Devex

Turning the Tide:

Building a climate-resilient future

Date

October 11, 9:15 - 11 AM BST

Location

Online

Cohosted by:

Event Overview

On October 11, 2019, Devex hosted an engaging and action-oriented panel of experts to generate insights and perspectives on the ways in which resilience towards climate change can be improved in low and middle-income countries, how responses can be better tailored specifically for small island developing states, what the future of climate resilience looks like, and the role of projects such as CommonSensing in helping to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change and extreme weather events in the Pacific region.

We encourage you to continue the conversation online using #TurningtheTide and #DevexLIVE, as well as visit our #TurningtheTide content series to take a closer look at how innovative solutions and satellite technology can help build climate resilience in vulnerable communities. Through engaging storytelling and written features, we explore what current national resilience strategies already exist and look at how these can be built on to prepare the planet for the challenges ahead. Read all of the coverage here.

Speakers

Dr. Meghan Bailey

Technical Advisor, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center

Meghan supports forecast-based financing, social protection and research initiatives around the world. As a graduate student of early warning early action, since 2011 she has been involved with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in developing anticipatory action ahead of disasters. Her main areas of focus are the design of FbF programmes, feasibility assessments for acting in anticipation of disasters, scaling up FbF, integration of climate risk management into social protection programmes, and helping National Societies reduce the impacts of weather- and climate-related disasters.

Dr. Einar Bjorgo

Director, Satellite Analysis and Applied Research, UNOSAT

Bjorgo received his PhD in Geophysics from the University of Bergen, Norway, in 1999 on applications of very high resolution satellite imagery in support of refugee relief operations. He holds a Master of Science in Meteorology (Climate Science) and a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California San Diego. He started working for the United Nations in 1999 when he joined the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to work on the integration of new solutions into UNHCR operations, including the use of GIS, GPS and satellite imagery. Bjorgo joined the UNOSAT team in 2002 when he was a central element in the development of the Humanitarian Rapid Mapping service and later become in charge of all operational activities at UNOSAT. Apart from the operational mapping side, Bjorgo was the initiator of capacity development and disaster risk reduction activities in Asia and East Africa. Since 2010 he had served as deputy to the Manager.

Kate Brown

Executive Director, Global Island Partnership

Kate Brown is the Executive Director of the Global Island Partnership, a platform that enables island leaders and their supporters to take action to build resilient and sustainable island communities. Kate is a passionate advocate for islands. She is a valued and trusted international partnership and collaboration leader, with a unique ability to connect dots for issues and people. Kate has extensive experience in all island regions globally, and brings an extensive network of island leaders, blue sky thinkers and people dedicated to supporting islands. Kate has experience working inside government, non-profits and intergovernmentally as well as a keen sense of the most important elements of the international policy setting space relevant to islands as well as what is needed for implementation to happen. A strategic thinker who is able to present clear ideas and set up the right conditions for collaboration to thrive. Kate is originally from New Zealand and lived for eight years in Apia, Samoa. Kate now resides in Washington DC with her family.

Anthony Cox

Deputy Director, Environment Directorate, OECD

Anthony Cox is the Deputy Director of the Environment Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Since joining the OECD in 2000, Mr Cox has led work on water, climate, fisheries, political economy of reform, green finance and fossil fuel subsidies. He has overall responsibility for the OECD’s Horizontal Programme on Water, which pools the expertise from across the OECD to address economic and governance issues in water policy. Prior to joining the OECD, Mr Cox worked as Senior Economist in the Australian Public Service, including positions in the Productivity Commission and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

Lucy Edge

COO, Catapult

Lucy is Chief Operations Officer for the Satellite Applications Catapult UK. The Satellite Applications Catapult is an independent innovation and technology company, created to foster growth across the economy through exploitation of space. Now five years old, the Catapult is entering a new phase of growth for the space sector, and has big plans for new facilities, and large-scale transformation projects that will deliver new space-enabled services into all parts of the economy. As COO Lucy is central to the realisation of these initiatives. Lucy joined the Catapult with a career history in satellite technology, most recently working at Avanti Communications. During her time at Avanti, Lucy led the company’s team of 50 skilled staff at Goonhilly in Cornwall, where she was the Director of Spacecraft and Customer Operations, responsible for Avanti’s satellite operations strategy for their fleet. Lucy is a passionate advocate for regional economic development, holding Non-Executive Director roles at the Eden Project, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, and is Governor at Truro and Penwith College.

Dr. Nick Hardman-Mountford

Head of Oceans and Natural Resources, The Commonwealth

Nick Hardman-Mountford is head of oceans and natural resources at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where he leads the Commonwealth Blue Charter initiative and a technical advisory team working on ocean governance and sustainable natural resource development projects in Commonwealth countries. Prior to joining the Commonwealth, Dr Hardman-Mountford was principal scientist at Australia’s national research agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), where he led the Indian Ocean Ecology and Oceanography group. His research on ocean observations and modelling has taken him to the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans and has found application in addressing a diverse range of societal drivers such as sustainable blue economies, carbon storage, food security, energy and climate change.

Richard Jones

Editorial Director, Devex

In his role as Editorial Director Richard oversees content for digital series, reports and events, leading a talented team of writers and editors, conducting high-level video interviews and moderating panels at events. Previously partnerships editor and an associate editor at Devex, Richard brings to bear 15 years of experience as an editor in institutional communications, public affairs and international development. Based in Barcelona, his development experience includes stints in the Dominican Republic, Argentina and Ecuador, as well as extensive work travel in Africa and Asia.

Helen Morgan

Associate Editor, Devex

Helen Morgan is an Associate Editor at Devex. She has a background in human rights, radio and journalism, and has written for a variety of international publications while living and working in Buenos Aires, New York and Shanghai. She is now based in Barcelona and supports editorial content on campaigns and media partnerships at Devex. She is currently studying a master's degree in contemporary migration.

Dr. Graham Turnock

Chief Executive, UK Space Agency

Graham has been CEO at the UK Space Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) since March 2017. Prior to this he led the Better Regulation Executive, a unit within BEIS. He holds a PhD in Particle Physics from Cambridge University for theoretical work at CERN. Graham also holds a diploma in public administration from the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA). He has extensive experience across Whitehall and at a European level – a key priority for the Agency’s head. He has worked in the European Commission and held several other posts in the UK Civil Service with a strong European element, including the Treasury’s lead on the EU budget. Previously he has been the BEIS representative on the Met Office board while outside of work he is a trustee of the Youth Hostels Association and a keen cyclist.

H.E. Mr. Jitoko Tikolevu

High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

His Excellency, Mr. Jitoko Tikolevu was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in January 2016. He was the former Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA). Mr. Tikolevu has served in various Boards and executive committees in Fiji and was the Chairman of the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) as well as Chairman of the Pacific Islands Tax Administration Association.

Farhana Yamin

Founder and CEO, Track 0

Farhana Yamin is a leading international environmental lawyer and climate change and development policy expert. She has provided legal and policy advice to many different countries and constituencies over the last 20 years working as an adviser to developing countries especially the Alliance of Small Island States and least developed countries. She has worked with the Children's Investment Fund Foundation from 2009 to 2012 leading on work relating to development of low emissions development strategies in developing countries and the development of progressive coalitions in the international negotiations. .