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Matthew Lindley has dedicated his professional career to improving the health and well-being of poor women and children. At IPPF—which delivers health and education programs, including workplace health services, women’s empowerment, youth leadership, and humanitarian needs—he oversees the fundraising program in more than 170 countries. Lindley and his team develop strong and effective partnerships across industries, including retail, construction, and finance, and with bilateral donors and philanthropic foundations. In recognition of its leadership role, IPPF receives unrestricted support from most OECD countries to support its work in developing countries.

As Vice President, Access to Medicines, at Sanofi, Dr. Robert Sebbag participates in the company’s access to medicines strategy development for the Southern Hemisphere. Prior to joining Sanofi, Dr. Sebbag worked in Brussels creating a communications platform for companies in Europe’s pharmaceutical industry association, EFPIA. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Communications for the vaccine company Aventis Pasteur. Dr. Sebbag also teaches public health courses within the Paris hospital system, focusing on tropical parasitic diseases. He is active within the French Red Cross and has participated in numerous health missions in the Southern Hemisphere.

Valerie Smith joined Citi in 2004 and oversees Citi’s global sustainability initiatives, including leading the bank’s sustainability strategy and goals in partnership with the businesses, and providing expertise on related issues and trends. She also leads the development of Citi’s sustainability stakeholder engagement strategy and human rights approach. Prior to Citi, Smith worked in the environmental sector, including the National Audubon Society, the Brainerd Foundation, and the Houston Advanced Research Center. She began her career with the U.S. Peace Corps, where she served for two years in Honduras. She serves on the boards of the UN Global Compact’s U.S. Network and the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

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As a Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute in London, Virginie Le Masson works on the social dimension of disaster-risk reduction and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Her research combines social development and environmental issues in rural and urban contexts. She leads the work on gender equality at the Climate and Development Knowledge Network and for the Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters program. Previously, Le Masson worked with the Red Cross on disaster risk management in the Indian Ocean, and she regularly consults with NGOs, primarily in South Asia and central Africa. Le Masson is currently co-editing a book on gender relations and climate change, and she conducts gender-awareness trainings and lectures at UK and European universities.

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Samantha Harris focuses on climate resilience and emissions reductions for BSR’s climate change practice and related work with the We Mean Business coalition. Before joining BSR, she worked on the Climate Action Network policy team, where she drove the development of common positions for hundreds of NGOs during international climate negotiations, focusing on short-term mitigation action, a long-term global goal, climate finance, and low-carbon technology. Harris was previously at the NGO Islands First, advising Pacific small island states on climate change and oceans policy. She began her career as one of the first paralegals in the enforcement division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.