InterClimate Network welcomes four new trustees in COP26 push to support climate action

InterClimate Network (ICN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Blint, Rupali Nahar-Williams, Catherine Sayers and Tara Theiss to its board of trustees to support the charity’s efforts to scale up its impact in the run-up to the COP26 climate conference in November 2021 and beyond.

In the UK, InterClimate Network has been supporting youth climate action and educational initiatives for over ten years, with roots going back to 1978. Since 2015, our current flagship programme, Climate Voices, has enabled more young people across the UK, particularly from schools with higher levels of disadvantage, to have a clear route to engagement in climate action and a recognised voice in their own sustainable futures.

Today, in response to increasing demand from schools and young people for the support of the charity in enabling youth climate action, and to support our ambitious plans for 2021, we are announcing the expansion of the board.

Commenting on their appointments, the new trustees said:

Emma Blint, Deputy Head of Communications at London Borough of Havering: “I passionately support ICN’s approach of embedding environmentally sustainable behaviours, career choices and societal change in school curriculums across the UK, directly engaging young people who will be the next generation of CEOs, politicians, economists and legislators. I have always found working with young people to be incredibly exciting and rewarding due to their creativity, ambition and inherent sense of justice.”

Rupali Nahar-Williams, Policy Advisor for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA): “Working in policy has demonstrated just how important it is to ensure the voices of marginalised and overlooked communities are heard in the political process. Youth voices are a key part of that, and I was drawn to how ICN prioritise and amplify their voices through every part of the charity’s programme.”

Catherine Sayers, Assistant Company Secretary at Premier Miton Investors: ”The charity really struck me due to the focus on supporting the next generation of climate leaders – the uprising in youth activism on climate change should be encouraged and supported and I hope to add real value to this worthy cause, using my Governance skillset.”

Tara Theiss, Paralegal at Herbert Smith Freehills in London: “I am delighted to join ICN’s Board of Trustees and am excited to contribute to the charity’s continued efforts to enable and inspire young people to act on climate change. In my personal experience, I have found that when faced with the complexity of climate change, having access to the knowledge and tools that enable you to take action is enormously empowering. I am thus thrilled to be able to support ICN in delivering such resources to the young generation – a key demographic in the race to a sustainable future.”

Commenting on the significance of the appointments for youth climate action in the UK, James Streeter, Executive Chairman of ICN, said: “We are starting a period of new growth to support the participation of young people at a critical juncture for climate action in the UK and worldwide. I am delighted that Emma, Rupali, Catherine and Tara are joining the board and I look forward to working with them in the runup to COP26 and beyond”.