EXECUTIVE directors & CO-FOUNDERS
Isaac Kenyon
CEO
Meet Isaac, a British 5 x world-record-breaking eco-adventurer and international keynote speaker, redefining human endurance through world-record achievements. Picture rowing 3000 unsupported miles across the Atlantic Ocean, completing a full Ironman with a 15kg weighted vest, cycling over huge stretches of challenging seas and rowing for a staggering 3.5 days continuously without a break.
Beyond adventure/endurance; he’s an award-winning filmmaker and purposeful philanthropist, raising £millions for causes like environmental conservation and mental health. With a Geoscience masters degree, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London and an award-winning trustee of Mind mental health charity he connects the planet and wellbeing.
Isaac’s purpose is clear: creating a positive impact. He is one of the founders of ‘Climate Explorers,’ a B Corporation uniting adventure, well-being, and sustainability leadership. An adaptable keynote speaker, who has inspired and positively impacted 100s of corporations, educational institutions, TED, NGOs and more. He transforms organisations into high-performing, sustainable powerhouses, valuing mental well-being for extraordinary results.
‘I strive to challenge, to learn, and use my learnings to help others and our beloved planet’
Find out more about Isaac.
Alex Pierrot
COO
Alex is a French eco-adventurer, and survivor of severe clinical depression. He finds his purpose in inspiring others to connect with nature and promote the importance of rapidly scaling up climate solutions. The Pedal 4 Parks project marked his inaugural expedition, showcasing his resilience after battling depression. Once a rugby player and powerlifter, he returned to peak fitness with the team’s support, achieving feats beyond his previous imagination.
A mental health advocate, first-aider, and fundraiser, Alex now openly and honestly shares his journey to instil hope in others facing similar challenges. Time in the outdoors and nature forming such a key part of his mental wellbeing illustrates why he is so passionate about inspiring collective action towards a harmonious coexistence with nature.
Alex also serves as a trustee for the MAKO Foundation, where
his chief responsibility is to develop and implement its strategy as a nascent
grant making body, with a particular focus on supporting environmental
sustainability initiatives.
‘My aim is for everyone to care about and protect the environment’
Find out more about Alex.
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Dr. PAUL JEFFERISS
CHAIR and Sustainability champion
Paul Jefferiss comes to Climate Explorers as a sustainability policy leader with over thirty years’ experience in the public, private, not-for-profit and academic sectors. He is currently a Non-Executive Director at the Carbon Trust and Programme Lead on Climate and Sustainability for the UK National Committee on China. Before that, he was BP’s executive global lead on sustainability policy and partnerships for over a decade, including energy, climate, biodiversity and human rights, and chair of the Advocacy Task Force of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI). Earlier in his career, he held positions as a UK Renewable Fuels Regulator, Executive Director of the Green Alliance, and lecturer on environmental management for UNEP at Tufts University.
He has written and spoken widely on energy, climate, the environment, and sustainability, with over a hundred publications and presentations. He has given testimony to over twenty UK Royal Commission and Parliamentary Committee inquiries, and served on over fifty government, academic and private sector governance and advisory boards in the US, UK, and EU.
He holds degrees from Cambridge, Harvard, and Tufts. In 2003 he received the Queen’s Pioneer to the Life of the Nation Award and since 2008 has been listed in Who’s Who.
‘Unless ordinary people, you and I, are motivated to call for more government and corporate action – and crucially to take action ourselves – change will not go nearly far or fast enough.’
Puja Vashisht
Finance Champion
Puja, a seasoned CFO with extensive experience in media and SaaS, excels in leadership and business partnering across various company structures. With a focus on efficiency, she emphasizes key elements such as forecasting, working capital management, and margin advising. Puja’s down-to-earth approach simplifies financial concepts for all stakeholders.
Halfway through her finance career, Puja shifted focus to sustainable interests, influenced by her upbringing’s reverence for nature. Disappointed by the lack of sustainability emphasis in mainstream media and Western yoga culture’s commercialization, she pursued yoga and Ayurveda training to promote holistic well-being aligned with nature. Inspired by her studies and client transformations, Puja now educates others on these practices, advocating for listening to one’s gut instincts.
An avid adventurer, Puja discovered her passion for surfing in Bali, driving her commitment to sustainable living. She encourages individuals to make small sustainable changes collectively, envisioning the impact on a global scale. Puja’s diverse experiences and holistic approach reflect her dedication to empowering others and preserving the planet.
‘I am excited to have joined the NED team at Climate Explorers to contribute my skills to foster a greater sense of environmental consciousness, inspire positive behavioural changes, and promote sustainable practices.’
Sarah Angus
Performance and IMPACT champion
Sarah has worked in the public sector for the last 20 years doing a variety of diverse, daunting, but always interesting roles. Having initially studied in and then practiced as a psychologist, this time she has developed interventions and worked with individuals who often come from disadvantaged communities. Diversifying in experience, Sarah has worked in strategic planning and performance and senior prison operational management. Through this work she has developed skills in strategy and policy development, stakeholder management and operational management, all of which reflects a career in leadership roles. She has moved into environmental and physical design, championing sustainability in the development of infrastructure and has also recently returned to part-time study, completing an Executive MBA to expand on her leadership skills and to develop a focused understanding of financial management and modelling. Sarah brings this wealth of diverse experience to the board of Climate Explorers.
Outside professional life, whilst she is not a hillwalker, Sarah has a deep appreciation of her environment in Scotland. From the back garden and greenery of Edinburgh to the beaches of Thurso, she understands the link between a sense of calm and the natural environment.
‘The vision of Climate Explorers is one which I firmly believe in. The focus on building resources for the benefit of the global community is a journey on which I am fortunate enough to join Alex and Isaac on.’
ELENA TEDESCO
Grants and Investments champion
Elena, a seasoned finance professional, brings decades of experience in global and emerging markets equity investment, with a strong focus on sustainability.
In 2021, she joined Vontobel Asset Management as a fund manager for global impact equities, aligning investments with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prior to this, Elena spent nearly two decades at Federated Hermes, where she co-managed global emerging markets ESG strategies and directed sustainability efforts. Before her tenure at Hermes, she worked as an analyst at Deminor, focusing on independent research.
Elena’s interest in ESG issues dates back to her high school years, shaping her career philosophy around responsible capital allocation for future generations. She holds a CFA® charter, a master’s degree in European economic affairs from the College of Europe, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from Palermo University.
Elena’s diverse background includes work and studies across Europe, reflecting her commitment to global perspectives.
‘Climate Explorers’ services point the finger at the sustainability risks we face and at some of the potential solutions. I would like to support the board in making the services more scalable, developing the distribution channels, and, in due course, accessing capital markets to grow further. ’
JenNIFER bilec
INCOME GENERATION AND MARKETING CHAMPION
Jennifer brings a wealth of experience with a background in Conflict Transformation, NGO work, and Business Strategy, focusing on Product, Marketing, and Sales processes.
She has a rich expertise in e-commerce and Marketing Technology, honed through her international marketing endeavours across diverse sectors such as SaaS, Technology, and notably, Pet Insurance. Her career trajectory began in the NGO space, collaborating with organizations like Benetech, Right to Play, and Amnesty International, particularly on projects like landmine detection and human rights. Transitioning to the Technology Commercial sector, she led the marketing function for the element14 community, earning accolades for their innovative B2B approach.
Currently, Jennifer is employed at Forrester Research, where she crafts solutions for C-Suite executives, focusing on enhancing Marketing, Sales, and Product processes to drive revenue growth.
‘I’m excited to join the Climate Explorers board, where I aim to leverage my experience in scaling businesses, marketing, and sales to advance our shared vision of a world where global collaboration can achieve sustainable climate change. The paramount concern for me is my son and ensuring that his generation inherits a habitable planet. Climate Explorers’ mission to promote a reconnection with nature, emphasizing the significance of climate change, is among the most crucial steps we can take for our physical and mental well-being, and for the health of our planet.’