Dr. Renuka Thakore
Empowering Climate Leadership, Partnerships & Green Innovation
"Progress is not a privilege; it is a shared responsibility."
Quick Facts
Building a Global Movement for Sustainability
Dr. Renuka Thakore founded the Global Sustainable Futures Network CIC on 31 October 2020 with a bold vision: to catalyse inclusive, cross-sector partnerships for climate action and sustainable development that leave no one behind.
Her vision was clear from the outset—create a network that bridges the Global South and Global North, transforming sustainability challenges into opportunities through collaboration, innovation, and actionable pathways. What began as a bold idea has flourished into a thriving community of 7,000+ coordinators across 175 countries, united by a shared commitment to building sustainable futures.
Under Dr. Thakore's leadership, GSFN has launched transformative initiatives that are reshaping how communities engage with sustainability:
20M Farmers: Farm Carbon Africa
Empowering smallholder farmers to access carbon markets through nature-based solutions
Global South Summits
Multi-country convenings that localise SDGs and NDCs, bridging policy and community action
GSFN Green Awards
World-class recognition framework celebrating operational excellence across 17+ categories
A Leader Who Walks the Talk
Dr. Thakore's approach is defined by three core principles: Daring, Caring, and Sharing. She dares to tackle complex sustainability challenges with innovative solutions, cares deeply about inclusive and equitable outcomes for all communities, and shares knowledge and resources to enable collective progress.
Her leadership style is collaborative and action-oriented. She believes that progress happens at the intersection of diverse perspectives—bringing together academia, industry, government, and communities to co-create solutions that work for everyone. This transdisciplinary approach has become the hallmark of GSFN's work.
"Sustainability is not just about environmental protection—it's about ensuring that every community has the opportunity to thrive. That's why localisation is at the heart of everything we do at GSFN."
— Dr. Renuka Thakore
From Vision to Impact
Since its inception, GSFN has delivered 8+ Global South Summits, engaged stakeholders from governments, NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector, and built a reputation as a trusted partner in sustainable development. The network's work has been recognized by the Good Market with an Approved profile and featured by the Arkbound Foundation for its commitment to creating lasting impact.
Dr. Thakore's focus extends beyond immediate outcomes. She is building infrastructure for long-term change—capacity building programmes that develop green skills, recognition frameworks that celebrate excellence, and partnerships that amplify impact across borders.
Recognition & Awards
Honoring leadership and impact in sustainable development
Development Leadership: Governor Enrique Tomás Cresto Award
2022Recognizing outstanding contributions to development leadership and cross-sector collaboration for sustainable development goals.
Global SDG's Women Ambassador Award
2022Honoring exceptional leadership by women in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals globally.
Good Market Approved Profile
2024Official verification demonstrating commitment to sustainable and ethical practices in organizational operations.
Featured by Arkbound Foundation
2024Recognition for innovative approaches to sustainable development and measurable community impact worldwide.
What Dr. Thakore Brings
Deep expertise across sustainability, partnerships, and capacity building
Climate Action & Policy
Expertise in localising global frameworks (SDGs, NDCs) to community contexts, bridging the gap between international commitments and local implementation.
- SDG localisation strategies
- NDC implementation pathways
- Community-led climate adaptation
Partnership Development
Building transformative partnerships across sectors—academia, government, civil society, and private sector—to create systemic change.
- Multi-stakeholder engagement
- South-South-North collaboration
- Public-private partnerships
Capacity Building
Designing and delivering programmes that build green skills, empower youth and women, and create pathways for inclusive participation.
- Green skills development
- Youth & women empowerment
- Technical training (ESG, Carbon)
Sustainable Finance
Facilitating access to carbon markets, ESG frameworks, and sustainable finance mechanisms for communities and SMEs.
- Carbon market access
- ESG integration & reporting
- Green business models
Network Leadership
Building and stewarding global networks that create value through knowledge exchange, collaboration, and collective action.
- Community building (7,000+ members)
- Knowledge exchange platforms
- Distributed leadership models
Innovation & Research
Leading applied research initiatives that generate actionable insights for policy, practice, and partnership strategies.
- Applied research design
- Data-driven decision making
- Innovation frameworks
Invite Dr. Thakore as a Speaker
Dr. Renuka Thakore is an engaging keynote speaker and panelist who brings insights from building one of the world's fastest-growing sustainability networks.
Popular Topics
Available Formats
Dr. Thakore at a Global South Summit
Testimonials & Endorsements
Partner with Dr. Thakore & GSFN
Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker, seeking strategic partnerships, or want to collaborate on sustainable development initiatives, we'd love to hear from you.