Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is the Chairman of Sierra Leone’s Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, and a distinguished development economist with more than 30 years of experience in agricultural economics and sustainable development. He is the founder of The Energy Nexus Network (TENN), a regional hub for sustainable energy solutions, and served for five years as a Member of Parliament in Sierra Leone, as well as a former member of the PanAfrican Parliament. Dr. Yumkella spent two decades in senior leadership roles within the United Nations, including serving as Under Secretary, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Sustainable Energy for All, and founding CEO of the SE4All Initiative, in addition to completing two terms as Director General of the UN Industrial Development Organization. Widely recognized for helping secure global consensus on Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 9, he continues to shape international policy as a member of the High Level Group of Personalities at the Africa Europe Foundation and cochair of its Strategy Group on Energy, and serves on numerous international advisory boards, commissions, and expert panels.