SPEAKERS 2025
Claudia A. R. De Meulemeester
Multilingual financial journalist with a background in radio, print and online Freelance translator and interpreter
PANEL 1
“Advancing the Blue Economy: Science, Technology, Policy and Emerging Opportunities”
HE. Luis Vayas Valdivieso
Ambassador of Ecuador to the United Kingdom
Natasha Brown
Head, Outreach and Communications Office at International Maritime Organization
PANEL 2
“The Role of Emerging Technologies in Sustainable Economic Development” – Followed by Q&A.
Paul Excell
Award Winning Executive Coach | Partner, Investor, Chair, Global CxO | Delivering Impact with Tech
Juan Dávila y Verdin, FRSA,
CEO & Managing Director of The FuturED Institute | CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL GREEN TRADE & COMMERCE ASSOCIATION
PANEL 3
“From Vision to Impact: Driving Sustainable Tech in a Complex International Landscape” – Followed by Q&A.
Dr. Issamary Sánchez Ortega
Lawyer and Compliance Specialist / PhD / Former Ambassador and Consul of Panama in France, Monaco and Liechtenstein
Lara Tyrrell
Strategic Growth Leader | Sustainable Business & ESG Executive | Scaling Purpose-Driven Technologies | Former PE-Backed Partner
PANEL 4
“‘Synergies for Sustainability: Public–Private Cooperation in Technology Development” – Followed by Q&A.
Dr. Issamary Sánchez Ortega
Lawyer and Compliance Specialist / PhD / Former Ambassador and Consul of Panama in France, Monaco and Liechtenstein
Paul Excell
Award Winning Executive Coach | Partner, Investor, Chair, Global CxO | Delivering Impact with Tech
Juan Dávila y Verdin, FRSA,
CEO & Managing Director of The FuturED Institute | CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL GREEN TRADE & COMMERCE ASSOCIATION
Natasha Brown
Head, Outreach and Communications Office at International Maritime Organization
SPEAKERS 2025
MODERATOR
Claudia A. R. De Meulemeester
Multilingual financial journalist with a background in radio, print and online Freelance translator and interpreter
Claudia is a multilingual, financial journalist based in London, UK. She previously also spent time reporting from Hong Kong and New York. Most recently, Claudia worked as a senior correspondent for the Financial Times Group. Over the last decade, she has written extensively about sustainable finance, corporate governance and climate litigation. Her expertise also includes covering the contested regulations around deep-sea mining, the decarbonisation of the shipping sector, as well as plastic and chemical pollution. Claudia was raised bilingually in Dutch and Italian, and holds a master’s degree in Linguistics from Ghent University, and a joint master’s degree in business and financial journalism from Aarhus University and City University London.
PANEL 1:
“”Advancing the Blue Economy: Science, Technology, Policy and Emerging Opportunities”
HE. Luis Vayas Valdivieso
Ambassador of Ecuador to the United Kingdom
HE. Luis Vayas Valdivieso is a career Ecuadorian diplomat with over 30 years of experience. He is Ambassador to the UK, accredited to Ireland and Portugal, and Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. He has held senior roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has extensive experience in multilateral environmental negotiations. A Ph.D. candidate in Social Sciences and university lecturer, he has been honored with Ecuador’s National Order of Merit and Brazil’s Order of Rio Branco.
Natasha Brown is Head of Outreach and Communications at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where she has led global engagement efforts since 2022. With a background in international journalism and over two decades at IMO, she brings deep expertise in maritime policy and strategic communications. Natasha holds a BA (Hons) in Applied Language Studies and an MA in Media, Campaigning and Social Change.
PANEL 2:
“The Role of Emerging Technologies in Sustainable Economic Development” – Followed by Q&A.
Juan Dávila y Verdin, FRSA,
CEO & Managing Director of The FuturED Institute | CEO of The International Green Trade & Commerce Association
Juan Dávila y Verdin, FRSA, is the Founder and Managing Director of The FuturED Institute, CEO of the International Trade and Commerce Association (IGTCA), and Secretary-General of the British San Martín Institute. With over fifteen years of international experience across education, diplomacy, and business development, he has led initiatives with the United Nations and represented UPEACE at COP26–COP29.
He holds an MBA from the International University of Monaco, a Master’s in International Law and Diplomacy from UPEACE–UNITAR, and is currently a Doctoral Researcher (DBA – HEM) at the University of Bath. Fluent in five languages, Juan is recognised for his leadership, reliability, and results-driven approach in building global partnerships.
Paul Excell
Award Winning Executive Coach | Partner, Investor, Chair, Global CxO | Delivering Impact with Tech
Paul Excell, CEng FBCS FIET, is a globally recognised CIO, investor, and award-winning executive coach with over 40 years of leadership experience in international organisations. Former Chief Innovation Officer at BT, he advised the UN and the World Economic Forum on sustainability and technology, and received the Sunday Telegraph National Management Award for his pioneering work on UK broadband.
He currently chairs the Space Technology Working Group, mentors the Royal Academy of Engineering’s DeepTech and GreenTech ScaleUp Programme, and leads AI4C (AI for Charities). As Founder and CEO of Excelerate, he provides executive coaching to global leaders and was named CEO Executive Coach of the Year (2022–2024).
PANEL 3:
From Vision to Impact: Driving Sustainable Tech in a Complex International Landscape” – Followed by Q&A.
Lara Tyrell
Strategic Growth Leader | Sustainable Business & ESG Executive | Scaling Purpose-Driven Technologies | Former PE-Backed Partner
Lara Tyrrell is the Interim Chief Commercial Officer at Cambridge Cleantech and Climate Tech SuperCluster, leading commercial strategy for one of Europe’s main sustainability innovation hubs. She has over ten years of experience in ESG strategy, sustainable value creation, and corporate transformation across Asia and Europe. Previously a Partner at Xynteo, she designed sustainability programmes for global banks, PE firms, and energy companies. As Head of Group Sustainable Business at John Swire & Sons, she managed innovation and reforestation funds. A recognised thought leader, she has represented organisations at events such as New York Climate Week. Educated at Oxford, Cambridge, and INSEAD, Lara combines academic excellence with global leadership in sustainability.
Dr. Issamary Sánchez Ortega
Lawyer and Compliance Specialist / PhD / Former Ambassador and Consul of Panama in France, Monaco and Liechtenstein
Issamary Sánchez Ortega holds a Doctorate in Law and is a distinguished lawyer and consultant specialising in anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CTF), prevention of the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (PFADM), and corporate governance. She served as Panama’s Ambassador to France, Liechtenstein, and Monaco, as well as Consul General in Marseille (2020–2024). Notably, she was the first Panamanian to co-chair both the OECD Development Centre and the SIGI, President of the Network of Latin American Women Diplomats in France, and a member of Panama’s delegation responsible for the country’s removal from the FATF grey list.
PANEL 4:
“Synergies for Sustainability: Public–Private Cooperation in Technology Development” – Followed by Q&A.
Dr. Issamary Sánchez Ortega
Lawyer and Compliance Specialist / PhD / Former Ambassador and Consul of Panama in France, Monaco and Liechtenstein
Paul Excell
Award Winning Executive Coach | Partner, Investor, Chair, Global CxO | Delivering Impact with Tech
Juan Dávila y Verdin, FRSA,
CEO & Managing Director of The FuturED Institute | CEO of The International Green Trade & Commerce Association
Natasha Brown
Head, Outreach and Communications Office at International Maritime Organization