7th July, 4.30pm – 6.30pm | Aga Khan Centre, London

Climate change is the major challenge facing our world today. Whilst some progress has been made, new solutions are urgently needed to stabilise climate risks more rapidly and sustainably, for a safer future for us all.

illuminate 2022 brings these themes to the forefront by exploring climate shocks and environmental impact mitigation with Dr Steve Smith, Executive Director of Oxford Net Zero and CO2RE and Ernest Gibson, a climate youth activist and Co-Coordinator of 350 Fiji.

illuminate aims to broaden horizons, inspire a new generation of change-makers, and explore how young people can contribute towards a better world. This event connects climate professionals with students to inspire new ideas, develop analytical skills and contribute to their future.

Panellists

Dr Steve Smith is the Executive Director for Oxford Net Zero Initiative and CO2RE at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, at the University of Oxford. Steve’s research interests lie at the intersection of climate science and policy. He has published on a range of topics including metrics for comparing the emissions of different greenhouse gases, and the governance of carbon dioxide removal. Steve joined the Smith School from the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) where he co-led the Climate Science Team and played a role in the legislation of the UK’s net zero target.

Ernest Gibson is a youth climate activist from Fiji who currently sits on the 7-member United Nations Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change as the only Pacific Island representative. Ernst has worked on climate change projects across the Pacific, supporting community-led approaches to Climate Diplomacy and climate policy development.

Dr Matt Reed is the Global Director of Institutional Partnerships of the Aga Khan Foundation and CEO of the Aga Khan Foundation UK. Matt has worked for the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) since 2009 in both London and India. As the Global Director of Institutional Partnerships, Matt coordinates all AKF’s work with bilateral, multilateral, foundation and corporate partners worldwide. Matt has been CEO of AKF in the UK since 2016.

Dr Gurdofarid Miskinzoda is the Project Lead of illuminate and a member of the AKF UK National Committee. Gurdofard’s academic background is in the history of the Near and Middle East, and of Islam, Islamic Studies, philology and the study of Arabic and Persian literatures. Gurdofarid has been teaching extensively since 2004 first at SOAS, University of London on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and then, at the IIS postgraduate level.