Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE was sworn in as mayor in May 2018, with a commitment to transform Freetown using an inclusive, data-driven approach to address challenges in the city. The three-year Transform Freetown plan details 19 concrete targets across 11 sectors, with community-owned climate action initiatives to facilitate job creation and improve living standards at its heart. A finance professional with over 25 years of private-sector experience, her public-sector engagement began with her work during the Ebola epidemic in 2014. She is a chartered accountant with an M.Sc. in politics of the world economy and a B.Sc. in economics.

Mark Carney is currently the U.N. special envoy on climate action and finance and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s finance adviser for COP26. He sits on the board of the Arnhold Distinguished Fellowship Program within Conservation International. He is also an external member of the board at Stripe, a global technology company building economic infrastructure for the internet. He was previously governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020 and governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013.

Melati Wijsen is a 20-year-old full-time changemaker and movement builder. She founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags at the age of 12. She has spoken on world stages such as TED and the United Nations and has recently co-chaired the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership committee. She sat on the inaugural Expert Advisory Panel for the Earthshot Prize and her film, “Bigger Than Us,” premiered at the 74th Cannes Film Festival 2021. She recently launched her new company, YOUTHTOPIA, focusing on youth empowerment through short, meaningful peer-to-peer programs and providing them with the tools they need to be changemakers. Her vision is to make YOUTHTOPIA the go-to platform for young people to learn about frontline skills.