Ann-Lis Svensson (Sweden) is the Founding Director of Rio Monte, an organization dedicated to partnership for sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Between 1992 and 2007 Ann-Lis was the UNICEF Country Director, representing the UN in various countries in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. As member of top management in the UN, in large oil and regional development corporations, and as director within international NGOs and the Swedish international development cooperation, SIDA, Ann-Lis played a direct and active role in social development that has taken place over the last 30 years
Ayse Sakar (Turkey/Canada) has a BA in economics. She has worked in the finance and accounting field for NGOs in Turkey and Canada for 25 years. While working in the finance sector, she has followed new economic trends and world issues. For the last two years, she has been studying about sustainable development and solutions for better living conditions for all.
Carolina Hoyos (Colombia) comes from a family that filled her with love for nature and the living world. She graduated as a microbiologist and after some years in Colombia, she decided to continue her studies in France - her “host and friendly country” as she calls it. She has devoted herself to study environmental sciences, getting a Masters and a PhD in the field. Today, she works as a research engineer looking for sustainable solutions to pollutants and waste spending much of her time in inaccessible places for most people. Carolina says she is never happier than when immersed in nature to understand its infinite wisdom.
Eugenia Arribas (Spain) has a degree in Hotel Management by the Lausanne Hotel School (CH). After decades of traveling around the world working for tourism, and acquiring entrepreneurial, management and coordination skills in various private sectors, she specialized in Sustainable Tourism Development and International Cooperation at the George Washington University together with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). She is a believer of the wellbeing for all and works towards that goal.
Ivona Sak (Poland) is a creative expert in the brand, corporate responsibility and sustainability areas, with more than 10 years' experience in advertising. She works with organizations across the sustainability ecosystem, including Global Reporting Initiative, that are looking to align their brand proposition with creating a better world, in pursuit of creating products that people can trust and buy. Ivona is a practitioner with solid knowledge and more than 15years experience in business as Managing Director, Director of NGO's, and member of Board of Directors.
“Take action, enter a new era” is in itself a proof that it is possible to join forces with people from around the world and mobilize for the future we want. The authors of this booklet come from 5 different countries, are of different ages, cultures and backgrounds and have never met personally. They connected through the MOOC course, The Age of Sustainable Development set up by Columbia University and Professor Sachs. This course and the book with the same title give an excellent orientation on sustainable development. Take action, enter a new era builds on that course combined with the rich professional experience of each one of the authors. Take action, enter a new era is a call for action for a future of wellbeing for us, the humans, and for the planet we love and depend on.