Constance Okollet is the chairperson of the Osukuru United Women Network and one of the founding members of Climate Wise Women. She is a peasant farmer from the Tororo district in Eastern Uganda and a mother of seven. In 2017, Sierra magazine noted, “Constance Okollet exemplifies the Sierra Club’s ideal of citizen advocacy.” Constance is featured in former Irish president Mary Robinson’s 2018 book Climate Justice and has been interviewed by the New York Times, CNN, and The Guardian, among others.
See also: Energy and Climate
Dianna Cohen is co-founder and CEO of Plastic Pollution Coalition and a passionate advocate against plastic pollution. A Los Angeles-based visual artist, Dianna has shown her work internationally at galleries, foundations, and museums. She uses plastic in her artwork to make a visual and social impact, as shared in her 2010 TED talk “Tough Truths About Plastic Pollution.” Dianna is a frequent speaker and media expert, and she has presented at the United Nations in addition to other international conferences and symposia. She is the recipient of the Global Green Environment Award, the Snow Angel Award, and the Environmentalist of the Year by SIMA, among others. Dianna studied Biology, Art, and Film at the University of California, Los Angeles, and holds a BA in Fine Arts.
See also: Ocean Conservation, Pollution and Plastic
Jackie Nuñez is advocacy program manager for Plastic Pollution Coalition and founder of the Last Plastic Straw. The Last Plastic Straw has been a project of Plastic Pollution Coalition since 2016. Jackie is a part-time kayak guide and full-time activist who teaches people of all ages how to speak truth to plastic and be an agent for change in their communities. She has advised on more than 20 local ordinances limiting single-use foodware, including plastic straws. Jackie is a frequent speaker at international conferences and in the press, and she was featured in the award-winning documentary Straws (2017). Jackie has a BS in Health and an AS in Horticulture, and she has a passion for travel, ocean sports, design, gardening, the environment, and community service.
See also: Environmental Education and Youth Leadership, Ocean Conservation, Pollution and Plastic