Solutionists of the Week

Welcome to the newest edition of Planet Home’s ‘Solutionists of the Week’.

From established subject-matter experts to rising Solutionists, we want to share their successes and celebrate the achievements of those leading the charge in bringing net-positive solutions to the world. Here’s this week’s roundup of Solutionists making waves in their respective industries.

Featured Solutionists

Vanessa Glavinskas recently joined the Planet Home team as a freelance writer, dedicated to a series of profile pieces on our wide array of Solutionists. As part of Planet Home’s year-long Solutionist 100 campaign, we are showcasing the top Solutionists focused on how people and organizations are helping us Eat, Make, Move and Live Better, both on and for our planet. Following Planet Home’s framework, Glavinskas set out to interview her first Solutionist, Henk Rogers, entrepreneur and founder of the Blue Planet Foundation. Glavinskas spoke with Rogers about his harrowing story and ultimate inspiration for starting the Blue Planet Foundation, a community organization changing the conversation about clean energy, and what he sees for his and the foundation’s future. Glavinskas’ role is crucial to telling the story of numerous Solutionists like Henk Rogers that are doing good for the planet and its people.

A part of the Planet Home Solutionist roster since 2019, Henk Rogers has dedicated the past decade of his life to the research, development, and implementation of renewable energy sources in his home of Hawaii. His efforts have led to Hawaii becoming the first state in the U.S. with a policy requiring that 100% of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by the year 2045. “Henk Rogers has been a relentless advocate in our state’s pursuit of a 100 percent renewable energy future.” said David Ige, Governor of Hawaii since 2014. Rogers is personally devoted to helping our planet reduce and eventually eliminate its dependence on fossil fuels. His inspiration for this monumental goal is covered in more depth in the previously mentioned profile piece, found here.

Solutionists Making Moves

Health care delivery and benefits giant UnitedHealth Group announced recently the appointment of Patricia Lewis to the newly created position of Chief Sustainability Officer. Lewis said: “I am honored to step into a new role as UnitedHealth Group’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer. Bringing our company’s climate, health equity, and philanthropic efforts together with our diversity, equity, and inclusion work, we will envision and execute an ambitious ESG strategy built on the belief that a sustainable future means health and wellness for people and planet.”

Climate solutions investment business Just Climate announced this month the appointment of Justin Adams as Head of Partnerships, responsible for the development of new partnership opportunities with industry participants, investors, and other actors in the sectors in which the company seeks to invest. Adams stated, “Partnerships are crucial to accelerate the transition to net zero in each sector of the economy and to create long-term value. It is pleasing to see Just Climate build strategic partnerships into its core investment strategy from the beginning to seek to enhance value for our investors and portfolio companies. I am excited to be joining Just Climate, and I relish the opportunity to build partnerships that help the business achieve impact.”

UK-based active asset manager Jupiter Asset Management recently announced the appointment of Sandra Carlisle to the newly created position of Head of Sustainability. In her new role, Carlisle will be responsible for leading Jupiter’s new Corporate Sustainability function, and structuring and implementing its sustainability strategy across the organization. Andrew Formica, Jupiter CEO, said: “Sandra’s appointment signals our desire to continue to build and deliver a competitive and compelling offering in this crucially important area. As a pioneer in responsible investing and with an established track record of engaged and effective stewardship, we are focused as a business on maintaining our distinctive leadership position, always with our clients’ best interests at our heart.”