Category: Zero Hunger
Category: Quality Education
Category: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Category: Responsible Consumption and Production
Category: Climate Action
Category: Partnerships for the Goals
Juba Maruashvili is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), where he leads the agricultural and food safety policy portfolio through close collaboration with both public and private sector stakeholders. He possesses extensive experience in the fields of agriculture, rural development, and project management. Juba Maruashvili has played a pivotal role in the implementation of the EU-funded ENPARD III and ENPARD IV programmes.
His work focuses on developing policies and legislation in agriculture and food safety, also in food systems, promoting the use innovative approaches for farmers, establishing a national system for food loss and waste reduction and food donation and supporting the creation of Producer Organizations across the country.
Prior to joining FAO, Juba held key positions at CARE International, where he gained extensive experience in developing participatory approaches at local level and governance coordination. His work with both state and non-state actors covers a wide range of policy areas, including agriculture and rural development, food safety, food loss and waste reduction, climate-smart agriculture, agricultural extension, aquaculture, public-private dialogue, grant management, confidence building, support to internally displaced persons (IDPs), monitoring and evaluation, business development, and consulting.
Juba Maruashvili holds a master’s degree in politics and international Relations.
Dr. Nino Moroshkina is a public health specialist with more than 28 years of experience working for the Government of Georgia and different international agencies. She joined the World Bank in 2008. In addition to broad in-country expertise, she was involved in the World Bank projects implemented in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Albania, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Romania. Before joining the World Bank, Nino served as the deputy minister of health and as an advisor to high-level policy decision-makers. Nino is a medical doctor by education.
Giorgi Tshekhani is the Chair of the Sustainable Development Law Committee of the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL) and an attorney licensed to practice law in Georgia. He holds an LL.M. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Chamberlain Fellow and recipient of the Parker Certificate in International and Comparative Law; a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford as a Chevening Scholar; and a Master’s degree in Law and Sustainable Development from the University of Manchester.
As Executive Director of the Georgian Bar Association, he played a leading role in numerous legal and justice reforms, initiating and overseeing programs that strengthened the legal profession and advanced access to justice. He currently serves as Chair of the Georgian Pro Bono Center and holds leadership positions within the European Association of Lawyers, the International Bar Association, and the New York State Bar Association. He also served as a Board Member of the UN Global Compact Network Georgia.
Adam Roy Gordon, based in Iceland, is a leading expert in corporate sustainability and the CEO of GlacialEdge Advisory, where he advises businesses and financial institutions on international sustainability strategy, regulation, and risk. Adam was the founding Executive Director of United Nations Global Compact USA, where he successfully positioned it as a driving force in aligning American businesses with global sustainability goals.
Hans Gutbrod is a Professor at Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia. He has written on politics, ethics, and commemoration, and also works as a consultant in policy research. Together with colleagues, Hans led a high-impact campaign to increase the transparency of research funding of policy research organizations. He previously was the regional director of the Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC). Hans has been working in the Caucasus region since 1999 and holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the London School of Economics. He is also active in business.
Marja Innanen is a sustainability and communications director at SOL, with extensive experience in sustainable development, having previously worked in the Prime Minister's Office and executive director fo UN Global Compact Netwrk Finland and other organizations.
She has a strong focus on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Finland, emphasizing collaboration across sectors. Her expertise includes sustainable finance, food business responsibility, and promoting gender equality in corporate leadership. She actively engages in discussions on corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives.
Alexander Revia is a seasoned executive with global experience in economic planning and strategic advisory. He currently serves as a senior leader in the Strategy Office at Diriyah Company—one of the Middle East’s largest master developers. In this role, among other responsibilities, he oversees city development strategies, sustainability and ESG policies, quality of life programs, and economic impact assessments.
Earlier in his career, he worked at NEOM and the World Bank Group and held a cabinet-level position in Georgia. He has also advised governments across the South Caucasus on economic, trade, and private sector development topics. Alexander holds advanced degrees in finance, economics, and management.
Ms. Mariam Bandzeladze serves as UNFPA Head of Office in Georgia since March 2024. She has worked for UNFPA Georgia for more than 12 years, leading its comprehensive portfolio of gender equality as well as the policy dialogue on human rights issues with the UN, government, and development partners since 2012. Before joining UNFPA, trained as an international lawyer, Mariam has worked on progressively increasing managerial positions in the private sector and the development field for more than 15 years. She holds an LL.M Degree in International Legal Studies from Georgetown University, Washington DC, and a Ph.D. Degree in Education Sciences from International Black Sea University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Mariam is a proud mother of a14-year-old son.
Kate Dundas As Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Australia, Kate Dundas champions the power of networks to drive change. With 20 years’ experience in entrepreneurship, urban development, and sustainability, she has built a circular economy business, led major redevelopments, and delivered strong business growth.
With over 15 years on boards and advisory groups, she combines governance expertise with a values-driven approach, helping organisations navigate change with purpose.
Passionate about people, community, and the planet, she leads with optimism and curiosity—in her work, projects, and everyday life.
Kate studied leadership and sustainability at Harvard University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London.
Dr. Dariusz Prasek is the Director of Sustainability Advisory Services, Member of the Executive Board of Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis”, Member of Advisory Board of the Association of Sustainable Development Experts (ASDE) in Ukraine, Member of Circular Gaia Symposium and Member of the Inter American Development Bank Invest (IDB Invest) Advisory Panel.
Dr. Prasek is an independent consultant in sustainable financing, environmental, social and governance areas with an experience in around 4000 investment projects across a number of sectors. Till recently he held a position of a Director of Operations at the Environment and Sustainability Department in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He was responsible for coordinating environmental and social due-diligence and monitoring of various Bank’s investment operations. Dr. Prasek has been the key contributor to the development and implementation of the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition Strategy which includes the implementation of the provisions of Circular Economy in the Bank’s supported projects. Before joining the Bank, he was an Advisor for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit). Dr. Prasek holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the Warsaw University of Technology, and from 1987 to 1991 was Assistant Professor at that university's Institute of Environmental Engineering. Dr. Prasek has published numerous articles in the fields of solid waste management, circular economy, environmental management, environmental aspects of project financing and is a member of many professional organizations. Dr. Prasek is a member of the United Nations Advisory Board on Circular Economy and Independent Expert on Development Financing at IDB Invest.
Anne Toft Sørensen is the Ambassador of Denmark to Georgia and Armenia since September 2022. She is an experienced diplomat who previously worked in the Balkans, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belgium and Canada.
Her main areas of expertise include: Ukraine, Russia, the Caucasus, EU policies, democracy and human rights, sustainable development, defence & security policies and crisis management.
Anne holds a Master degree in International Studies and a Bachelor degree in Anthropology and Political Theory from Aarhus University, Denmark.
Elizabeth Dove serves as the Executive Director for the Canadian Network of the United Nations Global Compact – the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. Elizabeth specializes in creating social impact and sustainability strategies that actively involve the public, business, and government sectors. Her transformative leadership, both as a consultant and senior staff member, has contributed to numerous societal advancements: more children have found loving foster homes, concerned individuals and the government more easily dialogue on foreign aid, banks have adopted new ways to support Indigenous communities, non-profits partner with business in innovative ways, businesses enhance inclusion and belonging through their community engagement, and regular citizens have discovered their superpowers as changemakers. With a passion for collaborative efforts, Elizabeth gravitates towards projects that bring sectors together, ensuring both organizational value and broader societal benefits. Her past roles include serving as the Engagement Director of Results Canada, the Director of Corporate Citizenship at Volunteer Canada, and the Director of the Centre for Social Innovation at Humber College. Elizabeth’s academic achievements include a Master of Management with a focus on Social Impact from McGill University, ESG Reporting Certification from Mount Royal University, and a Bachelor of Arts with an International Development major from the University of Guelph. She is also a proud recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contributions to social impact.
Antonio Hautle is the Executive Director and Network Representative at UN Global Compact Network Switzerland since 2015. Prior to this position, he was the director of Fastenopfer from 2001 until 2013 and the director of the Social Department of the State of Lucerne from 2013 until 2015. Hautle has a background in Philosophy, Business Ethics and Catholic Theology and holds a Master in Business Administration from the University of Geneva.
Beatriz Alonso is a senior sustainability and corporate responsibility professional with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in ESG strategy, stakeholder engagement, human rights, sustainable finance, reporting, and project management.
Currently Senior Manager for Sustainability at BBVA, Beatriz has collaborated with international organizations including the European Banking Federation, UNGC, OECD, the Thun Group, and UNEP FI’s Just Transition Consultative Committee.
Previously, she served on the executive team of CSR Europe, where she led services, published reports, and organized international conferences on the Sustainable Development Goals in Brussels.
She holds a law degree from the University of Zaragoza and an MBA from Universidad Comercial de Deusto, Audencia, and Bradford Management Centre. A former European Commission Bluebook trainee, she is also active in social entrepreneurship and international cooperation projects across Africa and Latin America.
George Zedginidze brings over two decades of leadership in climate change and environmental policy, driving impact from the national stage to the global arena. As former Deputy Minister and later Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Georgia, he played a pivotal role in shaping policy and advancing sustainable development. Among many other initiatives, he led all bilateral relationships on behalf of Georgia in the field of environment and climate change, and served as the country’s lead negotiator on these issues in the EU Association Agreement. Today, he serves as Head of Knowledge Management at the Green Climate Fund, following several senior management roles within the organization. George holds graduate degrees from Harvard University and the University of Oxford.
Erik Andermo is an Economist and Development Coordination Officer in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, which he joined in 2020. As RCO Economist, he leads and coordinates the analytical work of the UN Country Team on sustainable development. Previously he worked as an analyst and researcher in various positions in academia, the private sector, and the government of Sweden, specializing on Eastern European economies. In the 2010s, he pioneered the import of Georgian wines to Sweden. He holds a master’s degree in international economics from Stockholm School of Economics, and has studied physics at the Royal Institute of Technology.
George Nanobashvili is Economic Development Team Leader at UNDP Georgia, with 16 years of experience in economic diversification, rural development, energy efficiency, SME digitalization, skills development, municipal transformation, and private sector competitiveness. He contributed to UNDP’s SDG Acceleration efforts.
Previously, he worked on business climate reform, entrepreneurship support, local development, and DCFTA-related initiatives.
George holds an MA in Economics from Tbilisi State University and has completed studies in public policy, international relations, and trade promotion.
Ana María Camelo Vega is Senior Economics and Finance Researcher at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), where she leads the Center’s work on international climate finance with a strong focus on emerging markets and developing economies. Her work sits at the intersection of finance, economics, and sustainability, with a particular emphasis on blended finance, impact investing, and capital mobilization strategies that support climate-aligned development.
At CCSI, Ana María has spearheaded research and advisory projects aimed at scaling blended finance for the energy transition, resilience, and sustainable infrastructure. She has led multi-regional initiatives to identify financing pathways across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe—working closely with governments, DFIs, MDBs, and private investors to design structures that de-risk investment and align incentives across stakeholders. Her recent work includes systemic assessments of why blended finance has failed to scale in practice, and what structural reforms are needed to improve transparency, efficiency, and impact in emerging markets.
Ana María’s expertise spans both qualitative and quantitative methods, with a focus on the cost of capital, institutional and regulatory barriers, and the design of catalytic instruments—such as concessional tranches, guarantees, and revenue-backed structures—that enable private investment at scale.
Previously, she worked at Finance in Motion, where she managed technical assistance projects under the LAGreen Fund to strengthen sustainable finance markets in Latin America. Her work supported the issuance of green, social, and sustainability-linked bonds across ten countries, contributing to tangible mitigation outcomes and enhanced disclosure standards. She also served as an economic adviser at Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Housing, where she helped shape national green taxonomy frameworks, urban finance strategies, and policy alignment with the SDGs.
Ana María holds a Master of Science in Public Policy from NYU’s Wagner Graduate School, and dual Bachelor's degrees in Applied Economics and Global Studies from the College of St. Scholastica.
Tamar Rodonaia has a long-term experience in implementing corporate communications and corporate responsibility policies in Georgia.
She worked for many years at Geocell, a member company of the global communications group Telia, where she led the company's corporate social responsibility strategy.
Since 2018, Tamar has been working as an independent consultant, providing professional support to Georgian and international companies and organizations on the topics of corporate communications, social responsibility, and sustainable development.
Her work areas include important issues such as:
Tamar has a degree in social and political sciences and is currently conducting doctoral research on corporate responsibility.
Tamar also has many years of teaching experience; she teaches a lecture course on corporate communications at the Master's program at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA).
Tamar is the co-founder of the communications agency "Anagrama", one of whose main missions is to strengthen the importance of corporate responsibility in the private sector and actively involve companies in sustainable development processes.
Ana Chichinadze is the Communications Officer at the Georgia Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In her role for the past seven years, she focuses on raising awareness of ADB’s development initiatives, promoting best practices in sustainable development, and fostering dialogue on the country’s path to a resilient and inclusive future.
Ana holds Master’s degrees in Communications Management from Webster University in the Netherlands and Media Management from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA). She has several years of experience in the broadcast media and film industry.
Juan Zaratiegui Biurrun is a seasoned European diplomat with over 25 years of international experience in political affairs, security, human rights, and development cooperation. He currently serves as Political Officer at the European Union Delegation to Georgia. His career with the European External Action Service and the European Commission has taken him across Latin America, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Balkans, where he has held senior roles in political reporting, programme management, and coordination with EU Member States.
Throughout his career, Juan has represented the EU in sensitive negotiations, including human rights cases in Vietnam and security dialogues in Honduras and Libya. Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, with working knowledge of other languages, he combines diplomatic acumen with a deep commitment to human rights, institutional reform, and effective international cooperation.
