Yana GEVORGYAN

Yana is a visionary leader with a unique global perspective, adept at strategic change, and a systems thinker. With over 25 years of experience spanning public, private and intergovernmental sectors and numerous geographies, she is currently at the helm of UN-hosted Group on Earth Observations (GEO). With GEO, Yana is building on her track record of forming transformative partnerships and developing solutions to empower all elements of society in making better, science-based and timely decisions. 

Since joining GEO in 2021 - a global partnership of 116 governments and over 160 multi-stakeholder organizations - Yana has led a profound organizational change forging a forward-looking strategy that promises “Earth intelligence for all”.  She has fostered an approach based on an open innovation, participatory design operating model that sustains data-driven solutions across the SDGs and the interconnected net-zero and nature-positive agendas. Conceived in 2023 by Yana, the Global Ecosystems Atlas and the Global Heat Resilience Service are the latest transformative initiatives that will help achieve the economic, climate and nature benefits of Earth insights – a sector of the global economy that is projected to be valued at $3.8 tn by 2030 (WEF, 2024).

A Davos speaker, Yana has been trailblazing in humanitarian aid, development, and public service at the Global Council on SDGs, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Department of Energy, the European Institute and World With Us International. Yana started her career at the American Red Cross and holds MA in International Politics from American University, Washington (2006) and MA in Foreign Languages from Yerevan State Linguistic University, Armenia (1998).

Yana is a passionate and sought-after thought leader and speaker on topics ranging from the Earth observations, Space Economy, Intersection of AI, big data and technologies in securing planetary health, as well as the role of Public-Private Partnerships to impact climate and biodiversity nexus, public health, climate resilience and systems change.