Sang-Hyup Kim became Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) on January 1, 2025, returning to the organization he helped establish in 2012. His 40-year career spans media, academia, and policymaking, dedicated to sustainable development and climate action.

He previously co-chaired Korea’s Presidential Commission on 2050 Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth and has advised KAIST, where he also serves as Visiting Professor. He was President of the Jeju Research Institute, Director of KAIST’s Center for Sustainable Development, and founder of the Coalition for Our Common Future, alongside numerous national and regional leadership roles.

Minister of Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea

Dr. Jimmy Gasore is the Minister of Infrastructure. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Gasore served as Project Manager at REMA and led the establishment of the first and only ambient air quality monitoring system in Rwanda that monitors and reports air quality levels in real-time between 2017 and 2021,
Dr. Gasore holds a Ph.D. degree in Atmospheric Sciences from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is a former lecturer at the University of Rwanda. Since 2013, Dr. Gasore has led the establishment of the Rwanda Climate Observatory; a comprehensive field station that monitors atmospheric composition related to climate change, air pollution, and ozone depletion. The first and only one of its kind on the African continent.
Dr. Gasore contributed to various studies, consultancies, and reports that form the bulk of knowledge on ambient air quality in Rwanda and has made significant contributions to the understanding of air quality in Africa. He has served on various national and international expert panels and technical committees.

Aisha Mohamed Abdullah Al Abdooli is the Director of Green Development & Environment Affairs Department at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

Al Abdooli has extensive experience of 22 years in different fields including: Green Development, Air Quality, Net Zero, Circular Economy, Sustainable Development & Green Economy, in addition to her expertise in developing policies, strategies and regulatory frameworks in environmental topics, and Waste & Chemicals Management.

Aisha had worked in managing BOOT and PPP projects in Sewerage Infrastructure, Sewage Treatment Plants and Waste Management Projects in addition to managing EPCM firms to ensure that the Construction Environmental and Social Management Plan (CESMP) is implemented in Aluminum Industry and the project construction is executed in compliance with all applicable environmental standards.

Aisha holds Master Degree in Project Management from the British University in Dubai and Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering from the UAE University in Al Ain and Public Sector Innovation Diploma from Mohamed Bin Rashid Center for Government Innovation .

Caroline Raes is an international development specialist with over 15 years of experience advising national and local governments across Europe and Africa on climate action, green growth, and urban resilience. She brings deep expertise in program management, resource mobilization, and strategic partnerships.

Since February 2023, Caroline has served as the Country Representative for GGGI Rwanda, where is responsible for strategic leadership and operational management of the country program.

Previously, Caroline was Head of Programming for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Ghana, overseeing strategic direction, program quality, and partner engagement for an $8 million annual multisectoral portfolio. From 2020 to 2022, she led CRS Sierra Leone’s Urban Resilience Program, managing initiatives in watershed management, slum upgrading, solid waste systems, COVID-19 response, and urban malaria—totaling $6 million in funding.

Caroline also served as Senior Program Manager at the Global Resilient Cities Network (formerly 100 Resilient Cities) where she supported the development of resilience strategies in ten African cities and Paris. At IPE Global, she advanced climate-compatible urban-industrial development in Ethiopia’s Mek’ele–Kombolcha corridor on behalf of FCDO and CDKN. Earlier, Caroline was Senior Program Manager at the Global Resilient Cities Network (formerly 100 Resilient Cities), supporting resilience strategies in ten African cities—including Kigali—and Paris. At IPE Global, she advanced climate-compatible urban-industrial development in Ethiopia’s Mek’ele–Kombolcha corridor, working on behalf of FCDO and CDKN.

Earlier in her career, she worked as a Transport Planner at l’Institut Paris Region, advising subnational governments on transport demand management and low-carbon mobility. She also contributed to Ethiopia’s World Bank-funded 2035 National Urban Development Spatial Plan.

Caroline holds an MA in Urban and Regional Studies from Sciences Po Paris and a BSc in Economics from the University of Pierre Mendes France. She is fluent in Amharic, French, and English.

Dr. Didacus Jules is a distinguished leader in education, social transformation, and organisational re-engineering, with an extensive career spanning national, regional, and international spheres. Since 2014, he has served as the Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), leading the strategic integration and development efforts of eleven Member States for over a decade.

His career trajectory reflects a steadfast commitment to advancing education and policy reform across the Caribbean and his key leadership roles include:
• Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council
• InterRegional Coordinator of the International Literacy Support Service
• Permanent Secretary for Education and Human Resource Development (St. Lucia) as well as
• Permanent Secretary for Education & Chief Education Officer (concurrently) in Revolutionary Grenada

Dr. Jules holds an impressive academic portfolio, including a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – The University of the West Indies (UWI); Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction – University of Wisconsin-Madison; Doctor of Philosophy in Education Policy – University of Wisconsin-Madison and an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) – The University of the West Indies. He has also served on several influential boards and advisory bodies, including Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning, UWI Mona; Knowledge, Innovation & Exchange (KIX) Program; Global Partnership for Education (Latin America & Caribbean region); Chancellor’s Commission on UWI Governance; Caribbean Climate Accelerator and the World Bank Task Force on Caribbean Education Strategy 2020.

In recognition of his significant contributions to national and regional development, Dr. Jules was awarded the prestigious Saint Lucia Cross (Gold) by the Government of Saint Lucia.

His most recent publication, Education for Uncertainty: Collected Speeches on Transforming Caribbean Education for Global Competitiveness, is a thought-provoking anthology of 25 speeches spanning more than three decades. As a leading educator and policy expert, Dr. Jules explores the complexities of the modern world—defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity, and hyper-connectivity—and their implications for education in the Caribbean. His work presents a visionary approach to reimagining education systems that foster resilience, inclusivity, and innovation in an ever-evolving global landscape.

With over a decade of leadership at the OECS, Dr. Jules remains a pivotal figure in regional policy development, dedicated to shaping education and governance frameworks that empower Caribbean societies for the future.

Gianguglielmo Calvi serves as a Senior Knowledge Management Systems Expert at the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) and GEF ISLANDS Programme. With his two decades of experience in international projects, he plays a key role in advancing knowledge management systems that facilitate knowledge and information sharing and foster virtual communities’ growth. <br><br>

Throughout his career Gianguglielmo covered multiple positions for important international stakeholders: researcher in cognitive science and artificial intelligence at the ISTC-CNR (Rome – Italy), knowledge solutions architect, knowledge manager and programme manager at the International Labour Organisation, at UN/CEFACT, at UNDSS  (Geneva – Switzerland), at WHO EUROPE (Copenhagen – Netherlands) and Director of Research and Development at Voolinks (Bamako – Mali). He is also founder and co-founder of two startups (Heuristica and EnQu Ideation) focused on bringing digital innovation in the management and generation of knowledge.<br><br>

Gianguglielmo holds a master’s in computer science with a specialisation in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Pisa, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Knowledge Management from the IKF Institute Luzern, and relevant international certifications in project management (PRINCE2, ITIL) and international development (GIZ – Guide for Practicing corporate Sustainability, GCSP – Meeting the Cyber Security Challenge). He is also co-author of twenty+ publications in cognitive science books and proceedings.<br><br>

Outside of his professional endeavours, Gianguglielmo is actively engaged in community-building initiatives, serving as a board member of the Swiss Knowledge Management Forum, organiser of the SKMF Round Tables Geneva, and contributing with his expertise to various international platforms focused on digital innovation and knowledge sharing.

Dr. Hyungjun Kim is a KAIST Endowed Chair Professor at the Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy in Daejeon, Korea. He also holds affiliations with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Graduate School of Green Growth and Sustainability, and the Graduate School of Data Science. He also serves as the director of the KAIST Institute of Climate-Environment-Energy. Alongside his research, he is dedicated to bridging science and society. His research focuses on the climate–water–food–energy–economy nexus, with particular emphasis on how anthropogenic climate change affects global energy, water, and carbon cycles. To investigate the complex interactions between geophysical processes and human systems, he actively develops numerical models and leverages satellite remote sensing techniques. His work encompasses the evolving risks of natural disasters—including tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires—and their long-term implications under future climate scenarios.

Dr. Kim has published extensively in the field of climate impact research and has received numerous awards in recognition of his scientific contributions. He serves as a lead author for the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) Working Group I (WG1). He brings over a decade of leadership experience with the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) under UNESCO. He currently serves as co-chair of the LS3MIP (Land Surface, Snow, and Soil Moisture Model Intercomparison Project) under CMIP6 and the LMIP (Land Model Intercomparison Project) under CMIP7, coordinating international efforts on land–climate interactions.

Ingvild Solvang is the Deputy Director and Head of the Climate Action and Inclusive Development (CAID) Unit in the Investment and Policy Solutions Division (IPSD) in GGGI.

She has nearly 20 years experience working in international development and humanitarian affairs. Based in Southeast Asia for nearly two decades, she has responded to emergencies, while also managing development programs for various organizations worldwide, always with a focus on poverty reduction, gender equality and social inclusion. Prior to joining GGGI’s HQ in Seoul, Ingvild was the Global Lead for Entrepreneurship with CARE’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Team. With her partner, she has also supported the management of ViaVia Jogja, a sustainable tourism social enterprise in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Ingvild has a postgraduate degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Oslo and an MFA in Creative Writing from City University of Hong Kong. She has also studied Gender at SUNY Buffalo and Forced Migration at the University of Oxford.

Member of the National Assembly, Republic of Korea

Jens Orfelt is a passionate and results-driven executive with over 18 years of experience. He is engaged in the renewable energy industry, specialising in offshore wind. With a proven track record of successfully leading and growing organisations and large-scale renewable infrastructure projects across Asia Pacific markets, Jens is committed to driving sustainable energy solutions that contribute to a greener future. He is originally a lawyer and started his professional career as a criminal prosecutor working for the Danish Justice Department from where he ventured into civil litigation and arbitration. His career extends to more than a decade long experience working exclusively in the offshore wind sector.

Lilibeth Acosta is the Deputy Director of Green Growth Performance Measurement at GGGI. Based in Hungary, she has over 20 years of experience in indicator development, integrated assessment, and scenario modeling of climate change, biodiversity, agriculture, land use, and renewable energy. She previously served at the Philippines’ National Economic Development Authority, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and academic institutions in Asia and Europe. She has also consulted for ADB, UNCCD, and UNCTAD. Lilibeth holds a PhD in Agricultural Policy (Bonn), an MPhil in Economics and Development (Cambridge), and a BSc in Agricultural Economics (Philippines). 

Dr. Malle Fofana is the Regional Director for Asia and Officer-in-Charge (OIC) for the Deputy Director-General for Green Growth Implementation at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Dr. Fofana has more than 22 years of professional experience in the development and private sectors, specializing in resource mobilization, project development, and implementation. He supports the Green Growth Transition of GGGI’s member countries in Asia — from policy to investment — by working closely with governments, the private sector, financial institutions, multilateral development banks (MDBs), and impact investors.

Prior to joining GGGI, Dr. Fofana served as Managing Director at leading management consulting firms, focusing on development issues in Africa. In these roles, he defined, led, and implemented a wide range of economic and social development initiatives across the continent. He has contributed to over 100 projects in key sectors, collaborating with major donors as well as private sector partners in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Nizhar Marizi is the Director of Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). He has extensive experience working and collaborating with national and local government institutions, international development agencies, and non-governmental organizations. He is specializing in environmental and energy issues and uses his expertise to promote green growth and renewable energy.

He was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Kitakyushu for studies in Regional Social Systems after graduating with an M.Sc. in Environmental Science from the University of Indonesia and a B.Eng in Urban and Regional Planning from the Institute of Technology Bandung.

Romain Brillié is an accomplished international development executive with over fifteen years of experience in strategy design and planning, climate finance, stakeholder engagement, and program management across Europe, Asia, and Africa. He currently serves as Director of Strategy and Global Initiatives at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), where he provides strategic counsel to the Director-General and oversees GGGI’s organizational strategy and global initiatives.

Mr. Brillié has held several senior positions within GGGI, including Head of Strategy and Country Representative in Senegal and Mongolia. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping national and regional strategies, securing over USD 50 million in climate finance, and advancing initiatives in climate policy, data and artificial intelligence, and organizational performance. Prior to his tenure at GGGI, Mr. Brillié led country operations for Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières and advised multiple international private and public sector entities as a senior strategy and sustainability advisor.

Mr. Brillié holds a Master’s degree in Management from ESSCA Business School, with a specialization in sustainability and non-profit organizations. He is a Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance (Frankfurt School of Finance and Management), an Advanced Certified Development Project Manager, and an alumnus of the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme at the University of Oxford. He is fluent in French and English, proficient in Spanish and Mongolian.

RD SILIWANTI, MPIA, Expert Staff to the Minister on Economic and Financial Synergy, Ministry of National Development Planning, Indonesia

Rd Siliwanti currently serves as the Expert Staff to the Minister for Development Funding Innovation at the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas. She holds a doctorate in political science from University of Indonesia, a Master of Public and International Affairs (M.P.I.A) from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universitas Padjadjaran. With over three decades of her career at Bappenas, she has held various strategic positions in development funding, innovative financing, international cooperation, and political affairs.

Her notable positions include Act. Director for Bilateral Development Financing (Juni 2024 – Mei 2025), Director for Multilateral Development Cooperation (September 2020 – Juli 2022), Director for Multilateral Foreign Funding (Februari 2018 – September 2020), Director for State Apparatus (Maret 2015 – Februari 2018), among others. She has also led several UN-supported initiatives, such as the Indonesia Democracy Index (UNDP), Peace Corps Program, Election-MDP-UNDP, SIDES Project-UNDP. This reflects her long-standing expertise in governance, development cooperation, and innovative financing for sustainable development.

Spencer Low is Google’s cross-functional sustainability leader in Asia Pacific, the regional head of a global team that leads sustainability strategy and programs. He works with a broad range of stakeholders and is an active advocate for leveraging Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies to tackle critical sustainability challenges.

Previously Spencer was the Chief Sustainability Officer and CEO Travel Retail at the Singapore-listed aviation services and food solutions company SATS Ltd., where he was instrumental in transforming the company into a global leader in sustainability. Prior to that, he held senior management roles within the technology companies Booking Holdings and Rakuten Group after spending the first decade of his international career at Bain & Company. Spencer has served on the Board of Directors of KrisShop and currently chairs the Innovation task force of the United Nations ESCAP Sustainable Business Network.