2024 Sustainability Symposium

Antonio Vizcaya Abdo

Sustainability Consultant | Kueponi

Antonio Vizcaya Abdo is a sustainability consultant based in Mexico, currently working with Kueponi, where he specializes in sustainability-driven business consultancy, materiality assessments, strategic planning, and sustainability reporting. He also collaborates with 17 Sport, leveraging the power of sport to address social and environmental challenges globally. In addition to his consultancy roles, Antonio serves as a professor of corporate sustainability at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Universidad Panamericana (UP). Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in sustainability, he is committed to making sustainability knowledge accessible to ignite collective and individual action.

Terrence Clark

President & CEO | NY & NJ MSDC

Terrence Clark leads the way forward for staff and members of The Council community by providing oversight and guidance in relation to The Council’s goals and objectives. Prior to this position, he served as the Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Business Development for the National Urban League, where he was responsible for the management of all small business and entrepreneurship programs. Mr. Clark also served as the Senior Vice President of Knowledge Sharing for the Opportunity Finance Network, where he was responsible for community development for financial institutions nationwide.

In addition to serving on The Council’s board, Mr. Clark is proud to sit as a board member for TruFund Financial Services and the Supplier Diversity Development Council of New Jersey. He also sits on the Economic Impact Committee of Stonehenge Capital and on the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Advisory Councils for the NYC Comptroller and the NYS Governor. In 2021, he was named as one of the Notable Black Leaders and Executives by Crain’s New York.

Sarah Digirolamo

Partner | Sustainability sand ESG Services | Deloitte & Touche LLP

Sarah is the U.S. Audit & Assurance Financial Services ESG Leader and the U.S. Investment Management ESG Leader with over 14 years of experience in the financial services industry serving public and private clients in evaluating U.S. and international rules and regulations. She specializes in ESG reporting and disclosure, risk and controls, and attest services. She serves a variety of ESG and sustainability related engagements with a focus on CSRD, the SEC proposed Climate Rule, SASB, GHG Protocol, and TCFD.​

Sarah has focused primarily on investment management, private equity, banking institutions, and REITs. She has extensive experience in internal controls, reporting, and assurance serving some of the firm’s largest financial services clients, both domestic and international.​ She has co-authored various Deloitte publications including How investment management firms can drive climate change disclosure adoption and reporting and ​Navigating the evolving regulatory landscape to establish a compliant ESG investment practice, published in 2023.​

Sarah also spent two years on secondment in London working in the Risk Advisory Global Capital Markets Group and was the recipient of the 2021 NICSA NOVA Emerging Leaders Award.

I. Javette Hines

Director, Global Head of Supply Chain Development, Inclusion & Sustainability | Citi Bank

IlLonka (Javette) Hines is the Director, SC Supplier Senior Group Manager, and Global Head of Supply Chain Development, Inclusion, and Sustainability at Citi. Javette leads Citi’s efforts to ensure the consideration and inclusion of diverse firms within Citi’s sourcing practice. She works across the firm to align supplier selection efforts a global strategy to continue to spend $1B with diverse suppliers globally, support capacity and supplier development, and create awareness and understanding of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters.

Javette has over 25 years of experience in supply chain management, operations, leadership, diversity, and management, including 11 years at International Business Machines (IBM). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education from Clark Atlanta University, a Juris Doctor from the Wake Forest University School of Law, and holds a certificate as a Certified Professional Supplier Diversity (CPSD) from the Institute of Supply Management. Additionally, she earned a certificate in Human Rights from the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice, a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from eCornell, as well as a certificate in Leading Effective Decision Making from the Yale School of Management.

Gary Joseph

Chief Executive Officer | South African Supplier Siversity Council (SASDC)

Gary Joseph is the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC).

Gary spent two and a half years at the National Business Initiative (NBI) as Director: Corporations & Linkages where he was overall responsible for the legal formation and the commencement of operations of the SASDC.

Prior to joining the NBI, Gary spent 8 years with mining company, De Beers, during which time he held several roles related to SMME development, preferential procurement and supply chain management. His career also includes 2 years in the public sector where he was responsible for regional investment promotion and SMME development programmes implemented by the Northern Cape Provincial Government in South Africa.

Gary holds a Bachelor of Science, a Higher Diploma in Education, as well as, a Post-graduate Diploma in Organisation and Management from the University of Cape Town. His passion, experience and broad knowledge on the subject of transformation and empowerment, particularly as it applies to the transformation of supply chains, is well recognized and has culminated in him taking to the podium as a speaker at international and national conferences, as well as being a frequent guest speaker at the Wits Business School Executive Education and MBA programmes.

Amir Kirkwood

Founding Chief Executive Officer | Climate Justice Fund (JCF)

Amir Kirkwood is the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Justice Climate Fund (JCF), where he leads the organization’s efforts to implement the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) program, a key initiative of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). With a mission to address environmental and climate justice through innovative financial solutions, JCF is at the forefront of supporting clean energy investments in under-resourced communities across the U.S. Amir brings over two decades of experience in local economic development and financial investment to his role at JCF. Prior to joining JCF, he served as President and CEO of Locus, a leading Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and held leadership roles at Opportunity Finance Network, Amalgamated Bank, Next Street, and Citigroup, where he contributed to the creation of the Communities at Work Fund, a national $200 million financing commitment for CDFIs.

Jyi Lawton

CEO | AEMEE

Jyi Lawton is a Bidjara man from Central West Queensland and the CEO of AEMEE, the Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Energy and Exploration. He was a facilitator in the Dilin Duwa Regional Business Workshops in Yarrabah and Rubibi-Broome and has undertaken tertiary study across a range of areas in Architectural Design, Law, Justice, and Business. Jyi was previously CEO of Triple A, an Indigenous community-controlled multi-media.

Rae

Minority Supplier Development in China | MSDCHINA

Rae is a dedicated professional with a passion for fostering supplier diversity and development. Since May 2022, she has been driving impactful connections and opportunities at Minority Supplier Development in China. Her career spans over a decade at IBM, where she spent seven years leading the Supplier Diversity Program and another seven years in the Procurement team, refining her expertise in inclusive and efficient supply chain management.

Born and raised in Shanghai, China, Rae holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Language and Teaching, which has been instrumental in her ability to communicate and lead effectively. Outside of her professional endeavors, Rae is an avid global traveler, exploring the world for leisure and inspiration. She is also a devoted pet parent to both a dog and a cat. Known for her work ethic and perfectionism, Rae embraces the bittersweet balance of her commitment to excellence.

Rae’s dedication aligns closely with her personal and professional values, which she brings to her work at Minority Supplier Development in China.