The Center for Political Economy and the Columbia Political Science Department present Paths into Climate Advocacy, an evening with four New York City professionals on their work and how they got into the field.
Speakers:
- Daniel Wilkinson, is a senior policy advisor at Climate Rights International. He previously directed the environment division at Human Rights Watch, overseeing the launch of the organization’s work on climate change, and was also managing director of its Americas division, covering Latin America. He has conducted and supervised research projects in more than 20 countries and conducted extensive high-level advocacy related to human rights, public security, international trade, and climate policy in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.
- Abhisheik Dhawan, a CU Alumnus, is currently working as Sustainable Finance and Partnerships Specialist with UNCDF. In this role, he is responsible for creating innovative blended finance vehicles as well as lead partnerships efforts for UNCDF at a corporate level. With 20+ years of experience in international markets and financial services, he has worked with banks and technology companies, including start-ups, in India and the United States, engaging with clients across continents.
- Ana Maria Camelo Vega is a Senior Economics and Finance Researcher at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment. Her expertise lies at the intersection of finance, economics, and sustainability. Through evidence-based strategies like green financing and impact investing, she is dedicated to promoting innovative approaches aimed at advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At CCSI, Ana Maria leads the work in international climate finance, with a specific focus on emerging markets.
- Sarah (Sari) Lucille Blakeley, a CU Alumna of the Columbia University Climate and Society MA, is an Associate Research Scientist at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP). Formerly, she was part of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University. Her research focuses on understanding how global climate change impacts human and natural systems across multiple spatiotemporal scales, focusing on sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, this research focuses on food security, gendered impacts of climate shocks, financial risk management to natural disasters, climate variability, and climate change.
Open to Columbia students interested in climate change and sustainability. The event features short talks from each panelist, followed by student Q&A and a reception.
