SPEAKING

Speaking

Johanna speaks about what it takes to move sustainability from ambition to execution — inside businesses, across value chains and throughout the systems that shape how we live. Drawing on her background in civil engineering, consulting and building sustainability functions within large diversified organisations, she brings a practical perspective to climate strategy, resilient cities and organisational transformation, with a particular lens on the GCC and emerging markets.

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Speaking Topics

Practical conversations for organisations navigating climate transition, transformation and the systems around them.

TRANSFORMATION

Building Sustainability from Scratch

What it takes to build a sustainability function inside a complex organisation — from leadership alignment, governance and data to technical standards, procurement, internal capability and operational ownership. A practical look at how sustainability becomes part of how a business actually works, rather than a function sitting alongside it.

CLIMATE

Decarbonisation, Climate Risk & Long-Term Value

Moving beyond inventories and targets to the decisions that genuinely change emissions trajectories. This topic explores Scope 1, 2 and 3, energy demand, operational efficiency, renewables, climate risk, capital allocation and the challenge of turning climate ambition into a credible transition pathway.

CLIMATE

Decarbonisation, Climate Risk & Long-Term Value

Selected Appearances

A selection of conversations, panels, roundtables and moderation work across climate, finance, investment and resilient cities.

Panel · 8 September 2026 · Dubai, UAE

World ESG Summit 2026

Panel speaker on corporate decarbonisation, implementation and the role of businesses in accelerating climate action.

University of Cambridge, UK

Fin-Erth Forum 2026

Member of the Fin-Erth Women in Climate community and table moderator during the Forum’s dinner discussions, bringing together women working across climate, finance and investment.

Dubai, UAE

DIFC Future Sustainability Forum 2026

Moderator of Building Resilient Cities: Sustainable Mobility, Smart Infrastructure and Urban Transformation, exploring how cities can become more resilient, liveable and adaptive.

UAE

Gulf ESG Awards 2026

Selected as a member of the judging panel recognising sustainability leadership and ESG performance across the region.

Moderator · April 2025 · Dubai, UAE

DMCC Moderation

Baku, Azerbaijan · 2024

COP29

Participant in a sustainability roundtable focused on the transition from corporate climate commitments toward implementation.

Dubai, UAE · 2023

COP28

Speaker as part of Dubai Holding’s programme during COP28, where the Group participated as a Principal Pathway Partner and maintained a significant presence in the Green Zone.

Resources

SPEAKER REEL

Coming soon.

MEDIA KIT

Coming soon.

SPEAKING & MODERATION ENQUIRIES

Johanna is available for keynote conversations, panels, fireside chats and moderation across sustainability, climate, business transformation and resilient cities.

For speaking and moderation enquiries, get in touch.

Johanna Salem

BASE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

hello@johannasalem.com

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