ABOUT US
Why Ambition Loop?
ABOUT US
Our History
The power of the ‘ambition loop’ was recognized by countries negotiating the Paris Agreement in 2015 when they created the role of UN Climate Champions to drive ambition and action among non-state actors to support and inspire faster action among national governments. The partners of the We Mean Business coalition [where Nigel was then CEO] picked this up and made it central to their approach to systems change.
As UN Climate Change High Level Champions we embedded this idea in the work of our teams and partners which led to the launch of the Race to Zero, Race to Resilience, GFANZ [in partnership with Mark Carney], the Breakthrough Agenda at COP26, the Sharm el Sheikh Adaptation agenda at COP27, and the Foods Systems Transformation program at COP28.
ABOUT US
We Believe
Boldness drives innovation.
In order to provoke new thinking and innovation at the scale required, we need to set transformative goals. These must be uncomfortable, even stretching credibility. Just as when JFK committed to landing on the moon and was ridiculed because many of the required technologies were not available, our bold goals should challenge the status quo, make us feel uncomfortable and force us to explore new frontiers. By holding fast to them we believe that the very best of humanity will emerge — our ability to innovate beyond our dreams!
Generosity of spirit builds a basis of trust needed for change.
Each of our breakthrough goals is enormous, daunting, way more than can be tackled by any one organization or sector. We believe the only way to move forward amongst mission-driven organizations is to consistently act with generosity — taking time to understand the world view and capabilities of partners, and encouraging the growth and improvement of existing initiatives.
Radical Collaboration is essential for transformative change.
Multiple stakeholders must align on breakthrough goals and implementation pathways to bring about the scale of change we must deliver. This means collaborating up and down supply chains, across different regions of the world, between public and private sectors. In particular it means ensuring the right balance of voices in all initiatives, which is why we will have a bias towards actors from emerging economies, where the challenges are greatest across all our campaigns.
ABOUT US
Partner Organizations
01.
-
Using their own innovative model, One Point Five quantifies how businesses can maximize their return on investment and impact through a marriage of financial & environmental modeling.
Learn More
02.
-
A collaboration powered by TED and Leaders’ Quest, Countdown is TED’s first issue-specific initiative to champion and accelerate the bold ideas and underinvested solutions that can bring us closer to achieving a zero-carbon world.
Learn More
03.
-
Operating as a family of projects and partnerships, Global Optimism elevates leadership, transforms mindsets and accelerates action to protect and regenerate the web of life.
Learn More
04.
-
With 20 years of delivering transformational programs globally, LEADERS’ QUEST is Ia unique network of generous people who lead successful change — from grassroots communities to boardrooms through thoughtuflly designed learning journeys, offsites, advisory committees and more.
Learn More
05.
-
Race to Zero is a global campaign rallying non-state actors – including companies, cities, regions, financial, educational, and healthcare institutions – to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer, net zero world.
Learn More
06.
-
Capital for Climate is a climate solution investment accelerator facilitating strategy formulation, asset allocation, and opportunity sourcing across all science-based decarbonization pathways through a variety of services.
Learn More
07.
-
Working with philanthropists, business and policy leaders, scientists, artists, activists, faith leaders, and community builders, Blue Dot Collective is on a mission to ignite change at an individual and collective level.
08.
-
GMH collaborates with governmental and non-governmental entities to scale up cost-effective solutions in methane mitigation and contribute to transformational change in the energy, agricultural, and waste management sectors.
09.
-
A global team of adaptive innovators, creative problem solvers, and facilitators of societal transformation, striving to make the world more peaceful, just, and sustainable through enhanced multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Learn More
10.
-
For 25 years, Meridian Institute has worked on an extensive array of food system issues, both aquatic and terrestrial, to connect leaders from across sectors to forge new partnerships, helping them move beyond polarized debates into constructive discussion.
11.
-
The Race to Resilience campaign – the sibling campaign to Race to Zero – is the race to catalyse a step-change in global ambition, to accelerate the investment and implementation of adaptation solutions, and to put people and nature first in pursuit of a resilient world where we do not just survive climate shocks and stresses, but thrive in spite of them.
Learn More
12.
-
A diverse network of change-makers committed to sharing strategic insights, inspiration and impactful specific opportunities to crack the crises of climate, covid, conflicts and inequalities and achieve our Sustainable Development Goals.
13.
-
Established by UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, Gonzalo Muñoz and Nigel Topping, the Climate Champions Team works to enhance ambition and strengthen the engagement of non-State actors in supporting Parties, working with the Marrakech Partnership, to deliver the goals of the Paris Agreement.
14.
-
The Just Rural Transition initiative (JRT) brings together food producers, governments, businesses, investors, civil society, rural and indigenous peoples to champion people-centred solutions to food systems challenges. They aim to transform food systems by catalysing policy reform and mainstreaming food, land use, justice, equity, and rural livelihoods at the centre of efforts to realise sustainable development goals and the Paris Agreement.
The JRT Secretariat is housed within Meridian Institute, with funding from the UK Department of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Nigel Topping, CMG
UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP26 Presidency & Co-Founder
-
Nigel Topping, CMG has led and been involved in many of the global initiatives uniting business and governments in tackling climate change. He is cofounder of AmbitionLoop, a not-for-profit organization working to facilitate systemic change through radical collaboration between businesses and governments. He served as the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP26, where he launched global initiatives like Race To Zero, Race To Resilience and GFANZ. He is a Non-Executive Director of the UK Infrastructure Bank and business champion on the UK Climate Change Committee, and strategic advisor to the 57-country collaboration launched at Glasgow, the Breakthrough Agenda. Prior to this he was CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition following an 18 year career running and owning manufacturing businesses. Nigel was awarded a CMG in 2022 in Queen Elizabeth II's final honors list for his contribution to accelerating action on climate change and is Honorary Professor of Economics at Exeter University.
Gonzalo Muñoz, CMG
UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP25 Presidency & Co-Founder
-
Gonzalo is the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion from the COP25 Presidency, appointed by the Chilean Presidency in 2019. From that position, he co-led with Nigel Topping the Race To Zero, Race To Resilience and GFANZ campaigns. Previously, he co-founded and led TriCiclos, one of the most recognised Latin American companies in circular economy and recycling. Gonzalo also co-founded Sistema B (B Corp in Latin America), Manuia and Polkura Winery. He is also a member of the Club of Rome. Currently, he sits on the board of the Global Foodbanking Network, CDP Latin America, TED future forum, Chapter Zero Chile, among others. For COP28 he chairs the non state actors strategy on food systems. And for INC he is the general coordinator of the Friends of the action agenda to stop plastics pollution. Gonzalo has been recipient of the Chilean national awards on environment, innovation and social entrepreneurship; and he was awarded the honor of CMG in Queen Elizabeth’s final honors list in 2022.
Paula Guerra
Co-Founder, Plastics Lead
-
Paula has more than 15 years of experience in the solid waste sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. She has held positions at Quito (EMASEO EP), as manager of the National Program for the Integrated Solid Waste Management of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE) of Ecuador, in the development of public policies and waste management at the national level. She is an external consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and for MANUIA/TriCiclos, based in Chile. Paula is co-founder and CEO of ReciVeci, a social and technological innovation startup in Ecuador and Peru. She is an Agricultural Science Engineer from EARTH University in Costa Rica with a Master's Degree in Sustainable Development from the University of London and advanced studies in Solid Waste Management at UNESCO IHE in Holland.
Jennifer Lenhart
Co-Founder, Land & Soil Lead
-
Jennifer joins Ambition Loop with nearly 20 years of experience addressing environmental challenges via integrated approaches. She comes most recently from WWF, where she supported urban climate strategy in circa 900 cities, together with efforts on urban nature and planning as Global Cities Lead. She holds a PhD in multilevel governance from Wageningen University (Netherlands) and an Erasmus Mundus joint-MSc in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (MESPOM) from Lund University (Sweden) and Central European University (Hungary/ Austria). She previously worked at UN-Habitat (Kenya); the City of Malmö Environment Department (Sweden); a sustainability consultancy in Seattle (USA); and a youth education project (Haiti). She is part of IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin team, covering various multilateral environmental agreements, including the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Describing herself as a cosmopolitan nomad, Jennifer has lived in 25 cities in 8 countries, now calling Santiago de Chile home, where she can live out her motto, “Good Cities, Good Nature,” in the Andes Mountains.
Jacinda Njike
Co-Founder, CCMA Lead
-
Jacinda Njike is an attorney and Managing Director of the Climate Capital Mobilization Accelerator housed within the Ambition Loop. As a wife, mother and attorney Jacinda strives to contribute to sustainable development. Based in Douala, Cameroon with her family, she also serves as the Africa Finance Lead for the UN High Level Climate Champions. Her experience as a corporate attorney, strategist and advocate for climate finance began in the large law firms of Chicago and Douala, subsequently she joined a big 4 accounting firm covering 11 sub saharan francophone african countries where she built the Sustainability practice. In her current role she focuses on unlocking the 2.4T USD (set forth in the Songwe & Stern Climate Finance Framework) which is necessary to achieve the clean energy and nature positive transition in the global south to keep the Paris Agreement alive. She speaks English as a first language, French and Spanish at the conversational level and is also learning her family's mother tongue Medumba. Jacinda received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, Juris Doctorate in International Corporate Law from Northwestern University and studied Public Policy at the University of Chicago.
Carolina Escobar
Co-Founder, Director of Communications
-
Carolina Escobar is an international media personality specializing in sustainability and currently serves as the Director of Communications at Ambition Loop, where she leads strategic efforts in collaboration, sustainability, and ESG. With over two decades of experience, she is recognized for her expertise in sustainability, social impact, and journalism.
Carolina has contributed to global events like COP28 in Dubai as a communications consultant, moderator, and speaker for the Future Mobility Hub. In Chile, she is a respected advocate for social and environmental issues and was honored by the Ministry of the Environment in 2024 for her commitment to environmental education.
Her career spans prominent roles at CNN en Español and Chile's TVN, where she led programs on news, health, sustainability, and social matters. She also directs content across television, radio, and digital platforms, and is the Director of Sustainability at BE Mass, a global communications and content creation company focused on sustainability and ESG.
Melissa Pinfield
Co-Founder, Senior Advisor, Food Systems Loop
-
Melissa Pinfield is a Senior Partner at Meridian Institute and Executive Director of the Just Rural Transition Secretariat, which is partnering with Ambition Loop and the Climate Champions Team to deliver the Food Systems Call to Action.
Melissa has helped develop and launch a range of multi-stakeholder initiatives to tackle complex issues including nature crime, voluntary carbon market integrity, and regenerative food systems. She has more than 20 years of experience working on climate, environment, sustainable development and international relations. Prior roles include Program Director of the Food and Land Use Coalition and various positions in the U.K. and Australian Governments focussed on forests and land use, climate finance, policy and partnerships and China. She holds a Masters in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University.
Born in Adelaide, Melissa currently lives just outside of London. She loves cooking healthy food for friends and family, travelling and hiking.
Daniel Vercelli
Chair & Co-Founder
-
Co-founder and Managing Partner of Manuia, a Latin American consulting firm in ESG and sustainable business development. He also serves as board member or board advisor in companies related to circular economy, energy generation / efficiency and technology. He also sits on the board of Chapter Zero Chile, the Chile-Brazil Chamber of Commerce, the advisory board of Fundação Eco+ in Brazil and on ProChile’s Sustainability Council. In addition, he teaches strategy, sustainability and climate governance at several graduate and corporate governance programs in Chile. Previously Daniel spent 21 years in The Coca-Cola Company, where he held different positions in Latin America including General Manager of the subsidiary in Chile. Daniel has an undergraduate degree in economy and business administration, an MBA degree and studies in corporate governance.
Gaspar Guevara
Advisor, Plastics Loop
-
Gaspar Guevara is a multifaceted professional at the forefront of sustainability and innovation. Currently, as Strategy and Business Development Manager at MANUIA, he spearheads initiatives to advocate for global agreements at high-level UN events and designs pioneering energy transition strategies for major players in Chile's private sector. With a keen focus on sustainability. Simultaneously, Gaspar is a dedicated educator, shaping the minds of tomorrow through courses on circular economy, entrepreneurship, and innovation at Universidad Católica de Chile. Gaspar holds a B.A. in Business Management and Strategic Design and is certified in GRI Standards, Circular Economy Pioneer, and Design Strategy Activation, embodying a holistic approach to driving positive change in both corporate and academic realms.
Clarisa Marambio
Project Manager, Plastics Loop
-
Clarisa Marambio, Chilean based in New York City, is Project Manager at Ambition Loop, where she works positioning climate action agendas and leading the coordination of efforts to engage key stakeholders and partnerships. She recently graduated with an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), with a focus on capital markets, international law, social impact campaign, impact investing, and environmental science. Clarisa also conducted extensive research on geopolitics of critical minerals and ESG mining policies in emerging markets at Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP). Before this, she worked as a Sustainability Consultant at Deloitte and has a background in strategic communication and investigative journalism.
Facundo Etchebehere
Co-founder, Senior Advisor, Land & Soil, Food Systems & Plastics Loops
-
With over 20 years of experience in corporate roles spanning local, regional, and global levels, Facundo Etchebehere is a seasoned leader in public affairs and sustainability. In recent years, he has driven Danone’s BCorp certification, advanced the company’s “Société à Mission” agenda, and facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogues to promote sustainable growth. His efforts have been instrumental in founding initiatives such as One Planet Business for Biodiversity, Business for Inclusive Growth, Action Agenda for Regenerative Landscapes, the Dairy Methane Alliance, and, more recently, Towards Net Zero at CGF and the Future Fit Dairy Initiative.
Before his corporate experience, Facundo worked as a researcher in applied economics, an economic consultant, and served in various roles within the Argentine public sector at both national and provincial levels.
His leadership has also extended to the non-profit sector, and served as a board member in several organizations across local, regional, and international scopes.
An economist by training, Facundo holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Universidad Católica Argentina.
Claudia Nicolini
Partnerships manager
-
Claudia is an experienced practitioner with ten years of experience. She holds a bachelor's degree in architecture and urban planning and an MSc. in Environment and Sustainable Development from the University College London. She brings a passion for driving creative solutions towards system change and sustainable development. Her expertise lies in leading and coordinating teamwork proposals and managing multicultural and international teams, where she translates fresh ideas into actionable plans. Her creative spark is further ignited by teaching courses in "Sustainable Cities and Communities" and "Circular Economy in Cities" at the Built Environment Faculty. She cultivates a dynamic learning environment where students explore innovative pathways for building resilient and sustainable urban spaces. She builds strong stakeholder relationships, fostering a collaborative environment where creativity thrives, ensuring a just transition toward a sustainable future.
Josefina Achaval-Torre
Advisor, Food Systems and Land & Soil Loops
-
Josefina Achaval-Torre joins as Food Systems Advisor in a strategic role shared between Ambition Loop and the Climate Champions Team, driving synergies between UNFCCC and CBD Action Agendas while supporting the development of a dedicated Action Agenda for the UNCCD. Her responsibilities encompass food systems portfolio management, strategy development, and delivering key insights on sector trends.
With extensive experience spanning climate security, agri-food systems, and environmental management, Josefina brings valuable hands-on expertise from her work in agricultural production and forest conservation in Argentina and South Africa. Her policy-level experience includes impactful roles with UNDP, CGIAR, and UNEP, where she supported the building and managing of high-impact multi-stakeholder coalitions in the food systems space. Most recently, she served as Global Coordinator for a collaborative initiative where she led an alliance of financial institutions and organisations committed to science-based food systems transformation.
Josefina holds an MSc in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management from Lund University. Originally from Cordoba, Argentina, her international career has taken her across Asia and Europe, and she currently calls Oslo, Norway home. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and is currently learning Norwegian. Outside of work, Josefina is an outdoor enthusiast who can be found hiking, camping, kayaking, and even ice-bathing in Norway's natural landscapes.
Sara Velander
Land Governance Associate, Land & Soil Loop
-
Sara is an environmental professional specializing in land governance, sustainable development, and science-policy interfaces (SPIs). As a Junior Researcher at the University of Münster, she spent four years analyzing SPIs tied to the Rio Conventions, with a focus on land use under the 2030 Agenda. Her work includes peer-reviewed publications on gender in land use science, the effectiveness of SPIs, and leveraging expertise in the UNCCD. She has actively participated in several UNFCCC COP meetings, reporting on land use and transparency in climate agreements.
Sara holds an Erasmus Mundus MSc in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management (MESPOM), conducting her thesis on land reform and contract farming in Kenya, and a BA in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic. She also interned at the IISD and SwedBio, working on agriculture issues in Sub-Saharan Africa and global environmental communications.
Sara brings a global perspective to her work and is committed to fostering collaboration across sectors to address inter-linked global environmental challenges.
Nicolás Benkel
Finance Associate, Land & Soil Loop
-
Nicolás Benkel is a dynamic professional with a passion for making a positive impact. Based in Chile, he brings extensive experience working with international organizations and engaging diverse stakeholders. As a Finance Associate for Latin America, Nicolás supports both the UNCCD Action Agenda and the Climate Champions Team in unlocking and untapping green finances in the region.
Over the years, Nicolás has worked as project manager in a variety of initiatives, fostering collaboration between governments, civil society, and the private sector. His goal is always to create partnerships that benefit everyone and deliver meaningful results.
Nicolás has also worked closely with indigenous communities, NGOs, and universities to encourage electoral participation among marginalized groups, as well as facilitated important conversations between businesses and governments in Chile and Peru to promote sustainable development.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Universidad Católica de Chile and a Master of Public Administration from the London School of Economics. He has also completed graduate studies in Corporate Sustainability and Gender Studies.
Wangu Mwangi
Science and People Lead, Land & Soil Loop
-
As part of the Land and Soil Loop team, Wangu brings her expertise in linking international sustainability initiatives with community-based development actions. Her work is exploring how to better link scientific data and global policy commitments on land restoration with realities on the ground. Wangu has held various strategic communications roles, including with TMG Think Tank for Sustainability (Berlin, Germany) and United Nations University (Maastricht, The Netherlands). In between, she has served as a consultant with diverse international research and development organisations, including the International Institute for Sustainable Development, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, European Centre for Development Policy Management and the Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO). For the past five years, Wangu has been based at her small organic farm in central Kenya, which she aspires to grow into a farm-based ecotourism venture. While this throws up new challenges everyday, the opportunities to connect with other sustainable farmers and networks offers a constant source of inspiration and practical insights on how to build true solidarity networks from the ground up.
Mariann Breu
Manager, Land & Soil Loop
-
Mariann is an experienced project manager with nearly 20 years of experience in managing sustainability initiatives in the NGO sector.
In her most recent role as Senior Manager for Footprint & Markets at WWF Chile, she led climate, fisheries and markets initiatives, and helped develop and launch Chile’s national alliance for climate action, ACA Chile, as well as the multi-stakeholder Central South Anchovy Fishery Improvement initiative. Previously, she worked at WWF Switzerland, launching and managing WWF’s corporate seafood sustainability platform, the WWF Seafood Group. She holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Zurich.
Mariann has recently returned to her hometown Zurich after 7 years in Santiago de Chile. She is passionate about nature and local food, reflecting her personal and professional interests in sustainability.
Pan Ei Ei Phyoe
Water Systems Associate, Land & Soil Loop
-
Pan Ei Ei Phyoe is a climate and water specialist currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Oxford, where she also serves as a Water Systems Associate at Ambition Loop. With a rich background in climate policy and holistic water management, she has worked with prominent organisations such as the International Water Management Institute, the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, the Red Cross Climate Centre, the International Hydropower Association, and the Stockholm International Water Institute. Her expertise played a critical role in advancing the water agenda for the presidency at UNFCCC COP28 in the UAE, emphasising the integration of water security and climate policy.
Pan Ei's leadership further extends to her involvement with the University of Oxford’s Water Network, where she has demonstrated her commitment to advancing global water-related agendas. She holds dual master’s degrees—one in Water Science, Policy, and Management from the University of Oxford and another in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Stuttgart—along with a Bachelor of Engineering from Myanmar Maritime University. Her research and professional focus are centred on enhancing climate resilience, adaptation, and water security through technical expertise, policy development, and collaborative stakeholder engagement.
Marina Dragicevic
Operations Manager, Land & Soil Loop
-
Marina brings 8 years of public sector experience to her role as Operations Manager for the Land and Soil Loop at Ambition Loop. Previously, she worked at the Chilean Ministry of Transport, where she contributed to public policy development and oversaw bidding processes for the Metropolitan Public Transport System of Santiago, as well as preparing bidding terms for regional areas. She managed key concession tenders, transitioned 40% of bus routes to new operators, and integrated 1,640 high-standard buses and 13 electric bus depots.
At Ambition Loop, Marina supports the team lead, coordinates efforts across the team, and manages budgets and expenses to ensure smooth operations. Her experience in strategic planning and team coordination drives impactful initiatives for land and soil sustainability.
Mohamed Tarek Kamar
Partnership and Governance Associate Land & Soil Loop
-
Tarek is the Partnership and Governance Associate at Ambition Loop, bringing four years of experience in research, environmental consultancy, and project management focused on natural resources management, local governance, and building community resilience to climate risks. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and a Master’s in Rural Development. Previously, Tarek worked as a Research Assistant at the Center for Development Research in Bonn, exploring the role of nature-based solutions in mitigating climate impacts and protecting public health.
In Egypt, he engaged in developing a framework for the UNDP-supported Bioenergy for Sustainable Rural Development project, which aimed to promote bioenergy access for rural communities to advance local renewable technologies. Additionally, on the Benban Solar Project in Aswan—one of the world’s largest solar parks with a capacity of 1.8 GW—Tarek worked to ensure sustainable operations through comprehensive environmental management and adherence to global standards, contributing to the project’s significant role in reducing CO₂ emissions and supporting Egypt’s renewable energy goals.
Francisco Velasco Dellafiori
Communications Associate, Land & Soil Loop
-
Francisco Velasco is a Communications Associate at Ambition Loop and an accomplished international journalist with a dynamic career spanning television broadcasting and corporate communications. He began his journey at CNN before moving on to become a news anchor for Deutsche Welle and France 24, where he also pursued his passion for tourism and sustainability through various projects.
Francisco has served as the Head of Communications at INNSPIRAL, Latin America’s first corporate innovation accelerator, and is the founder of Brand Republic, a strategic communications agency dedicated to sustainable initiatives.
With a Master’s in Psychocreativity from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, he brings extensive expertise in storytelling strategy development.
Constanza Montenegro
Operations Assistant, Land & Soil Loop
-
Constanza is part of the first generation of Bachelor’s graduates in International Studies in Chile, with additional studies in International Development, Women and Global Public Policies, and Trade Policy. She is passionate about global development and has supported research for several institutions, including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Currently, she assists the Ambition Loop team in operations, gaining valuable experience and insights into addressing sustainable development and pressing environmental challenges. Constanza loves nature, multiculturalism, and exploring new places through travel.
Daniela
Tejada-Venegas
Communications Director, Land & Soil Loop
-
Daniela is a seasoned communications strategist with more than a decade's experience across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Acting as Land & Soil Communications Lead, she is passionate about driving social and environmental impact through innovative campaigns.
Prior to joining Ambition Loop, Daniela was Communications Director at the international NGO, Count Us In. A founding member, she oversaw communications for ambitious campaigns, harnessing the power of popular culture to inspire the mainstream to take climate action and influence systems change. With a background in the arts (MA Arts & Cultural Management, King's College London; BA Drama with French, University of Exeter), Daniela is known for her audience-first approach to strategy design and for holding collaboration at the heart of her work.
Benjamin Navarro
Operations Manager, Mangrove Breakthrough Loop
-
Benjamin Navarro is a Chilean Forestry Engineer with a specialization in territory and sustainability from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Within the Ambition Loop team, he works as an assistant to Nigel Topping, as well as supporting tasks across the whole team. His international experience has led him to participate in different projects coordinating actors from diverse cultures and backgrounds, complemented by his knowledge of various group management tools. Due to his major, he has a profound connection with nature, enjoying it through trekking and photography, which leads him to find deep motivation to work in the field of climate change.
Patrick Dykmans Holm
Finance Lead for the Mangrove Breakthrough Loop
-
After working more than 10 years in deals & corporate finance as a consultant, Patrick has spent his last 3 years exploring the intersection between Nature, finance and business.
This exploration started as the Senior Financial Advisor for the Ministry of environment, water and ecological transition of Ecuador, it expanded as the president of the investment committee of Fondo de Inversion Ambiental Sostenible (FIAS) and as a consultant for the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) and then with his own firm, Codename: Transparency where he focused on how we define value of an ecosystem and trying to avert the transformation of value chains to “valueless chains.”
Sam Goodman
Communications Director, Mangrove Breakthrough Loop
-
Sam Goodman brings nearly 20 years of experience working in communications, climate policy, and natural resource management in Latin America and the United States. He currently serves as Communications Director for the Mangrove Breakthrough Secretariat, where he creates and oversees content, manages media relations, and maintains stakeholder engagement.
Previously, Sam provided communications and policy expertise to a number of regional and international NGOs, including Climate Policy Initiative, Conservation International, and La Ruta del Clima. He has worked with numerous U.S. federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Education.Sam holds a dual master's degree in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University and the UN Mandated-University for Peace in Costa Rica, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Politics from Oberlin College.
Ignace Beguin Billecocq
Co-Founder, Executive Director of the Mangrove Breakthrough Loop
-
Ignace Beguin Billecocq is the Executive Director of the Mangrove Breakthrough Hub, hosted by Ambition Loop.
Ignace brings extensive experience in building global coalitions that unite businesses, governments, and other stakeholders to drive impactful action. From 2018 to 2023, he played a pivotal role in developing the Ocean Stewardship Coalition at the UN Global Compact. He also spearheaded the creation and deployment of the Ocean and Coastal Zones Programme for the UN High-Level Climate Champions, spanning COP26 to COP29. In this capacity, he launched the Ocean Breakthrough campaign, a transformative effort to drive ocean action across the three Rio Conventions.
In addition to his contributions to ocean action, Ignace established the Food Systems portfolio at the UN Global Compact, further demonstrating his ability to convene diverse stakeholders and deliver transformative initiatives. His work emphasizes the critical role of businesses in achieving the SDGs and integrating nature into transition plans for sustainable development.
Ignace holds a Master’s degree in International Law from the University of Aix-Marseille, France.
Isadora Pla Carlin
Program Manager, Food Systems Loop
-
Isadora is the Food Systems Program Manager at Ambition Loop and also works as a Food Systems Associate at the Climate Champions Team. Her background includes research on food systems at the Co-Laboratory of Ecology, Complexity, and Society, UC. Additionally, she has served as a lecturer and facilitator for the Institute for Sustainable Development and various other entities, fostering impactful dialogues on global change. Isadora has a BSc. in Biology and an MSc. in Natural Resources. She grew up in Chile and she is passionate about nature and the outdoors, often spending her free time climbing or hiking.
ABOUT US
Associate Partners
Adam Kahane
Mahmoud Mohieldin
Manuel Pulgar Vidal
Kim Stanley Robinson
Bogolo Kenewendo
Patricia Espinosa