Expansion of UN Live’s Board of Directors

We are delighted to introduce four new, global profiles to our Board of Directors and existing team of strong visionaries; Sophia Kianni, Kumi Naidoo, Karen Wang and Omino Gardezi.

Each of these remarkable individuals bring a unique set of skills, and we are excited to have their contribution and leadership to support UN Live’s mission as we continue to drive global change through culture. In this article we will introduce each board member and dive deeper into their achievements, perspectives and passions.

Sophia Kianni

Sophia is an Iranian-American social entrepreneur, activist, Founder and Executive Director at Climate Cardinals - the world’s largest youth-led climate nonprofit, with 9,000 volunteers in 40+ countries.

Sophia’s journey with climate activism started early in her life. In Middle School, she first started to translate climate resources for her relatives - leading to the establishment of Climate Cardinals. Since then, she has sat on boards and advisory councils for The New York Times, World Economic Forum, Ashoka, American Lung Association, and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, and is the youngest United Nations advisor in US history. She has been named VICE Media's youngest Human of the Year, a National Geographic Young Explorer, and a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree.

We are very excited about the contributions Sophia will make to our organisation as a visionary leader with a passion for driving positive change. 

“I am inspired by the work of UN Live to build innovative partnerships across different sectors to galvanise action on the world’s most pressing issues, including climate change. We will need everyone, from civil society to the private sector, to drive social progress. I am excited by the opportunity to further intergenerational dialogue in partnership with powerful organisations and brands. Young people are on the pulse of culture and social progress, and together we have the power to unlock global impact.”

Kumi Naidoo

Kumi Naidoo is a South African human rights and climate justice activist, the former Secretary-General of Amnesty International and the first African head of Greenpeace. He served as the official spokesperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, the body that oversaw South Africa’s first democratic elections in April 1994. 

Kumi is currently a senior advisor for the Community Arts Network and a special advisor to the Green Economy Coalition. He is a professor of practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, and continues to serve as a global ambassador for Africans Rising for Justice, Peace and Dignity. Together with his family, he has also started the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism to build on the positive legacies left by popular South African rapper Rikhado “Riky Rick” Makhado through his music and life’s work.

With his invaluable expertise and wealth of experience, Kumi will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping UN Live’s future endeavours. 

“We have to acknowledge that the ways we have been trying to enact positive change in the world have not been as successful as we would have liked. That is why UN Live is so important in today's world. UN Live is at the cutting edge of innovation and creativity when looking at the impact that culture has on the world. They understand the deep connection between culture and how we make change and they are helping others to think about new and inspiring ways to create an enabling environment for positive change.”

Karen Wang

It is with pleasure that we introduce one of the newest members of the UN Live board, Hanyuan (Karen) Wang. Karen is the CEO and founder of Climind, a climate co-pilot platform that delivers actionable climate data infrastructure through AI technologies to facilitate mitigation and adaptation solutions, and holds degrees from Hong Kong Baptist University, Imperial College London, as well as being a Schwarzman Scholar from Tsinghua University.

In addition to serving as a CEO, Karen is also a research assistant at Imperial College London's Centre for Climate Finance and Investment (CCFI), focusing on the Asian market's climate risks, carbon market and nature based solutions, and with her Bai ethnicity, she's dedicated to preserving the endangered Bai dialect in China.

She is the first Chinese female to be selected as a Young Leader for the SDGs recognized by the United Nations, and she was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 for her climate startup work. We are so excited to have Karen onboard, and she brings a wealth of knowledge to UN Live, strengthening our ability to drive positive change.

“In a world intertwined with crises, UN Live stands as more than a “museum”; it is a crucible of history, a beacon of the UN's SDGs, and a catalyst for innovative solutions reflective of our diverse world. While influential leaders work towards systemic change, we rely on platforms like UN Live to punctuate the discourse, ensuring the message of sustainable development is both seen and heard.”

Omino Gardezi

Omino Gardezi is a global business and design leader, startup advisor, experimental filmmaker, and the newest member of the UN Live board. Omino Gardezi is an innovative creative leader renowned for pushing storytelling boundaries. With over 20 years of experience collaborating with Global brands, he has built a reputation for challenging the norm. 

He is at the forefront of machine learning for creativity, exploring collective intelligence to elevate the creative process. Drawing on his expertise in design, data, art, and technology, he advocates for intersectional thinking and pushes storytelling boundaries.

In addition to his creative pursuits, Omino is dedicated to empowering educators in equipping parents as advocates for their children. He is passionate about supporting children's academic, social, and emotional growth by providing parents with essential tools and knowledge. Omino's commitment to this cause is demonstrated through his involvement with NGOs such as the Center for Arts and Education, Partnership with Children, and the Planetary Responsibility Foundation.

Omino’s extensive experience is an invaluable asset to our organisation, and we are excited to have his guidance on UN Live’s journey towards driving global action.

“The United Nations (UN) possesses great importance and value as a platform for collaboration among influential nations. It represents our shared human values and seeks to encourage active involvement from all participants. Although it may not consistently address the core interests of everyone, its objective is to dismantle barriers, cultivate a sense of community, and ignite collective action at the grassroots level. The UN Live brand could establish itself as a standard-bearer for its aspirational principles and its ambitious ideals. This organization has the capacity to inspire and uphold a significant level of relevance and global influence.”