Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu leads business engagement in climate action at UN Climate Change, mobilizing companies and industry leaders to deliver ambitious climate action. She has developed landmark initiatives such as the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action and Sports for Climate Action, and brings extensive experience in international diplomacy, stakeholder engagement, and climate policy. Lindita’s academic background combines electrical engineering, international relations, and energy and climate policy.
2024
Aileen McManamon
Aileen McManamon, is the Founder and Managing Partner of 5 Tool Sports Group, a certified B Corp. She also currently serves as the Board Chair of the Green Sports Alliance, a member-driven coalition of over 300 major leagues, teams, event organizers and their solutions partners, leveraging the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthier communities where we live, work and play.
As the Chair of the Alliance, she has overseen its strategy evolution and the development of cross-sector and international alliances to accelerate industry and societal climate adaptation.
As a global thought leader in future-proofing the sports industry, Aileen works with major leagues, teams, and brands to align their revenue and partnerships with the environmental and social realities of today. 5 Tool also works with global brands to drive values-aligned, data-driven partnerships. The firm’s Sports Partner Score Card™ is an industry first due-diligence tool for assessing commercial partnership fit.
Aileen brings over 3 decades of expertise in global brand strategy and market intelligence and began her career in Europe, with FIAT and Alfa Romeo, leading their Tour de France and motorsports partnerships. After a 10-year stint in the technology sector, she returned to sport, as a General Manager in Minor League Baseball with the Oakland A’s. In 2008 she founded 5 Tool, working with the Olympic Games, FIFA Women’s World Cup, MLB, NHL, FIA, Indycar and the NFL.
She has been recognized by the UN Global Compact for her work in championing economic diversity and inclusion in sport, and named a Sports Business Journal Gamechanger for her pioneering work in socially and environmentally responsible sports management in the U.S. and abroad.
Jenn Babington
At Envision Racing, Jenn is responsible for all non-race specific affairs, from HR to RACC strategy, our Carbon Neutrality status to Partnership Agreements, business optimisation to corporate governance, and anything else you can think of in between. With over 10 years working in renewables, Jenn is passionate about using Formula E as a platform to accelerate our transition to a zero-carbon future so that she can look herself in the mirror every day and know that she is doing what she can to make a difference.
Prior to joining the Team in February 2019, Jenn was Chief of Staff at the UK Green Investment Bank, the UK’s £3.8bn green investment fund, established to commercialise green investment into renewable energy projects within the UK and was responsible, amongst other things, for advising the Chief Executive on key business and strategic priorities. Before that she was Legal Counsel at Element Power, a wind and solar power producer overseeing their northern European wind and solar developments, and responsiblefor global tax planning and HR, and before that a Senior Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright, in their London office, specialising in corporate finance and private equity investments
Erica Edwards-O’Neal
Erica Edwards- Oneal is a bridge-builder, a change maker, and a fierce champion for equity. For more than 25 years, she’s been helping organizations reimagine what’s possible—transforming workplaces into spaces where people feel valued, included, and empowered to do their best work. She currently serves as the Chief Diversity Officer for the not for profit New York Road Runners where she oversees Diversity, People & Culture Operations, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Functions.
As an attorney and the founder of EEO Consults, Erica leads with her signature approach, Baked In Equity™️—the belief that equity shouldn’t be an afterthought, but woven into the very DNA of an organization. Her expertise in leadership development, change management, and team building has helped countless companies thrive, especially for those who’ve historically been overlooked or under-resourced.
She has been recognized by Crain’s New York Business as a Notable Woman in Sports. Her work has also earned her Empact Inc’s Change Maker Award, the National Black Pre-Law Impact Award, the Women of Distinction Award presented by Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, and numerous other honors recognizing her leadership, advocacy, and service.
Her story begins in a small town, where her parents juggled full-time jobs while running a farm. Those early years instilled in her a love for hard work, humility, and nature. Today, she’s the proud mother of four daughters, wife to Thurston, her best friend of nearly three decades
Jason Webber
I’m an expert and leader in Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability currently working at the Football Association of Wales (FAW) as a Senior Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability Manager.
I have been integral in advancing the FAW’s EDI and Sustainability Programmes towards being a global leader in sport and have extensive experience as an educator, public speaker and advisor to a wide range of stakeholders for more than a decade.
I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience with others and am committed to making football and a better place for everyone.
Michele Uva
Michele Uva is UEFA Executive Director of Social and Environmental Sustainability and UEFA responsible for EURO 2032 in Italy.
He has dedicated an entire career to professional sport in several contexts, disciplines and environments. He has performed the role of CEO in sports organizations such as the Italian Football Association (FIGC), the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), professional football clubs (Parma and Lazio), basketball club (Lottomatica Roma) and volleyball clubs (Bologna, Treviso and Matera), as well as president of Women’s Volleyball Leaugue and Deputy Commissioner in Italian Serie A football league.
Between 2017 and 2020 he was UEFA Vice-president. Author of six books on sport and the football industry, he is currently a lecturer at several international universities.
He sits on the Board of Trustee of UEFA Foundation and on the Executive Board of the Advisory Foundation in Support for Football for the Goals.
Florin Șari
Florin Șari’s professional history includes, between 2001 and 2015, positions of program coordinator and financia manager in the German political foundations Konrad Adenauer and Friedrich Naumann, with an extensive experience in Romania, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the EU. Between 2015 and 2021 he was the Leader of the Local Organizing Structure of UEFA Euro 2020 in Romania, the most important sports event in Romanian history. A graduate of the Faculty of Journalism in Sibiu, he also holds a diploma in Leadership and Management in Football, the Certificate in Management in Football from the University of Lausanne and the Certificate of the Sustainability Compact Course of UEFA and Bocconi University of Milan, thus consolidating his skills in football management and sustainability in sport. He also followed a postgraduate course in International Relations at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute and obtained a Master of Science in Project Management from the Politehnica University of Bucharest.
James Beale
James is responsible for driving forward the club’s environmental sustainability and the community strategies, making positive impact across the organisation and advancing action across our staff, players, fans and in our wider community.
Dr. Denise Ludlam
Denise Ludlam joined Sport England in 2023 as Environmental Sustainability Strategic Lead, helping to drive Sport England’s sustainability ambitions and supporting the grassroots and community sport and physical activity sector to become more environmentally sustainable.
Denise has built her career in environmental sustainability, drawing on a strong scientific background and extensive experience across the public, charity and environmental sectors. She spent several years working in the protected landscapes sector, both in the UK and across Europe, helping to conserve and enhance some of the most valued natural environments.
Prior to joining the public sector, Denise worked in the charity sector, where she managed an urban nature reserve and led initiatives that connected people with nature while promoting conservation and environmental stewardship.
With a breadth of experience spanning environmental policy, conservation, stakeholder engagement and sustainable development, Denise brings valuable expertise to the sporting system. She is passionate about helping organisations and communities reduce their environmental impact and build a more sustainable future for sport and physical activity.
Tiberio Daddi
Tiberio is Associate Professor in Sustainability Management at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, a public University located in Pisa, Italy. His research interests range from corporate environmental management to sustainable consumption and production, from Environmental performance and LCA to circular economy. He is author of more than 60 international publications and project manager of numerous international projects funded mainly by European Commission. At Sant’Anna University he coordinates the Sport Sustainability Management research area, focused on environmental sustainability activities applied in different sports like Football, Biathlon, Athletics, Floorball, Canoeing, Sailing.
