Alok Sharma

Sir Alok Sharma is a leading global voice on climate action and sustainable finance, recognised for his diplomatic skill in uniting nations around urgent environmental goals. As President of COP26, he orchestrated the historic Glasgow Climate Pact, bringing nearly 200 countries together to commit to meaningful climate action, and continues to champion the transformation of international financial institutions to prioritise clean energy transitions. With a background as a chartered accountant and investment banker, combined with senior ministerial roles including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, he equips audiences with practical insight into mobilising public and private capital for sustainability whilst driving economic growth and innovation.

When Sir Alok Sharma stood before nearly 200 countries at COP26 in Glasgow, he carried the weight of a planet's future on his shoulders. As President of the landmark 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, he navigated complex diplomatic negotiations to deliver the Glasgow Climate Pact, a historic agreement that redefined the global approach to climate action. His tenure from February 2020 to November 2022 established him as one of the most effective and trusted figures in international environmental diplomacy, earning him a knighthood in King Charles III's 2023 New Year's honours list for services to tackling climate change.

Alok's authority on climate and sustainability stems from a rare combination of financial acumen, ministerial leadership, and diplomatic skill. Before his COP26 presidency, he served as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, where he steered the Prime Minister's 10-point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and authored the Energy White Paper that charts the UK's pathway to environmental transformation whilst creating green jobs and attracting private investment. His earlier role as Secretary of State for International Development saw him establish the International Development Infrastructure Commission, focused on mobilising private capital for sustainable infrastructure, and deliver the first UK-Africa Investment Summit. Prior to his political career, Alok spent 16 years in investment banking across London, Frankfurt, and Stockholm, qualifying as a chartered accountant and advising clients on corporate finance. This financial expertise informs his practical understanding of how capital flows can accelerate or hinder climate progress.

Today, Alok equips audiences with clear-sighted perspectives on translating climate ambition into economic reality. He challenges organisations, particularly major financial institutions like the World Bank, to embed climate action at the core of their missions and dramatically increase funding for clean energy transitions. His presentations demystify the intersection of policy, finance, and environmental urgency, offering leaders actionable frameworks for mobilising both public and private investment towards sustainability. Audiences leave with renewed conviction that climate progress and economic growth are not opposing forces but mutually reinforcing opportunities. Whether addressing corporate boards, financial institutions, or policy forums, Alok delivers the credibility of lived experience and the clarity needed to turn environmental commitment into tangible change.