ABOUT US
Why Ambition Loop?
ABOUT US
Our History
The power of the ‘ambition loop’ was recognized by countries negotiating the Paris Agreement in 2015 when they created the role of UN Climate Champions to drive ambition and action among non-state actors to support and inspire faster action among national governments. The partners of the We Mean Business coalition [where Nigel was then CEO] picked this up and made it central to their approach to systems change.
As UN Climate Change High Level Champions we embedded this idea in the work of our teams and partners which led to the launch of the Race to Zero, Race to Resilience, GFANZ [in partnership with Mark Carney], the Breakthrough Agenda at COP26, the Sharm el Sheikh Adaptation agenda at COP27, and the Foods Systems Transformation program at COP28.
ABOUT US
We Believe
Boldness drives innovation.
In order to provoke new thinking and innovation at the scale required, we need to set transformative goals. These must be uncomfortable, even stretching credibility. Just as when JFK committed to landing on the moon and was ridiculed because many of the required technologies were not available, our bold goals should challenge the status quo, make us feel uncomfortable and force us to explore new frontiers. By holding fast to them we believe that the very best of humanity will emerge — our ability to innovate beyond our dreams!
Generosity of spirit builds a basis of trust needed for change.
Each of our breakthrough goals is enormous, daunting, way more than can be tackled by any one organization or sector. We believe the only way to move forward amongst mission-driven organizations is to consistently act with generosity — taking time to understand the world view and capabilities of partners, and encouraging the growth and improvement of existing initiatives.
Radical Collaboration is essential for transformative change.
Multiple stakeholders must align on breakthrough goals and implementation pathways to bring about the scale of change we must deliver. This means collaborating up and down supply chains, across different regions of the world, between public and private sectors. In particular it means ensuring the right balance of voices in all initiatives, which is why we will have a bias towards actors from emerging economies, where the challenges are greatest across all our campaigns.
ABOUT US
Partner Organisations
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Using their own innovative model, One Point Five quantifies how businesses can maximize their return on investment and impact through a marriage of financial & environmental modeling.
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A collaboration powered by TED and Leaders’ Quest, Countdown is TED’s first issue-specific initiative to champion and accelerate the bold ideas and underinvested solutions that can bring us closer to achieving a zero-carbon world.
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Operating as a family of projects and partnerships, Global Optimism elevates leadership, transforms mindsets and accelerates action to protect and regenerate the web of life.
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With 20 years of delivering transformational programs globally, LEADERS’ QUEST is Ia unique network of generous people who lead successful change — from grassroots communities to boardrooms through thoughtuflly designed learning journeys, offsites, advisory committees and more.
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Race to Zero is a global campaign rallying non-state actors – including companies, cities, regions, financial, educational, and healthcare institutions – to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer, net zero world.
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Capital for Climate is a climate solution investment accelerator facilitating strategy formulation, asset allocation, and opportunity sourcing across all science-based decarbonization pathways through a variety of services.
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Working with philanthropists, business and policy leaders, scientists, artists, activists, faith leaders, and community builders, Blue Dot Collective is on a mission to ignite change at an individual and collective level.
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GMH collaborates with governmental and non-governmental entities to scale up cost-effective solutions in methane mitigation and contribute to transformational change in the energy, agricultural, and waste management sectors.
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A global team of adaptive innovators, creative problem solvers, and facilitators of societal transformation, striving to make the world more peaceful, just, and sustainable through enhanced multi-stakeholder collaboration.
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For 25 years, Meridian Institute has worked on an extensive array of food system issues, both aquatic and terrestrial, to connect leaders from across sectors to forge new partnerships, helping them move beyond polarized debates into constructive discussion.
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The Race to Resilience campaign – the sibling campaign to Race to Zero – is the race to catalyse a step-change in global ambition, to accelerate the investment and implementation of adaptation solutions, and to put people and nature first in pursuit of a resilient world where we do not just survive climate shocks and stresses, but thrive in spite of them.
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A diverse network of change-makers committed to sharing strategic insights, inspiration and impactful specific opportunities to crack the crises of climate, covid, conflicts and inequalities and achieve our Sustainable Development Goals.
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Established by UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, Gonzalo Muñoz and Nigel Topping, the Climate Champions Team works to enhance ambition and strengthen the engagement of non-State actors in supporting Parties, working with the Marrakech Partnership, to deliver the goals of the Paris Agreement.
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The Just Rural Transition initiative (JRT) brings together food producers, governments, businesses, investors, civil society, rural and indigenous peoples to champion people-centred solutions to food systems challenges. They aim to transform food systems by catalysing policy reform and mainstreaming food, land use, justice, equity, and rural livelihoods at the centre of efforts to realise sustainable development goals and the Paris Agreement.
The JRT Secretariat is housed within Meridian Institute, with funding from the UK Department of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
ABOUT US
Our Team
The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee,
and the General Manager lead the strategic direction of Ambition Loop.
Daniel Vercelli
Board Member & Co-Founder
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Co-founder and Managing Partner of Manuia, a Latin American consulting firm in ESG and sustainable business development. He also serves as board member or board advisor in companies related to circular economy, energy generation / efficiency and technology. He also sits on the board of Chapter Zero Chile, the Chile-Brazil Chamber of Commerce, the advisory board of Fundação Eco+ in Brazil and on ProChile’s Sustainability Council. In addition, he teaches strategy, sustainability and climate governance at several graduate and corporate governance programs in Chile. Previously Daniel spent 21 years in The Coca-Cola Company, where he held different positions in Latin America including General Manager of the subsidiary in Chile. Daniel has an undergraduate degree in economy and business administration, an MBA degree and studies in corporate governance.
Magdalena Glenz
Board Member & Co-Founder
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Magdalena Glenz, civil engineer with more than 20 years of experience managing complex processes, is a dedicated operations expert with extensive knowledge in driving impactful projects across a diverse range of industries. With a strong background in stakeholder engagement and global negotiations, she specializes in crafting innovative solutions for a just transition. Passionate about fostering collaboration, Magdalena is committed to creating a more sustainable future for all.
Juan Pablo Larenas
Board Member
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Social Entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in Business & Impact Strategy, B Corps and multi stakeholder engagement. Recognized as Young Global Leader from the World Economic Forum, Ashoka Fellow and Responsible Leader from BMW Foundation
Former Executive Director of B Lab Global (the global organization behind B Corp certification) and Co-Founder of Sistema B.
Former Chief Impact & Community Officer of Betterfly, the first social unicorn and B Corp of Latin America.
Co founder, board member and investor of impact driven business/B Corps in Latin America.
Melissa Pinfield
Co-Founder, Senior Advisor
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Melissa Pinfield is a Senior Partner at Meridian Institute and Executive Director of the Just Rural Transition Secretariat, which is partnering with Ambition Loop and the Climate Champions Team to deliver the Food Systems Call to Action.
Melissa has helped develop and launch a range of multi-stakeholder initiatives to tackle complex issues including nature crime, voluntary carbon market integrity, and regenerative food systems. She has more than 20 years of experience working on climate, environment, sustainable development and international relations. Prior roles include Program Director of the Food and Land Use Coalition and various positions in the U.K. and Australian Governments focussed on forests and land use, climate finance, policy and partnerships and China. She holds a Masters in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University.
Born in Adelaide, Melissa currently lives just outside of London. She loves cooking healthy food for friends and family, travelling and hiking.
Facundo Etchebehere
Co-founder, Senior Advisor
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With over 20 years of experience in corporate roles spanning local, regional, and global levels, Facundo Etchebehere is a seasoned leader in public affairs and sustainability. In recent years, he has driven Danone’s BCorp certification, advanced the company’s “Société à Mission” agenda, and facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogues to promote sustainable growth. His efforts have been instrumental in founding initiatives such as One Planet Business for Biodiversity, Business for Inclusive Growth, Action Agenda for Regenerative Landscapes, the Dairy Methane Alliance, and, more recently, Towards Net Zero at CGF and the Future Fit Dairy Initiative.
Before his corporate experience, Facundo worked as a researcher in applied economics, an economic consultant, and served in various roles within the Argentine public sector at both national and provincial levels.
His leadership has also extended to the non-profit sector, and served as a board member in several organizations across local, regional, and international scopes.
An economist by training, Facundo holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Universidad Católica Argentina.
Marcelo Behar
Co-Founder, Senior Advisor
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Marcelo Behar is a sociologist and a lawyer.
He has worked in several NGO’s on initiatives for indigenous citizenship, civil liberties and human rights. Served the Brazilian Federal Government as Special Advisor and Chief-of-Staff to the Minister of Justice where he led the disarmament campaign and, in 2007, became Vice-Minister for Strategic Affairs.
Practiced law for a while and then moved to the executive life working at the C-Level in multinationals (CSN and Natura &Co) in the last 15 years leading areas like Sustainability, Policy and Communications. He has always split his corporate responsibilities with collective efforts in fora like the Ethos Institute, the World Economic Forum, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and many others. He is currently the Senior Advisor for COP-30 for the partnership between WBCSD and CEBDS.
Optimist by nature and by duty, Marcelo has a strong view on the imperative to reconcile collective targets between science, policy, production, finance and communities on the climate and on the nature agendas while we can still develop a more positive future.
Jacinda Njike
Co-Founder, Senior Advisor
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Jacinda Njike is an attorney and Managing Director of the Climate Capital Mobilization Accelerator housed within the Ambition Loop. As a wife, mother and attorney Jacinda strives to contribute to sustainable development. Based in Douala, Cameroon with her family, she also serves as the Africa Finance Lead for the UN High Level Climate Champions. Her experience as a corporate attorney, strategist and advocate for climate finance began in the large law firms of Chicago and Douala, subsequently she joined a big 4 accounting firm covering 11 sub saharan francophone african countries where she built the Sustainability practice. In her current role she focuses on unlocking the 2.4T USD (set forth in the Songwe & Stern Climate Finance Framework) which is necessary to achieve the clean energy and nature positive transition in the global south to keep the Paris Agreement alive. She speaks English as a first language, French and Spanish at the conversational level and is also learning her family's mother tongue Medumba. Jacinda received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, Juris Doctorate in International Corporate Law from Northwestern University and studied Public Policy at the University of Chicago.
Adam Kahane
Mahmoud Mohieldin
Manuel Pulgar Vidal
Kim Stanley Robinson
Bogolo Kenewendo
Patricia Espinosa
Carlos Correa
Sheela Patel
Razan Al Mubarak
Stuart Orr
The Loop Leaders drive the thematic areas, connecting action and collaboration across each area of work.
Ignace Beguin Billecocq
Co-Founder, Mangrove
Breakthrough Lead
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Ignace Beguin Billecocq is the Executive Director of the Mangrove Breakthrough Hub, hosted by Ambition Loop.
Ignace brings extensive experience in building global coalitions that unite businesses, governments, and other stakeholders to drive impactful action. From 2018 to 2023, he played a pivotal role in developing the Ocean Stewardship Coalition at the UN Global Compact. He also spearheaded the creation and deployment of the Ocean and Coastal Zones Programme for the UN High-Level Climate Champions, spanning COP26 to COP29. In this capacity, he launched the Ocean Breakthrough campaign, a transformative effort to drive ocean action across the three Rio Conventions.
In addition to his contributions to ocean action, Ignace established the Food Systems portfolio at the UN Global Compact, further demonstrating his ability to convene diverse stakeholders and deliver transformative initiatives. His work emphasizes the critical role of businesses in achieving the SDGs and integrating nature into transition plans for sustainable development.
Ignace holds a Master’s degree in International Law from the University of Aix-Marseille, France.
Rebecca Brooks
Co-Founder, Agriculture & Food Systems Lead
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Rebecca Brooks is Food Systems Lead at the Climate Champions, where she works closely with Ambition Loop to deliver the Food Systems Call to Action launched at COP28. Rebecca was previously managing the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation’s Land Use & Food Systems portfolio, and before that was at a climate consultancy working on land use, food systems, and water infrastructure in the sub-Saharan Africa region. Rebecca holds an MSc in International Development from the London School of Economics and a BA in Human Geography from the University of Leeds.
Nicolás Benkel
Bioeconomy Finance Manager
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Nicolás Benkel is a dynamic professional with a passion for making a positive impact. Based in Chile, he brings extensive experience working with international organizations and engaging diverse stakeholders. As a Finance Associate for Latin America, Nicolás supports both the UNCCD Action Agenda and the Climate Champions Team in unlocking and untapping green finances in the region.
Over the years, Nicolás has worked as project manager in a variety of initiatives, fostering collaboration between governments, civil society, and the private sector. His goal is always to create partnerships that benefit everyone and deliver meaningful results.
Nicolás has also worked closely with indigenous communities, NGOs, and universities to encourage electoral participation among marginalized groups, as well as facilitated important conversations between businesses and governments in Chile and Peru to promote sustainable development.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Universidad Católica de Chile and a Master of Public Administration from the London School of Economics. He has also completed graduate studies in Corporate Sustainability and Gender Studies.
Renata Cabrera De Morais
Ambition Loop Brasil Lead
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Renata Cabrera is part of the Ambition Loop Brazil team, leading initiatives on regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems, and the bioeconomy agenda for COP30. With a background in International Relations at the University of São Paulo and Sciences Po Paris, she brings over a decade of experience in food systems and territorial development, with a career built at the intersection of diplomacy, sustainability, creative economy and public policy. She worked in strategic innovation consulting at the global firm Mandalah and served as Municipal Secretary of Culture and Tourism in Jarinu-SP, where she implemented local development initiatives with a focus on sustainability and territorial identity. Born into a farming family in Jarinu (SP), she is the author of From Farm to Table, a book dedicated to strengthening the links between food, territory, biodiversity, and local communities. What reenergizes and inspires her most is gardening and planting in her own farm and agroforestry system.
Avelile Cishe
Executive Assistant to Nigel Topping
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Avelile is a trained Forest scientist and professional with a unique blend of scientific expertise and strategic vision. He holds a Diploma in Project Management, a Bachelor of Science Honours in Natural Resource Management, and a Master of Science in Forest Management, providing him with a strong foundation in project management, forestry research and a deep understanding of sustainable resource management. His diverse experience spans forest operations, forest policy and economics, silviculture research, green energy, and academia, both locally and internationally. He also serves in eight government, academic and industry advisory boards and forums as Non-executive Associate and member in South Africa, Germany, Canada and Portugal.
At Ambition Loop, Avelile serves as an Executive Assistant to Nigel Topping, CMG and in supporting tasks across the whole team. He provides high-level support to the organization's mission of fostering radical collaboration by ensuring seamless coordination and efficient execution of strategic initiatives. He brings to the role strong leadership, organizational skills, and a proven ability to manage complex projects and diverse stakeholder relationships. Avelile is driven by a desire to contribute to impactful and innovative solutions for climate change and believes that multidisciplinary research and collaborative action is essential for achieving radical change for a sustainable future.
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Marina brings 8 years of public sector experience to her role as Operations Manager for the Land and Soil Loop at Ambition Loop. Previously, she worked at the Chilean Ministry of Transport, where she contributed to public policy development and oversaw bidding processes for the Metropolitan Public Transport System of Santiago, as well as preparing bidding terms for regional areas. She managed key concession tenders, transitioned 40% of bus routes to new operators, and integrated 1,640 high-standard buses and 13 electric bus depots.
At Ambition Loop, Marina supports the team lead, coordinates efforts across the team, and manages budgets and expenses to ensure smooth operations. Her experience in strategic planning and team coordination drives impactful initiatives for land and soil sustainability.
Marina Dragicevic
Operations Manager, Land & Soil Loop
Carolina Escobar
Co-Founder, Director of Communications
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Carolina Escobar is an international media personality specializing in sustainability and currently serves as the Director of Communications at Ambition Loop, where she leads strategic efforts in collaboration, sustainability, and ESG. With over two decades of experience, she is recognized for her expertise in sustainability, social impact, and journalism.
Carolina has contributed to global events like COP28 in Dubai as a communications consultant, moderator, and speaker for the Future Mobility Hub. In Chile, she is a respected advocate for social and environmental issues and was honored by the Ministry of the Environment in 2024 for her commitment to environmental education.
Her career spans prominent roles at CNN en Español and Chile's TVN, where she led programs on news, health, sustainability, and social matters. She also directs content across television, radio, and digital platforms, and is the Director of Sustainability at BE Mass, a global communications and content creation company focused on sustainability and ESG.
Camila Fernández Silva
Industrial Decarbonisation Loop
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Camila works in the FOAK Faster initiative within the Industry Decarbonization Loop, bringing extensive experience from her pivotal role at COP25 in Chile, where she served as Chief of Staff to the Climate High-Level Champion for COP25, Gonzalo Muñoz. Prior to COP25, she advised Chile's Minister of Agriculture on climate change and sustainability policy.
Following COP25, Camila continued her work for four years with the Climate Champions team as Latin America Engagement Lead and the Race to Zero initiative, where she supported 26 partner organizations in implementing decarbonization strategies across their supply chains and business models to accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy.
Camila holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Sam Goodman
Communications Lead, Mangrove Breakthrough Loop
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Sam Goodman brings nearly 20 years of experience working in communications, climate policy, and natural resource management in Latin America and the United States. He currently serves as Communications Director for the Mangrove Breakthrough Secretariat, where he creates and oversees content, manages media relations, and maintains stakeholder engagement.
Previously, Sam provided communications and policy expertise to a number of regional and international NGOs, including Climate Policy Initiative, Conservation International, and La Ruta del Clima. He has worked with numerous U.S. federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Education.Sam holds a dual master's degree in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University and the UN Mandated-University for Peace in Costa Rica, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Politics from Oberlin College.
Paula Guerra
Co-Founder, Circular Lead
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Paula has more than 15 years of experience in the solid waste sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. She has held positions at Quito (EMASEO EP), as manager of the National Program for the Integrated Solid Waste Management of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE) of Ecuador, in the development of public policies and waste management at the national level. She is an external consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and for MANUIA/TriCiclos, based in Chile. Paula is co-founder and CEO of ReciVeci, a social and technological innovation startup in Ecuador and Peru. She is an Agricultural Science Engineer from EARTH University in Costa Rica with a Master's Degree in Sustainable Development from the University of London and advanced studies in Solid Waste Management at UNESCO IHE in Holland.
Rafael Guerrero
Chief Operating Officer
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Rafael is an experienced professional with a strong background in operations, finance, and administration. After years in the private sector, Rafael has spent the last 3 years working in the nonprofit sector, focusing on optimizing processes and ensuring financial sustainability. Rafael holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Finance, bringing analytical and strategic skills to enhance organizational efficiency and impact.
At Ambition Loop, Rafael leads the administrative, financial, and operational functions, enabling the organization to run efficiently and effectively. Passionate about mission-driven work, Rafael is motivated by the opportunity to support an organization that empowers leaders driving climate action and sustainability initiatives.
Peter Hall
Senior Advisor Finance Loop
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Peter Hall is a Senior Advisor to Ambition Loop, with over four decades of leadership in climate resilience, sustainability, and ESG integration. He has held executive positions at Resonance, WSP, and the Wood Group, where he led global strategies for climate adaptation and helped mobilize over $11 million in high-impact projects across the Global South. Peter has played a key role in designing tools such as the ResilienceLens Screen for Investments and has supported global public-private initiatives that align finance with climate and community outcomes. His experience spans infrastructure, biodiversity, water systems, and ESG strategy, always rooted in a commitment to just transition and radical collaboration.
Peter advises leading platforms and coalitions including the UNFCCC Climate Champions, the Sharm Adaptation Agenda Finance Taskforce, Bridging Ventures, the Existence Fund, and FAST-Infra. He is a Commissioner on Ambition Loop’s Climate Capital Mobilization Accelerator (CCMA) and a frequent speaker at global climate events such as WEF, TED Countdown, and the World Bank Spring Meetings. A member of the World Economic Forum Global Futures Council and the Competent Boards Faculty, Peter continues to bridge systems thinking, finance innovation, and implementation to drive real-world transformation in climate-vulnerable regions.
Jennifer Lenhart
Co-Founder, Land & Soil Lead
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Jennifer joins Ambition Loop with nearly 20 years of experience addressing environmental challenges via integrated approaches. She comes most recently from WWF, where she supported urban climate strategy in circa 900 cities, together with efforts on urban nature and planning as Global Cities Lead. She holds a PhD in multilevel governance from Wageningen University (Netherlands) and an Erasmus Mundus joint-MSc in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (MESPOM) from Lund University (Sweden) and Central European University (Hungary/ Austria). She previously worked at UN-Habitat (Kenya); the City of Malmö Environment Department (Sweden); a sustainability consultancy in Seattle (USA); and a youth education project (Haiti). She is part of IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin team, covering various multilateral environmental agreements, including the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Describing herself as a cosmopolitan nomad, Jennifer has lived in 25 cities in 8 countries, now calling Santiago de Chile home, where she can live out her motto, “Good Cities, Good Nature,” in the Andes Mountains.
Clarisa Marambio
Project Manager, Circular Loop
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Clarisa Marambio, Chilean based in New York City, is Project Manager at Ambition Loop, where she works positioning climate action agendas and leading the coordination of efforts to engage key stakeholders and partnerships. She recently graduated with an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), with a focus on capital markets, international law, social impact campaign, impact investing, and environmental science. Clarisa also conducted extensive research on geopolitics of critical minerals and ESG mining policies in emerging markets at Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP). Before this, she worked as a Sustainability Consultant at Deloitte and has a background in strategic communication and investigative journalism.
Cynthia Menéndez
Partner Outreach and Initiative Lead, Land and Soil Loop
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Cynthia joins Ambition Loop with over 15 years of experience fostering multidisciplinary collaboration on projects across Mexico and Latin America. Her work has focused on raising awareness and setting goals to reduce food loss and waste, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution, always with a circular and systemic vision.
For 8 years at WWF, Cynthia led the sustainable cities agenda in nearly 100 cities throughout Latin America and coordinated the Alliance for Climate Action, among other multi-stakeholder projects.
Cynthia holds a Bachelor's in Biochemical Engineering from UAM-Iztapalapa in Mexico and a Master's in Biotechnology from the University of Queensland, Australia. She's part of LEAD, the Sustainable Development Leaders Group at El Colegio de México, and in January 2022, Forbes recognized her as one of Mexico's 30 most sustainable minds.
Constanza Montenegro
Finance Partnership Associate, Land & Soil and Finance Loop
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Constanza is part of the first generation of Bachelor’s graduates in International Studies in Chile, with additional studies in International Development, Women and Global Public Policies, and Trade Policy. She is passionate about global development and has supported research for several institutions, including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Currently, she assists the Ambition Loop team in operations, gaining valuable experience and insights into addressing sustainable development and pressing environmental challenges. Constanza loves nature, multiculturalism, and exploring new places through travel.
Cassia Moraes
Brasil Loop, Mangrove Breakthrough Loop
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Cassia has 15 years of experience in climate change and sustainable development, focusing on policy, research and entrepreneurship. In 2018, she founded Youth Climate Leaders, an organization that fosters climate action and careers by training and connecting young people with networks and opportunities to start their careers as climate leaders. More recently, Cassia worked as Partnerships Manager at Climate KIC, the largest public-private partnership to foster climate innovation in Europe, and was a Lecturer of Sustainable Development Policies at the Burgundy School of Business. Previously, she has served as Deputy Executive Coordinator at the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change, and worked as consultant at CIVICUS, UNDP, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Brazilian Mission to the UN and Bradesco Bank. Cassia holds a MPA in Development Practice degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from UNESP - Sao Paulo State University.
Catalina Muñoz
Analyst, Ambition Loop Brasil
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Catalina is an economist from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, with a strong focus on climate change and sustainability. She has contributed to interdisciplinary sustainability education and research at the UC Sustainability Development Institute, helping to develop innovative teaching methods and assess their impact on awareness and attitudes. Catalina has also worked on carbon neutrality policy analysis and participated in international programs on climate justice and leadership. She enjoys working in diverse teams, creating collaborative learning spaces, and exploring the links between development, equity, and environmental challenges. Catalina is passionate about regenerative systems, sustainability education, climate change economics, and circular economy.
Gonzalo Muñoz, CMG
Co-Founder & UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP25 Presidency
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Gonzalo is the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion from the COP25 Presidency, appointed by the Chilean Presidency in 2019. From that position, he co-led with Nigel Topping the Race To Zero, Race To Resilience and GFANZ campaigns. Previously, he co-founded and led TriCiclos, one of the most recognised Latin American companies in circular economy and recycling. Gonzalo also co-founded Sistema B (B Corp in Latin America), Manuia and Polkura Winery. He is also a member of the Club of Rome. Currently, he sits on the board of the Global Foodbanking Network, CDP Latin America, TED future forum, Chapter Zero Chile, among others. For COP28 he chairs the non state actors strategy on food systems. And for INC he is the general coordinator of the Friends of the action agenda to stop plastics pollution. Gonzalo has been recipient of the Chilean national awards on environment, innovation and social entrepreneurship; and he was awarded the honor of CMG in Queen Elizabeth’s final honors list in 2022.
Wangu Mwangi
Science and People Lead
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As part of the Land and Soil Loop team, Wangu brings her expertise in linking international sustainability initiatives with community-based development actions. Her work is exploring how to better link scientific data and global policy commitments on land restoration with realities on the ground. Wangu has held various strategic communications roles, including with TMG Think Tank for Sustainability (Berlin, Germany) and United Nations University (Maastricht, The Netherlands). In between, she has served as a consultant with diverse international research and development organisations, including the International Institute for Sustainable Development, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, European Centre for Development Policy Management and the Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO). For the past five years, Wangu has been based at her small organic farm in central Kenya, which she aspires to grow into a farm-based ecotourism venture. While this throws up new challenges everyday, the opportunities to connect with other sustainable farmers and networks offers a constant source of inspiration and practical insights on how to build true solidarity networks from the ground up.
Benjamin Navarro
Operations Manager, Mangrove Breakthrough Loop
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Benjamin Navarro is a Chilean Forestry Engineer with a specialization in territory and sustainability from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Within the Ambition Loop team, he works as an assistant to Nigel Topping, as well as supporting tasks across the whole team. His international experience has led him to participate in different projects coordinating actors from diverse cultures and backgrounds, complemented by his knowledge of various group management tools. Due to his major, he has a profound connection with nature, enjoying it through trekking and photography, which leads him to find deep motivation to work in the field of climate change.
Davi Neustein
Ambition Loop Brasil
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Davi is a sustainability consultant, currently working as a project manager for COP30 across various organizations. He is part of Ambition Loop Brazil and is also involved with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS). A former executive director of Pour Le Brésil, he now serves on the board of this UNESCO-recognized organization, which provides scholarships and supports the development of young leaders in the Amazon region. He holds a master’s degree in Political Science from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po Paris).
Claudia Nicolini
Partnerships Manager
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Claudia is an experienced practitioner with ten years of experience. She holds a bachelor's degree in architecture and urban planning and an MSc. in Environment and Sustainable Development from the University College London. She brings a passion for driving creative solutions towards system change and sustainable development. Her expertise lies in leading and coordinating teamwork proposals and managing multicultural and international teams, where she translates fresh ideas into actionable plans. Her creative spark is further ignited by teaching courses in "Sustainable Cities and Communities" and "Circular Economy in Cities" at the Built Environment Faculty. She cultivates a dynamic learning environment where students explore innovative pathways for building resilient and sustainable urban spaces. She builds strong stakeholder relationships, fostering a collaborative environment where creativity thrives, ensuring a just transition toward a sustainable future.
Victoria Paz
Finance Lead Mangrove Breakthrough Loop
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Victoria Paz is an economist with 20 years of experience driving impact at the intersection of sustainability, public policy, and inclusive finance. She has led groundbreaking initiatives across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Latin America, including the design of Chile’s first gender-focused bond at Banco Estado and the creation of “Mundo Verde,” a financial program linking banking products with environmental and social goals.
Her previous leadership roles include serving as Chief Economist at Adah Fintech, where she developed national financial education strategies tailored for women, and Director of Strategy and Sustainability at CORFO, where she oversaw clean energy and impact investment initiatives. Victoria has also contributed to pension and labor policy reforms, founded the think tank Poder Económico, and advised multilateral organizations on employment and social protection.
She holds a Master in Public Administration from Columbia University, along with graduate degrees in Finance, Economics, and Public Policy from leading universities in Chile and Europe. A frequent speaker and mentor, Victoria is committed to advancing sustainable development through data-driven policy, innovation, and collaboration.
Isadora Pla Carlin
Program Manager, Agriculture & Food Systems Loop
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Isadora is the Food Systems Program Manager at Ambition Loop and also works as a Food Systems Associate at the Climate Champions Team. Her background includes research on food systems at the Co-Laboratory of Ecology, Complexity, and Society, UC. Additionally, she has served as a lecturer and facilitator for the Institute for Sustainable Development and various other entities, fostering impactful dialogues on global change. Isadora has a BSc. in Biology and an MSc. in Natural Resources. She grew up in Chile and she is passionate about nature and the outdoors, often spending her free time climbing or hiking.
Bruna Santos de Almeida
Agriculture & Food Systems Associate
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Bruna is a Food Systems & Agriculture Associate at Ambition Loop. Passionate about the intersections of food systems, gender equality, and international cooperation, she brings experience in project management, research, and stakeholder engagement. She has worked with organisations including the UN Global Compact Brazil, GIZ, EmpoderaClima, and the British Embassy, contributing to initiatives on climate action, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation.
She holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Brasília and has pursued further studies at Sciences Po Paris. Born and raised in Brazil, Bruna is a ballet enthusiast and actively engages in youth-led climate initiatives, including serving as a Youth Representative at the World Food Forum.
Maria Victoria Pereira
Vilela
Agriculture & Food Systems Associate
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Maria Victoria Pereira Vilela is an International Relations professional focused on food systems and sustainability. She has researched Brazil’s marine fisheries and led studies on corporate investments in food and nutrition security, bridging research, policy, and stakeholder engagement to advance resilient and inclusive food systems.
Angélica Rojas Yañez
Executive Assistant to Gonzalo Muñoz
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Angélica Rojas is an experienced executive assistant with a strong background in administrative support, communications, and bilingual coordination. Currently, she is the Executive Assistant to Gonzalo Muñoz at Manuia Latam, where she has been contributing since July 2024. Prior to this, Angélica held key roles at TriCiclos, providing administrative support and handling waste management advisory tasks. Her extensive career spans multiple positions, including a bilingual Executive Secretary role in Unilever and Bestfoods, where she worked in financial and legal departments, supporting senior management with calendar management, expense reports, and communications. Throughout her career, she has honed her skills in electronic calendars, customer service, and bilingual communication.In addition to her administrative expertise. With over 20 years of experience in the corporate world, Angélica brings a diverse skill set, including commercial English, phone handling, and expense reporting. Her ability to thrive in fast-paced environments, coupled with her passion for organization and effective communication, has made her a valuable asset in each of her professional roles.
Calder Tsuyuki-Tomlinson
CNCP Loop Lead
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Calder joins Ambition Loop after leading the climate and nature synergies agenda for the UAE COP28 Presidency, working to support ambitious outcomes across both formal negotiations and action agenda initiatives to promote synergistic implementation of the Paris Agreement and Global Biodiversity Framework – in addressing the climate and ecological crises in an integrated way. Embodying a mycorrhizal ethic to promote connectivity across the different Rio Conventions, he previously supported the Convention on Biological Diversity secretariat to strengthen the Action Agenda for Nature and People in advance of the Montreal COP15, at the same time as supporting the UNFCCC Climate Champions Team with developing the 2021-2025 Workplan of the Improved Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action in advance of COP26 in Glasgow. Complimenting his practitioner activities, Calder managed and served as research lead for the Future of Climate Cooperation initiative based out of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, researching the orchestration of international multi-stakeholder climate initiatives. He also served as a Non-Resident Fellow throughout 2024 at the United Nations University Center for Policy Research, supporting the work of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism in advance of the UN Summit of the Future. He holds a MSc in Environmental Governance at the University of Oxford and BA in International Relations from the University of British Colombia.
Sara Velander
Land Manager, Land & Soil Loop
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Sara is an environmental professional specializing in land governance, sustainable development, and science-policy interfaces (SPIs). As a Junior Researcher at the University of Münster, she spent four years analyzing SPIs tied to the Rio Conventions, with a focus on land use under the 2030 Agenda. Her work includes peer-reviewed publications on gender in land use science, the effectiveness of SPIs, institutional collaboration on global environmental governance, and leveraging expertise in the UNCCD. She has actively participated in several UNFCCC COP meetings, reporting on land use and transparency in climate agreements. Sara holds an Erasmus Mundus MSc in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management (MESPOM), conducting her thesis on land reform and contract farming in Kenya, and a BA in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic. She also interned at the IISD and SwedBio, working on agriculture issues in Sub-Saharan Africa and global environmental communications. Sara brings a global perspective to her work and is committed to fostering collaboration across sectors to address inter-linked global environmental challenges.
Daniela
Tejada-Venegas
Communications Lead,
Land & Soil Loop
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Daniela is a seasoned communications strategist with more than a decade's experience across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Acting as Land & Soil Communications Lead, she is passionate about driving social and environmental impact through innovative campaigns.
Prior to joining Ambition Loop, Daniela was Communications Director at the international NGO, Count Us In. A founding member, she oversaw communications for ambitious campaigns, harnessing the power of popular culture to inspire the mainstream to take climate action and influence systems change. With a background in the arts (MA Arts & Cultural Management, King's College London; BA Drama with French, University of Exeter), Daniela is known for her audience-first approach to strategy design and for holding collaboration at the heart of her work.
Nigel Topping, CMG
Co-Founder & UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP26 Presidency
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Nigel Topping, CMG has led and been involved in many of the global initiatives uniting business and governments in tackling climate change. He is cofounder of AmbitionLoop, a not-for-profit organization working to facilitate systemic change through radical collaboration between businesses and governments. He served as the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP26, where he launched global initiatives like Race To Zero, Race To Resilience and GFANZ. He is a Non-Executive Director of the UK Infrastructure Bank and business champion on the UK Climate Change Committee, and strategic advisor to the 57-country collaboration launched at Glasgow, the Breakthrough Agenda. Prior to this he was CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition following an 18 year career running and owning manufacturing businesses. Nigel was awarded a CMG in 2022 in Queen Elizabeth II's final honors list for his contribution to accelerating action on climate change and is Honorary Professor of Economics at Exeter University.