Environmental and Social Advisory Council

The EBRD's Environmental and Social Advisory Council (ESAC) was created shortly after the Bank was founded in 1991. It is an independent body of environmental specialists who advise the EBRD on environmental issues such as policy, international standards, technical development, emerging trends and future opportunities.

ESAC members are appointed for three year periods, and are selected based on professional expertise as well as their potential to contribute to the development of EBRD’s policies and programmes. They represent a wide spectrum of interests including non-governmental organisations, the private sector, academic and research institutions.

ESAC members and EBRD staff maintain regular contacts between the meetings, which are normally held twice a year.

Current ESAC members

Jacqueline McGlade, Former Chief Scientist and Director of UNEP’s Division of Early Warning and Assessment	Jacqueline McGlade is Chief Scientist and Co-founder of DownForce Technologies; Professor of Sustainable Development and Resilience, Institute for Global Prosperity and Faculty of Engineering, University College London, UK; Professor in International Public Policy.
John Morrison, CEO of the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)	John Morrison has been CEO of the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) (www.ihrb.org) since its foundation in 2009 (collective annual budget £3.2 million). The Institute is a global 'think and do' tank on human rights policy and practice working closely with governments, business, civil society and trade unions. IHRB works thematically on issues such as responsible recruitment, mega-sporting events and big data. IHRB now has special consultative status at the United Nations. John has acted as a formal adviser to several governments, including during the Swedish and Danish EU Presidencies and is currently a member of the UK Foreign Secretary’s human rights advisory group and the UK export credit agency. In 2017, John was named one of the 100 most influential people in efforts to end modern slavery.
David Wheeler, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cape Breton University	Dr Wheeler is Special Advisor on Climate Action and Sustainability at Mohawk College, Canada and principal at Sustainable Transitions, an international education and sustainable development consultancy. He is also Visiting Professor at McMaster University (Canada) and the University for the Creative Arts (UK).David is an internationally experienced academic and business leader with four decades of senior level involvement in change management and sustainable business practice, research and teaching. His most recent academic posts were President and Vice-Chancellor of Cape Breton University, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability) and Executive Dean of Business at the University of Plymouth, UK, Dean of Management, Dalhousie University, Canada and Director and Erivan K Haub Professor in Business and Sustainability at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada.  David has published more than 80 articles and book chapters in a wide variety of academic journals, books, parliamentary inquiries and popular journals, and has delivered speeches to numerous international conferences and events. He was principal author of The Stakeholder Corporation, the first business book to be endorsed by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Glen Armstrong, visiting Professor at the Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London	Glen Armstrong has worked for over 30 years at the interface between Sustainable Development and Business. He has extensive experience as a senior advisor with business large and small, financial institutions of all types, multi-lateral development banks and non-governmental organisations. His sectoral experience spans the extractives and natural resources, energy infrastructure and agribusiness. Mr. Armstrong has worked extensively internationally with a particular focus on the sustainability of major projects and investments in developing countries. He is a visiting Professor at the Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, specialising in environmental and social sustainability risk.
Jyrki Koskelo, Former Vice President of Global Industries and Financial Markets at International Finance Corporation (IFC)	Jyrki Koskelo is an experienced finance specialist in Emerging Markets with a strong interest in the strategic development of banking and electronic/mobile payment platforms, Renewable Energy and Agri value chains. He has worked for 20 plus years in the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in multiple positions including Vice President of Global Industries and Financial Markets. Mr. Koskelo is also actively engaged as a Board Member and Senior Advisor in Central Europe and the Middle East in issues relevant to the DFI community. Mr. Koskelo holds a Master of Science degree in International Management/Finance from Sloan School of Management/MIT and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Helsinki, Finland.