HLPF Side Event: "Harnessing Frontier Technologies for Accelerating Climate Actions and the SDGs"
New York, UNHQ, 9 July 2019, 6.30 - 8.00pm
Contact: Cristina Bueti
 John Furlow
Deputy Director, International Research Institute for Climate and Society, The Earth Institute, Columbia University
John Furlow joined Columbia University’s International Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) in May 2017. As Deputy Director for Humanitarian Assistance and International Development, John works with IRI’s scientists to help apply their research and expertise to decision making in public health, agriculture, infrastructure planning and other vital sectors. John is also leading the Vietnam component of IRI's Adapting Agriculture to Climate Today, for Tomorrow (ACToday) project, a Columbia World Project. ACToday aims to combat hunger by increasing climate knowledge in six countries that are particularly dependent on agriculture and vulnerable to the effects of climate variability and change: Bangladesh, Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Senegal and Vietnam.
Prior to coming to IRI, John led the Climate Change Adaptation Program in USAID’s climate change office. He advised the government of Jamaica in the development of its national climate change policy and its climate smart agriculture sector plan. John also led a project to develop Jamaica’s agro-climate service, which produces a seasonal forecast tailored for farmers and disseminated by text and agriculture extension workers. John helped launch the Climate Services Partnership in 2011. In 2015, he worked at the US Department of State designing and managing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network as part of US preparations for the UN Climate Conference in Paris.
 Malcolm Johnson
Deputy-Secretary General, ITU
Mr Malcolm Johnson was re-elected ITU Deputy Secretary-General on 1 November 2018 for a second four-year term starting on 1 January 2019.
During his first term as Deputy Secretary-General, he implemented many efficiency measures releasing more resources to key ITU activities and delivered balanced budgets. He led the Management Board for ITU’s new headquarters building from initiation to selection of architect and concept design. He has modernized ITU’s physical security, improved internal coordination and streamlined and digitized many internal processes substantially reducing paper consumption. He facilitated more inclusive participation in ITU’s work through the use of remote participation in meetings.
Prior to serving as Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Johnson served from 2007 to 2014 as Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau where he initiated the “Bridging the Standardization Gap programme” which has resulted in nearly 50 more countries, mainly developing countries, becoming active in ITU’s standards work; and the “Conformity and Interoperability programme” which helps developing countries prevent low quality and counterfeit ICT equipment from entering their markets. During his time as Director, he introduced a number of gender parity policies, and the percentage of women professionals increased from less than 20 percent to over 40 percent. He also initiated much of ITU’s current work related to environmental issues and accessibility.
Between 2003 and 2006, Mr Johnson was International Coordinator at the United Kingdom’s Office of Communications (Ofcom), where he had lead responsibility for the United Kingdom in ITU.
From 1992 to 2003, he was Director of the United Kingdom’s Radiocommunications Agency and was the European Coordinator for three ITU World Radiocommunication Conferences.
Between 1988 and 1992, he worked in the European Commission’s Telecommunication Regulations Division, where he represented the Commission in the Council and the Parliament of the European Union.
Born in Trallwng, Wales, United Kingdom, Malcolm Johnson graduated from the University of Wales, Cardiff, with MSc and BSc (1st class honours) degrees in 1976. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, an Honorary Professor of Amity University and an Academician of the International Telecommunication Academy.
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 Joan Krajewski
General Manager, E+D Safety, Compliance & Sustainability, Microsoft
Joan Krajewski is a Microsoft business leader and General Manager of global product environmental and safety compliance, energy, sustainability, product certifications, and supply chain social and environmental accountability programs. Joan participates in and leads activities that seek to expand the sustainability potential of the digital transformation. She frequently speaks on the topic of how digital technologies can empower bolder and more impactful action to combat climate change.
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 Abel Leites
Director of Global Supply Chain, Verizon
Responsible for functional systems & advanced analytics, supporting the Global Supply Chain & Global Real Estate teams. Prior to this role, Abel held supply chain leadership positions in inventory planning, transportation, distribution & business operations support. Abel started his career in corporate real estate, with leadership positions in strategic planning, transactions and design & construction. With this background, effectively lead Verizon’s green energy program, deploying over 24MW of on-site renewable energy.
Abel earned a bachelor’s degree in architectural technology from NYIT and a master’s in business administration from Long Island University. Abel also holds a master’s degree in supply chain management from Penn State University.
Claudia Linke-Heep
Deputy Representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Claudia Linke-Heep is a sinologist and development economist by training. Having grown up in an industrial region of Germany Claudia financed her studies working in factories and small and medium sized businesses. This insight into industrial structures and entrepreneurial eco-systems took her from the private sector, where she worked as a management consultant, to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Claudia held different positions in project management and management coordination functions. Her experience in project design and management ranges from privatization policies to international trade regimes and conformity assessment infrastructures, to renewable energy policies and technologies, to global partnerships around green growth and green industrial policy, sustainable manufacturing and circular economy. Her interest lies in the promotion of women’s economic empowerment as entrepreneurs, workers and policy practitioners. Claudia joined the New York Office of UNIDO as Deputy Representative last year.
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