14th Annual Columbia Sustainability Symposium
The 2025 Columbia Sustainability Symposium will convene industry leaders and academics to examine the technologies, financial mechanisms, and operational strategies that improve resource efficiency across global industries.
The morning sessions will focus on the enabling industries that provide the infrastructure, technology, and resources across sectors at scale. Discussions will cover the latest advancements in clean energy deployment, financing for sustainable technologies, and circular manufacturing.
The afternoon will feature industry-specific discussions on how fashion, electronics, and food companies are adapting their supply chains, materials, and production processes to reduce waste and environmental impact while maintaining operational viability.
Please note that this Luma page is for non-Columbia affiliates only.
Schedule
Morning
☕ 8:00 - 8:45: Registration and Coffee
🎤 8:45 - 9:30: Opening Remarks and Morning Keynote, Speakers:
Ann Tracy, CSO of Colgate-Palmolive;
Deborah Dull, Founder of The Circular Supply Chain Network, Managing Partner at Trillium Digital Services.
⚡ 9:30 - 10:20: Session 1: Charting Decarbonization Pathways for the U.S. Electric Power Sector, Speakers:
Travis Bradford, President and Founder of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development - Columbia University Professor and Senior Lecturer;
Hafiz Bello, Deputy Director of Innovation (Grid Modernization at NYSERDA;
Kerrine Bryan, Senior Development Manager at RWE Clean Energy;
Benjamin Hertz-Shagel, Global Head of Grid Edge at Wood Mackenzie.
☕ 10:20 - 10:50: Coffee Break
🏦 10:50 - 11:40: Session 2: Financing Enabling Technologies Across the U.S. and Emerging Markets, Speakers:
Carolyn Kim, Former Senior Advisor Climate and Energy Transition, US Export Import Bank, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University;
Pete Mathias, Partner at Alumni Ventures;
Emilio Fabbrizzi, Managing Director, Americas Head of Renewable & Infrastructure at DNB Markets, Inc.;
Chris Creed, Partner at Galvanize Climate Solutions.
🔄 11:40 - 12:30: Session 3: Circular Material and Product Flows, Speakers:
Aly Bryan, Investor at Closed Loop Partners;
Ali Golden, Director of Strategic Relationships at TerraCycle;
Deborah Dull, Founder of The Supply Chain Network, Managing Partner at Trillium Digital Services;
Lauren Phipps, Chief of Staff at Molg.
Afternoon
🍴 12:30 - 2:00: Lunch Break
👗 2:00 - 2:50: Session 4: Fashion - Fighting the Rise of Trash Fashion, Speakers:
Michelle Gabriel, Program Director at IE New York College - Adjunct Faculty at Columbia;
Kim Matsoukas, Director of Sustainability at Coach;
Rachel Van Metre Kibbe, CEO at Circular Services Group - CEO at American Circular Textiles - Strategic Advisor at The Nature Conservancy;
Jess Schreiber, Founder & CEO at FABSCRAP.
📱3:00 - 3:50: Session 5: Electronics - Sustainable Hardware Product Life Cycles, Speakers:
Kenny Arnold, Senior Manager of Service Design at Ellen MacArthur Foundation;
David Hirschler, Chief Sustainability Officer at ERI;
Rich Bulger, Partner at Capital Growth Partners;
Lucas Gutterman, Designed to Last Campaign Director at PIRG.
🥕 4:00 - 4:50: Session 6: Food - Supply Chain Innovation and Sustainable Sourcing, Speakers:
Ethan Soloviev, Chief Innovation Officer at HowGood.
John Lee, Director, Mission & Sustainability, Nature at Danone;
Philip Teverow, Co-Founder and CEO at Yolélé;
Ethan Frisch, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Burlap & Barrel.
🧊 5:00 - 7:00: Networking, Appetizers + Cocktails
The night prior to the Symposium, March 27th, we will be co-hosting a Critical Minerals Circular Supply Chain Hackathon. Winners will be eligible to present their solutions during the Symposium.