Speakers 20.09.2022

Rach Colling is Head of Communications at the European Forest Institute. Rach joined EFI in 2011, and has been responsible for the development of EFI’s policy support communications, as well as managing and developing digital communications tools. She has over 20 years’ experience in science communication, and prior to joining EFI ran a successful communications business working with UK government agencies and universities. Before that, Rach worked for BBC News Online as a journalist, as well as in communications/marketing for various UK universities. She has a masters’ degree in international relations from Cambridge University and trained as a journalist in the UK. 

Daniel Ibáñez is a Spanish practicing architect and urbanist and director of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC). He holds a Doctor of Design degree from Harvard University GSD. His professional, research and academic focus is on the architectural and urban implications of renewable, carbon storing biomaterials in construction. He is building the tallest social housing mass timber building in Spain and he is co-author of the book Wood Urbanism: From the Molecular to the Territorial (Actar, 2019). Additionally, he is Senior Urban Consultant at the World Bank, advising international governments and institutions on timber housing and timber urban development.

Dr Simon Kay is Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission, Directorate General for Climate Action, Unit C3 Land Economy & Carbon Removals, covering the land sector and agriculture greenhouse gas emissions and removals. After obtaining his PhD from University College London (on the use of remote sensing to monitor agriculture), he worked for nearly two decades in applied research linked to Common Agricultural Policy implementation. Since 2013, he has been deeply involved in the formulation of the 3rd pillar of the EU 2030 climate policy framework concerning land use and focussing on agriculture and forestry.

Janez Potočnik is the current ThinkForest president. He is also Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel and Partner at SYSTEMIQ. He is an economist and former politician from Slovenia. He worked in the Government of the Republic of Slovenia as the Head of Negotiating Team for Accession of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Union and then as Minister without portfolio responsible for European Affairs. Mr. Potočnik was a Member of the European Commission from 2004 to 2014, initially responsible for the Science and Research and later responsible for the Environment. He was appointed as a Co-Chair of the IRP hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2014. In 2013, he received the United Nations Champions of the Earth Award.

Dr. Stephanie Roe is WWF’s Global Climate Lead Scientist, working to advance the science, leadership and progress on addressing  climate change and nature loss. She is also a Lead Author of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report on Climate Change Mitigation, and serves on the SBTi Scientific Advisory Group. Her research focuses on biosphere-atmosphere dynamics, the role of land and nature in climate pathways, and the response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change. Throughout her career, Dr. Roe has worked at the intersection of climate change, biodiversity loss, and economic development, striving to catalyze the transition to sustainable land-use, food and energy systems. Prior to WWF, she led on climate and land science at Climate Focus, and developed and implemented related strategies and initiatives with various governments and NGOs in over 20 countries. She also worked with the United Nations to implement a program on reducing deforestation in Indonesia, negotiated international climate policy as a Delegate of the Philippines to the UNFCCC, assisted the Public Ministry in Brazil on ecosystem service valuation and climate change legislation, and advised Fortune 500 companies and cities on climate strategies and sustainability initiatives at The Climate Group. Stephanie holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia. 

Dr. Hans Verkerk is principal scientist in the Bioeconomy programme of the European Forest Institute (Finland) and he leads a team on climate-smart forestry. He holds a MSc degree in Forest and Nature Management from Wageningen University and obtained his PhD degree with distinction from the University of Eastern Finland. He has been involved in studies on European forest resource assessments, woody biomass availability, forest ecosystem services and climate change impacts and mitigation.