Get to know LSW26 Keynote & Featured Speakers

Head of Legal, Helexia Portugal

Moderator

Alice is Head of Legal at Helexia Portugal and a specialist in energy transition, sustainability, and energy law, with over 12 years of experience combining legal practice, regulation, and ESG strategy. She is also founder of Women in ESG Portugal, a member of the Operational Council of the Center for Sustainable Finance at Católica-Lisbon SBE, and a PhD candidate in Law and Economics at the University of Lisbon.

July 1: Externality Markets, Biodiversity, Corp Accountability and Policy (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Sustainability Manager, IKEA Portugal

Ana is Sustainability Manager at IKEA Portugal, where she leads the company’s environmental and social sustainability agenda, focusing on reducing operational impact and promoting more sustainable ways of living in line with IKEA’s global commitments. She joined IKEA in 2001 and has held roles across supply chain, product quality, and retail operations in several international markets before taking on sustainability leadership in Portugal in 2017.

June 30: Flash cases: The Business Case for Sustainability

LinkedIn

Environmental Engineer, Porto Ambiente

Ana Rita Barros works at Porto’s Directorate for Carbon Neutrality, where she contributes to the management and implementation of key climate neutrality initiatives, including the Porto Climate Pact and the city’s participation in the EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”. She is a sustainability and climate transition specialist, dedicated to advancing systemic change towards more resilient, low-carbon and digitally enabled societies. Ana Rita is Co-founder of FOCA – Focus On Critical Actions, an environmental advocacy organisation, and serves as an Ambassador for the European Climate Pact.

LinkedIn

July 2: Roundtable - Advancing Local Climate Pacts: Climate Champions League

Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Finance at Católica-Lisbon SBE

António is the Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Finance and Associate Professor of Finance (Adjunct) at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, focusing on sustainable finance, portfolio management, and risk. He previously spent 20 years on Wall Street, including eight years as Managing Director at BlackRock, where he led global teams in portfolio management and sustainable investing. He holds a PhD in Economics from Northwestern University and has published extensively on quantitative portfolio management and risk, presenting his research at institutions such as the European Central Bank and MIT.

June 30, July 1: Closing Remarks of June 30 and July 1

July 2: Blended finance for urban climate transition

LinkedIn

CEO, Grupo Casais

António is CEO of Grupo Casais, a leading construction company operating in 18 countries with nearly 7,500 employees. With more than three decades at the company, he has held leadership roles across technical, commercial, and executive areas, helping drive growth and innovation in industrialised construction. He holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minho, completed executive education at Harvard Business School and MIT, and was named Construction Personality of the Year in 2022.

June 30: Fast-changing Business Environment (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Professor of Public Policy and Economics, University of Southern California

Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

António Miguel Bento is a world-leading scholar in environmental, energy, transportation, and urban economics. His research quantifies the costs, benefits, and distributional effects of climate, energy, and transportation policy — from mitigation to adaptation — with recent work on shielding households and firms from the energy crisis without slowing decarbonization. He has contributed to the IPCC and the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, is a regular consultant to the World Bank, and served as a European Climate Pact Ambassador. He holds a PhD from the University of Maryland and a degree in Economics from Nova SBE.

July 2: Blended finance for urban climate transition

LinkedIn

Group Chief Financial Officer, Lightsource bp

Bernardo is Group Chief Financial Officer and Board Member at Lightsource bp, one of the world’s major solar energy producers. Based in London, his international career spans Europe and the United States, with nearly two decades of experience in the energy sector, including senior leadership roles such as CFO at EDP Renewables North America. He also serves as President of the Portugal–US Chamber of Commerce and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School, Wharton School, London Business School, and Darden School of Business.

June 30: Fast-changing Business Environment (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

City Advisor for EU Cities Mission, ICLEI

Moderator

Bob is one of NetZeroCities' City Advisors, employed by ICLEI. As a former Deputy Mayor of Eeklo he is a generalist who brings in on the ground practical expertise on spatial planning, housing and energy. As a MSc in Geography and MSc in Energy Politics Bob likes to challenge and be challenged on how cities can make a difference in these fields and how energy landscapes shape the context for democracy. Bob is Board member of the Flemish federation of Energy cooperatives and the democratic support model he was responsible for setting up allowed the construction of 22 windturbines without NIMBY lawsuits in his hometown. Through direct participation and an lease-lending scheme for vulnerable households these turbines now protect his city against rising energy prices. The scheme won the EU Social Innovation award in 2023.

July 2: Advancing Local Climate Pacts: Climate Champions League

LinkedIn

CEO, Value Balancing Alliance e.V.

Vice President, BASF SE

Moderator

Christian is CEO of the Value Balancing Alliance and Vice President at BASF, where he focuses on integrating sustainability into business strategy and financial decision-making. He also co-chairs the Sustainable Finance Committee to the Federal Government of Germany and works with international standard setters, policymakers, academia, and civil society to advance sustainability at scale. Previously, he led BASF’s Value-to-Society program and held roles across communications, sustainability, and human resources, and holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy with studies in philosophy, macroeconomics, psychology, and politics.

July 1: Externality Markets, Biodiversity, Corp Accountability and Policy (Roundtable)

June 30: Fast Changing Business Environment (Roundtable) — Moderator

Linkedin

Head of Sustainability at Banco Santander Portugal

Moderator

Cristina is Head of Sustainability at Santander Portugal, where she leads the bank’s sustainability and ESG agenda following a long career across investment banking, treasury, credit markets, corporate finance, and risk management. She also serves as a non-executive board member of Fundação Santander Portugal and Santander Totta Seguros. She holds a degree in Economics and an MBA in Finance from Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

July 1:Sustainable Finance Opportunities and Pitfalls (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Invited Professor at Católica-Lisbon SBE Executive Education

Moderator

Dina is an Invited Professor at Católica-Lisbon SBE Executive Education, where she designs and delivers executive programmes on ESG governance, sustainable finance, climate risk, and value creation, translating complex regulatory frameworks into board-level decision-making tools. She is also a PhD candidate at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management, researching ESG metrics and their impact on corporate performance. With over 20 years of international experience, she has held senior roles at KPMG, Deloitte, and TMF Group, advising multinational organizations and financial institutions on governance, risk, ESG, and compliance.

July 2: Corporate Innovation in Urban Climate Transitions - Case Studies

LinkedIn

Director of the Water area, Veolia Portugal

Director of the Water area at Veolia Portugal, where he leads projects related to the sustainable management of the water cycle, water efficiency, and innovation in the sector. An engineer by training, specializing in environmental engineering, he developed his career in leading companies in the water sector, with experience in system operation and maintenance, business development, and project management in Portugal and international markets. Throughout his career, he has been involved in solutions for water reuse, optimization of industrial processes, and promotion of ecological transformation, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable management of water resources.

LinkedIn

Asset Manager, DRC Savills Investment Management

Natural Capital Investment specialist, Savills UK

Ed is an Asset Manager at DRC Savills Investment Management and a Natural Capital Investment specialist at Savills UK, with over a decade of experience in regenerative agriculture and sustainable land management. He is also Managing Partner at SS Horton & Sons, where he has led award-winning regenerative agriculture initiatives focused on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable food production. He holds an MBA in Farm Business Management from the Royal Agricultural University.

July 1: Externality Markets, Biodiversity, Corp Accountability and Policy (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Purchasing Director, Fromageries Bel Portugal

Eduardo is Purchasing Director at Fromageries Bel Portugal (Groupe Bel), with over 30 years of experience in the dairy industry, supply chain management, and sustainable agricultural operations in the Azores. Since joining the company in 1996, he has held roles including Industrial Controller and Director of Supply and Milk Collection, leading initiatives focused on operational efficiency, producer engagement, and sustainable dairy sourcing, including the “Leite de Vacas Felizes” program. He holds a degree in Business Organization and Management from the University of the Azores.

July 1: Nature Positive Strategies (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

CapaCITIES Coordinator

Elena is an International Projects Expert at UEFISCDI, with over a decade of experience in international cooperation, innovation policy, and research funding. She currently coordinates the Horizon Europe CapaCITIES project, leading a consortium of more than 70 partners across Europe to support the implementation of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. She is also involved in Romania’s M100 Mirror Mission Cities Hub, contributing to urban sustainability and climate transition initiatives.

July 2: Unlocking Municipal Climate Investment (Roundtable)

Executive Director, Center for Responsible Business and Leadership

Filipa is Executive Director of the Center for Responsible Business and Leadership, focusing on strategy, international business, and integrating the SDGs into corporate strategy to drive long-term value creation. She is active in executive education and academic teaching in business, strategy, and sustainability, and is completing a PhD at Rotterdam School of Management on strategy and sustainability, with training in Shared Value from Harvard Business School. Previously, she worked at Deloitte, served as an economic policy advisor at the European Parliament, and contributed to the social entrepreneurship ecosystem at IES-Social Business School.

June 30: Fireside talks - Responsible Leadership in an uncertain world

LinkedIn

Dean, Católica-Lisbon SBE

Filipe is Dean of Católica-Lisbon SBE and Full Professor of Social Entrepreneurship, holding the Alfredo da Silva Chair in Entrepreneurship, with research focused on social innovation, impact investing, and business model innovation. He previously spent over a decade at INSEAD, where he led the Entrepreneurship Centre and founded the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, and he remains a Visiting Professor. A leading figure in the impact ecosystem, he co-founded IES-Social Business School and Maze, was founding President of Portugal Inovação Social, and is currently President of the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA).

June 30, July 1 and July 2: Dialogue and Burning Questions; Opening Session July 1;Closing Remarks July 2

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CEO and Technical Director, AMETLAM

Hugo is a Forestry Engineer and CEO of AMETLAM, specializing in territorial planning and management, with expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and LIDAR technology. He has over 15 years of experience across forestry, environmental, and hydraulic engineering projects, having managed and advised on more than 17,000 hectares of private forest in Galicia, including wildfire prevention, firefighting campaigns, and biomass management for electricity generation companies, combining technical expertise with environmental sustainability.

July 1: Nature Positive Strategies (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

President, Fundação Santander Portugal

Inês is President of Fundação Santander Portugal, where she leads the bank’s social impact strategy across education, employability, and entrepreneurship, strengthening the connection between academia, society, and the financial sector. With over 30 years of experience across banking, telecommunications, and consumer goods in Portugal and Brazil, she has held senior leadership roles at Santander since 2007, focusing in recent years on purpose-driven initiatives, notably through Santander Universidades.

June 30: Católica-Santander Award - Innovation for Sustainability

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Rector, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Isabel is Rector of Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Full Professor of Culture Studies, with a distinguished academic career in literature, culture, and interdisciplinary studies. She previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences and is the founder of the Lisbon Consortium and the Research Centre for Communication and Culture, where she leads international doctoral programmes. She has held visiting positions at universities across Europe, the United States, and Brazil, and is an Honorary Fellow of the University of London.

June 30: Opening Session

LinkedIn

Head of Corporate ESG, Grupo Casais

João is a senior executive and engineer currently serving as Head of Corporate ESG at Grupo Casais, where he works on sustainability strategy, reporting, and innovation. He also holds leadership roles across the sustainability ecosystem, including President of Coopérnico and BUILT CoLAB, and is a board member of GRACE – Empresas Responsáveis, contributing to energy transition and industrial decarbonisation initiatives. His career spans energy infrastructure, procurement, and strategy roles at REN, General Electric, and the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, and he holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Instituto Superior Técnico and an MBA from The Lisbon MBA.

July 2: Corporate Innovation in Urban Climate Transitions - Case Studies

LinkedIn

Head of Sustainability, Fidelidade

João is a senior executive in the insurance sector, currently leading Sustainability at Fidelidade, where he defines and implements the group’s sustainability strategy across all geographies. He previously led Corporate Strategy and Business Development at Fidelidade and was a consultant at Boston Consulting Group, working across financial services and international markets. He holds a Master’s in Industrial Engineering and Management from Instituto Superior Técnico and executive education in sustainability from INSEAD and the University of Cambridge.

June 30: Sustainable Finance Opportunities and Pitfalls (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Director of Strategy, Innovation, Environment, and Energy, CARRIS

João Telha is the Director of Strategy, Innovation, Environment, and Energy at Carris. With over two decades of experience in spatial planning, urban development, and public policy, he worked as a consultant at CEDRU and served as an advisor to the Norwegian Embassy in Lisbon. He holds a degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Lisbon and a postgraduate qualification in Territory, Environment, and Sustainable Development from the New University of Lisbon.

July 2: Corporate Innovation in Urban Climate Transitions - Case Studies

LinkedIn

CEO, Faya Foundation

Jorge is CEO of the Faya Foundation, where he leads an innovative “Natural Dividend” model linking biodiversity preservation with economic and social development in Príncipe Island (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve). He has held CEO, CFO, and Partner roles across organisations including Multicert, SIBS, Roland Berger, and Accenture, with extensive experience in strategy and international business transformation. He is also a member of the Fiscal Board of Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome and holds an MBA from INDEG-ISCTE and executive education from Harvard Business School and AESE.

July 1: The Learning Curve of Nature-Positive Execution (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Global ESG & SHEQ Director, Mota-Engil Group

José is ESG and SHEQ Director at Mota-Engil, with over 15 years of international experience in construction, infrastructure, and industrial operations across Europe, Africa, and emerging markets. He leads corporate sustainability and SHEQ systems across the group, with a focus on operational excellence, industrialization, and large-scale infrastructure delivery. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering, an MBA from Católica-Lisbon SBE, and executive education in sustainability and sustainable finance from the University of Cambridge and Nova SBE.

June 30: Flash cases - The Business Case for Sustainability

LinkedIn

President, Esporão

João Roquette is President of Esporão, where he has helped shape the company’s long-term strategy and sustainable growth since joining in 2005. Holding a degree in Business Administration, he began his career in investment banking at Merrill Lynch International before pursuing a career in music as founder of the independent record label Meifumado. At Esporão, he has played a key role in expanding the company’s wine and olive oil businesses while reinforcing its commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability.

July 1: Externality Markets, Biodiversity, Corp Accountability and Policy (Roundtable)

Coordinator, CitiES2030

Julio is a Full Professor and chemical and environmental engineer who previously served on the European Commission’s Mission Board for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, contributing to sustainability transitions in cities and higher education institutions. He holds a PhD in Air Quality from the Technical University of Madrid and a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, and his work bridges academia, policy, and international collaboration in urban air quality, climate change, and sustainable development.

July 2: Unlocking Municipal Climate Investment

LinkedIn

Chief Sustainable Finance Officer, L’Oréal

Laura is Chief Sustainable Finance Officer at L’Oréal, where she leads the integration of sustainability into financial strategy at a global level. She brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of finance and sustainability, including senior roles at Danone and as Senior Advisor to the UN Global Compact. Her work focuses on aligning financial performance with environmental and social impact, advancing sustainability metrics, reporting frameworks, and long-term value creation across multinational organizations.

June 30: Fast-changing Business Environment (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Project manager, Laboratório da Paisagem

Luís Pliteiro is a project manager at Laboratório da Paisagem, where he develops initiatives focused on environmental sustainability, climate action, and community engagement. With a background in geography, territorial planning, and environmental management, he previously worked in municipal youth policy, territorial planning, and environmental education, while also serving as a volunteer firefighter in Guimarães. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Economics and Management at FEP – School of Economics and Management, University of Porto and has specialized training in Circular Economy from Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.

LinkedIn

July 2: Roundtable - Advancing Local Climate Pacts: Climate Champions League

Head of Sustainability and Impact, Católica-Lisbon SBE

Mafalda is Head of Sustainability and Impact at Católica-Lisbon SBE, Executive Director of the Pacto para a Gestão da Água em Portugal, and a researcher and consultant at the Center for Responsible Business and Leadership. With extensive experience in social innovation, sustainability, and impact strategy, she has trained and mentored thousands of social entrepreneurs across Europe and Africa and co-founded Positive Benefits, a consultancy focused on sustainability and positive impact. Her work spans ESG, social innovation, water management, entrepreneurship, and responsible leadership across corporations, public institutions, universities, and nonprofits.

July 1: The Learning Curve of Nature-Positive Execution (Roundtable) - Moderator

LinkedIn

Board Member, SL Benfica (SAD)
Vice-President, Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Manuel is a senior executive and board member with extensive experience in banking, investment, and corporate governance, currently serving as Vice-President of Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Board Member of Benfica SAD. He has led the development of Benfica’s first integrated sustainability strategy, aligning environmental, social, and governance initiatives under a unified framework. With a background in private banking at institutions such as Citibank and Banco Espírito Santo, he brings strong expertise in financial management, governance, and strategic leadership.

July 2: Advancing Local Climate Pacts: Climate Champions League

LinkedIn

Councillor for Public Works and Environment, Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos

Manuela is Councillor for Public Works and Environment at the Municipality of Matosinhos and President of Matosinhos Habit, and also serves as Executive Administrator at Domus Social, with extensive experience across environment, health, quality, and safety. She has a strong background in ISO 9001 (Lead Auditor) and Joint Commission International accreditation, combining technical expertise with leadership in public institutions, and she contributes to postgraduate education in health and quality.

July 2: Opening Session

LinkedIn

Executive Coordinator, Cidades pelo Clima
Moderator

Maria is Executive Coordinator of Cidades pelo Clima, a national initiative supporting Portuguese municipalities in achieving climate neutrality by 2030 through Climate City Contracts and coordinated stakeholder engagement. She holds a PhD in Engineering and Industrial Management from Instituto Superior Técnico (including studies at Carnegie Mellon University) and has worked across public policy, research, and sustainable energy roles at ADENE, Lisboa E-Nova, and as an advisor to the Portuguese government on energy and climate.

July 2: Unlocking Municipal Climate Investment

LinkedIn

Head of Sustainability, Sonae MC

Mariana is Head of Sustainability at Sonae MC, where she leads the company’s sustainability strategy and initiatives across environmental, social, and governance priorities. With a background in organizational psychology, she has built her career in sustainability, corporate responsibility, project management, and leadership development, including roles at Sonae and WIN World. She has also completed executive education in sustainability and management at Yale University and CATÓLICA-LISBON.

July 1: Externality Markets, Biodiversity, Corp Accountability and Policy (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Energy and Natural Resources, BlackRock

Mark is a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at BlackRock, specializing in the energy sector and co-managing the Natural Resources team’s all-cap energy strategies, including the BGF World Energy Fund. He holds an MEng in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University and a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Edinburgh, with experience across institutions including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, J.P. Morgan, and Wood Mackenzie in energy equities across traditional and emerging markets.

June 30: Sustainable Finance Opportunities and Pitfalls

LinkedIn

Investment Director, BaltCap

Matiss is an investment professional at BaltCap Infrastructure Fund, bringing extensive experience across corporate finance, executive leadership, and investment management in sectors such as aviation, energy, and private equity, with a focus on infrastructure assets, including renewable energy, and holds an MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics.

July 2: Blended Finance for Urban Climate Transition

LinkedIn

Professor of Finance, The Goldschmidt Chair Professor of Corporate Governance at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management

Marco Becht is a Professor of Finance and the Goldschmidt Chair Professor of Corporate Governance at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management at Université libre de Bruxelles, where he teaches master's courses on corporate governance, corporate restructuring and responsible capitalism. He is also a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London. Prof. Becht is a Founding Member, a Fellow, and the Executive Director of ECGI, and a Fellow in Financial Economics at CEPR. He also co-founded the GCGC series. In the past, he was a Visiting Professor and Fellow at University of Oxford; Visiting Professor at the University of St. Gallen; Visiting Professor at Stanford Law School; Visiting Fellow at the Rock Center for Corporate Governance; Visiting Researcher at Waseda University in Tokyo; and a Visiting Fellow at Columbia Law School. Beyond his core academic activities, Prof. Becht is a board member of the Kangaroo Group at the European Parliament, a member of the Group of Financial Market Law Experts at the German Ministry of Finance, and a Senior Academic Adviser to Oxera, an economic consultancy.

June 30: Opening for Robert F. Engle

President, Municipal Recovery Fund

An economist with over 25 years of experience in public finance, local government management, and sustainable development, he has been President of the Municipal Support Fund (FAM) since 2014, leading the financial recovery of Portuguese municipalities. He is also Coordinator and lecturer of the Postgraduate Course in Strategic Municipal Governance at ISEG Executive Education, Chair of Technical Committee 217 on Sustainable Finance (responsible for the Portuguese version of ISO 32210), and a member of the committee drafting the new Local Finance Law. He is a PhD candidate in Sustainability and Development and has authored and co-authored several publications on local finance and sustainability.

July 2:Unlocking Municipal Climate Investment

Area Manager for Smart Infrastructure – Buildings, Siemens Portugal

Miguel Rangel is Area Manager for Buildings at Siemens Portugal, where he leads the Smart Infrastructure – Buildings business, focusing on autonomous, energy-efficient, and human-centric building solutions. With over 15 years of experience in technology, digital transformation, and operations, he has held several global leadership roles at Siemens, including Global Head of Business Technology and Analytics, leading international teams across Europe, Africa, and beyond. He holds degrees in Computer Science from the University of Lisbon and a postgraduate qualification in Management and Business from ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management.

June 30: Flash cases: The Business Case for Sustainability

LinkedIn

Head of Sustainability at Banco Português de Fomento

Natália is Head of Sustainability at Banco Português de Fomento, with experience across sustainable finance, ESG, circular economy, and climate innovation. She previously worked at Capgemini, BCSD Portugal, and Building Global Innovators, leading projects focused on sustainability strategy, corporate collaboration, and regenerative business models. She holds master’s degrees in Environmental Assessment and Management and in Water and Coastal Management from European universities, alongside a specialization in Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Reputation.

July 2: Blended Finance For Urban Climate Transition

LinkedIn

CEO, NBI - Natural Business Intelligence

Nuno is the Managing Partner and CEO of Natural Business Intelligence (NBI), a biologist specialized in ecology with extensive experience in sustainability, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, combining leadership in consultancy with academic roles as a lecturer in sustainability management and advisory positions in international initiatives, including collaborations with WWF and contributions to major environmental projects, supported by postgraduate training in geography, spatial planning, and strategic management.

July 1: Closing Remarks

LinkedIn

Program Manager, Viable Cities

Olga is an Associate Professor in Sustainable Urban Development at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Director of Viable Cities, Sweden’s national strategic innovation programme for smart and climate-neutral cities. Her research focuses on urban data analytics, energy transition, digitalization, electrification, and citizen engagement as drivers of sustainable urban development. She leads the Urban Analytics and Transitions research group and works at the intersection of research, innovation policy, and city transformation.

June 2: Unlocking Municipal Climate Investment (Roundtable)

Chair of the Mission Board on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities, European Commission

Paulo has held several prominent leadership roles, including President of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, and has been actively involved in European sustainability initiatives, notably as Chair of the European Commission’s Mission Board for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. He is a Full Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico and a leading expert in sustainable energy systems, industrial ecology, and urban sustainability, with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering focused on the transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient economies.

July 2: Closing Remarks

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Innovation and Operational Sustainability Director, REN

A professional with more than 25 years of experience in the energy sector, Pedro Ávila has held positions at the three largest energy companies in Portugal and currently serves as Director of Innovation and Operational Sustainability at REN. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from FEUP and a postgraduate qualification in Geographic Information Systems from IST, complemented by executive education including an MBA from Porto Business School, the Advanced Management Program at AESE, and the OWP program at IMD. Throughout his career, he has led energy projects in gas and electricity across Portugal and Spain, and he currently serves as Vice-President of the Portuguese Energy Association, President of CIGRE Portugal, and member of the General and Supervisory Board of ISQ.

July 1: The Learning Curve of Nature-Positive Execution (Roundtable)

LinkedIn

Assistant Professor (Adjunct) at NOVA SBE and a postdoctoral researcher in Integral Human Development at the Portuguese Catholic University Institute of Political Studies

Pedro Franco is an Assistant Professor (Adjunct) at NOVA SBE and a postdoctoral researcher in Integral Human Development at the Portuguese Catholic University Institute of Political Studies. He completed his Ph.D. in Literary Theory in between the University of Lisbon and the University of Chicago. His work lies at the intersection of philosophical and applied ethics, literary theory and political theory. He has worked in the publishing field, in the development sector, and is the author of Uma defesa da virtude: A ética, a vida moderna e as artes (2026).

July 1: Conversation with Christine Schliesser

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CEO, Porto Energy Agency (AdEPorto) and Vice-President, FEDARENE

Rui is CEO of the Porto Energy Agency (AdEPorto), Vice-President of FEDARENE, where he oversees Renewable Energy Communities, and a board member of RNAE. An electrical engineer, he has experience in solar photovoltaic and wind energy projects from both technical and financial perspectives, as well as in designing management and operational models. He has supported municipalities in Northern Portugal with Climate Action Plans, carbon neutrality strategies, and energy efficiency projects in public buildings and street lighting, and has also contributed to the development of energy communities, self-consumption systems, and initiatives to address energy poverty, in alignment with the Cities Mission and national decarbonisation goals.

July 2: Corporate Innovation in Urban Climate Transitions - Case Studies

Director of Fidelidade and co-leader of Impact Center for Climate Change

Rui Esteves is the Director of Fidelidade and co-leader of the Impact Center for Climate Change. He has 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, primarily in technical areas such as pricing, underwriting, and product development.

Since its inception, he has co-led the Fidelidade Group’s Impact Center for Climate Change, a knowledge hub dedicated to climate action.

He holds a Master’s degree in Actuarial Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Applied to Economics and Management, both from ISEG/University of Lisbon.

He has served on various committees and working groups at the APS (Portuguese Insurance Association) and currently chairs the Technical Committee on Property and Civil Liability.

LinkedIn

Researcher, Direção-Geral de Energia e Geologia

Rui Frazão is a researcher at Direção-Geral de Energia e Geologia, specializing in sustainability, energy systems, life cycle assessment (LCA), and ecodesign. His work focuses on applying life cycle thinking to energy policy, sustainable product development, and urban environmental performance, contributing to research on resource efficiency, cleaner production, and low-carbon transitions.

LinkedIn

Head of Country, BP Portugal 

Vice President, Mobility and Convenience Iberia
Sílvia is Head of Country for BP Portugal and Vice President Mobility and Convenience Iberia, leading operations, retail strategy, and energy transition initiatives across the region. With over 30 years at BP, she has held leadership roles across finance, operations, pricing, and portfolio management at national and Iberian levels, and was the first woman to lead BP Portugal.

June 30: Fireside Talks - Responsible Leadership in an Uncertain World

LinkedIn

Head of Knowledge and Training, BCSD Portugal

Tiago Carrilho is Head of Knowledge and Training at BCSD Portugal, where he leads sustainability education and capacity-building initiatives for the business community. With a background in environmental biology and over 15 years of experience in environmental education, including roles at the Lisbon Zoo and Oceanário de Lisboa, he specializes in innovative learning methodologies for nature conservation and sustainability. He holds a degree in Environmental Biology, a postgraduate qualification in Education and Digital Technologies, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Education focused on sustainability and transformative learning.

July 1: Roundtable - Nature Positive Strategies - Moderator

LinkedIn

Sustainability Manager, FC Porto

Teresa is the Sustainability Manager at FC Porto, where she has worked since 2007, leading the football club’s sustainability strategy and initiatives. With a background in quality and environmental management, she has a key role in implementing sustainability practices and coordinating international projects, while representing the club in UEFA and Liga Portugal. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and a postgraduate qualification in Quality, Environment, and Safety Management.

July 2: Advancing Local Climate Pacts: Climate Champions League

LinkedIn

Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Finance, Católica-Lisbon SBE

Researcher, CSF at Católica-Lisbon SBE

Susana Campos-Martins is an Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Finance and a researcher at the Center for Sustainable Finance at the Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics, as well as an Associate Member of the Department of Economics and the Climate Econometrics Group at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on financial econometrics, financial economics, and climate econometrics—and the intersections between them—with publications in the Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Econometrics, and Journal of International Money and Finance. Previously, she conducted research at the University of Oxford and New York University’s Stern School of Business, and taught at Imperial College London and the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. Susana holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Minho.

June 30: Conversation and Q&A with Robert F. Engle

Head of Sustainable Finance Solutions, Bloomberg LP

Soojin is the Head of Sustainable Finance Solutions at Bloomberg LP, where she leads the strategy for data, analytics, and product integration across Bloomberg’s sustainable finance offering. She is focused on helping financial professionals identify, assess and act on sustainability risks and opportunities to make more informed investment decisions in a complex, evolving market.

Over her 20-year career at Bloomberg, Soojin has held a range of leadership positions across Hong Kong, New York, and London, developing expertise at the intersection of financial markets, technology, and client engagement. She is currently based in London.

Soojin holds a Master’s degree in Global Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

June 30: Sustainable Finance Opportunities and Pitfalls

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Councillor for Environment, Energy and Sustainability of Lisboa Municipality

Vasco is currently a Lisbon City Councillor, with responsibilities including Administrative Reform and Modernisation, Information Systems, Transparency and Anti-Corruption, Audit, Sustainability, Environment, Energy, and Climate Action. His career spans management consulting, finance, and the sports and leisure industry, including leadership roles at Ritz Carlton Penha Longa, Avoguis Golf Global Solutions, and the Portuguese Golf Course Owners Association. He holds an Executive MBA from AESE/IESE and executive education in strategy, governance, marketing, and data science.

July 2: Closing Remarks

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Thought leader, award-winning strategist and author

Wim Vermeulen is a thought leader, award winning strategist and author focused on responsible communication and corporate credibility. He works at the crossroads of business, branding, and climate responsibility, helping companies communicate their efforts in a way that builds real trust—not greenwashing. He’s also the driving force behind the Net Credibility Score (a research-based framework developed in collaboration with Ghent University, which identifies what makes sustainability communication credible in the eyes of consumers) and the Responsible Business Index (a groundbreaking research initiative developed in collaboration with Ghent University, that found what the drivers are that define the perception of a Responsible Business and how to manage it.) Wim frequently speaks at conferences and advises businesses and board on how to build trust and reputation in an era where corporate responsibility is under intense public scrutiny. His work sits at the intersection of communication strategy, sustainability, and brand credibility—offering data-driven insights into how companies can genuinely earn consumer trust, rather than simply appearing responsible.

June 30:Documentary “When the Spotlight Fades”