Meet 2023 Trailblazer Awards Gala Keynote, Wawa Gatheru!

By: Ry Cabote, Social Media and Marketing Intern at Verdical Group

The 2023 Net Zero Conference is a week away, and we hope you’re getting excited because it’s time to announce our Keynote Speaker for the Trailblazer Awards Gala: Wawa Gatheru!

Wawa Gatheru is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist (BGE), who will also receive an award for her work empowering Black girls, women, and non-binary people across the climate movement. Under her leadership, BGE has grown as a trusted, national organization that has worked with 59 corporate and non-profit partners and hosted 40 events across 10 HUB cities – in less than a year. In 2023 alone, BGE has been recognized in Vogue, the New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Essence, Teen Vogue, Axios, and more. 

Not to mention, Wawa sits on boards and advisory councils for EarthJustice, Climate Power, the Environmental Media Association, the National Parks Conservation Association, Sound Future, and Good Energy.

Wawa has been recognized as a 776 Fellow under Alexis Ohanian, a Glamour College Woman of the Year, a Grist 50 Fixer, a Young Futurist by The Root, a Gucci Changemaker, named a Climate Creator to Watch by Pique Action, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and was featured on the January 2023 cover of Vogue alongside Billie Eilish.

Wawa has earned a BA in Environmental Studies and a Master’s in Environmental Governance at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

Can’t wait to hear her speak? Neither can we! Be sure to join us at the 2023 Trailblazer Gala Awards by registering here!

*To attend the Trailblazer Awards Gala, register for the All Access Pass and select it as a part of your sessions OR purchase it as an add-on with all other passes.