Leading the Path Towards Sustainable Advertising & Media

As environmental issues become more pressing, there are two possible responses: forget it and hope that government and corporations will figure it out, or take action yourself.

In the “take action yourself” camp, a few individuals are leading the way. One such person in California is Ed Begley, Jr.

Turning up at Hollywood events on his bicycle, Ed has been considered an environmental leader in the Hollywood community for many years. He serves on the boards of The Coalition For Clean Air, and The Thoreau Institute.

His work in the environmental community has earned him a number of awards from some of the most prestigious environmental groups in the nation, including the California League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, The Coalition for Clean Air, Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Baykeeper, and the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation.

He currently lives near Los Angeles in a LEED Platinum home, rides his bike and takes public transportation.

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She is the founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist, the only national organization dedicated to addressing the pipeline and pathway issue for Black girls, women, and gender expansive individuals in the climate sector. Under her leadership, BGE has grown as a trusted, national organization that has worked with 80 corporate and non-profit partners and hosted 120+ events across 12 HUB cities. In the summer of 2024, BGE launched the Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship Program – the first climate pipeline program created for and by GenZ of color. With a membership of over 2,000, Forbes has called Black Girl Environmentalist “one of the largest Black youth-led organizations in the country”.

Outside of her role at BGE, Wawa sits on boards and advisory councils for the Environmental Media Association, Climate Power, Brian Eno’s Earth / Percent, Sound Future, National Parks Conservation Association, and EarthJustice. Wawa is also an inaugural member of the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council of the US EPA – the first federal youth-led advisory council in US history. In her role, Wawa advises Administrator Reagan on how to increase the effectiveness of the EPA’s efforts to address a range of environmental issues impacting youth.

For her work, Wawa has been recognized as a Glamour College Woman of the Year, a L’Oreal Paris Woman of Worth, a Climate Creator to Watch by Harvard, and has been named to several notable lists – including Forbes 30 under 30, Ebony Power 100, the Independent’s Climate 100, Grist 50, and AFROTECH Future 50 – and is an established public speaker who has presented at Harvard University, The Washington Post Summit, the New York Times Climate Forward, and conferences around the world. She most recently featured on the January 2023 digital cover of Vogue alongside Billie Eilish and 7 other climate activists.

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Recently named one of 2024’s “Climate Creators to Watch” by Pique Action, and featured in the Washington Post and HuffPost, Michael blends academic rigor with relatable, accessible content that resonates with policymakers and everyday citizens alike. Michael actively leverages social media to amplify his impact and advocate for a sustainable future. His videos span the intersections of economics, climate, finance, and culture; by highlighting intersectional issues and pushing for systemic solutions, he encourages people to imagine a better socioeconomic system.

With a degree from Stanford and years of experience consulting for forward-thinking startups, Michael is a leading voice on reshaping our economy to prioritize people and the planet. His expertise spans both economics and environmental activism, and he’s actively involved in movements like the Post Growth Institute and initiatives like The Cool Down, which help businesses and individuals transition to a sustainable economy.

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She has spent a decade at Google and drives sustainability for Google TV and Platforms & Ecosystems. Katy is also passionate about the built environment and interior design, and is LEED accredited and holds an MBA with certifications from Pratt, MIT, and Harvard focused on sustainability.

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An MBA graduate from the University of Washington, he excels at blending brand strategy, culture, technology, and sustainability.

As VP of Client Experience at Green Thread from Horizon Media, Chris leads marketing and development, and chairs the Thought Leadership and Communications workstream for HorizonEco’s annual Sustainable Media Summit. He is also the Director of Strategy & Campaigns  at New Zero World, an NGO focused on overcoming climate action barriers through creativity. Chris is involved with the Earth Public Information Collaborative (EPIC), which delivers global climate campaigns. He contributed to New Zero World’s white paper A New Era in Climate Communications and authored Still Waiting for My Jetpack, exploring marketing’s role in technological and cultural shifts.

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As a global leader in the marketing and communications industry, she believes social and environmental responsibility are as important as profit. She has used this belief system to transform the IAA brand and it’s culture over the last 4 years.
Dagmara has a 22 year track record building & transforming category leading brands globally and in the US. She has unique expertise in crafting living brand ecosystems with a key objective of igniting ongoing consumer desire and irrational loyalty. Her Clients included: P&G, Unilever, Pfizer, Frederic Fekkai, Nespresso, Estee Lauder, Ralph Lauren, Taylor Swift Fragrance, The Diamond Trading Company/DeBeers, Steinway & Sons, The Corcoran Real Estate Group, Roberta Roller Rabbit.
She is a board member at ACT Responsible, MBA teacher at Baruch College, speaker and advisor to CMOs/CEOs.

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