A conversation with the Global Impact Group: pathways to sustainability leadership

LSE's Global Impact Group (GIG) brings together senior professionals working across impact-driven careers in sustainability. Join Sir Andrew Steer, former President and CEO of the World Resources Institute and Josué Tanaka, founding leader of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) climate finance initiative, for a conversation on sustainability leadership and impact.

Hear how they built successful careers at the forefront of sustainable development and gain practical insights into the experiences and skills that have shaped their work. After the discussion, students will have the opportunity to connect with Andrew and Josué during a networking session.

This event, hosted by GSoS, creates a structured opportunity for students to engage with that expertise first-hand - asking candid questions about career paths and leadership in sustainability and learning from real-world experience - beyond what's covered in a lecture or careers fair.

Agenda:

5:30 - 6:00pm - Welcome reception

6:00 - 6:10pm - Opening remarks

6:10 - 6:40 - Panel discussion

6:40 - 7pm - Q&A

7:00 - 8pm - Networking reception with the GIG

Panel: Sir Andrew Steer, Josue Tanaka

Please note, this event is only open to masters, PhD and recent alumni (that have graduated in the last 2 years).

Meet our speakers

Andrew Steer is Professor in Practice in the Global School of Sustainability at LSE. He is a global leader in sustainable development and climate change advocacy. Sir Andrew served most recently as the founding President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. He was the President and CEO of the World Resources Institute, has held significant positions at the World Bank, including Special Envoy for Climate Change, and was Director General at the former UK Department for International Development (DFID). He is also Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew as of February 2026.

Josué Tanaka is the founding leader of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) climate finance initiative launched in 2006 covering investment, policy development, capacity building and technical assistance across the EBRD countries of operations. He was the Managing Director responsible for climate action and operational strategy and planning at the EBRD until December 2020. Under his leadership, green finance reached 46% of total EBRD investment in 2019 with cumulative EBRD green finance since 2006 reaching over USD 42 billion in close to 2,000 climate change mitigation and adaptation projects with total project value of over USD 260 billion (64% in private sector).

More Information

The Global School of Sustainability at LSE (GSoS) is the interdisciplinary centre for sustainability research impact at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). GSoS works in partnerships to advance pioneering sustainability research, global policy engagement and world-leading educational opportunities. Grounded in LSE’s interdisciplinary excellence across the social sciences, GSoS’s global networks target the systemic challenges to sustainability embedded in the world’s economies, politics and societies.

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