Programme 2026

Keynote Speakers:  

• Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice Chancellor at the University of Exeter 

• Nigel Topping CMG, Chair of the Climate Change Committee 

• Rain Newton-Smith, CEO of Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 

• Professor Carlos Nobre FRS, Co-Chair of Science Panel for the Amazon 

• Professor Sir Ian Chapman, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 

Vulnerability of the Natural Carbon Sinks, a System Under Increasing Human Pressure 

• Professor Pierre Friedlingstein FRS, Chair in Mathematical Modelling of the Climate System, University of Exeter 

• Professor Carlos Nobre FRS, Co-Chair of Science Panel for the Amazon 

• Professor Richard Betts MBE, Chair in Climate Impacts, University of Exeter 

Opportunities and Challenges for Climate Modelling 

• Dr Heline Hewitt, Met Office 

• Destination Earth (TBC) 

• Hybrid Modelling (TBC) 

The Health Impacts of Climate Change – and a Look into the Future 

• Professor Gesche Huebner, Director of the European Centre for Environment & Human Health (ECEHH) 

Speakers to include: 

• Professor Dann Mitchell (Professor of Climate Science and Deputy Head of School, University of Bristol) – leading the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment on Health and Wellbeing 

• Dr Emma Gillingham (Principal Climate Change Scientist, UK Health Security Agency – UKHSA) - mental health impacts of climate change. 

Where Low and Middle-Income Countries are Leading the Way 

• Dr Steven R. Smith, Tipping Points Research Fellow at the University of Exeter

Speakers to include: 

• C40 Cities representative (TBC) 

• C40 Cities Mayor (TBC) 

• Rebecca Hunt, National Landscapes Association (TBC) 

• Dr Martina Egedusevic, Green Futures Solutions (TBC) 

• Dr Dan Bloomfield, Exeter Innovation (TBC) 

• Rachel Martin, Global Director Sustainability, Elsevier 

Extreme Weather and Health Importance and Tools 

• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (TBC) 

• Interactive session on EPSHH/MODI with Dr Bernd Eggen, Senior Environmental Public Health Scientist in Environmental Epidemiology at UKHSA 

Developing a Resilience Sensing System for Sustainability and Security 

• Dr Steven R. Smith, Tipping Points Research Fellow at the University of Exeter

Speakers to include: 

• C40 Cities representative (TBC) 

• C40 Cities Mayor (TBC) 

• Civil servants from Australian Federal Dept of Climate Change (TBC) 

• Dr Sam Mugume Koojo, Co-Chair, Coalition of Finance Ministers 

• Nigel Topping CMG, Chair, Climate Change Committee 

• Professor Peter Mumby, Professor of Coral Reef Ecology at the University of Queensland

• Professor Carlos Nobre FRS, Co-Chair of Science Panel for the Amazon 

• Professor Tim Lenton OBE, Founding Director of the Global Systems Institute and Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science, University of Exeter 

• Amanda Ellis, Arizona State University

• Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Chief Scientist at Met Office in conversation with Prof Peter Cox CBE, Director of the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter. 

• Dr Marina Romanello, Executive Director at Lancet Countdown introduced by Professor Gesche Huebner, Director of the European Centre for Environment & Human Health 

• Gordon Bennett, Managing Director of Utility Markets and Global Head of Environmental Markets, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 

• Professor Richard Betts MBE, Chair in Climate Impacts, University of Exeter

In conversation with: 

• Professor Steve Smith, Executive Director, Oxford Net Zero and CO2RE 

• Professor Corinne Le Quéré CBE FRS, Royal Society Research Professor of Climate Change Science, University of East Anglia 

• Dr Oliver Geden, Vice Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 

• Professor Carlos Nobre FRS, Co-Chair of Science Panel for the Amazon 

Master of Ceremonies 

• Professor Pierre Friedlingstein FRS, Chair in Mathematical Modelling of the Climate System, University of Exeter 

Translating Climate Risks for Business 

• Dr Matthew Priestley, University of Exeter

Speakers to include: 

• Paul Young, Head of Science, JBA Risk Management Ltd 

• Sandra Hansen, Head of International Peril Advisory & Climate Lead, Guy Carpenter 

• Emily White, Chief Finance and Operations Officer, Centre for Disaster protection (TBC) 

Triple win opportunities in responding to climate change: improving the environment, health and health equity. 

• Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement and Honorary Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Exeter

Speakers to include: 

• Professor Tim Taylor, Director of the Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions, University of Exeter 

• Professor Conny Guell, Associate Professor in Anthropology of Health and Environment, University of Exeter’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health 

• Professor Rosie Hails MBE, Director of Nature & Science, The National Trust 

• Dr Helen Macintyre, Principal Climate Change Scientist, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) 

• Dr Penny Marno, Senior Specialist (Health), Natural England 

Modelling in Finance Sector 

• Professor Tim Lenton OBE, Founding Director of the Global Systems Institute and Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science, University of Exeter

Speakers to include: 

• Dr Femke Nijsse, Senior Lecturer in Innovation, Energy and Climate, University of Exeter  

Positive Tipping Points Toolkit 

• Peter Lefort, Green Futures Network, University of Exeter

• Gordon Bennett, Managing Director of Utility Markets and Global Head of Environmental Markets, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)

In conversation with:

• Dr Mike O’Sullivan, University of Exeter

• Marco Serena, Chief Sustainable Impact Officer, PIDG (Private Infrastructure Development Group) 

• Dr Sam Mugume Koojo, Co-Chair, Coalition of Finance Ministers 

Poster session 

Positive Tipping Points and Finance 

• Professor Tim Lenton OBE, Founding Director of the Global Systems Institute and Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science, University of Exeter

Speakers to include: 

• Sandy Trust, Sustainability Risk Director, Baillie Gifford  

• Jo Paisley, President, Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) 

• Talwyn Whetter, Green Futures Solutions, University of Exeter

Speakers to include: 

• Gordon Bennett, Managing Director of Utility Markets and Global Head of Environmental Markets, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 

• Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Officer (interim) and FSA Chief Scientific Adviser UK Health Security Agency 

• Professor Sarah Gurr, Chair in Food Security, University of Exeter 

• Baroness Natalie Bennett, Former Leader, Green Party 

• Dr Sam Mugume Koojo, Ministry of Finance, Uganda / CFMCA / Country Platform Hub 

• Professor Jean-François Mercure, University of Exeter 

• Dr Etienne Espagne, Agence Française de Développement 

• Representative, HM Treasury (TBC) 

• Representative, Ministry of Finance of Brazil (TBC) 

• Representative from Turkey (TBC) 

• National Trust (TBC) 

• Professor Tim Lenton OBE, Founding Director of the Global Systems Institute and Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science, University of Exeter. 

Panel session chaired by Professor Tim Lenton OBE: How do we drive Positive Tipping Points in the energy transition? 

Followed by a discussion ‘What does this mean for business? ‘chaired by:

• Tania Kumar, Energy Transition Director (CBI)
• Professor Miranda Barker OBE, Chair (Redcat Group)

• Professor Richard Betts MBE, University of Exeter 

Panel session: Understanding Climate Change and its Impacts/ adaptation.  

Panellists to include:   

• Professor Jennifer Catto, Professor in Weather and Climate, University of Exeter 

• Professor Sallie Bailey, Chief Scientist, Natural England 

• Professor Matt Lobley, Rural Social Scientist, University of Exeter 

• Professor Pete Falloon, Science Lead – Food Security, Met Office  

• Richard Deverell CBE, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (TBC) 

Followed by a panel: What drives government action? chaired by:

• Lord Michael Barber, Former Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and founder of Delivery Associates

Panellists to include: 

• Professor Emily Shuckburgh CBE, Chief Scientific Adviser, DESNZ; Director, Cambridge Zero 

• Nigel Topping CMG, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change; UN High Level Champion COP26 

Closing keynote speaker:  Professor Emily Shuckburgh CBE 

Tipping Points for Protecting Tropical Forests 

• Dr Tom Powell Research Impact Fellow in the Global Systems Institute (University of Exeter)
• Co-convened with Dr Mike Barrett, Chief Scientific Advisor WWF-UK 

• Professor Matt Lobley, Rural Social Scientist, University of Exeter

Speakers to include:   

• Dr Kerry Ann Brown, Senior Lecturer- public and planetary health related to nutrition and food security, University of Exeter 

• Professor Pete Falloon, Science Lead – Food Security, Met Office 

• Melanie Squires MBE, National Farmers’ Union 

• Dr Ian McFadzen, Chief Executive Officer of the Ocean Conservation Trust 

• Professor Peter Mumby, Professor of Coral Reef Ecology, University of Queensland 

• The Hon. Edward Fane Trefusis, Director and Partner, Clinton Devon Estates 

• Julien Calas, Research Officer on Biodiversity, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) 

• Emma Magee, Head of Communities and Nature on Dartmoor, Duchy of Cornwall 

• Dan Fairweather, Director – Food Systems and Nature, Howden (TBC) 

• Richard Deverell CBE, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (TBC) 

• Professor Dan Charman, Provost, University of Exeter

Panellists to include:

• Professor Martin Siegert, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Cornwall), University of Exeter 

• Joanna Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability, University of Exeter 

• Sebastian Racisz, Guild President, Exeter Guild 

• Professor Peter Cox CBE, Professor of Climate System Dynamics in Mathematics and Director of the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter 

High Impact Weather – preparedness and early warnings 

• Chris White, Co-chair of COST action ANTICIPATE (TBC) 

Business toolkit for nature protection and regeneration 

• Hatty Hopkinson, University of Exeter

• Tatjana Baleta, Wikimedia Visiting Fellow for Climate at the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter 

• Dr Femke Nijsse, Senior Lecturer in Innovation, Energy and Climate, University of Exeter 

• Dr Josh Ayers, University of Exeter 

• Talwyn Whetter, Green Futures Solutions, University of Exeter

• Professor Martin Siegert, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Cornwall), University of Exeter 

• Professor Gail Whiteman, Professor of Sustainability, University of Exeter 

Clinton Devon Estate 

Dartmoor