About Nelis
Nelis story starts way back in 2004...
NELIS co-founder, Peter David, worked on sustainability strategy with multinational corporations in Japan and often felt terribly frustrated. “There are many good people in these organizations, but the system in which they are embedded made it seem unlikely that any kind of “sustainable” future would ever be possible”, he thought.
Another approach was needed and the idea that struck
Peter David was NELIS –Next Leaders’ Initiative for
Sustainability.
These were the first major strides towards creating a global network of action:
2014 | TEDx Tokyo was the place where Peter David got together with Tatsuo Akimura, with whom he decided to make NELIS real.
2014 | Peter David and Tatsuo Akimura talked to Masahito Yamamoto, who agreed to join the initial team as the third co-founder.
2014 | This year ended with a series of meetings between the three co-founders and the first volunteer staff.
2015 | NELIS first Global Summit was held in October in Shiga, Japan. 25 people from 14 countries participated.
2017 | | Nelis second Global Summit was held in January, Kyoto & Omihachiman. 35 people from 15 countries participated this time.
2018 | Nelis third Global Summit was held in Tokyo
2019 | Three Global Summits in Japan and three Regional Summits across the world (Helsinki, Lagos, and Singapore) have been held so far.
2020 | 4Revs Co-creative ecosystem (4Revs), Next Leaders' University (NLU), and One Million Leaders (OML) were launched! Hundreds of people and stakeholders have been connected to pave the way towards a more sustainable way of coexisting and being part of this planet.
The original idea behind NELIS was that there is an urgent need in the world for “next generation leadership,” which integrates social and environmental considerations into decision-making regardless of whether we are talking of agriculture, business, urban planning, politics, education, health or other sectors of society.
Core Team
Our mission is to support all NELIS projects for a thriving ecosystem. Be in touch!
FRANZ DHERS
PROJECTS
Responds to inquiries from project leaders. Creates tools to support project's operations.
PUJA THIEL
PROJECTS
Responds to inquiries from project leaders. Creates tools to support project's operations.
LAWRENCE AFERE
PROJECTS
Responds to inquiries from project leaders. Creates tools to support project's operations.
AMANI AL-QADI
FUNDING
Maps funding opportunities & business models. Ensures due diligence for budget allocation.
LUCAS SANCHEZ
FUNDING
Maps funding opportunities & business models. Ensures due diligence for budget allocation.
NOEMI SALANTIU
COMMUNITY
Ensures effective communication between NELIS members. Supports member initiatives.
TAYLOR SMYTHE
COMMUNITY
Ensures effective communication between NELIS members. Supports member initiatives.
SHRAVAN SHANKAR
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Communicates externally NELIS vision, mission, activities. Unifies messages across all channels.
KATIE CONLON
ADVISORY BOARD
Provides expertise on a broad range of issues: tasks, people, finance, education.
JOVIN HURRY
ADVISORY BOARD
Provides expertise on a broad range of issues: tasks, people, finance, education.
FELIX IZIOMOH
ADVISORY BOARD
Provides expertise on a broad range of issues: tasks, people, finance, education.
PETER DAVID PEDERSEN
ADVISORY BOARD
Provides expertise on a broad range of issues: tasks, people, finance, education.
SHRAVAN SHANKAR
ADVISORY BOARD
Provides expertise on a broad range of issues: tasks, people, finance, education.
“One intention can unleash change
in three thousand worlds”
(Old Japanese saying)
Without the willingness to give sustainability considerations at least equal weighting with other priorities, it is unlikely that humanity will be able to flourish in co-existence with other species on Earth. It seems equally unlikely that an entirely new approach to leadership and decision-making will be realized top-down from within the institutions and structures of present national and/or international bodies or organizations.
