Climate change is intensifying social and economic inequities worldwide, with women in the Global South, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), rural communities, and Indigenous territories, bearing a disproportionate share of climate‑related risks. Yet these same women design and lead some of the most innovative, community‑rooted solutions, from youth empowerment programs to regenerative agriculture initiatives. Despite growing recognition, women’s leadership remains un...

The CW4CJ 2025 Keynote speaker, Kendria Ferguson is a sustainability and climate resilience specialist with over a decade of experience across the Caribbean. She holds a Master’s in Global Sustainability and is completing her Ph.D. in Sustainable Development at the University of the West Indies. Her work spans disaster risk reduction, renewable energy, environmental management, and sustainable tourism—supporting governments, international agencies, and NGOs on policy development, project impl...

Dahvia Hylton is an educator and an activist. She currently serves as the President of the Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council. She has been a staunch advocate for environmental protection and the rights of women and children, applying an intersectional approach to these issues. Join us for Caribbean Women for Climate Justice Conference 2025 virtual conference 🗓️ 17 – 19 July 2025 💻 Online | Global South Voices, United 💥 Co-hosted by @TheClimateConscious & @GlobalYaadie R...

The Caribbean Women for Climate Justice (CW4CJ) Virtual Conference is back for its third edition. The voices behind The Climate Conscious and The Global Yaadie podcasts take the mic to share what’s in store. In this crossover episode, CW4CJ organizers, Derval and Dainalyn break down the 2025 theme “Sowing Seeds of Sustainable Solutions”. The organizers discuss why centering women is critical to climate justice, and spotlight some of the dynamic speakers joining from across the Ca...

Keatlegile Mnguni is the founder & CEO at Agrinouri, a South African agroprocessing & vegetable farming company, dedicated to crafting exceptional handcrafted sauces using natural ingredients. https://agrinouri.co.za Join us for Caribbean Women for Climate Justice Conference 2025 virtual conference 🗓️ 17 – 19 July 2025 💻 Online | Global South Voices, United 💥 Co-hosted by @TheClimateConscious & @GlobalYaadie Register for Day 1: https://streamyard.com/watch/45Fe8UE5nt...

Cherisse Braithwaite-Joseph, CEO of the Cropper Foundation, speaks about her journey in climate philanthropy and the importance of linking environmental sustainability with community development. With over 14 years of experience across environmental management, disaster risk reduction, and community development, Cherise shares how her career has been a continuous journey toward people-centered, data-driven climate action. Cherisse discuss innovative projects like the 'Writing for ...

Pierre Noel is the Executive Director of the Haiti Development Institute (HDI), an organization advancing development by strengthening local leadership and institutional capacity across Haiti. HDI’s approach centers local communities as architects of their future, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions. Through infrastructure development, civic leadership, and cross-sector partnerships, HDI offers a model for locally grounded philanthropy that responds to crisis while building long-...

Rashema Ingraham is an advocate for community-engaged conservation, leading Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Bahamas. Rashima's connection to the ocean is deeply personal and rooted in her family heritage. In this episode of the CLASP series Rashema and Derval discuss the importance of marine conservation in the Caribbean, the role of community engagement in conservation efforts, and how philanthropy can support local initiatives. Rashema shares her personal journey into climate advocacy, the ...

In this episode, Derval Barzey sits down with Carolyn Malfood, CEO of the Grace Kennedy Foundation, to explore the powerful intersection of climate action and philanthropy in the Caribbean. They discuss the foundation’s evolution over the years, its deep commitment to sustainability through ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices, and highlight the remarkable impact of initiatives like the Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project. This conversation underscores the importance...

In this episode of the CLASP podcast series, host Derval Barzey sits down with Professor Rosalea Hamilton, Chair of the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance (CARIPHIL) and CEO of the Lasco Chin Foundation, to discuss how collaborative philanthropy is driving climate resilience, gender equity, and grassroots empowerment across the Caribbean. With small island states facing the multiple crises of climate change and economic and geopolitical uncertainty, the time for bold, united action is now. Prof...

Welcome to the CLASP Podcast Series. In this introductory episode of the CLASP podcast series, host Derval Barzey discusses the intersection of climate action and philanthropy in the Caribbean with Erica Miller, Head of Climate at WINGS and Anthea McLaughlin, CEO of The Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance (CariPhil). They explore the transformative potential of the CLASP initiative. CLASP: Forging a Resilient Caribbean Through Climate Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships. The CLASP Initiati...

Welcome to the CLASP podcast series where climate action meets philanthropy in the Caribbean and beyond. In this series we examine the transformative power of strategic impact giving and grassroots resilience in tackling the climate crisis. So whether you're a funder, activist, policymaker, or simply passionate about the environment, this series is for you. Join us as we uncover inspiring success stories and spark new ideas to build a more sustainable, climate resilient Caribbean. Let's learn...

In this episode of the Climate Conscious Podcast, we delve into the complexities of sustainability planning with Petal Joseph, a sustainability expert and LEED consultant. Petal shares her unique journey from environmental science to urban planning, discussing her work in green certification and sustainable development. She offers valuable insights on the intersection of social justice, grassroots activism, and planning, as well as the importance of balancing the environment, economy, and soc...

Meet Sheena Zuniga, the President of the National Garifuna Council in Belize. Sheena shares insights into the pressing climate challenges facing the Garifuna communities, particularly the impact of coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and changing fish populations. As indigenous people deeply connected to their environment, the Garifuna rely on traditional knowledge for survival. The lack of access to resources limits there ability to adapt to climate change and its impact. Sheena discus...

Meet Bevon Chadel Charles, the visionary CEO of Akata Farms in Grenada. In this episode Bevon shares her journey in securing climate finance to advance sustainable agriculture in Grenada. She discusses the transformative impact of funding from initiatives like the Eastern Caribbean Business Resilient Challenge and the UNDP’s Blue-Green Innovation Challenge, which enabled her team to implement greenhouses, rain harvesting systems, and empower small farmers—especially women. Bevan offers key ad...

Meet Shailina Lingaard, a member of the Lokono tribe, also known as the Arawak tribe in Suriname. She represents the Bureau Vereniging van Inheemse Dorpshoofden in Suriname (Bureau Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname) as known as VIDS. VIDS advocates for the legal recognition of Indigenous collective rights. Climate change poses significant threats to Indigenous ways of life, including extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and prolonged droughts. These impacts ...

In this episode of The Climate Conscious Podcast's Demystify Series, Princess Avianne Charles unpacks the deep connection between climate change and occupational safety and health. Princess Avianne Charles is a workers' rights activist and writer based in Trinidad and Tobago. She covers topics on human rights, labour laws, climate and environmental justice, and occupational safety and health. With a degree in Occupational Safety and Health, she centers her work on providing safer spaces and...

In this episode of The Climate Conscious Podcast's Demystify Series, Christian Wassermann, the founder of Plastic Compact, explains an innovative approach to addressing plastic pollution. Christian shares the vision behind his project—a mobile app that incentivizes plastic waste collection through micro rewards, empowering individuals to take actionable steps against plastic pollution. Key points: The pressing challenges of plastic waste, its impact on human health and ecosystems, and the im...

Derval and Jesse Ramcharan discuss the importance of SDG 16 Peace, Justice, and strong institutions. Jesse explains that strong institutions are crucial for creating inclusive, just, and sustainable societies, and they directly support the achievement of other SDGs. Jesse Ramcharan is a transformational leader and business consultant specializing in digital transformation and change management. He is the Regional Director of USIDHR – US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, the Country D...

Demystifying Carbon CaptureThe first episode of the Demystify series explores various aspects of carbon capture, including its role in addressing global decarbonisation challenges, environmental justice concerns, and the importance of community engagement in implementation. This conversation also touched on the risks of carbon dioxide storage and transportation, as well as the need to consider social and economic factors in the transition to renewable energy sources.Marsha King, a sustai...