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Jadir Figueira, a taekwondo grandmaster, is the visionary founder of the Jadir Taekwondo Association, an organisation that has empowered over 7,000 children and young people from underprivileged areas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, through martial arts. As the former head coach of the Brazilian taekwondo team, his leadership and expertise have made a significant contribution to the development of the sport in Brazil. Grandmaster Figueira has implemented an innovative methodology combining taekwondo with environmental education, fostering discipline, respect and environmental awareness in the lives of countless young individuals.

Danilo Malafaia, a 3rd dan taekwondo black belt, serves as the Administrative Director of the Jadir Taekwondo Association, an organisation that has supported over 7,000 children and young people from disadvantaged areas. For several years, he has been a dedicated taekwondo instructor within the association, helping to transform the lives of young individuals through the discipline and values of martial arts. Danilo has also worked in the technical department of the Brazilian Taekwondo Confederation, where he contributed to the development of several key projects aimed at advancing the sport nationally.

Aileen McManamon is the Chair of the Green Sports Alliance (GSA), a membership-based organisation of over 400 professional sports leagues, teams, tours, universities and corporate partners around the world, advancing environmental and social agendas through their operations and influence. Founded in 2011 through the initiative of Paul Allen (Microsoft, Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trailblazers), the GSA provides members with the Play to Zero platform, guiding the sector towards net-zero energy, water and waste, and recognising industry leadership. The GSA also convenes the sector annually at its Summit, regionally and internationally throughout the year, and facilitates ongoing education, dialogue and collaboration in both climate action and environmental justice. Aileen is also the Founder and Managing Partner of 5T Sports Group, a global sports management firm and certified B Corp. 5T focuses on future-proofing the sports industry by aligning team and league revenue models with today’s environmental, social and economic realities. Prior to founding 5T, Aileen directed brand strategy for FIAT and Alfa Romeo in Europe, including sports partnerships with the Tour de France and motorsport events. After a 10-year career in the technology sector, she returned to sport, working with the Olympic Games, FIFA Women’s World Cup, MLB, MLS, and the NFL, as well as brands such as Microsoft, EA Games, Hewlett-Packard and Mercedes-Benz. Ms McManamon co-authored the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, and 5T Sports Group was recognised by the UN Global Compact Network for leadership in championing the UN Global Goals. On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, she was named a Gamechanger by Sports Business Journal for her pioneering work in socially and environmentally responsible sports management.

Dr Sheila Nguyen’s more than 20 years of professional experience can be seen as a life of service to our natural world — through sport. In recognition of her work, Sheila was awarded Honorary Lifetime Membership by the British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS) and was named one of the Australian Financial Review Top 100 Women of Influence (2019). She successfully delivered the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Sustainability Strategy as the tournament’s Head of Sustainability, and is the Co-Founder and a Non-Executive Director of the Sports Environment Alliance, a coalition of sport and environmental leaders in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand working to protect the places where we play, so we can continue to do what we love — watch and play sport.

Prince Osisiadan is a sustainability, legal and engineering professional with experience across the mining, construction, transport, banking, real estate and hospitality sectors. He has held roles at AngloGold Ashanti, Newmont Mining Corporation and Barclays Bank. He is currently the CEO of SUCCA Africa in Accra, Ghana, providing global management consultancy with a focus on sustainability/ESG and human-centred capital projects. An alumnus of institutions including KNUST-Ghana, the University of Twente in the Netherlands, and the University of Cambridge in England, Prince holds memberships in the Ghana Bar and the Ghana Institution of Engineering. He is a certified ISO 14001 Lead Auditor, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Trainer, and Sustainability/Climate Risk Professional (GARP). Additionally, he leads the green football project in Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) and SPORTS20, Germany.

Claire is the CEO and Founder of Sport Positive, supporting the global sports industry to increase action and ambition on climate change, sustainability, biodiversity and environmental justice; through direct support, community creation, the annual Sport Positive Summit, Sport Positive Leagues and The Climate of Sport podcast.
Her views and work have been covered by BBC Sport, Sky Sports News, The Mirror, BT Sport, Euronews, The Independent, Reuters, The Times, The New York Times, The Nikkei, The Japan Times, The Athletic, Rouleur, Euractiv, Ecolospot and more. She is a frequent keynote speaker and chairperson at industry conferences. In 2022 she appeared on Sport Business Journal’s ‘Influential Executives To Know in Sports Sustainability’ list.
Claire is a contributor for Forbes.com on sustainability and is an Advisory Board Member for Ecoathletes, Athletes of the World and The Sport Ecology Group. She sits on the and UEFA Environment Steering Group and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Earth Decides group.

Haruki Sawada is the Executive Director of Green Sports Alliance Japan. In collaboration with Green Sports Alliance in North America, he founded the Japanese chapter of Green Sports Alliance in 2018 together with six other like-minded individuals, with the aim of rebuilding awareness around sport and translating its principles to other sectors in Japan. Prior to establishing the new chapter, Haruki developed his international business development skills at Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan and at the Swiss-based trading company Litasco. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from Kyoto University (2002) and enrolled in a doctoral programme at the Graduate School of Mie University, Faculty of Bioresources, researching the development of green transition technologies using locally available bio-resources (2021–2024).

Brian Wesaala is a seasoned IT professional with over 10 years of experience. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Management from the Open University (United Kingdom), where he specialised in innovation and project management. He is a trained accountant — Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) — and a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). He also holds a professional master’s degree in Football Business from the Football Business Academy. Brian has worked with various international organisations, including the World Organisation of the Scout Movement and the United Nations. In 2018, he founded the Football Foundation for Africa to help create a sustainable business model for the future of African football. A passionate follower of the game, he possesses a deep understanding of the global football industry and is committed to using the sport to improve the livelihoods of young people in Africa.

Karishma Ali is a Pakistani footballer and the founder of the Karishma Ali Foundation (KAF). The foundation empowers girls and women through sport and education, particularly in remote areas such as Chitral. KAF has trained over 400 girls and launched initiatives such as the “Gamechangers for Climate Justice Football Camp”, helping young women become climate activists. Ali was named to the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list and is a member of the UN Women 30for2030 initiative, which promotes gender equality.

Jamie Farndale is a former Scottish rugby player and currently the General Manager of Club Development and Sustainability at Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR). After his playing career, he dedicated himself to environmental causes. Under his leadership, HKCR launched the "Call of the Dragon" sustainability action plan, focusing on people, the planet, and social impact. Farndale has led HKCR to join the UN "Sports for Nature" initiative, making it the first international rugby union to do so. His goal is to position Hong Kong as a global leader in sustainable sports development.