Anousheh Ansari

CEO, XPRIZE Foundation

Anousheh Ansari is CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation, the world’s leader in designing and operating incentive competitions to solve humanity’s grand challenges. Ansari, along with her family, sponsored the organization’s first competition, the Ansari XPRIZE, a $10 million competition that ignited a new era for commercial spaceflight. Since then, she has served on XPRIZE’s Board of Directors.

Prior to being named CEO of XPRIZE, Ansari served as the CEO of Prodea Systems, a leading Internet of Things (IoT) technology firm she co-founded in 2006, and continues to serve as the executive chairwoman. She captured headlines around the world when she embarked upon an 11-day space expedition, accomplishing her childhood dream of becoming the first female private space explorer, first astronaut of Iranian descent, first Muslim woman in space, and fourth private explorer to visit space.

Ansari serves on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Future Council and has received numerous honors, including the WEF Young Global Leader, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and STEM Leadership Hall of Fame, among others. She is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and serves on the board of Jabil and Peace First, as well as several other not-for-profit organizations focused on STEM education and youth empowerment.

Ansari also co-founded The Billion Dollar Fund for Women, announced in October 2018 at the Tri Hita Karana (THK) Forum on Sustainable Development in Bali, with a goal of investing $1 billion in women-founded companies by 2020.

She published her memoir, My Dream of Stars, to share her life story as inspiration for young women around the world.

Ansari holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and computer engineering from George Mason University, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University; and honorary doctorates from George Mason University, Utah Valley University, and International Space University.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Bernardito C. Auza

Titular Archbishop of Suacia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Organization of American States

Born in Talibon, Republic of the Philippines on 10 June 1959.

Ordained priest for the Diocese of Tagbilaran on 29 June 1985; then in 1986 he was incardinated to the newly created Diocese of Talibon.

Earned a doctorate in Theology and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See
in 1990.

Served at the Apostolic Nunciature in Madagascar, in Bulgaria, and then in Albania. He then served in the Secretariat of State in the Vatican and from there was appointed to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.

Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti on 8 May 2008 and was ordained Titular Archbishop of Suacia on 3 July 2008.

Appointed Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York on 1 July 2014 and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Organization of American States on 16 July 2014.

Dave Cortese

Santa Clara County Supervisor

Supervisor Dave Cortese was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 2008. Prior to joining the Board, Cortese served eight years on the San Jose City Council, including two years as Vice Mayor. He grew up in San Jose as part of a family that has been active in civic, cultural and business activities for generations. He is married to Pattie and has four children. His strong local roots and love for this county fuel his passion for public service.

Growing up in the east foothills amidst an agricultural setting, Dave’s fondness for the natural beauty of the Santa Clara Valley bloomed from an early age and transformed into his dedication towards protecting our natural environment and promoting conservation efforts. He has proposed and successfully implemented broad, far reaching climate action goals for Santa Clara County including receiving 100% of the County’s electrical needs from renewable resources by using the County’s surplus lands for solar power facilities. Furthermore, as a VTA Board Member, Dave secured the purchase of Zero Emission Buses to reduce the Authority’s impact on the environment. As a member of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, Dave ensured the vitality and health of one of the region’s most significant environmental and economic assets.

Dave understands the balancing act needed to allow for urban areas to grow while at the same time protecting and increasing open space and parklands for residents to enjoy. Dave’s passion for Santa Clara Valley has translated into a diligent record of service towards protecting our natural environment. As a private attorney, he worked successfully to secure 300 acres of permanent open space in South San Jose for the state and county as part of the Walter Cottle Lester property. A firm advocate for the principles of smart growth, while president of ABAG, Dave spearheaded the formation of the Joint Policy Committee, a body comprised of representatives from ABAG, MTC, BCDC and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which tackles the important connection between housing, transportation and climate protection in a coordinated, regional fashion.

In San Jose, Cortese urged the City Council to adopt specific goals for reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which the Council ultimately did in June 2007. He has been a strong supporter of San Jose’s riparian policy and a fervent opponent of any attempts to violate the city’s Greenline. Twice he led the charge to update San Jose’s tree preservation ordinance in order to better protect and grow our urban canopy, for which his efforts were recognized by organizations such as Our City Forest. Within his own council district, Dave initiated and oversaw the masterplan for the Thompson Creek Trail, a 6-mile planned trail system that runs from Lake Cunningham Regional Park to the San
Felipe foothills.

In 2007, Dave was asked to serve as Honorary Chair of the Green Challenge, a grassroots project of the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley that utilizes family volunteerism in the battle against global warming. As chair, Dave successfully brought funding to this project to strengthen the efforts of Santa Clara Valley families in addressing climate protection.

As Vice Mayor of the City of San Jose, Dave spearheaded the development of the Thompson Creek Trail Masterplan, the first section of which opened to the public in October 2008. In addition, Dave was instrumental in the passage of San Jose’s Measure K which strengthened the existing City Council approved urban growth boundary to protect the City’s greenbelt. As a member of the Association of Bay Area Governments, he is a strong proponent of the Bay Trail which will create a continuous network of trails around the entire San Francisco Bay.

The County Climate Coalition, a project spearheaded by Dave’s office in partnership with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, affirmed the county’s commitment to emission reductions deadlines and called on counties across the nation to achieve 100 percent renewable energy and commit to the goals set forth in the United Nations’ Paris Climate Agreement. To energize and mobilize the next generation of leaders in the area of environmental stewardship, Supervisor Cortese formed the Silicon Valley Kid’s Climate Club which educates students in grades 3 through 12 on the vital importance of minimizing society’s impact on the environment, by enabling them to make environmentally friendly changes in their own lives and by encouraging them to be advocates for environmental stewardship.

In his current role as the Chair of the Finance, Government and Operations Committee, Dave is continuously looking at ways the County can improve upon its operations to ensure that it is acting in the most environmentally friendly manner while at the same time saving money for other beneficial County services; this includes looking at ways the county fleet operations can be better managed to both reduce the cost to the county and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted.