Join ClientEarth’s CEO, Laura Clarke, and the new Chair, Emma Howard Boyd, for an engaging conversation.

Emma, who assumed the role of Chair on 18th April, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the environment sector, finance, and governance. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to tackling climate change and other environmental crises.

Laura and Emma will share insights into their leadership journeys, discussing their efforts to drive real-world impact. They will reflect on the challenges, successes, and lessons learned along the way. Additionally, they will discuss ClientEarth’s plans and ambitions for the rest of this critical decade, and how those within the sector can best work together, to drive the change we need to see.

Speakers:

Laura Clarke joined ClientEarth in September 2022, after two decades in public policy, and in diplomatic roles across Africa, Asia and Europe.  She has worked extensively on climate, environmental and sustainability issues throughout her career, and brings a deep understanding of global policy issues and international relations, alongside extensive senior leadership and partnership-building experience, all of which are critical as we expand our impact globally.

Laura was British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands, from January 2018 – July 2022, and High Commissioner to Samoa from March 2018 – December 2019.  As British High Commissioner, she worked to strengthen the UK – New Zealand relationship, including through the negotiation of a standard-setting Free Trade Agreement, co-operation with New Zealand and the South Pacific during the UK’s COP26 Presidency, and work on international security. She also enhanced the UK’s relationship with New Zealand Māori:  both by acknowledging the wrongs of the past, and in building forward-looking co-operation on trade, culture and climate. In her role as Governor of the Pitcairn Islands she was responsible for the governance and sustainability of the Islands, and efforts to maximize the benefits of its Marine Protected Area – the fourth largest in the world.

During her career as a diplomat she was Head of the South Asia Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Government Coordinator for India;  Political Counsellor in Pretoria, South Africa; Chief of Staff to the Minister for Europe; and worked on Sudan, Yemen and EU Justice and Home Affairs.  Her early career was spent in the British Parliament, as Group Co-ordinator of the All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Waste Group, and in DG Enlargement of the European Commission.

Emma Howard Boyd CBE was appointed Chair of ClientEarth’s Global Board, on 18th April 2024. Emma brings a wealth of experience to ClientEarth, having worked at the intersection of financial services and climate change, in the UK and internationally, across the NGO, government, and commercial sectors. Throughout her career, she has worked to drive action to protect the environment and ensure a stable climate; and has also called out those who seek to greenwash or otherwise delay environmental action.

Emma’s career began in the finance sector, initially in corporate finance, and then in fund management, specialising in sustainable investment and corporate governance. She later served as the Chair of the UK Environment Agency between 2016 and 2022, and currently serves on a number of boards and advisory bodies including as Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review, Chair of the Green Finance Institute, Chair of ClimateArc, a Trustee of the European Climate Foundation, and Trustee of Climate Resilience for All. She is also a UN Global Ambassador for Race to Zero and Race to Resilience.

This session is part of the ClientEarth Summit.

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