Luke is the Managing Director of Communications for C40 Cities. He oversees the organisation’s strategic communications, digital, brand and media activity. Prior to joining C40, Luke was Director of Communications for The Elders and has previously held senior communications and advocacy positions with international environment and human rights NGOs. Luke began his career as a journalist, working in Europe and West Africa. He holds a Master’s in Post-Colonial Theory and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. He is based in Bristol and London.
As Senior Manager for Research and Communications, Chiara leads the further development of the C40 Centre for Urban Climate Policy and Economy. As a connecting point between the C40 Centre and the C40 Communications department, she helps equip mayors with the narrative and science they need to win the argument to stop climate breakdown.
Prior to joining C40, Chiara worked in communications for Amanda Levete Architects, the sustainability team at University College London and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Forestry and Timber section.
Chiara has an MSc in Politics and Communications from LSE, an MPhil in Latin American Studies from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Spanish and English literature from the University of Edinburgh.
As Project Manager, Strategic and Co-Chair Communications, Amelia spends her time supporting the Director of Communications to undertake various activities including working on media outreach, creating and executing communications activities, ensuring the delivery of key communications projects with other C40 teams and providing specific support to the Co-Chair’s communications.
Prior to her current role, Amelia led Communications and Campaigns for a pro-EU organisation based in London and before this worked for the United Nations in Sydney, Australia where her work centred around implementing the Sustainable Development Goals on a city level.
Amelia graduated from the University of Manchester in 2019 with a BA in Geography. During her undergraduate degree she also spent a year studying at the University of Maryland, College Park, United States. Additionally she holds an MA in Gender, Society and Representation from University College London. Her academic research focused primarily on feminist geographies and gendered practices in public and private space.
As Creative Content Manager on the Joint Program between C40 and the Global Covenant of Mayors, Samuel is responsible for developing and delivering all visual content and assisting the team with delivering campaigns, events and media coverage.
With a background in advertising, Samuel has a wealth of experience in the public and private sectors, having helped build brands, campaigns and high-value assets in the UK and internationally.
Samuel holds a BA in Advertising from the École Supérieure des Arts de Saint Luc in Liège, Belgium.
Richard is C40’s Head of Global Media, responsible for bringing the exciting, innovative and vitally important work of the C40 teams, mayors and cities to a global audience.
Prior to joining C40, he worked as a journalist across TV and radio for the BBC, including as a senior producer on BBC Breakfast and a reporter and newsreader for BBC London. He then moved to the Mayor of London’s press team, taking a lead role on high-profile communications projects including the launch of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, hosting the men’s and women’s European Championships and the capital’s response to the pandemic.
Richard is based in London and holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Leeds.
Adam leads the design, development and commissioning of C40’s creative assets and plays a central role in the brand’s vision and future strategy. He is based in London as part of the C40 Brand, Creative and Digital team.
In 2013, Adam graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a MA in French and English Literature. He started his career in media and communications in men’s fashion before moving into environmental technology and social impact.
Having completed Shillington Academy’s integrated graphic design course in 2021, he joined a B Corp communications agency as creative director working with design and creative teams on rebrands and integrated digital campaigns for non-profits, membership organisations and public sector programmes.
Sam is Digital and Social Media Manager at C40. As part of the Communications team, Sam works closely with the Brand, Creative and Digital Content team, as well as members of the wider organisation, to create a strong brand for C40. Keeping global reach and local relevance in mind, Sam is key in helping conceptualise, strategise, and create engaging content that connects with C40’s target audiences and key stakeholders.
Sam has over 10 years of experience in content. She began her career as a print journalist in 2010 before diving into the world of digital writing, and then expanding her skill set to include areas such as social media management. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Murdoch University.
Emily is C40’s Senior Manager of Strategic Communications, Partnerships & Insights. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executing priority communications campaigns, growing C40’s partner portfolio, supporting the development of data-driven communications, and building the brand with a global audience.
Prior to joining C40, Emily worked at George Washington University, where she managed creative projects for university-wide initiatives and events. Before joining GW, Emily was the Marketing Manager at American Forests, a longstanding conservation organization that creates healthy and resilient forests across the U.S. In this role, she managed communications across various digital channels and worked with internal and external partners to build support for American Forests’ work.
Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Strategic Communication from Ohio University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management from George Washington University.
Zermina is the Director of Strategic Communications and Media. She is based in London, UK.
As part of her role, she oversees the strategic communications and media team. She also leads communications strategies for C40’s key milestones and events.
Zermina is a key connection point between C40 and the London Mayor’s Office. She leads on opportunities to further the reach and influence of the C40 Chair, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, raising his profile as a climate leader and showcasing the positive impact of his work as Chair.
Prior to joining C40, Zermina led communications teams in local and national government. She is fluent in four languages and holds an undergraduate degree in Law.
Ernesto is the Communications Manager for the UCAP CAI Programme at C40. He coordinates communication activities and visibility strategies, working across the 15 cities supported by the programme and liaising with different teams across C40.
Before joining C40, Ernesto worked at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the British Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, where he led strategic communications to climate diplomacy, science and innovation bilateral programmes in Brazil funded by the UK government. Prior to that position, he worked with international marketing tourism promotion of Brazil aiming at foreign consumer markets in Europe and in the US.
Ernesto graduated from the Federal University of Minas Gerais with a BA in Communication Studies, Journalism and TV/Radio Broadcasting, and holds a Postgraduate diploma in Tourism Business Management from the University of Brasilia. He is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Beth is Digital Content and Web Manager at C40. As part of the global Communications team, she works alongside the Brand, Creative and Digital Content team to create, curate and provide strategic guidance for content across C40’s digital channels. Beth is responsible for project managing websites and web development projects, digital comms and marketing, and delivering analytics and reports to optimise C40 content and the organisation’s digital presence.
Before joining C40, Beth was Communications Coordinator at the European Respiratory Society, where she developed and actioned comms strategies for campaigns and international events, led the organisation’s media activities and managed social and digital comms channels. Before this, she worked as Digital Content Editor for Sheffield Hallam University and as an Editorial Intern for a local magazine.
Beth holds an MSc in Science Communication from the University of Manchester and a BA in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Sheffield.
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!).