About Sheikha Shamma

Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan is an entrepreneur, thought leader, and researcher passionate about sustainability, climate change, and gender equity. She is driven by the belief that lasting change requires diverse stakeholders to collaborate to find and implement interconnected solutions. With this conviction, Sheikha Shamma has founded and led several high-impact ventures and initiatives.

As the President and CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), Sheikha Shamma facilitates the growth of the green economy by promoting practical climate solutions, developing green financing frameworks, and advocating for effective policy and regulation. She is also the founder of Reset MENA, an energy services business that provides energy and water efficiency solutions, and the Chairperson of Alliances for Global Sustainability, a sustainability consulting business that identifies, advises, and invests in high-performing sustainability ventures. 

In pursuit of gender equity, Sheikha Shamma co-founded Aurora50, a social enterprise that promotes inclusive workplaces and diverse leadership. She also leads the Sheikha Shamma Sustainability Initiatives (SSSI), which accelerates the transition to clean energy while championing the role of women in the sustainability field. 

Sheikha Shamma is a regular public speaker at events including London Climate Action Week, the Bonn Climate Change Conference, and the MENA chapter of the World Economic Forum. She has worked as an advisor and fellow within numerous global institutions, including the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Net Zero Living, Yale University’s Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and the Centre for Multilateral Negotiations (CEMUNE). She is the Honorary President of the Emirates Green Building Council and a member of the UAE Circular Economy Council.

In 2023, Sheikha Shamma was selected as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, acknowledging her track record of advocacy and impact. 

Sheikha Shamma holds an MSt in Sustainability Leadership and an MPhil in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Cambridge, as well as a degree in Business Administration from Zayed University. 

As a researcher, Sheikha Shamma has presented at global conferences in the fields of gender studies, migration studies, sustainable development, and Emiratisation, among others, and has published papers in a variety of academic journals.