Generations of Women Leading Climate-Ready Communities

Elevating community voices to advance resilience, emergency preparedness, and climate action.

Please note this is an hybrid event.

Climate resilience isn't built in one sector, one boardroom, or one government office. It's built in communities, and increasingly it's being led by women.

Generations of Women Leading Climate-Ready Communities brings together women leaders and allies from government, business, environmental organizations, civil society, academia, international organizations, Indigenous communities, and youth networks to explore how collaborative leadership strengthens community resilience, emergency preparedness, and locally driven climate action.

This is not a session that ends when the conversation does. Everything generated in the room and online feeds into a shared Climate Collaboration Action Map, capturing key challenges, potential solutions, partnership opportunities, and next steps for building more resilient, prepared, and climate-ready communities.

Alina Gutierrez is a graphic facilitator and founder of Visual Versa, will be live drawing discussions for a visual representation of the session while it is happening in order to create a visual takeaway from the event.

Everything generated in the room and online feeds into a shared Climate Collaboration Action Map, capturing key challenges, potential solutions, partnership opportunities, and next steps for building more resilient, prepared, and climate-ready communities.

The central question we're here to answer: How can women's leadership, alongside cross-sector allies, strengthen community resilience, preparedness, and locally driven climate action?

• Elevating leadership. Hear how women's leadership and inclusive allyship are strengthening community resilience, emergency preparedness, and local climate action.
• Building collaboration. Connect across sectors to surface shared challenges and real opportunities for partnership.
• Moving to action. Contribute practical next steps and commitments to a shared Climate Collaboration Action Map that extends beyond NYC Climate Week 2026.

• Maya Colombani, Chief Sustainability, Human Rights and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, L'Oréal Canada
• Julie Jodoin, Directrice, Espace pour la vie, grands parcs et Mont-Royal
• Nicole Hurtubise, Chief Executive Officer, Tree Canada
• Steven Guilbeault, former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and long-time environmental advocate
• Aki Temiseva, Chief Executive Officer, United Nations Association in Canada
• Runa Ray, Fashion Environmentalist and Climate Advocate

Moderated by: Dheeksha Reddy and Michelle Kim Rissi

Visual Facilitation: Alina Gutierrez

Host: Jacob (Yaacov) Zakif, Vice President at JPMorgan Chase and Jonathan S. Nesher, Partner at BCLP

The session is grounded in Sustainable Living, Cities and Communities, and Policy, Governance and Leadership, and integrates Climate and Health, Nature, Land and Oceans, and Environmental Justice, because resilience can't be addressed through a single sector or a single lens.

Leaders, practitioners, and advocates from government, business, environmental and civil society organizations, academia, international organizations, Indigenous communities, and youth networks, plus anyone working at the intersection of climate, resilience, and community preparedness. Virtual attendees participate fully, with dedicated online discussion stations.

Stations:

This station will explore how institutions, businesses, cities, and public spaces can embed sustainability, equity, and climate resilience into decision-making.

This station will explore how communities can move beyond reducing climate impacts toward restoring and regenerating natural and social systems.

This station will explore how youth leadership, civil society, and international cooperation can strengthen climate action and ensure that community perspectives influence decision-making.

Event venue & nearby stays

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 1290 6th Avenue, New York, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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