The Team.

As a former board member for Standard & Poor’s (S&P) subsidiaries across Asia, managing director of S&P’s Chief Data Office in Asia  and responsible officer for regulated businesses in Hong Kong, Marc brings a deep understanding of the rating industry and data science to the evolution of zero-carbon 2030’s Carbon Rating system.

Marc is originally from upstate New York, where he completed an undergraduate degree in economics from Cornell University in 1993. Over a 25 year career he has held roles as a contributing editor at the Nikkei business newspaper in Tokyo, as well as for S&P in Tokyo, Taipei, and Hong Kong.

During his last role at S&P’s Chief Data Office, Marc developed a keen interest in the application of sustainable finance, data science and artificial intelligence in climate mitigation, disaster management and adaptation. He returned to New York and Cornell University in 2019 to pursue a Master of Public Administration, with a focus on environmental policy, and his greatest hope is that initiatives like the zero-carbon 2030 Project can accelerate mitigation measures and positively influence climate policy.

A self-described purposeful problem-solver, Sharna Bourke is an experienced analytics and data professional who is committed to data-driven sustainability. After spending the past eight years working in analytics at large corporations she is now determined to use these skills for good. With a natural tenacity to take on wicked problems, she is drawn to finding creative ways to create data insight to ignite climate action and fight for climate justice.

With a tertiary background in Environmental Management and extensive energy industry experience Sharna understands the importance of decarbonisation in order to reach the net zero goals of the Paris Agreement. Throughout her time in the energy industry she witnessed a systemic attitude shift towards renewable energy: from a perceived barrier to profit to a commercial opportunity. Despite this shift, she found herself perplexed at the slow speed of uptake by the industry. Driven by the desire to see a rapid transition to a zero-carbon economy Sharna decided to leap out of the industry and find a platform to foster faster change.

As a Data Analyst turned Carbon Analyst, Sharna firmly believes that the Zero-Carbon 2030 Carbon Rating system coupled with Commitments and Campaigns is the best way to inspire companies and consumers to demand climate action and justice globally. In her role at Zero-Carbon 2030 she strives for the use of data and science to create transparency and ignite change and fight against climate inaction, climate negligence and green-washing.

Outside of work Sharna will often be found drinking tea, tending to her edible and native Australian garden, cooking her garden produce or walking her two Border Collie cross Golden Retrievers.

Sam Is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and holds a Batchelor of Science in Computer Science and Management.

He enjoys creating novel solutions to a range of programming problems to create a streamlined and intuitive user experience.

Sam is a firm supporter of the zero-carbon 2030 ethos of creating action on climate change without waiting on legislation and its method of using financial incentives to convince companies to help save the planet.

After spending three decades as an advisor and strategist in the fields of international insurance, reinsurance and risk management, John understands better than anyone the urgency of addressing climate risks in business and the consequences of inaction.

John has played a key role in identifying and implementing risk allocation strategies and developing insurance and risk transfer solutions for major infrastructure transactions throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the sub-continent, including many renewable energy projects.

He has worked with the likes of Marsh & McLennan, Aon, ACE Insurance and Lockton. He has also acted for asset owners, commercial lenders, export credit agencies and multilateral financial institutions, including Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank Group. And while John is now semi-retired, he is keen to do something meaningful and is acting as senior advisor to the zero-carbon 2030 team.

John attended the University of Manchester and is, by examination, a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London and a Chartered Insurance Practitioner.

Barbora is an enthusiastic digital marketing professional driven by a mission for sustainability and environment protection. Since a young age she has lived in many countries around the world in North America, Europe and Oceania. Thanks to this Barbora learned to speak five languages fluently as well as developing intercultural skills and a curious spirit.

She holds a Master in Marketing and a Bachelor in International Business at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. During her career Barbora has worked six years in small and multinational companies in healthcare, fashion and tourism where she sharpened her marketing skills working with a multitude of technologies and keeping up with the latest trends. She enjoys using her creativity and passion for writing to deliver influential messages.

In 2019 Barbora realized her dream to live in Australia, however instead of experiencing the natural wonders she witnessed the most critical bushfires in history. This motivated her to exit the linear economy and instead work for an organization aiming for a social and environmental impact. She deepened her interest by following a course on Circular Economy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Barbora is also a certified Yoga Instructor and enjoys teaching yoga and meditation classes to enhance the well-being of others. In her free time, she also likes to hike, read, swim and ride horses.

Michael is a prolific idea generator with a deep interest in the transition to a zero-carbon economy and the advancement of the e-mobility industry. Drawing on 25 years’ experience in the automotive and mining sectors, Michael most recently held a senior executive role at Peak Resources, developing one of the world’s largest neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) rare earth projects.

He has published a white paper on the potential impacts the shift towards electric vehicle mobility and decarbonisation of society will have on the commodity market. And he is constantly pushing the envelope and stress-testing business models with a critical eye to ensure their strategic focus is on point, which makes Michael a huge asset to zero-carbon 2030.

Michael completed a Staatliche geprüfter Betriebswirt (equivalent to a Bachelor of Economics) from the North Stuttgart School of Business Administration. Prior to his role at Peak Resources, Michael held management roles at AW Europe, BP, TomTom and Solvay in Germany, the Netherlands and France. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Throughout Duncan’s 30-year career in investment banking, finance and management consulting, he has worked extensively with businesses, governments and multilateral and bilateral development agencies, advising on investing in clean energy, infrastructure and a low-carbon economy.

He has also authored white papers addressing barriers to private sector investment and catalysing investment in clean energy and low-carbon technologies in developing countries.

Duncan was in Barcelona at the end of 2019, when the UN’s Conference of Parties in Madrid saw world leaders give a collective shrug on climate action as Australia was ravaged by the worst bushfires in living memory. That was the moment that compelled Duncan to develop the zero-carbon 2030 Project – to turn the focus on business and put the power into the hands of the people to drive faster, bolder action on climate change.

Prior to founding zero-carbon 2030, Duncan was a Partner at Apricum, a cleantech advisory firm in Germany. He has also worked at MUFG, Aequero, Société Générale and ANZ Investment Bank across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Duncan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and has completed an Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Singapore Institute of Directors.