Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security in Sierra Leone. A distinguished development economist and an expert in agricultural economics with over 30 years of experience, he founded The Energy Nexus Network (TENN), a regional ecosystem hub for sustainable energy solutions and served as a Member of Parliament in Sierra Leone for five years. He is a member of pre-eminent global organizations including the High-Level Group of Personalities at the Africa-Europe Foundation and co-chair of its Strategy Group on Energy.

Dr. Yumkella served for two decades in the United Nations system including as Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and founding chief executive officer for the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Initiative (2013–2015). He also served two four-year terms as Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO, 2005–2013). In both capacities, among other accomplishments, Dr. Yumkella mobilized global consensus for the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 9. These deal with ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, and building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation, respectively. He previously served as a member of the Pan-African Parliament. He is the recipient of numerous international awards and serves in various international advisory bodies, boards, and commissions.