Meet the Team

Leila Chennoufi, MSc, PhD

Co-founder, Chairman of the Board

Leila is a sustainability expert with extensive experience in the private sector and multilateral institutions.  She has assessed hundreds of industrial and infrastructure sites on five continents.  Leila’s firsthand experience of environmental degradation led her to co-found EnviroFest to contribute to societies’ adaptation and resilience through powerful films, trusting that well-informed citizens have the power to change course.  She speaks Arabic, English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Catherine Gibson, MSc, MBA

Catherine works in the hospitality sector at the executive and board level.  She also has 20 years experience in environmental consultancy ranging from managing European environmental funding programs to greening corporate supply chains. As an enthusiastic environmentalist Catherine strives constantly to live as sustainably as possible, and is exploring the impact of our natural environment on mental health.

Molly Raven, BSc

Molly works for Nanook Energy Advisors, a European based hedge fund, where she leads Investor Relations. She covers fund raising and ongoing investor communication across a broad range of corporates, institutions, family offices and high net worth investors. Molly feels the urgent need for action on the climate. Molly feels the urgent need for action based on the climate agenda and the essential role of messaging in effecting change. She is a strong supporter of EFI’s approach which she recognises can have a significant reach and impact across many communities and countries.

Catherine Stevens, MA, MPA

Catherine is a sustainability professional with over 30 years’ experience supporting sustainable and urban development internationally.  She has worked with the public, private and non-profit sectors, leading organizations and managing teams around the world.  Catherine believes fundamentally in the importance of raising environmental awareness to increase engagement by civil society in securing the future of our planet.  She speaks English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Rebecca Cecil-Wright, MSc

Co-founder, Executive Director

Rebecca is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and educator who has worked with Discovery, National Geographic, BBC and the US State Department across 5 continents. Through her work with environmental pioneers around the globe from far-flung tribes of Micronesia to America’s most eminent scientists Rebecca continually seeks to bridge the divide between society and the natural world on which we all depend.

Celina Pentamah, MA

Director of Communications (part-time)

Celina is a young professional in global environmental policy with experience in research, policy analysis, and program management. A World Bank climate change consultant, she was previously with the Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment, researching large scale technological interventions for climate mitigation. She is fluent in French, English and Spanish. Celina is passionate about nature and fighting the threat of climate change.

Jo Riley, BA (Oxon)

Development Director (part-time)

Jo is a charity professional with wide-ranging experience in fundraising, grant-making,
communications and governance. Previously she has worked in management consultancy,
recruitment and HR, as well as founding and running her own successful retail business. At EFI she supports the Executive Director and the Board. A trainee psychotherapist, she is deeply committed to the environment and the health benefits of nature, wildlife and conservation. She speaks French and Italian.

‘I am delighted to be part of such an innovative team, working to drive change for a sustainable
future through film’

Hilary Hoagland-Grey, MSc

Hilary has more than 25 years’ experience working on environmental and sustainability issues around the world and across multiple sectors. She is a great believer in the power of movies to do good and promotes environmental and social documentary films through the International Documentary Association, where she sits on the Committee for the Pare Lorentz Prize.

Betsy Lovejoy, MSc

Betsy is an independent non-profit fundraising consultant. As the former Executive Director of Girls on the Run DC she oversaw a significant programme and financial growth. She has outstanding project management and organizing skills.

Renaud Tahon, MSc

Renaud is a Sustainability Professional with experience all around the globe; he has been pushing the sustainable agenda for more than two decades through advisory, the financial sector, and the development world – as well as in personal and local contexts. He is a tireless advocate – typically in contexts that are mostly economic/engineering driven– for people’s empowerment and due leadership by directly concerned parties.

Tabatha Thompson, BA

Tabatha is a strategic communicator with more than 25 years’ experience conveying complex ideas to the public as a journalist and public relations counselor. She leverages excellent news judgment, measurement and knowledge of technology, science, higher education and health care to create compelling messages that achieve business results.