Mr. Dennis Mombauer has over a decade of experience in research, management, and administration in the development and private sector. He works as Director: Research & Knowledge Management at SLYCAN Trust, a non-profit think tank focusing on climate change adaptation, resilience-building and risk management, finance, human mobility, loss and damage, and social justice. Dennis has also contributed to various research publications and regularly publishes in international and local media outlets.

Mr. Ranga Pallawala is a Climate Change Policy Expert and a Member of the National Expert Committee on Climate Change Adaptation of the Government of Sri Lanka. He has previously served as the Commonwealth National Climate Finance Advisor for Belize and as an expert resource for Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub in capacity building in other countries including Eswatini and Mozambique. Ranga was also the CEO of Janathakshan, a non profit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable and equitable solutions. Ranga has also served as expert consultant for GCF, UNDP and World Bank projects relating to positive climate action.

Mr. Adheesha Perera is a member of the Climate Action Steering Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, a leading business chamber in Sri Lanka, and serves as its Climate Finance Subcommittee Lead. He also serves as a Member of the Stakeholder Committee on Sustainable Finance hosted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and as a Core Group Member of Sri Lanka Banks’ Association’s Sustainable Banking Initiative. He has over 14 years of experience in advocating for policy and best practice in sustainability, particularly in the private sector and financial sector in Sri Lanka and in engagements with youth movements. Adheesha is a lead member of a collaborative initiative to set-up a country finance platform / national blended finance facility in Sri Lanka. At Adaptation Futures 2023, Adheesha co-organized the Session (session 362) on “Inclusive Approaches for Effective Mobilization of Adaptation Finance”.

Ms. Chamindry Saparamadu is the Director General/CEO of the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka, leading SDG-based policy making, budgeting, financing, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and capacity building. She has represented Sri Lanka at regional and international sustainable development conferences, including presenting Sri Lanka’s Second Voluntary National Review on SDGs at the 2022 UN High-Level Political Forum in New York. She spearheaded the national strategy to promote sustainable businesses for SDG achievement. An Attorney-at-Law with over two decades of experience in the development sector, she holds a multidisciplinary background in Economics, Law and International Development and is currently pursuing a PhD in Development Studies at the University of Colombo. Chamindry currently provides leadership from the Government of Sri Lanka in the formation of a national blended finance facility/country finance platform.

Mr. Adheesha Perera is a member of the Climate Action Steering Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, a leading business chamber in Sri Lanka, and serves as its Climate Finance Subcommittee Lead. He also serves as a Member of the Stakeholder Committee on Sustainable Finance hosted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and as a Core Group Member of Sri Lanka Banks’ Association’s Sustainable Banking Initiative. He has over 14 years of experience in advocating for policy and best practice in sustainability, particularly in the private sector and financial sector in Sri Lanka and in engagements with youth movements. Adheesha is a lead member of a collaborative initiative to set-up a country finance platform / national blended finance facility in Sri Lanka. At Adaptation Futures 2023, Adheesha co-organized the Session (session 362) on “Inclusive Approaches for Effective Mobilization of Adaptation Finance”.

Laura Whitford oversees TNC’s global adaptation finance and partnerships efforts. She has worked in Asia Pacific for over 20 years on partnerships, policies and programs focused on sustainable resource management, climate adaptation, equity and economic development. She has graduate degrees in Environmental Management and International Development, Communication and Psychology.