Community

The Forum of Young Global Leaders is a community of innovators from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Search current members and alumni by year awarded, sector or region.

Christoph Baumann

Envoy for Sustainable Finance, State Secretariat for International Finance, Switzerland

Christoph Baumann is Envoy for Sustainable Finance at the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF). In this role, he leads the Swiss government's sustainable finance activities, ranging from negotiations in multilateral bodies (such as the G20) to domestic initiatives. Christoph is a Policy Fellow at the University of Cambridge. He holds an LLM in international law from the University of London, a master's degree in economics from the University of Zurich, and is a CFA charterholder.

Christoph is focused on making global financial flows consistent with a pathway to net-zero carbon emissions and a nature-positive state in his multinational roles as head of delegation of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group, Co-Chair of the Working Group on Transition Finance of the International Platform on Sustainable Finance, Member of the Stewardship Council of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, as well as Swiss Sherpa of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action. Domestically, Christoph led the mandatory implementation of climate-related reporting standards - based on the TCFD recommendations. Before joining SIF, he worked in executive positions in the private sector, being instrumental in establishing a securities dealer, a digital bank, and a fintech focused on foundations.

Natalia Bayona

Director of the Innovation, Education and Investments Department, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Spain

Danae Kyriakopoulou

Co-Head, Climate Hub, Bank of England, United Kingdom

Economist. Co-Head of the Bank of England’s Climate Hub, setting the strategy for ensuring the UK economy and financial system are resilient to the risks from climate change and managing the implications for the macroeconomy and financial stability. Previously a Distinguished Policy Fellow at the London School of Economics working with Lord Nicholas Stern, leading policy work for the G7, G20, COP and Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action on the intersections of climate change, international finance and economic development. Also served as Chief Economist and Director of Research of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum and as Senior Economic Adviser to the ICAEW and Managing Economist of the Centre for Economics and Business Research. University of Oxford BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and an MSc in Economics for Development. Selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2022.

Sanna Marin

Strategic Counselor, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, United Kingdom

The first in her family to attend university, Sanna Marin became the youngest Prime Minister in Finnish history and the world’s youngest female state leader. She has encouraged new approaches to the future of work, social services and gender equity in her country and the world.

Virginijus Sinkevicius

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, European Commission, Belgium

Virginijus Sinkevičius has been the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries since 2019. He was formerly the Minister of Economy of Lithuania (2017-2019). Before becoming the Minister of Economy, Sinkevičius led the Economic Committee of the Parliament of Lithuania. Sinkevičius was elected to Parliament in October 2016. Before that, he was a Team Lead for Regulatory Affairs at Invest Lithuania. Prior to joining Invest Lithuania, Sinkevičius was Managing Editor at the US Office of The Lithuanian Tribune in Washington D.C. Sinkevičius holds a BA in International Relations and Affairs from Aberystwyth University and a Master’s degree in European International Affairs from Maastricht University.