The Climate Conscious Podcast

Welcome to the 4th and final part of CW4CJ 2025 DAY 1: “Dimensions of Resilience: Live Case Studies from the Global South”

Maxine Alleyne-Esprit is a communications professional with a long history of community engagement and accountability to affected populations.   Her work in communications and community engagement has spanned a period of 25 years on behalf of private sector, community-based organizations, business support organizations, and the UN, specifically through the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Karina is an Environmental and Development Engineer with a Master’s degree in Project Management. She currently serves as a Senior MECC Associate at the IOM Regional Office in Panama, where she supports the design and implementation of projects related to migration, environment, and climate change. Her main areas of work include the use of participatory methodologies, project development in Indigenous communities, and the application of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process. She has contributed to the design, monitoring, and evaluation of initiatives aimed at sustainability, climate resilience, and the promotion of community well-being.

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Welcome to part 3 of CW4CJ 2025 DAY 1: “Dimensions of Resilience: Live Case Studies from the Global South”

Ivy Chebiwot Kessei is a communications specialist from Kenya with a diverse background in corporate communication, journalism, and communication for development (C4D). With a strong foundation in both academic training and hands-on experience, she is passionate about harnessing the transformative power of communication to drive social change.

Deeply committed to youth and women’s empowerment, Ivy actively promotes climate resilience and participatory dialogue for sustainable development. She believes in the catalytic role of women in agriculture and is especially drawn to initiatives that foster knowledge sharing and storytelling to amplify their voices.

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Welcome to part 2 of CW4CJ 2025 DAY 1: Live case study session on “Dimensions of Resilience: Live Case Studies from the Global South”

Nicole Joseph-Chin is a globally recognized Trinbagonian social entrepreneur and social impact strategist committed to the delivery of social care and empowerment through the lenses of women’s health.

She is the Founder of Ms. BrafitTM (a social care brand founded in 2002) and CEO of MBF Enterprises, both leading in the dialogues around breast-empowerment as a gender, health, wellness and social empowerment discourse and solution towards ending and breaking psychosocial stigmas around body empowerment, health, gender based-violence, safety and self-agency.

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Welcome to part 1 of CW4CJ 2025 DAY 1: Live case study session on “Dimensions of Resilience: Live Case Studies from the Global South”

Dr Paula Henry, a primary care physician and a Public Health practitioner, graduated from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Jamaica in 1980. She holds a diploma in Family Medicine, an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School and an MPH with distinction from UWI.  She is also a director of EarthMedic EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health. Dr Henry who considers herself a social scientist par excellence, is passionate about policy change as a pathway to sustainable solutions to the climate crisis. Incidentally she also holds a Diploma in Theology. 

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Climate change is intensifying social and economic inequities worldwide, with women in the Global South, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), rural communities, and Indigenous territories, bearing a disproportionate share of climate‑related risks. 

Yet these same women design and lead some of the most innovative, community‑rooted solutions, from youth empowerment programs to regenerative agriculture initiatives.

Despite growing recognition, women’s leadership remains under‑resourced and under‑represented in policy, finance, and decision‑making arenas. This panel elevates women’s agency and knowledge systems at the center of climate action, proposing that cultivating equity is inseparable from cultivating effective solutions.

Women are powerful agents of change, with the capacity to drive innovative, and lead inclusive, and community-engaged climate solutions. Addressing the climate crisis requires more than symbolic inclusion; we need women in senior positions across governments, businesses, industries, and communities who are prepared to lead boldly and equitably.

To truly transform systems, we must challenge narrow perceptions of women’s leadership and ensure that women in power are supported, resourced, and empowered to advocate for themselves and others. 

Panelist Profiles

1. Renee Atwell - Attorney-at-Law, Youth Advocate, and Founder of Girls of Impact, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young women in Trinidad and Tobago through mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement. Her work focuses on advancing equity, access to justice, and sustainable development, particularly for marginalized communities in the Global South. 
   
   
   
2. Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie - environmental scientist and advocate dedicated to safeguarding Jamaica's natural heritage with over a decade of experience, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) which is a not-for-profit, environmental NGO whose mission is to protect Jamaica’s natural resources through their law and advocacy, conservation and environmental education programmes. 
   
   
   
3. Jacintha Realine - Wapichan Women’s Representative, She is from Aishalton village, located in the Wapichan Territory of the South Rupununi, Guyana, has worked with the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) as its Cultural Heritage Coordinator, interviewing elders to document the Wapichan culture and was part of a core set of youths who lobbied the SRDC to organize the first ever Wapichan Youth Conference. Her work focuses on Indigenous women’s empowerment, land and resource management.
   
   
   
4. Steffy Heera - Chief Customer Officer at Renewable Power Caribbean Limited, over 18 years of cross-disciplinary expertise, with insights into the intersection of land use, food security, and energy production, leveraging her Human Resource Management experience for the human capacity element of the renewable energy transition, ensuring inclusivity and skill development. 

Moderator - 

Marion Atieno Osieyo is a storyteller and advisor working at the intersection of nature, culture and human flourishing. Her work supports inner and social transformational approaches to Earth care with the aim of helping humanity reconcile our relationship with Mother Earth. She is the founder and host of Black Earth, an award-winning podcast and community exploring how black women are restoring ecosystems, communities, and harmonious ways of being in relationship with the rest of nature.

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The CW4CJ 2025 Keynote speaker, Kendria Ferguson is a sustainability and climate resilience specialist with over a decade of experience across the Caribbean. She holds a Master’s in Global Sustainability and is completing her Ph.D. in Sustainable Development at the University of the West Indies. Her work spans disaster risk reduction, renewable energy, environmental management, and sustainable tourism—supporting governments, international agencies, and NGOs on policy development, project implementation, and capacity building.

Missed a session or want to revisit your favourite moments?
Click here to replay Day 1 - Dimensions of Resilience: Live Case Studies from the Global South

Click here to replay Day 2 - Power in Her Hands: Cultivating Equity & Climate Solutions in the Global South

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Co-hosted by @TheClimateConscious & @GlobalYaadie

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Dahvia Hylton is an educator and an activist. She currently serves as the President of the Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council. She has been a staunch advocate for environmental protection and the rights of women and children, applying an intersectional approach to these issues. 

Join us for Caribbean Women for Climate Justice Conference 2025 virtual conference 

🗓️ 17 – 19 July 2025
💻 Online | Global South Voices, United
💥 Co-hosted by @TheClimateConscious & @GlobalYaadie

Register for Day 1:  https://streamyard.com/watch/45Fe8UE5nt4b

Register for Day 2: https://streamyard.com/watch/b2t3XDEQJduR

Register for the Grant Writing Workshop: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/MdtmSbUmSzmW1FmdNiTRig

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The Caribbean Women for Climate Justice (CW4CJ) Virtual Conference is back for its third edition. The voices behind The Climate Conscious and The Global Yaadie podcasts take the mic to share what’s in store. 

In this  crossover episode, CW4CJ organizers, Derval and Dainalyn break down the 2025 theme “Sowing Seeds of Sustainable Solutions”. The organizers discuss why centering women is critical to climate justice, and spotlight some of the dynamic speakers joining from across the Caribbean and the Global South.

From post-disaster recovery to agricultural resilience and youth advocacy, CW4CJ 2025 is more than a conference…it’s a movement rooted in lived experience and led by women.

July 17–19 | Virtual & Free
Co-hosted by @TheClimateConscious & @GlobalYaadie

Register for Day 1: https://streamyard.com/watch/45Fe8UE5nt4b
Register for Day 2: https://streamyard.com/watch/b2t3XDEQJduR

Register for the Grant Writing Workshop: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/MdtmSbUmSzmW1FmdNiTRig

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Keatlegile Mnguni is the founder & CEO at Agrinouri, a South African agroprocessing & vegetable farming company, dedicated to crafting exceptional handcrafted sauces using natural ingredients. https://agrinouri.co.za

Join us for Caribbean Women for Climate Justice Conference 2025 virtual conference 

🗓️ 17 – 19 July 2025
💻 Online | Global South Voices, United
💥 Co-hosted by @TheClimateConscious & @GlobalYaadie

Register for Day 1:  https://streamyard.com/watch/45Fe8UE5nt4b

Register for Day 2: https://streamyard.com/watch/b2t3XDEQJduR

Register for the Grant Writing Workshop: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/MdtmSbUmSzmW1FmdNiTRig

Support the show

Cherisse  Braithwaite-Joseph, CEO of the Cropper Foundation, speaks about her journey in climate philanthropy and the importance of linking environmental sustainability with community development. 

With over 14 years of experience across environmental management, disaster risk reduction, and community development, Cherise shares how her career has been a continuous journey toward people-centered, data-driven climate action.

Cherisse discuss innovative projects like the 'Writing for Our Lives' anthology, which aims to amplify Caribbean voices in the climate narrative. She emphasizes the need for holistic approaches to climate resilience, the vital role of civil society partnerships, and the call for philanthropic leaders to support local initiatives effectively.

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in climate resilience, regional leadership, and building more equitable and effective climate solutions.

Key Takeaways

• The Cropper Foundation blends technical elements with grassroots participation.
• Climate resilience is interconnected with people's livelihoods in the Caribbean.
• Civil society should be involved from the planning stages of initiatives.
• Funders need to support local organizations beyond project-based funding.
• Sustainability requires a holistic approach that includes cultural impacts.
• The Caribbean has the expertise to lead in climate action.
• Investment in local initiatives is crucial for effective climate solutions.
• Partnerships should focus on co-designing projects that meet local needs.

Join the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance and become part of the Philanthropy For Climate movement, a powerful global network of changemakers.

Visit https://cariphilalliance.org/events-programs/clasp/ to learn more

Visit thecropperfoundation.org to learn more about their work. 

Partner with us as we elevate Caribbean voices in reshaping climate action through philanthropy.

Subscribe to the Climate Conscious podcast to stay inspired and informed.

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