Climate Tech Business Builder at McKinsey & Co

For the past decade, Esther has focused on climate technology innovation and adoption, rethinking how we use our finite resources. During her PhD, she studied the conversion of CO2 into fuels to close the carbon loop, looking to create an alternative to fossil-derived production. Since her PhD, Esther joined McKinsey’s Green Business Building practice as an Engagement Manager, where she works side-by-side in climate tech startups and scale ups on growth strategy, commercial acceleration and operations. Esther specialises in materials, supporting development of green chemical production and cement decarbonisation, and helping global players adopt these new technologies.

Esther joins eXXpedition to connect her knowledge of upstream production with a more tangible understanding of the end-of-life problems, studying plastic pollution firsthand. A keen sailor, Esther is excited to join this crew of passionate, driven women who are taking steps to make change.

Science Lead

Dr. Taylor Maddalene Myers is a Research Faculty member in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia and Director of the Circularity Assessment Protocol at the Jambeck Circularity Informatics Lab. Her background is in marine conservation, pollution prevention, and science communication, working on projects around the globe with organizations such as National Geographic, The White House Council on Environmental Quality, World Wildlife Fund, Rare, and many others. Her research focuses on the impacts of plastic pollution and tying human behavior and waste management infrastructure on land with what we find in the ocean.

Taylor has also been an avid scuba diver, sailor, adventurer, and all-around ocean lover from a young age, and has traveled to every continent (save Antarctica!) and dived in every major ocean. She knows that waste around the world tells a story, and that the challenges we face in the ocean start upstream, and so her experiences have taken her from scuba diving to dumpster diving (and everything in between!). Taylor has dedicated herself to protecting our environment and all those who depend on it.

Artist/Designer

I’m Pallavi, a multidisciplinary artist, designer, entrepreneur and eXXpedition ambassador.

I’m the Founder of Inkwell Studios a multi-disciplinary creative studio with a focus on innovation and sustainability and The Gallivanters’ Colouring Club a globally-inspired art and culture club and circular economy, casual streetwear brand.

Having created numerous physical sets, costumes, puppets and models for film, theatre and animation, I became aware that most of the things I was making would end up in landfill after the production was over. With a long-standing passion for nature and the environment, I needed to find a new, low-waste way of working. Now I work to create imaginative and immersive art in the creative, innovative tech space as a virtual reality artist and video game producer.

For my club members in The Gallivanters’ Colouring Club, I create hand drawn artworks inspired by my travels and sell them as wearable art pieces. Each artwork has a story behind it. To reduce waste, all t-shirts, jumpers and hoodies are custom printed to order. Each piece is certified 100% organic cotton and as part of our circular economy model, items can be sent back to us once they are worn out.

My overarching aim is to find solutions to reduce the negative environmental impact of waste created by the creative and entertainment industries.

I’d love to invite you to join the club if you feel aligned with our mission: At The Gallivanters’ Colouring Club we believe the world is filled with beauty and wonder. So we find the fun and fascinating from around the globe and create art inspired by it. Because we believe, celebrating and understanding each other, and our environment, can help us to build a more harmonious world together.