Maxim Vergeichik, Senior Nature Economist, UNDP

Maxim Vergeichyk is UNDP’s senior nature economist. He supports UNDP engagement in projects aiming at nature-positive development, working on nature-related financial disclosures, debt instruments, government and private sector planning for biodiversity-positive budgets and projects. Maxim has experience in designing and managing national, regional and global projects in sustainable natural resource management and conservation, overseeing portfolios worth around $100 in annual budgets, working with governments, private sector, NGO and research communities. Maxim holds a BA from the University of Falmouth, MSc. in economics from Belarus State University, and MSc. in Management of Technology from University of Boulder.

Aleksandra Holmlund, PhD student, SLU

Aleksandra Holmlund is a senior forestry professional with over 20 years of experience of international forestry management and an exceptional track record of successful forestry investments. Aleksandra is currently a PhD student at the Swedish University of Agriculture researching on innovative financing opportunities, such as biocredits, aiming at financing biodiversity conservation in boreal forests. She is one of the initiators of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance, which is endorsed by UNDP, UNEP and Sida.

Mats Pellbäck Scharp, Head of Sustainability, Ericsson

Mats Pellbäck Scharp is Head of Sustainability at Ericsson with responsibility for climate action, circular economy, energy performance as well as product portfolio aspects of digital inclusion and triple bottom line impact of products, services and company operations.

During mats leadership the company has set targets that are accepted to be on a 1.5°C by the Science Based Target initiative. Mats is representing Ericsson in various boards and advisory roles such as WEF CEO Climate Leaders senior advisors’ group and on the board of The Pathway Coalition as well as member of the steering group for the Exponential Climate Action Roadmap.

Sara Carlsén, Biodiversity Coordinator, Boliden

Sara Carlsén is a biologist and biodiversity coordinator at Boliden Mineral. She has an MSc in land reclamation and restoration from Cranfield University with 7 years of experience of ecological restoration, ecosystem services and biodiversity strategy in the mineral extraction industries both in the UK and Sweden. As biodiversity coordinator at Boliden her main task is to steer the company towards its goal for increased biodiversity by 2030. A roadmap is currently being developed to outline the acitivies and timeline for implementation towards that goal. Sara is also project manager of “Mining with Nature”, the roadmap to increased biodiversity in the mining and metals industry. She is also a steering group member for the development of ClimB – a new biodiversity metric to be launched in 2023.

Fredrik Nilzén, Head of Group Sustainability, Swedbank

Fedrik Nilzén has fifteen years of experience in sustainable business. He is currently Head of Group Sustainability at Swedbank with the responsibility to support, govern and manage sustainability considerations across the banking business in four home markets. Currently member of the Board of Directors in “Swedish House of Finance” and “Swedbank Hypotek”. Before joining Swedbank, Fredrik had the role of Corporate Citizenship Lead for Accenture Nordics as well as consultant in the field of Sustainability, Digitalization, Partnership Strategy, Information Management and Marketing Operations across Telecommunications, Utilities, INGOs and Financial Services. He has been Global Key Account for an INGO between 2008–2017 and has experience from working in Pakistan with mobile telecommunication development. Fredrik holds a degree within Industrial Engineering & Technology from Linköpings Tekniska Högskola in Sweden and at ENSGI in Grenoble.