ProVeg is thrilled to announce the launch of this year’s Youth Board! 20 young people from around the world have joined us for 2024 to advocate – together with our UN Team – for a shift towards sustainable food systems and plant-based diets. The board will be engaged in activities throughout the year, working towards the climate negotiations at COP 29, this year’s edition of the annual UN Climate Change Conference, which takes place in Azerbaijan at the end of the year. Meet the 2024 Youth Board Members and read about their outstanding work below:
Gauri Nimbalkar, 18, India
Gauri is the founder of the Association for Youth Well-Being, and works alongside members of UN entities, grassroots organisations and civil societies, globally and locally, advocating for health and well-being, sustainable food systems, and gender equality as key strategies to tackle the climate crisis.
Altamush Saeed, 28, Pakistan
Hailing from Pakistan, Altamush is an interspecies-justice lawyer, academic, activist, and teacher. He is the founder and managing partner of Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants, the co-founder of Charity Doings Foundation Pakistan/USA, and Deputy Director, and Regional Director of North America for the World Moot on International Law and Animal Rights.
Natalie Wright, 24, USA
With a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a master’s degree in Education Policy, Natalie specialises in localising global goals and elevating local initiatives to the global stage. She leads the international-affairs work at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, connecting the city’s food-policy plan to global policy and advocacy efforts.
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Navin Durbhakula, 20, USA
Navin is a junior at Harvard University, with a self-designed major in Sustainable Food and Health Systems. Navin is an avid public speaker and his talks on food sustainability, animal welfare, and public health have amassed more than half a million views.
Maisie Kemp, 24, UK
Maisie has a deep passion for advocating for sustainable food systems and a plant-based transition. She has a BA in Geography from University College London and an MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance from the University of Oxford.
Heloisa Rigolon, 23, Brazil
From an early age, Brazilian Heloísa Rigolon, understood the connections between climate change, environmental degradation, and our dietary habits. She has been sharing her passion for plant-based gastronomy through workshops and conferences, focusing on foundational techniques that support plant-based diets.
Geofrey Junior Waako, 25, Uganda
Geofrey Junior Waako is a lawyer and the founder of the Ugandan non-profit Youth for Animals and Veganism Africa. He serves as the Executive Director of this youth-led organisation, which encourages sustainable food systems, healthy diets, and is helping to build a future in which compassionate choices contribute to the well-being of the planet and all who live on it.
Katharina Hofmann, 23, Germany
Katharina recently graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in Behavioural Science. In her studies and practical experience, she is working on behavioural interventions that reduce the consumption of animal-based products.
Jean Claude Niyomugabo, 24, Rwanda
Jean Claude is an entrepreneur, sustainable-agriculture and climate-change advocate, social media influencer, and communication expert. He founded Agirite, a social enterprise that leverages the power of digital technology to improve messaging in sustainable agriculture, as well as access to information, skills in the agriculture value chain, and environmental sustainability.
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Helen Monica Regina, 27, India
Helen is from India and currently resides in Germany, where she is studying for a masters degree in food quality and safety. Her goal is to advocate for a legislative framework that incorporates both diversified protein production and consumption while ensuring secure incomes and livelihoods for farmers and food workers.
Belinda Ng, 23, Hong-Kong, China
Belinda has an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London. She works as a sustainability consultant and is passionate about accelerating the transition to a more regenerative and equitable food future. She is the co-founder of SustainaPod, a youth-led podcast that amplifies education and messaging around sustainability.
Joe Elgar, 25, UK
Joe has an MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development, with a focus in international food systems and food security and their intersectional impact on social welfare. He is currently working with ProVeg UK on a project that forms part of the School Plates Programme.
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Cogie Cogan, 21, Canada
A passionate advocate for animal rights, Cogie is currently pursuing a degree in Animal Ethics and Sustainability Leadership at Huron University College and is committed to building a brighter future for animals.
Megan Chen, 20, Canada/USA
Megan Chen is an author, environmental activist, and social entrepreneur. She is a student at Stanford University, where she is studying Sustainable Urban Design. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Urban Garden Initiative, an international nonprofit that focuses on environmental sustainability and gardening education.
Joko Tri Rubiyanto, 26, Indonesia
Joko is currently studying Food Quality and Logistics at Wageningen University. He is involved in policy development, plant-based-meat innovation, and nutrition advocacy, and is committed to sustainable agrifood technologies that will improve global food security and environmental sustainability.
Roman Davas-Fahey, 28, Australia
Roman is passionate about fostering healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems, and supports local and international advocacy efforts. He has recently completed a Masters in Environmental Studies, specialising in sustainable food systems.
Julia Kozakiewicz, 28, Poland
Julia is a passionate environmentalist and works as a policy advisor on the intersection of climate change and human rights. She sees food systems in the context of climate change, biodiversity loss, and the rights of humans and other beings. For Julia, the transformation of agriculture is a key priority in building a sustainable future.
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Harriet Klepper, 21, Germany
Harriet, a German youth-climate activist, is currently studying at Bocconi University and Sciences Po Paris and. She advocates for sustainable plant-based food systems as a means of combatting and mitigating climate change. Harriet is passionate about youth inclusion and is committed to ensuring that young voices are heard in the transition towards a better future for all.
