Professor Jacqueline McGlade

Professor of International Public Policy and Governance, Strathmore University Business School, Kenya, UCL Engineering, UK, and co-founder of Downforce Technologies, a global start-up providing advanced analytics and digital twins for carbon and natural capital investments and net zero, nature based solutions to climate change.
Previously she was UN Environment’s Chief Scientist (2013-2017); Executive Director of the European Environment Agency (2003-2013) and Director of the UK Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences (1997-2000).
She has served on ESA and UKSA Scientific Advisory Committees and been deeply involved in the Sentinel missions and products and services.
Trained as a marine scientist and biochemist, her current work is on developing nature based solutions to climate adaptation and mitigation, focussing in Kenya on the Mau Mara forest ecosystems, ocean and human health, the circular bioeconomy, AI systems and intergenerational prosperity.
She has published more than 200 research publications and books, produced award winning films and radio series (Planet reThink, Netflix Our Great National Parks).
Her awards for science include Knight of the Order of St James (Monaco); 2013 Global Citizen; 2017 Geospatial Ambassador, Il monitor del Giardino Award (Italy); Masaryk Gold Medal (Czech Republic); 1992 Minerva Prize (Germany); 1991 Jubileum Award (Sweden).