion for sustainability was sparked by working on reforestation projects at her family’s cacao farm in Colombia and collaborating with multiple industries as a consultant across Latin America. That passion has evolved into exploring how her consulting clients can integrate sustainable practices into their strategies. More broadly, Sara is interested in conservation efforts and nature-based solutions, with a particular focus on execution, financing, and policy to drive impactful change.

VP - MARKETING

Shreya is a Master's candidate in City Planning (MCP 2026) at MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning. With a strong foundation in sustainable transport and urban development, she has previously worked with WRI India's Sustainable Cities and Transport Program, contributing to initiatives that improve road safety and promote equitable, people-centered public infrastructure. Passionate about the intersections of urbanization and climate action, Shreya actively participates in global youth forums, amplifying local perspectives on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

VP - MARKETING

Sofie (she/her) is a second-year Leaders for Global Operations Fellow at MIT, pursuing an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and an SM Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the MIT School of Engineering. Prior to MIT she was a consultant and product manager at McKinsey and Company, working between private sector, public sector, and technology clients on strategy and operations initiatives. At MIT, her coursework and thesis researchg has focused on AI, optimization, and applied projects to develop and scale new technologies.

VP - MARKETING

Arshiya Lal is an MBA candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management (Class of 2026), with a focus on advancing sustainability and innovation in global supply chains. With extensive experience in product strategy for cutting-edge technologies, Arshiya is dedicated to addressing the challenges of non-renewable material inputs and supply chain fragmentation, particularly in the fashion industry.

Recognized as a leader in sustainability and innovation, Arshiya has been honored as a GreenBiz "30 Under 30" leader in sustainability (2024) and included in Georgia Tech’s “40 Under 40 Alumni” list (2022). While at Georgia Tech, where she studied Finance and Industrial Design, Arshiya founded and hosted the Atlanta Fashion Tech Summit, fostering collaboration between fashion enthusiasts and technologists.

Arshiya’s work continues to reflect her passion for leveraging technology to drive impactful change in sustainability and supply chain systems.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Joannes Yimbesalu is the Director of Operations for the MIT Sustainability Summit, where he oversees logistical planning and operational strategy to deliver impactful conversations on sustainability and innovation. A results-driven international development expert and a passionate advocate for sustainable development, Joannes brings over a decade of global experience in youth empowerment, workforce development, and innovative technology solutions. His work spans education, climate finance, and social entrepreneurship, reflecting his commitment to building inclusive and sustainable futures. Joannes founded Africa Skills Alliance, a Think Tank focusing on workforce readiness in Africa. Joannes is also the CEO and Founder of Nanaade – a cutting-edge AI-powered platform designed to empower young African graduates in their journey from education to employment. Currently pursuing a Mid-Career Master of Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School, Joannes has demonstrated leadership in leveraging technology, partnerships, and education to drive sustainable development.

VP - OPERATIONS

Julia is an MS/MBA candidate in MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program. Through her MS in Civil & Environmental Engineering coursework, she has explored challenges around decarbonizing supply chains and other networks. Participating in the Scandinavia Study Tour: Sustainable Infrastructure and Design in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark sparked her passion to become more involved in sustainability efforts on campus.

VP - OPERATIONS

Jessie is a first-year MBA candidate at MIT Sloan whose passion for sustainability and renewable energy was shaped by her experience in project finance, where she supported the development of large-scale clean energy projects. Inspired to make a greater impact, she is committed to driving the adoption of sustainable solutions through innovative strategies and collaboration. Jessie is particularly interested in the intersection of sustainability, energy, and policy, focusing on advancing clean energy adoption and fostering resilient systems.

VP - OPERATIONS

Gideon is an MS/MBA candidate in MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program in the Mechanical Engineering department. He spent the first five years of his career in manufacturing and new product introduction, where he witnessed the challenges of decarbonizing industry. He aims to blend his operations and business expertise to help clean tech firms scale their operations to accelerate emissions reduction and adaptation readiness.

VP - OPERATIONS

VP - OPERATIONS

DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIP

VP - SPONSORSHIP

VP - SPONSORSHIP

Rachel is an MBA candidate at MIT Sloan, interested in integrating sustainability into business operations. After graduating from Cornell, she worked at Hudson Harvest, a local food distributor, where she led operational strategy and technology initiatives, including process improvements and optimization. This experience immersed her in local food systems and their vital role in adapting to climate and market challenges. At Sloan, she is expanding her expertise in operations, data analysis, and finance to tackle sustainability challenges with fresh, strategic thinking.

VP - SPONSORSHIP

Patrick (he/him) is a first year MBA candidate at MIT Sloan whose interest in sustainability and climate action stemmed from climate finance with his work contributing to the green debt desk at an investment bank. That interest has evolved into thinking about how his clients in the consulting world can evolve their practices to incorporate climate mitigation strategies. More broadly, Patrick is interested in how the public-private partnership will need to evolve to take seriously climate adaptation, especially in the energy, technology, and manufacturing sectors.

VP - SPONSORSHIP