Rajiv Joshi

Focus Areas: Climate Change, Economics, Regenerative Systems, Business Leadership, Sustainability

Professor Rajiv S. Joshi is a regenerative economist, community organizer and entrepreneurial leader building global programs at the intersection of environmental, social and economic justice. Originating from Kenya and India, Rajiv was born in Scotland, where he was nationally elected to represent young people. He has directed the world’s largest Global South-led alliance to end poverty and is a steward to climate action initiatives around the world. As a creative and talented facilitator, he helped to design the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and was the Principal Author of the Decisive Decade Inquiry into the Future of Climate Action, commissioned by ex-UN Climate Chief, Christiana Figueres, global climate philanthropy and the Mission 2020 Campaign. As a renowned activist, he has supported global campaigns, partnerships and initiatives to phase out fossil fuels, transform transform food systems, end illicit flows of capital, mobilize climate finance, advance the economics of wellbeing and halt biodiversity loss. He is a leading voice in exploring how philanthropy can use catalytic collaboration and high-risk capital to drive systemic change in the face of climate change and other converging crises, mobilising investors, business, consumers, philanthropy, civil society, policy makers and local communities, having lived and worked in South Africa, Brazil, Jamaica, Indonesia, Scotland, England and the United States.

Rajiv served as Associate Dean for Climate Action and chief impact officer at the Columbia Climate School, driving its launch with President Obama at COP26 and overseeing programs, including the development of a Global Policy Impact Lab with California Clean Air Regulator Mary Nicholls while advising the Center for Global Energy Policy. As an adjunct Professor at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) he has developed the University’s first class in Climate Technology and Regenerative Entrepreneurship, and is also the Co-Chair of the Earth Network on the Social Climate, exploring the intersection of climate impacts, mental health and psychological resilience.

Rajiv is currently Founder & CEO of Bridging Ventures, an agency driving radical collaboration, through content, partnerships and coalitions - to address systemic challenges across generations, sectors and geographies. He has advised some of the worlds leading brand and curated campaigns to drive changes in policy, practice and public opinion. Rajiv was appointed as an Executive-in-Residence at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School where he is a Fellow at the Skoll Center for Social Entrepreneurship, and was appointed as a Commissioner on Scotland’s Just Transition Commission alongside current IPCC Chair Jim Skea.

Rajiv served as the first Managing Director of The B Team, a not-for-profit initiative Co-Founded by Sir Richard Branson & Jochen Zeitz, together with Paul Polman, Mary Robinson, Ratan Tata, Marc Benioff and a growing group of the world’s leading CEOs, Union leaders and former Heads of State. In this role he worked with a range of leading companies including Nike, IKEA, Apple, Unilever, Mastercard as well as social movements and NGOs including Extinction Rebellion, 350.org, Avaaz, WWF, GCAP, Transparency International, Action Aid, Business & Human Rights Resource Center, Global Witness and Extinction Rebellion, on climate change, human rights, governance and corporate accountability. He also helps to scale the global B-Corp movement as a B Champion.

Rajiv drove the Global Call to Action Against Poverty serving as Executive Director of the campaign and social movement, which was launched by Nelson Mandela and President Lula in 2005 together with Co- Chairs Kumi Naidoo, Sylvia Borren & Amitabh Behar. He served six years on the Council of Trustees of Oxfam GB and as a member of the Board of CIVICUS, the world alliance for citizen participation, based in Johannesburg where he was also on the Executive Committee. Rajiv was elected twice to represent young people in Scotland as Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament and was a Senior Consultant with CapGemini. He holds a BA with a First Class Honors in Economics from the Strathclyde Business School in Glasgow and an MPA in International Finance and Economic Policy from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University in New York.

Education

• MPA Public Policy & Administration, Columbia University 
• First Class Honors, Economics, University of Strathclyde 
• Executive in Residence, Oxford University Saïd Business School

Honors and Awards

• Skoll Fellow, Skoll Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Saïd Business School, Oxford University
• Helped to establish the Columbia Climate School as inaugural associate Dean for Climate Action