Get to know our confirmed Keynote & Featured Speakers
More information coming soon
Keynote Speakers
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Robert F. Engle
NYU Stern
Robert Engle is a Nobel Laureate in Economics (2003), recognized for developing the ARCH framework, a cornerstone in modeling time-varying volatility in financial markets.
A leading expert in time series analysis, his work has profoundly shaped asset pricing, risk management, and financial econometrics, with contributions including ARCH extensions, cointegration, ACD, CAViaR, and DCC models.
He is Co-Director of the NYU Stern Volatility and Risk Institute and Co-Founding President of the Society for Financial Econometrics (SoFiE).
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John Elkington
Volans
John Elkington is widely regarded as the “Godfather of sustainability” and a pioneer of the global sustainability movement, with over 50 years of experience advising businesses and institutions worldwide. As Founder of Volans, a think-tank and advisory firm focused on sustainability, he continues to shape strategies that advance sustainable and regenerative capitalism today.
He is best known for coining the concept that has become the cornerstone of modern business: the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit). Throughout his career, he has helped launch and develop major initiatives such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and The B Team.
A leading voice in sustainability, John has addressed more than 1,000 conferences globally and is the author or co-author of 20 influential books, including Green Swans: The Coming Boom in Regenerative Capitalism (2020).
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Cameron Hepburn
University of Oxford
Cameron Hepburn is an Environmental Economist, being the Battcock Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Oxford and Director of the Economics of Sustainability Programme at the Oxford Martin School. His research spans energy, climate, and environmental challenges across disciplines including economics, engineering, law, and public policy.
Cameron also advises governments, financial institutions, and investors on climate and energy transition, and is an active entrepreneur and investor in sustainability ventures.
Confirmed Industry Leaders
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Nuno Gaspar Oliveira
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.
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Matiss Paegle
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.
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Ana Fontoura Gouveia
Director of Sustainability at the Banco de Portugal
Ana is Director of Sustainability at the Banco de Portugal, with a distinguished career in economic policy and public service, including senior advisory roles to the Portuguese government where she worked on macroeconomic policy, public finances, and structural reforms, and currently focuses on integrating sustainability and climate considerations into financial regulation and central banking.
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Mark Hume
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. With an MEng in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University and a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Edinburgh as well as extensive experience across financial institutions such as Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, and Wood Mackenzie, Mark is an expert in energy equities, in both traditional and emerging energy markets.
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Shiva Dustdar
Head and Director, European Investment Bank Institute
Shiva is the Head and Director of the EIB Institute, where she works on initiatives focused on climate, innovation, and development, having previously led the EIB’s Innovation Finance Advisory Division. With experience amongst some of the top financial institutions in New York, London, and Luxembourg, she is an expert in innovation and impact financing. Her background includes roles at J.P. Morgan and Fitch Ratings, with a BA in Economics from Columbia University and an Executive MBA from London Business School.
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Bernardo Goarmon
Group Chief Financial Officer, Lightsource bp
Bernardo is the Group Chief Financial Officer and Board Member at Lightsource bp, one of the major producers of solar energy in the world. His international career spans Europe and the United States and he is currently based in London. With nearly two decades of experience in the energy industry, including senior leadership roles such as CFO at EDP Renewables North America, he is an expert in finance within large-scale renewables businesses. Currently, he also serves as President of the Portugal–US Chamber of Commerce and has completed executive education at leading institutions such as Harvard Business School, Wharton, London Business School, and Darden.
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António Carlos Rodrigues
CEO, Grupo Casais
António is the CEO of Grupo Casais, a leading construction company operating in 15+ countries with nearly 5,000 employees. With a career spanning over two decades within the group, he has held several leadership roles across technical, commercial, and executive functions before becoming CEO, contributing to growth and increasing focus on innovation.
He holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minho and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School and MIT. In addition to his corporate role, he is actively involved in multiple academic and industry organizations and was named Construction Personality of the Year in 2022.
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Julio Lumbreras
Coordinator, CitiES2030
Moderator
Julio previously served on the European Commission’s Mission Board for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and is actively involved in advancing sustainability transitions across cities and higher education institutions.
Julio is also a Full Professor and chemical and environmental engineer, with a PhD in Air Quality from the Technical University of Madrid and a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. His work bridges academia, policy, and international collaboration with extensive experience in urban air quality, climate change, and sustainable development, having contributed to over 100 publications and numerous research projects.
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Teresa Santos
Sustainability Manager, FC Porto
Moderator
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.
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Paulo Ferrão
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. Recently, he has been actively involved in European sustainability initiatives, notably as Chair at 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, his work focuses on the transition to low-carbon, resource-efficient economies, including energy systems, the circular economy, and urban metabolism.
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Miguel Almeida
President, Municipal Recovery Fund
Miguel is the President of the Fundo de Apoio Municipal (Municipal Recovery Fund). He is responsible for the design and monitoring of municipal adjustment programmes and the provision of financial assistance to municipalities in financial distress since 2014. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Public Policy from the Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão (ISEG) and has over 20 years of experience in public service, including roles at the Municipality of Sintra, the Portuguese Public Finance Council, and the Secretary of State for Local Authorities.
He has contributed to the development of the legal framework for municipal financial recovery. He chairs the Technical Committee on Sustainable Finance and leads the Portuguese version of ISO 32210:2025 on sustainable finance. He is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Portuguese Association for Business Ethics (APEE), co-author of several publications on local finance, and author of multiple articles on local finance and sustainability.
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Filipa Pantaleão
Executive Director, BCSD Portugal
Moderator
Filipa is the Executive Director of BCSD Portugal, with a background in environmental engineering and over 20 years of experience in the waste, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Throughout her career, she has worked across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, holding roles in technical, operational, and management areas within the Mota-Engil Group.
She has led sustainability strategies in the waste management sector, focusing on carbon neutrality and environmental performance, and has served on the boards of several companies within the EGF Group. Filipa holds a degree in Environmental Engineering from NOVA University Lisbon and an MBA from Católica Lisbon.
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Hugo Rodriguez Garcia
CEO and Technical Director, AMETLAM
Hugo is a Forestry Engineer and CEO of AMETLAM, specializing in Territorial Planning and Management. He is an expert in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and LIDAR technology, and has over 15 years of experience across forestry, environmental, and hydraulic engineering projects.
He has managed and advised on projects over 17,000 hectares of private forest in Galicia and has worked on wildfire prevention and firefighting campaigns, as well as in planning biomass management areas for electricity generation companies, combining technical knowledge and environmental sustainability.
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Assunção Loureiro
Co-Founder, Biodiversity Links
Moderator
Assunção is a strategic leader working at the intersection of business, sustainability, and communication, with over 20 years of experience across corporate and impact-driven organizations.
She has led initiatives that combine business growth with measurable environmental impact, including founding SeaTheFuture, focused on ocean conservation, and contributing to sustainable business models at the Oceanário de Lisboa and Beta-i.
She is currently at Biodiversity Links, of which she is a co-founder, connecting companies with high-integrity biodiversity and restoration projects and supporting the private sector’s role in addressing climate change and nature loss.
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João Crispim
CSO, Grupo Casais
João is a Senior executive and engineer with strong expertise in ESG, energy, and construction, currently serving as Chief Sustainability Officer at Grupo Casais, working with strategy, sustainability reporting, innovation, and European funding mechanisms.
In parallel, he holds leadership roles across the sustainability ecosystem, including being President of Coopérnico and BUILT CoLAB, as well as serving on the board of GRACE – Empresas Responsáveis, contributing to collaborative platforms on energy transition, responsible business, and industrial decarbonisation.
His career spans across energy infrastructure, procurement, and strategy roles in international organisations such as REN, GE, and the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, focusing on large-scale infrastructure, regulation, and energy markets.
In addition to advanced training in ESG strategy, sustainable finance, and corporate governance from Católica-Lisbon, Nova SBE, and Columbia Business School, he holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Instituto Superior Técnico, an MBA from The Lisbon MBA (Católica | Nova | MIT).
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Rui Lopo
CEO, CARRIS
Rui is CEO of CARRIS, the public company responsible for Lisbon’s bus and tram network, playing a central role in the transition towards more sustainable public transport.
He previously served as Board Member at Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa (TML), with direct responsibility for Carris Metropolitana operations, innovation, and intelligent transport systems, overseeing large-scale metropolitan mobility services.
With a background spanning municipal government, transport operations, and the telecommunications sector, he has extensive experience in managing complex systems, leading large operational networks, and driving service transformation in mobility and urban infrastructure.
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Angela Lucas
Partner, Systemic Sphere
Angela is an Advisor at the Center for Responsible Business and Leadership at CATÓLICA-LISBON, where she contributes to advancing sustainable development and ESG practices, namely through the Observatory of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Portuguese companies.
She is also Executive Partner at Systemic Sphere, working on sustainability, ESG, climate, and sustainable finance, and Co-Founder of the LAND Fund, focused on climate action and biodiversity protection.
With a background in environmental and climate law, she brings over a decade of experience spanning legal practice, the European Commission, and the Portuguese Government as advisor to the Minister for the Environment and Climate Action.
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Dina Rato
Director, GRC, ESG, and AI Governance
Dina is an Invited Professor at CATÓLICA-LISBON Executive Education, where she designs and delivers programmes for senior executives on ESG governance, sustainable finance, climate risk, and value creation. Her work focuses on translating complex regulatory, financial, and sustainability frameworks into practical tools for Board-level decision-making, integrating risk management, governance, and emerging topics such as AI and digital risk.
She is also a PhD candidate in Management (ESG & Corporate Governance) at ISEG, with research focused on ESG metrics, governance structures, and their impact on corporate performance and decision-making.
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.
World renowned Academic Speakers:
Accounting - June 29th
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Mirko Heinle
Wharton University of Pennsylvania, USA
Mirko Heinle is a faculty member at the Wharton School, where he teaches Managerial Accounting in the undergraduate program. His research focuses on accounting disclosure in capital markets, regulation, and internal capital allocation, with current work on risk disclosure and regulatory uniformity.
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Ane Tamayo
London School of Economics — LSE, UK
Ane Tamayo is Professor of Accounting at the London School of Economics, specializing in financial reporting and disclosure, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility. She teaches Topics in Accounting Research and works at the intersection of accounting, financial intermediaries, and asset pricing.
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Khrystyna Bochkay
University of Miami, USA
Khrystyna Bochkay is an Associate Professor of Accounting at the University of Miami and an Academic Advisor to the International Sustainability Standards Board at the IFRS Foundation. Her research focuses on financial and sustainability reporting, investor behavior, and AI, with publications in top accounting journals.
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Nemit Schroff
MIT Sloan School of Management, USA
Nemit Shroff is the School of Management Distinguished Professor and Professor of Accounting at MIT Sloan, specializing in accounting disclosure and its effects on corporate financing and investment. His award-winning research on disclosure regulation has been published in leading accounting and finance journals, and he holds a PhD from the University of Michigan.
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Aaron Yoon
Northwestern University, USA
Aaron Yoon is a Professor whose research focuses on ESG measurement and its integration into portfolio decision-making, shaping how investors incorporate ESG information according to the Financial Times. His award-winning work is widely cited in major media outlets, and he holds a PhD from Harvard with prior industry experience at Credit Suisse.
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Thorsten Sellhorn
LMU Munich School of Management, Germany
Thorsten Sellhorn is Full Professor of Accounting at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, with prior professorships at WHU and visiting positions at institutions including Harvard Business School. His research focuses on international financial reporting and accounting regulation, and he holds a PhD and Habilitation from Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
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Tim Baldenius
Columbia Business School
Discussant
Tim Baldenius is a Professor at Columbia Business School, where he teaches performance measurement and doctoral seminars in managerial accounting and contract theory, and conducts widely published research on managerial accounting, corporate governance, and performance evaluation, following a distinguished academic career that includes faculty and leadership roles at NYU Stern and academic training in business administration and accounting from the University of Hamburg and the University of Vienna.
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Ilia Dichev
Emory University
Discussant
Ilia Dichev is a Professor of Accounting at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, whose influential research—published in leading journals such as The Accounting Review, Journal of Finance, and American Economic Review—has earned top honors in the field and widespread recognition in major media outlets, building on a distinguished academic career that includes faculty leadership at the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Washington.
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Gaia Melloni
HEC Lausanne
Discussant
Gaia Melloni is an Associate Professor in Accounting and Control at HEC Lausanne, University of Lausanne, whose interdisciplinary research explores corporate sustainability and the integration of ESG factors into corporate reporting, supported by international publications, competitive research funding, and advisory work with institutions such as the European Parliament and the United Nations, following an academic path that includes a Ph.D. in Economics and Management and appointments at leading European universities.
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Rachel S. Yoon
Boston University
Discussant
Rachel S. Yoon is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, whose research focuses on corporate disclosures, taxation, and auditing, with work presented at leading conferences and recognized through prestigious fellowships, following a Ph.D. in Management from MIT Sloan and prior academic training in accounting and economics at Seoul National University.
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Jody Grewal
University of Toronto
Discussant
Jody Grewal is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of Toronto Mississauga, with a cross-appointment at the Rotman School of Management, whose research explores the capital market and real effects of financial and sustainability disclosures, with work published in leading journals such as Management Science and featured in major outlets like The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, building on a doctorate from Harvard Business School and a professional background as a Chartered Professional Accountant.
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Naomi Soderstrom
University of Melbourne
Discussant
Naomi Soderstrom is a Professor of Managerial Accounting at the University of Melbourne and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, whose research focuses on sustainability and management accounting, with extensive publications in leading journals and a distinguished academic career that includes editorial leadership roles, global visiting appointments, and prior faculty positions at the University of Washington and the University of Colorado.
Finance - June 30th
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Ioannis Branikas
University of Oregon
Ioannis Branikas is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business, with a PhD in Economics from Princeton University. His research spans corporate finance, sustainability, and household finance, with publications on portfolio choice and ESG topics.
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Karl Lins
University of Utah
Karl V. Lins is the Spencer Fox Eccles Chair in Banking and Professor of Finance at the University of Utah, specializing in corporate governance, capital markets, and corporate sustainability. He is an award-winning researcher with publications in top finance journals and extensive executive teaching experience at global institutions including London Business School and INSEAD.
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Diana Bonfim
European Central Bank and CATÓLICA-LISBON
Diana Bonfim is a Research Adviser at the European Central Bank and a visiting professor at Católica Lisbon SBE, holding a PhD in Economics from the University of Groningen. Her research focuses on banking, corporate finance, and monetary policy, and she is co-editor of the International Journal of Central Banking with publications in top journals like Journal of Financial Economics.
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Sam Hartzmark
Boston College
Samuel M. Hartzmark is a Professor of Finance at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, specializing in asset pricing and behavioral finance. His award-winning research has been published in top journals and featured in major media outlets, and he holds a PhD from USC, an MBA from Chicago Booth, and a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Emory University.
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Zacharias Sautner
University of Zurich
Zacharias Sautner is Professor of Sustainable Finance at the University of Zurich and Senior Chair at the Swiss Finance Institute, researching ESG topics like climate change and biodiversity. His work, widely cited and published in top journals, informs policymakers and investors, and he serves as Associate Editor for leading finance journals and Director of the European Finance Association.
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Jan Starmans
Stockholm School of Economics
Jan Starmans is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Stockholm School of Economics, holding a PhD in Finance from London Business School. His research focuses on sustainable and corporate finance, and he teaches Sustainable Finance and Theoretical Corporate Finance.
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Christoph Schiller
Ohio State University, USA
Discussant
Christoph Schiller is an Assistant Professor of Finance at The Ohio State University, with a PhD from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. His research in empirical corporate finance focuses on supply chains, sustainable finance, and social media, with publications in top journals such as the Journal of Finance and Review of Financial Studies.
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Pedro Matos
University of Virginia
Discussant
Pedro Matos is a distinguished finance professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, whose globally recognized research on institutional investors has influenced policymakers and appeared in leading publications, complemented by an award-winning academic career spanning top institutions such as Universidade Nova de Lisboa and INSEAD.
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Yiding Ma
Technical University of Denmark
Discussant
Yiding Ma is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), working within the Division for Climate and Energy Policy, where her research focuses on the intersection of technology, economics, and sustainable energy systems.
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Mathias Kruttli
Indiana University
Discussant
Mathias Kruttli is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, whose work spans climate finance, asset pricing, and financial intermediation, drawing on prior experience as a principal economist at the Federal Reserve and a background in investment banking and strategy consulting, with academic training from the University of Oxford, NYU, and the University of Zurich.
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Melissa Prado
NOVA SBE
Discussant
Melissa Porras Prado is a Full Professor of Finance at Nova School of Business and Economics, whose research examines how market frictions shape institutional investor behavior and asset prices, with work published in top journals such as the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Financial Studies and presented at leading international conferences including the WFA, AFA, and EFA.
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Tuomas Tomunen
Boston College
Discussant
Tuomas Tomunen is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, whose research spans asset pricing, financial intermediation, insurance markets, and climate finance, with a focus on how financial markets can help mitigate the societal impacts of climate change, and holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Columbia Business School.
