Ephi Banaynal dela Cruz
Co-Founder and CEO, Context Nature

For over two decades, Ephi has led the creation of global standards, programs and technologies, holding executive sustainability leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, SAP, and Palm Inc. 

She has made it her life’s purpose to uphold human dignity, protect the environment and promote peace and justice.  Her efforts focus on creating positive impacts on nature and society, having been guided by the conviction that we can uplift human conditions and protect the environment through effective design and management. Ephi believes that through the power of collective effort, education and technology, we can accelerate this shift towards a nature positive economy.
 
Ephi is a strategist with an artistic sensibility, a leader who constantly looks to learn from others and a visionary who can also execute.  She loves to coach and mentor, and serves on various non-profit boards and advisory committees. She is currently Chair Emeritus for the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) Steering Committee.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Ephi is passionate about co-creating new possibilities and supporting collaborative and creative breakthroughs.

Sylvia Vaquer
Co-Founder, Context Nature

Sylvia is a systems thinker and a natural facilitator, who brings people together to solve problems, create common ground and make a positive impact on the world. 
 
She co-founded and managed SocioFabrica, an award-winning agency. For over a decade, she led a cross-functional team to build innovative product experiences for NTT & IBM, created growth marketing initiatives for Nespresso & Ross, and partnered with NOLABA in post-Katrina New Orleans to build trust and launch new services that catalyzed economic development. 
 
Previously, she consulted in creative strategy, experience design, branding and innovation for clients that include: PwC, Better Place, California Public Utilities Commission, (RED), PepsiCo, Target, Starbucks.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Sylvia is always curious, optimistic and biased towards action.

Rachel McCleery
Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Treasury’s Inflation Reduction Act Program Office

Rachel is a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Inflation Reduction Act Program Office where she focuses on informing and educating stakeholders about the IRA’s clean energy tax provisions.
Previously Rachel was at Ford Motor Company as the Director of U.S. Manufacturing Policy, managing the company’s the manufacturing, labor, critical mineral, and supply chain policy portfolios. Prior to Ford, Rachel served as the Chief Communications Advisor and Deputy Policy Director for Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. In this role Rachel led tax, oversight and illicit finance communications and strategy.

In 2016, Rachel was appointed to Treasury’s Office of Public Affairs as the tax and economic spokeswoman under Secretary Jack Lew. She began her career working for the offices of Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and former Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI) in a variety of communications and policy roles. Hailing from Ida, Michigan, Rachel lives in Washington D.C. and serves on the board of Girls on the Run DC. She is a recurring guest lecturer at George Washington University and Michigan State University.