About Us

Cherelle carries the Pacific with her everywhere she goes. Hailing from Samoa, Tokelau, and Tuvalu, she has spent over a decade working at the intersection of youth, feminism, and climate change, guided by a strong belief that Pacific and Indigenous stories are an essential part of the broader climate conversation.

As a former advisor for FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund, she has focused on supporting grassroots, feminist, and youth-led organizations working across these issues.

Cherelle is also part of the Pacific Climate Warriors network and continues to emphasize the importance of local knowledge, storytelling, and community perspectives in shaping a more connected and grounded understanding of climate change.

Danielle came to climate philanthropy through her experience working with nonprofit organizations, where she saw firsthand how funding structures can either support or limit the potential of social impact work. That experience shaped the direction of her career and her approach to supporting youth-led change.

Now based in Manila, she focuses on supporting young climate leaders and helping strengthen the next generation of changemakers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of the Philippines Diliman, a background that has informed her understanding of justice, communities, and human behavior, and continues to shape her approach to youth engagement and philanthropy.

Fahad is a Fulbright Scholar and graduate of Columbia University who has spent their career working across a range of global social impact contexts. From designing social and emotional learning curricula in over 250 schools across emerging countries, to supporting mental health initiatives for human rights defenders in East Africa, South Asia, and South America, to contributing to efforts to improve immunization coverage with the WHO, Fahad brings a broad and interdisciplinary perspective to the work they take on.

Their approach is grounded in a strong commitment to inclusion and ensuring that communities most affected by inequality are considered in sustainable development efforts.

Joshua has spent over eight years focused on one question: how do we ensure young people are not just included in the climate conversation, but actually shaping it?

Working across global and local platforms, including his role as former Climate Lead at the Office of the UN Secretary General's Envoy on Youth, he has consistently pushed for stronger youth voice in climate decision-making. He founded the Green Africa Youth Organization, served on IRENA's Global Council on SDG7, and has spent the past years focused on shifting climate philanthropy toward youth-led and locally led organizations.

Across this work, his focus has remained consistent: strengthening grassroots youth leadership so it can translate into tangible change in climate action. 

Lucia is a feminist communicator and journalist who believes stories can help amplify the voices and demands of underrepresented communities. Her work has spanned gender and human rights reporting, with a focus on how media representations frame vulnerable populations and humanitarian crises, and how these narratives can reinforce harm or invisibility.

She holds a Master's in Gender Studies from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. In 2022, she co-founded the Network for Diversity in Latin American Journalism, creating space for a more interconnected approach to inclusion across newsrooms and communications work in the region.

Across her work, she uses communication to contribute to more thoughtful and responsible storytelling.

Many is a philanthropic professional whose career spans both sides of the Atlantic, from a Fulbright teaching fellowship in Santiago de Compostela to a Program Officer role at Bloomberg Philanthropies in New York. These experiences have deepened her belief that equitable access to resources is essential to building a just and sustainable future. 

As a Mexican-American currently based in Madrid, she offers a global perspective and cross-cultural fluency to her work connecting young climate leaders with the resources they need to drive systemic, lasting change. 

She combines philanthropic experience with a personal commitment to equity and justice in all its forms by centering youth-led, grassroots climate solutions globally.

Mercy is an African feminist whose work focuses on reshaping philanthropy to better serve communities by shifting decision-making power closer to local actors. With a background in international development and equity work, she supports philanthropic funds in adopting more equitable, locally grounded grantmaking practices.

She has contributed to both German and Dutch feminist foreign and development policies, helping shape how international institutions approach gender justice, climate change, and inclusive development.

Her climate expertise focuses on the intersections of gender equality and climate action, particularly in ensuring that women’s rights and gender equity are meaningfully integrated into climate mitigation strategies.

Across her work, she bridges high-level strategy with local realities, ensuring that global frameworks reflect the needs and priorities of the communities they are meant to serve.

Mikella's path into climate work began in the Caribbean, one of the most climate-vulnerable regions and a place that has much to teach the world about resilience and innovation. Through the Caribbean Youth Environment Network, she first engaged as a youth climate advocate, later deepening her experience through research with Kairi Initiatives and policy work at the Ministry of Public Utilities of Trinidad and Tobago.

She now serves as Strategic Coordination Officer at the YCJF, where she draws on her background in environmental science, development financing, and gender equity to support the operational foundations of climate-focused work.

She holds a BSc in Environmental Science and Sustainable Technology from the University of the West Indies. Her work is informed by both cultural grounding and on-the-ground experience, helping ensure Caribbean perspectives are represented in climate adaptation and mitigation spaces where decisions are made.

Ibrahim was 15 when he first began asking how his community could become more resilient to climate change. Six years later, he became a founding member and Chief Operating Officer of Bunyaad Pakistan, a philanthropic organization focused on climate and environmental work, and a rising operations leader in the field.

Working at the grassroots level with local government and underrepresented communities across Pakistan, he has led initiatives focused on sustainable ecosystems and environmental outcomes.

He holds a BSc in Accounting and Finance from the Lahore University of Management Sciences, and brings both financial rigor and a deep commitment to community impact to his work.

Nathan is a connector of people and purpose who has spent his career building bridges between communities, movements, and funders to enable systemic change. A former member of the UN Secretary-General's Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change and founder of Generation Climate Europe, he has helped shape influential youth climate infrastructure globally.

He serves on the boards and advisory councils of several organizations, including the Global Greengrants Fund, Goals House, and Murmur, and is a fellow of the US Environmental Grantmakers Association. He has previously served in advisory and governance roles with organizations including the European Environmental Bureau, IKEA, Ørsted, and Environment Funders Canada, and is a former fellow of the 776 Foundation.

Recognized for his work in the field, he was nominated for the ''Young European of the Year 2020'' award. As a certified development coach and LGBTQI2S+ advocate, Nathan brings both strategic vision and relational depth to his role as Co-Executive Director of YCJF, where he leads with a belief that inclusive leadership is foundational to meaningful climate action.

Omnia is a medical doctor who views the health of people and the health of the planet as deeply connected. Working at the intersection of youth leadership, climate, and public health, she has brought this integrated perspective to some of the highest levels of global climate policy, serving as the first official Youth Envoy to the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP27 President, and later as COP28 Health Envoy.

She has contributed to four Lancet Commissions and authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford and has been recognized globally, including as one of Apolitical's 50 Gender Equality Gamechangers in 2024 and Fast Company Middle East's 35 Most Creative People in Business in 2023.

Across her work, she focuses on bridging health and climate in ways that make both fields more inclusive and responsive to everyday needs.

Sylvia came to climate work through a combination of a love for data and forests. A conservation research and policy professional with extensive field experience across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, she has spent her career examining the impacts of biodiversity loss on communities and translating evidence into insights that can inform policy.

She holds a Master's in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and brings both scientific rigor and a strong commitment to youth empowerment to her role as Learning Manager.

Her work focuses on using research and data to support the next generation of climate leaders and strengthen how climate knowledge is applied in practice. 

Tatiana works at the intersection of operations and finance, with experience supporting organizations across Latin America and Europe. She focuses on the systems behind the work; how teams function, how resources move, and how structure can quietly enable impact at scale.

Before joining YCJF, she served as Operations Manager at the Environmental Coalition on Standards in Brussels. She has also held leadership roles at Linterna Verde, a Colombian nonprofit, where she co-led operations and supported fundraising and donor reporting.

Her experience includes grant management, budgeting, and coordination across distributed teams, often in remote and international settings. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Colombian government on social development initiatives, including national programs focused on education, culture, digital inclusion, and community development.

Tatiana holds a degree in International Relations, as well as an Erasmus Mundus Master's in Human Rights Policy and Practice from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. 

Ayshka's work is grounded in a strong commitment to amplifying the voices of those often overlooked. She focuses on ensuring that young people most affected by the climate crisis are meaningfully included in decision-making spaces. Based in the UAE, she is a young climate advocate and organizer whose work centers on the leadership and lived experiences of communities most affected by climate change. Through her involvement with Fridays For Future MAPA (Most Affected People and Areas) and her role as a UNICEF Youth Advocate to the UAE, supporting the Gulf Area Office, she brings frontline perspectives into spaces where decisions are made.

Charitie Ropati (Yup'ik and Samoan) is an Indigenous scientist and engineer whose work is rooted in the communities and landscapes she grew up protecting. In Alaska, she helped pass policy allowing cultural regalia at graduations and supported the development of sub-curricula honoring Indigenous peoples, reflecting her long-standing commitment to education and community-centered work.

Her research on plant ecology, permafrost, and managed retreat in Southwest Alaska keeps her closely connected to the realities climate change is already creating on the ground.

She has served as an Arctic Youth Ambassador, Aspen Ideas Fellow, and board member of Intersectional Environmentalist, bringing these perspectives into broader global conversations. Selected as a 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 nominee in education, she is helping reshape Indigenous representation in STEM and conservation by ensuring it reflects both lived experience and scientific knowledge. 

Dylan's climate work is deeply personal because, in the Pacific, climate change is closely tied to everyday realities and the future of communities across the region. Based in Fiji, he coordinates climate policy work through the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, while also volunteering with the Alliance for Future Generations and the Pacific Climate Warriors to support young people in engaging meaningfully in climate discussions and decision-making spaces.

For Dylan, this work is about ensuring the communities he comes from have a real voice in shaping their future.

Joice works across organizations, coalitions, and cross-border relationships that help make long-term change possible. A migrant and social entrepreneur, her work sits at the intersection of water, energy, food, and justice, with a particular focus on energy justice and ensuring Latin American voices are central in regional climate decision-making.

She has co-founded several youth-led organizations, including the Moema Viezzer Environmental Education Observatory, the Latin American Observatory of Geopolitics of Energy, and the binational Youth Collective of the Parana Basin 3 through the Cultivating Good Water Initiative, which received the 2015 UN-Water Best Practice Award.

Joice has served in advisory and leadership roles in global climate spaces, including previously as part of the UN Secretary-General's Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change and through her involvement with IRENA's Director-General’s Global Council on SDG7.

Her work focuses on strengthening regional and global collaboration on climate and energy justice, with impact that extends beyond her local context. 

Passy has dedicated eight years to doing what few people can, walking into rooms with competing priorities and helping build alignment across diverse stakeholders. She works as an environmental sustainability advocate, program manager, and strategic foresight practitioner, and has built her career on connecting people, catalyzing collective action, and turning ideas into tangible outcomes. She currently serves as Vice Chair of IRENA's Global Council on SDG7 and as Regional Focal Point for East and Southern Africa at the SDG7 Youth Constituency, where she brings a future-focused perspective to shaping conditions for more sustainable futures. Passy's ability to advocate for both current and future generations is a defining aspect of her leadership style.

Zagy's career started with a question he couldn’t shake: why aren't more young people driving Indonesia's energy transition? That question became the foundation of his work.

A social impact and youth-focused researcher, he has published six research papers spanning geothermal, solar PV, energy storage, and innovation. He also founded the Society of Renewable Energy, an organization designed to strengthen youth engagement and support the next generation in advancing energy transition efforts.

For Zagy, research and community are central to building a more sustainable future.

Member, United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change (2020–2023). Archana Soreng, from the Khadia Tribe of Odisha, India, works at the intersection of Indigenous youth leadership, climate philanthropy, and biodiversity conservation. Her work is rooted in the belief that young people and Indigenous communities must be central to climate decision-making. She was a member of the inaugural United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change (2020–2023). In 2023, she addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, highlighting the vital role of Indigenous and youth leadership in advancing climate justice. She currently serves on the Climate Advisory Council of The Rockefeller Foundation and is a 2024 Skoll World Forum Fellow. Across Asia, Archana has strengthened youth leadership through regional and global coalitions of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. She served on the Steering Committee of the Youth Climate Justice Fund (2023–2025) and now sits on its Grants Committee. Through her leadership, Archana builds bridges between grassroots movements and global
institutions, ensuring climate solutions are grounded in justice, equity, and lived experience.

Camila is an Indigenous anthropologist and activist from Chile, based in the Wallmapu territory in the south of the country. She currently serves in the Keepers of the Earth program at Cultural Survival and supports coordination at the International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change (IIYFCC). Camila is committed to advancing Indigenous participation in public policy, advocacy, and access to climate finance, working to ensure that Indigenous perspectives are recognized in efforts to address environmental and social challenges.

She is a Climate Justice Activist, Writer and Speaker based in the U.K. She is a coordinator in Climate Live, a youth-led organisation to harness the power of music for the planet, part of the #StopRosebank campaign. She focuses on engaging people, and demanding action from world leaders. She became an environmentalist after discovering how air pollution was impacting her community in London, and impact of rising sea levels in Jamaica. She is committed to intersectional Climate Justice. She was involved in the September 2019 climate strikes which brought 300,000 people on the streets in the U.K. She has spoken on world stages about climate justice and her activism, at events such as COP26, COP27, NY Times Hub hosted by Emma Watson alongside Malala and Greta Thunberg, Forum, at the O2 with Billie Eilish. She was named in Forbes 2020 Top U.K Environmentalists List for her work, and was honoured as a young leader at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards.

Mitzi Jonelle Tan is a full-time climate justice activist based in Metro Manila, Philippines. She is the convenor and international spokesperson of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP), the Fridays For Future (FFF) of the Philippines. She is also an organizer with FFF International and FFF MAPA (Most Affected Peoples and Areas) making sure that voices from the Global South especially are heard, amplified, and given space. A strong voice on anti-imperialism, anti-colonization, and the intersectionality of the climate crisis, she is committed to changing the system and building a world that prioritizes people and planet, not profit, through collective action. She is also a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative champion.

Taylen Reddy is an environmental justice advocate, researcher and activist from South Africa. As Founder of Zero Waste Durban, he leads community-driven initiatives that challenge waste colonialism, promote circular systems and reimagine urban sustainability through an African lens. His work bridges grassroots action with global advocacy while centering justice, accountability, and systemic change.

Beyond waste and plastics, Taylen’s activism extends into the intersection of climate resilience, well-being, and inner transformation. As the Sub-Saharan Africa Convenor for Climate Youth Resilience, his work explores cultivating mindfulness, emotional awareness, and grounded leadership among youth, recognising that the sustainability of movements depends as much on inner capacity as external action. By integrating contemplative practice with climate justice, CYR reimagines activism as a space for healing, reflection and regeneration to transform systems from the inside out.

Across his broader engagements with regional and international networks, Taylen contributes to policy processes, capacity-building programs and educational collaborations. His work embodies a holistic approach, integrating science, artivism, and inner work to cultivate the kind of deep change required to confront the ecological and social crises of our time.