Chip established and manages AXA’s Ocean Risk Initiative which works to identify innovative insurance and finance solutions to the impacts and implications of ocean-related risk. He is leading the development of a Coastal Risk Index to integrate coastal ecosystems into insurance risk models; working with partners to develop a mangrove insurance product and a separate Coastal Resilience Bond, as well as identifying insurance pathways to prevent Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Wouter Schalken is a Senior Tourism Development Specialist. Wouter has around 28 years of experience in diverse and multi-faceted interventions in tourism market development and operations. Before joining ADB, Wouter worked for a wide variety of multi- and bilateral development agencies across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Petero Manufolau is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK), the organization responsible for the sustainable development and promotion of tourism in Kiribati. Since taking on the role in June 2019, Petero has helped establish a network of circular economy advocates within the Kiribati tourism sector, guided the establishment of community tourism operators, and lead the development of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework.

Based in Bangkok, Jeff has led sustainable tourism with the Six Senses group since 2016. He holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability and has a background in Environmental Engineering with consulting experience in the USA and his native Canada. His experience includes ecosystem risk management, municipal planning advisory, and elephant conservation. Jeff draws on a decade of experience launching community-based tourism programs; facilitating connections between travelers, indigenous peoples, and the natural world.

Guided by a background in photojournalism and a passion for marine conservation, Shaahina worked closely with the Maldivian government to formalize recreational diving standards and establish a dive center. She is the first woman to work professionally in the Maldivian dive industry. Shaahina’s dedication and extensive knowledge of the environment, people, culture, history, and geography of the islands are an immense asset to any project she undertakes and led her to receive a President of the Maldives Green Leaf Award for her work creating environmental awareness among school children.

Hon. Ms. Aminath Shauna is the Maldives’ Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology. Her portfolio includes protecting the natural environment and its resources, action, and advocacy on climate change, science and technology development, and the implementation of policies and regulations related to the provision of energy, telecommunications, water, and waste management.

Louise Heaps is WWF’s global lead on sustainable blue economy, with a focus on influencing mainstream finance and policy enablers, as well as addressing the barriers to delivering an inclusive sustainable blue economy at coastal community levels. Louise has worked in ocean conservation and natural resource management for over 25 years, leading ocean policy and field-based programmes in the global north and south, with 5 years in the Pacific Islands region as the Conservation Director of WWF South Pacific.

Based out of Singapore, Rahul Sheth is an Executive Director in Standard Chartered’s Capital Solutions team, housed within its Capital Markets franchise. In his role as a solutions specialist, he globally heads the green bonds product and has been responsible for leading pioneering green bond transactions for clients across the bank’s footprint including the New Development Bank, Axis Bank, TSKB, Agricultural Bank of China, NTPC, IDBI, Bank of China amongst others.

Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum is the Fijian Attorney-General and the Minister for Economy, Public Enterprises, Civil Service, and Communications, and the minister responsible for climate change. He is the second-ranking elected official in the country. Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum oversaw the creation of a climate change unit in the Office of the Attorney-General to examine legal matters pertaining to climate change that are often omitted from public discussions, such as how to protect the human rights of people who are displaced by the effects of climate change.

Gen. (ret) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan began his career in the Indonesian National Armed Forces until his retirement in 1999. Following that, he has had a longstanding political career and was previously the Presidential Chief of Staff for President Joko Widodo until his appointment as the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security in September 2011 which was followed by his appointment as the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs in July 2016.