Key Achievements
- Serving as a delegate of the Ethiopian government to the COP21 climate negotiations, leading to the Paris Agreement;
- Working as a Senior ESG Consultant for ESG Pro – a consultancy for ESG and sustainability certification and support, where I focused on creating materials on ESG Pro’s sustainable tourism services;
- Writing to the President of China, Xi Jinping, on the importance of youth engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative (a tool for green growth and connectivity) and receiving a personal reply;
- Earning three degrees in sustainable development and international law from universities in Canada, China and the United Kingdom; and
- Having studied and worked in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, I bring a truly global perspective to environmental action.
Introduction
Hi, I’m Hannah (she/her), and I am driven by the conviction that meaningful climate action must uplift people as it restores and protects our planet.
I am a British-Ethiopian woman with a rich international background and a deep commitment to environmental and social equity. My Ethiopian heritage and experiences across diverse cultures have shaped my belief that climate solutions must be rooted in a fair and just transition.
A particularly pivotal moment was serving as a delegate of the Ethiopian government to the international COP21 climate negotiations, which led to the Paris Agreement. This experience enabled me to witness the complexities of meaningful climate action on a global scale and solidified my conviction that climate justice should be approached intersectionally (i.e. through a framework that recognises how overlapping systems of oppression, such as racism, sexism, and classism, create disproportionate vulnerabilities to climate impacts for certain groups).
My varied range of experiences has given me a wealth of diverse ideas, opinions and perspectives that have helped the public and private sectors set and achieve climate goals.
Key Skills
Climate Advocacy / Carbon Accounting / Life Cycle Assessments / Climate Consultancy / Circular Economy Principles / Qualitative & Quantitative Research / Effective Written & Oral Communication / IT Skills (Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Canva, Notion, Monday.com etc.) / Project Management / Web Design (WordPress, Elementor) / Design & Delivery of Presentations / Legal Research & more…
Experience
2016 – Present
- Member of the Advisory Board to 1.2° Diaries – a platform spotlighting the ideas, expertise and lived experiences of those most impacted by a world at 1.2°C warming.
- Founded Green Baobab to help Africa prosper by tackling environmental issues for the benefit of people, wildlife and our shared planet. At its prime, Green Baobab’s website featured 36 news and opinion articles, including original content on the COP climate negotiations; these articles and additional materials were shared on Instagram and LinkedIn.
- After attending a UNESCO Youth Forum alongside 73 youth delegates from 51 countries, I wrote to the President of China, Xi Jinping, on the power of youth participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (a tool for green growth and connectivity). He replied, expressing his delight at continued youth engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative. He only responded to 8 letters that year.
- Speaking at conferences on climate justice, environmental sustainability, human rights and international development.
2016 – Present
- Researched and wrote a book chapter titled ‘Financing Africa’s Just Transition through the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement’ for Routledge (publication forthcoming).
- Researched and wrote an article on the legal issues surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, for Capital.
- Conducted an independent study at Peking University on sustainable development and constitutional environmental rights in South Africa by examining the case of Fuel Retailers Association of Southern Africa v. Director-General Environmental Management, Mpumalanga Province. This case established that sustainable development encompasses not only environmental protection but also a balance of environmental, social, and economic considerations.
2024 – 2025
Climate Consultancy
- Working as a Senior ESG Consultant for ESG Pro, a consultancy for ESG and sustainability certification and support. My work at ESG Pro focused on creating materials on their sustainable tourism services, including a 40-page presentation designed on Canva for leaders in Kenya’s tourism industry.
- Lobbied as a high-level advisor of the Ethiopian government during the crucial COP21 climate negotiations, which led to the Paris Agreement.
- Facilitated intra-governmental relations on climate-related topics in the context of the COP21 negotiations.
- Co-designed the Common African Position for the African Group of (Climate) Negotiators in a fast-paced environment with a team of government officials, climate scientists, youth representatives, and other key stakeholders.
- Worked effectively in a high-level team to conduct research and write numerous technical briefs, concept notes, policy papers and reports on Africa’s preparations for the COP21 climate negotiations.
- Independently researched and authored a report on climate change laws in Africa and another on emissions from the shipping industry.
- Participated in formulating a Natural Resource Governance Framework in collaboration with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
- Collaboratively wrote the African Youth Position for the COP21 climate negotiations, in advance of the Paris Agreement.
- Contributed to planning and hosting multi-stakeholder events discussing ‘The Road to Paris’ for African countries.
Education
2016 – 2018
Masters of Transnational Law (LLM) (with a focus on environmental law) from Peking University in China
2011 – 2013
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Queen Mary’s, University of London in the United Kingdom
2006 – 2010
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Development & Economics from McGill University in Canada
2004 – 2006
International Baccalaureate (IB) from the International School of Paris in France
Volunteering
I volunteer at 1.2° Diaries, a platform that spotlights the ideas, expertise and lived experiences of those most impacted by the climate crisis.
I was an active member of the Greenpeace Shoreditch Local Group from 2020 – 2023. During this time, I served as the Deputy Head of Energy and subsequently as the Deputy Head of Climate Change until I moved out of the area.
Publications
Independently and collaboratively wrote 17 articles for 11 publications on a range of topics, including:
- Green trade in Africa for the Institute of Sustainability & Environmental Professionals
- Community engagement in the fight against plastic waste for Style & Sustain
- The Belt and Road Initiative’s potential to generate investment in Africa’s renewable energy industry for China Daily
- Legal issues surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam for Capital
- Africa’s priorities at the COP26 climate negotiations for Green Baobab
- Anti-Black racism in China during lockdown for gal-dem
- Reactions to the President of China replying to my letter for Black Livity China
A full repository of my publications is available here.
Awards
Every year, the Appreciate Africa Network hosts the Pride of Africa Awards (POAA), the most prestigious African award in China. The awards promote the values of African socio-cultural and economic contributions in China. Africans nominate their preferred candidates, the POAA picks the ones with the most nominations, and presents those candidates back to Africans for a final vote.
I won the 2019 African Woman of the Year Award based on my work promoting exchanges between Africa and China. Of my many efforts, the following three are the most significant.
Firstly, in 2018, I co-founded Black Livity China, a media platform which documented multifaceted Black experiences in and with China. It attracted over 125,000 readers across all platforms through its combined following of 14,000 people in China and internationally. Black Livity China itself later won the 2020 Pride of Africa Asia Award for Outstanding Achievement in Media, based on its anti-racist work documenting multiple Black experiences in and with China.
Secondly, in 2018, I co-founded the Andinet Directory, a non-profit web and WeChat-based directory listing Black-owned businesses, organisations, social groups and more across China. The Directory hosted 200+ listings covering 30 sectors across 56 locations in China and attracted over 12,400 users.
Thirdly, as previously mentioned, I received a rare reply from Chinese President Xi Jinping to a letter on youth engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative (a tool for green growth and connectivity).
Certifications
Understanding Environmental Sustainability (2025), Carbon Accounting (2025), Life Cycle Analysis (2025)
Languages
English (fluent, C2), Amharic (fluent, C1), French (upper-intermediate, B2), Spanish (intermediate, B1), Mandarin (beginner, A1)
References
Public recommendations by 13 colleagues, managers, educators, leaders and change-makers are published on LinkedIn and are available here.
Download CV
Download my CV as a PDF here
Contact
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