Strategy Council
The Strategy Council provides high-level guidance and advice on SCT’s programs, strategy, and business model.
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Joanna Messing
Growald Climate Fund
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Anup Bandivadekar
Hewlett Foundation
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Sze Ping Lo
Sequoia Climate Foundation
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Vikas Mehta
SED Fund
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Naghma Mulla
EdelGive Foundation
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Dan King
Foundation for International Law for the Environment
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Aviva Imhof
Tara Climate Foundation
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Rebecca Collyer
Pooled Fund for International Energy
Our team
Roshan Paul, Executive Director
An award-winning social entrepreneur, best-selling author and global impact leader, Roshan conceived Surge Climate Talent (formerly the Climate Talent Initiative) under the auspices of the Growald Climate Fund in 2022 and then worked to prove the concept as a grantee at IREX, before coming on board to lead the new initiative in the summer of 2024.
Roshan’s career has focused on creating impact globally, with over 20 years of global experience on 6 continents. At IREX, he managed a $130+ million multi-year portfolio and a team of over 90 people that worked with thousands of young leaders across more than 100 countries. Prior to IREX, Roshan co-founded Amani Institute in 2010 and co-led the organization from an idea to an award-winning social enterprise and the largest talent development organization for the social sector based in the global south. Under his tenure as CEO, Amani Institute trained and guided 10,000+ people from more than 65 countries. Based on this work, he co-authored the Amazon #1 bestseller The New Reason to Work: How to Build a Career that will Change the World and today writes the well-regarded newsletter Work Out Loud.
Shehzia Lilani, Director of Programs and Operations
Shehzia finds energy in supporting individuals to unlock their leadership potential and create more impact with their lives. A social impact and leadership consultant, she has expertise in leadership development, organizational development, strategic facilitation, mentoring, social innovation, and talent management. Prior to joining SCT, Shehzia spent the last 7 years of her career in the impact sector with Amani Institute (now Global Good x Amani). There, she served in multiple roles - Vice President of Growth, COO, Interim CEO and also India Country Director.
In the first decade of her career, Shehzia designed and facilitated learning & development (L&D) interventions in the corporate sector. She worked with Suzlon, a multinational renewable energy company, setting up their knowledge management and L&D departments within their infrastructure division. She also worked with leading financial services companies like Barclays and Société Générale, where she spearheaded behavioral learning, leadership development, and talent management initiatives. Passionate about the study of human behavior, she is MBTI certified and accredited in Harrison Assessments.
Sarah Casey, Partnerships Lead
Sarah's career has been driven by the conviction that climate action must go hand-in-hand with equity, and she is passionate about mobilizing resources and partnerships that uplift frontline communities while building a healthier planet for all. At Surge Climate Talent, she focuses on strengthening philanthropic and private sector engagement to expand equitable investment in climate talent across the Global South. Sarah brings 14 years of experience in business development, sustainable finance, climate resilience, and grantmaking for social impact in the Global South.
She has secured institutional partnerships and led multi-million-dollar proposals for USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Development Finance Corporation, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, UNICEF, and numerous philanthropic and corporate foundations. At FHI 360, she directed business development efforts for climate resilience and workforce initiatives, cultivating partnerships with institutional donors and private sector actors around the globe. Sarah is also the Founder and Executive Director of ImpactPulse, a nonprofit using AI and SROI frameworks to strengthen transparency and rebuild trust in charitable giving.