Clara Lafon coordinates C40’s Funding Development Board, Go/No Go processes and the funding pipeline. She also supports programme teams in grant management, focusing on grant review, approval, and compliance.
Before C40, Clara spent over seven years with various humanitarian/international development organisations (International Rescue Committee, ACTED, Sightsavers), working with programme teams in different regions, supporting them with everything related to programme design, proposal development and grant management.
Clara is based in London and holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
Connor serves as Project Officer in C40’s Inclusive Climate Action team. In this role, he is responsible for supporting the Global Green New Deal pilot cities in technical assistance activities, knowledge production, coordination, procurement, and funder reporting.
Prior to this, Connor worked at the Rainforest Foundation UK for two years supporting Real Time Monitoring projects in Central Africa and Peru. The projects aimed to equip indigenous forest peoples with technology to monitor illegal extractive activities taking place on their lands. Prior to this, Connor worked as part of the operations team at the recycling company TerraCycle.
Connor holds an MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development from UCL, joining the already quite big UCL alumni group we have at C40. The course focused on urban planning in the Global South and included a research project in Freetown, examining the cycles of risk experienced by communities living in informal settlements.
Cornelia von Einem serves as Senior Team Coordinator for the global Communications team and works closely with the Brand, Creative and Digital Content team and wider organisation. Based in Paris, Cornelia provides daily support to the Director of Communications, and serves as a key member of the team, helping to coordinate and structure meetings and agendas with internal and external stakeholders. She also liaises with Les Canaux, a metropolitan hub for innovation and economic solidarity and the location of C40’s Paris office. Cornelia has held administrative and customer-facing positions in private and public-sector organisations in France, after working as a picture editor in scientific book publishing, where she developed a keen interest in environmental issues. She has lived in Venezuela, Germany, and Japan before moving to France, and speaks German, French, and English (and is now brushing up on her Spanish!).
Costanza is the Reinventing Cities Project Manager. She graduated from UCL with an MSc in Environment & Sustainable Development and has a background in Environmental Engineering.
She has worked in marketing and communication in London and has first-hand experience in cities of China, Argentina and Western Africa. Recently, she was part of a research group in Freetown, working with local communities to tackle daily challenges and risks in informal settlements.
Costanza is Italian but she can speak five other languages including Spanish, French, some Portuguese and a little Mandarin too.
Cristiane serves as Urban Heat and Health Manager, after having worked as Senior Project Advisor to Salvador for GIZ, as part of the C40 Cities Finance Facility programme. She supports the city in preparing an adaptation project in a low-income and informal settlement to reduce landslides and flood risks through nature-based solutions and inclusive climate action.
Cristiane has previously worked as a consultant for Brazilian cities and companies on different environment and urban planning topics, such as master plans, environmental impact assessments, land regularization and slum upgrading, stormwater and waste management, disaster risk reduction, mobility and cultural heritage.
She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in architecture and urban planning from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), and a postgraduate degree in environment and sanitation from FUMEC University.
Daisy is Programme Manager for Climate Action Implementation at C40, where she works on the design and delivery of new programmes, as well as on government funder engagement for major urban climate action programmes spanning multiple regions and sectors. Daisy previously worked for C40’s Finance Facility (CFF), a joint initiative of C40 Cities and GIZ that drives access to finance for climate change mitigation and resilience projects in urban areas.
Before joining C40, Daisy worked for nearly ten years at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), where she was responsible for developing briefings and speeches for senior officials. She researched and authored peer reviews and publications, and co-designed key launches and high-level multi-stakeholder events. She also contributed to integrating gender considerations into the 2021 OECD Anti-Bribery Recommendation, adopted by the 44 countries Party to the Anti-Bribery Convention.
Daisy completed her MSc in Human Rights at the London School of Economics and Political Science, focusing on gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights. She holds a BA in French from the University of London Institute in Paris and speaks English and French. She also volunteers at the LGBT+ helpline, Switchboard.
Dan supports research and initiatives addressing the social justice impacts of decarbonising the construction industry. He manages a programme called Cities Piloting a Just and Viable Transition to a Regenerative Built Environment, with the pilot cities being Oslo, Madrid and London.
Dan comes to C40 from working in local government with experience in public infrastructure delivery and community-led governance. He was part of the second cohort of Public Practice Associates formed in London as a network of peers carrying out in-practice research on capacity building within local authorities. Previously he worked as a community planner and business development manager and has a wide range of experience working in diverse communities. His early career included producing independent theatre and running a young people’s theatre festival in his home town of Toronto.
Dan holds a Master’s degree in Building and Urban Design from the Development Planning Unit at UCL and a certification in Environmental Management from IEMA.
Daniel serves as Director of Climate Action Implementation at C40, developing and implementing multi-region projects to advance cities’ Climate Action Plans. Before that, he served as director of C40’s transport programme, advancing work on zero emission areas and setting up the Green and Healthy Streets Leadership Forum.
Daniel has nearly 20 years experience working in city government in Stockholm, London and Vancouver, and as a consultant to city governments in multiple regions. He has led strategy, policy, and implementation of major urban planning, transportation, climate action and innovation projects in multiple global regions. He has a track record of implementing complex and politically sensitive projects like traffic restrictions, urban densification, and road user charging.
Daniel has a Master’s degree in urban planning, having studied at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK and Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (the Royal Institute of Technology) in Stockholm.
Daniel Samuels serves as Knowledge Platforms Lead at C40 in the Climate Finance, Knowledge and Partnerships team. In this position, he is responsible for the development and overall management of C40’s knowledge platforms and data, including C40’s primary public knowledge-sharing platform, The C40 Knowledge Hub. In this role, he is also responsible for mapping C40’s data across its systems. Prior to this, Daniel was a Project Analyst with the Clinton Foundation working on the C40-CCI (Clinton Climate Initiative) team, where he helped the first CCI intranet. Daniel came to the Clinton Foundation after spending 8 months in Ghana working for the Kokrobitey Institute, a sciences, arts and humanities school, that promotes cultural understanding, community service and sustainable development. Daniel holds a Bachelor in Economics and Social Sciences from Sydney University, Australia.
David leads the C40 legal team as General Counsel, focusing on legal compliance and grant management. David has worked extensively in the environmental sector and previously acted as General Counsel at the GSMA, the global telecoms association, and at M-Kopa, a successful start-up serving the unbanked in East Africa that he co-founded.
David has represented clients on legal and matters at the European Court of Justice and Commission, in the US at the Departments of Justice, Commerce and the White House and in national fora in several other jurisdictions.
David started life as a lawyer with the UK firm Linklater’s and worked for the US law firm Jones Day. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin and Paris II, Assas and attended the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium and SAIS, in Bologna, Italy. He currently lives in Spain and closely follows the football results in all the countries he has lived in.
Delia serves as the Administration Officer for Zero Emission Freight, with a particular focus on the Laneshift programme. Her role also encompasses providing administrative support to the rest of the Zero Emission Freight team.
Prior to joining C40, Delia had spent several years working in administrative roles in the private sector. She has also dedicated her time throughout the years to volunteer in non-governmental organisations in the UK and Latin America, particularly within the education and environmental sectors.
Delia has an MSc in Environment, Development, and Politics from the University of Birmingham and a BA in International Politics from Aberystwyth University.
Devashree Ragde is Manager for Climate Governance and Finance in the South and West Asia team in Mumbai. She supports the Climate Budgeting activities of Mumbai city and provides cross-cutting support in Climate and Infrastructure finance.
She has pursued urban planning from the College of Engineering, Pune and holds an M.Sc. in Urban Policy and Governance from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Devashree previously worked at Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy on revenue enhancement projects and policy-making for urban local bodies of Odisha. Prior to that, her work experience included project management for Pondicherry’s integrated solid waste management project, research on the Pune Smart Cities Mission at Flame University and planning Chiplun Municipal Council’s Septage Management project at PAS Project, CEPT University.
She also has independent consulting experience with Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions Pvt Ltd on government scheme delivery and design. Devashree has been editor-in-chief of the National Organisation for Students of Planning (NOSPlan) in India. In her free time, she enjoys working out at the gym, travelling, reading and is an active Toastmaster.
Dhiraj Santdasani serves as C40’s Technical Advisor, Waste and Methane, leading the delivery of the Global Methane Hub project in India and exploring avenues to expand our waste work in the region. He is a passionate environmentalist, dedicated to working in climate action planning. Before joining C40, he served as an Associate at NITI Aayog, the Indian government’s top policy think tank, for four years leading flagship projects focused on knowledge creation and capacity building, such as the Waste-Wise Cities report, Sustainable Urban Plastic Waste Management handbook, and a best practice report on Urban Sanitation business models in India. Additionally, he worked with the team responsible for designing the Circular Economy Mission at NITI Aayog, and also collaborated with stakeholders to establish the Circular Economy Committee for Solid and Liquid Waste under this mission. Dhiraj has represented India at several international youth forums. Dhiraj holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering & Project Management from the University of Leeds, UK, as the recipient of the university’s Dean International Scholarship and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Construction from CEPT University in Ahmedabad.
Dhiraj loves playing cricket, swimming, and cooking a variety of pasta dishes.
Diana serves as the City Adviser for Bogotá for Breathe Cities, supporting the city in implementing the Breathe City strategy (2024-2026).
Diana is based in Bogotá, Colombia, where she developed strong experience working with the district government. Before joining C40, she worked for around 7 years in Bogotá’s Mobility Secretariat, supporting and leading sustainable mobility programs as the “Muévete Mejor”, cleaner mobility and zero or low-emission zones, and the Kids First Program.
She holds a degree in Industrial and environmental engineering from the Universidad de Los Andes and a Master’s in Urban Development Planning from University College London.
Diana has strong interest in urban dynamics related to mobility, social and environmental justice, climate change and inclusive and sustainable development.
Diego Blanc serves as the City Advisor for Rio de Janeiro, Breathe Cities, a new initiative delivered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, C40 Cities, and Clean Air Fund. The initiative aims to clean our air, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance public health in cities around the world.
His background and expertise include over a decade of service within the City Government of Rio de Janeiro. He played key roles in fostering international collaborations and spearheading projects in several domains such as urban development, mobility, and city branding. His contributions to the Mayor’s Office and the International Relations Department helped advance the Municipality’s global initiatives and strategic partnerships. This included Rio’s Sustainable Development Program. Additionally, he has worked successfully in public administration, governmental agencies, and national and multinational companies, specializing in international & public affairs, economics, trading, and logistics.
Diego’s involvement in high-profile events demonstrates his ability to thrive in dynamic environments and deliver results on a global stage. These include the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Urban 20 Sherpas Meetings (Tokyo 2019 and Riyadh 2020), and Rio+20 – UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
Diego holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from La Salle University. He also holds a postgraduate Certificate in International Administration from the COPPEAD Graduate School of Business, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
Diego is C40’s Head for UrbanShift. He is responsible for managing C40’s workstreams on urban growth, climate action planning, city finance and city-business collaboration. Before joining C40, Diego was Special Assistant to the CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility.
In his native Colombia, Diego built a strong career in the public sector. He served as Deputy Director of Subnational Public Finance at the Ministry of Planning, where he led several initiatives to build the capacity of Colombian cities on fiscal health, urban planning and sustainable development. At the Executive Office of the President of Colombia, Diego was a Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist for the social policy branch. Earlier in his career at the Bogotá City Hall, he worked for the first city-wide recycling program.
Diego holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Government and International Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia.
Dipti serves as C40 Senior Manager for Waste and Methane in Mumbai. Her experience includes liaising with city focal points for the programme as well as expert sectoral teams (within the cities and C40) to coordinate contributions toward programmatic goals and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). Dipti works closely with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, political personnel, and other stakeholders. She also manages a work plan focused on reducing methane emissions by providing solutions for the management of organic waste.
Dipti has over seven years of prior working experience in the Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) sector in various cities of India. Additionally, she has worked on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies, and Urban Infrastructure Planning and Environmental Due Diligence in her previous engagements at TATA Consulting Engineers Ltd. (TCE), Mumbai. Prior to this, she has worked with All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG), GIZ-India and Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC).
Dipti holds a Masters (M.Plan) in Environmental Planning from Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad, and a Bachelor’s (B.E) in Environmental Engineering from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. She has also completed a GRI Certified Training Course on Reporting with the GRI Standards 2021 Update and other professional courses on Environmental Management.
Disha is C40’s Senior Manager for Private Building Decarbonization. In this role, she works with cities to accelerate the implementation of energy efficiency and building decarbonization measures in private sector buildings. She has previously acted as the Senior Programme Manager of Clean Energy, where she managed the network with the aim of supporting cities to plan and implement ambitious energy programmes in the view of decarbonizing electricity, heating and cooling.
Prior to joining C40, Disha was at the International Energy Agency, where she was the energy efficiency coordinator for India. In this role, she worked on a wide range of topics, including buildings, industrial and transport energy efficiency, and supported the IEA in developing the roadmap for energy-efficient residential buildings in India-timelines towards net zero buildings and construction, developing a policy package for mainstreaming energy efficiency in the textile sector. She also supported the IEA in drafting an energy-efficient stimulus recovery plan for India.
Disha holds a Master’s degree in Energy Systems from the Indian Institute of Technology and is an electrical engineering graduate.
Dolapo Idoko serves as C40’s Senior HR Manager, responsible for providing strategic and functional support to the HR team and lead on developing and implementing organisational development strategies.
Dolapo has extensive UK and international experience across the INGO and not for profit sector. Prior to joining C40, Dolapo worked for Amnesty International (International Secretariat) in the most recent role as HR Business Partner. She worked strategically with senior management in developing and managing a global workforce in the Africa, Asia and European region with a focus on change management, restructures and workforce planning. Dolapo previously worked for Victim Support as HR Manager, supporting management and overseeing HR Services in the London Region and the MOJ funded National Homicide Service. Dolapo had led various initiatives including achieving a National Equality Standard accreditation. Dolapo is CIPD certified and has a BSc in Psychology.