At 19, Dr Alix Willemez survived a plane crash, an experience that reshaped how she understands risk, resilience, and hope. Today, she is a climate finance expert and environmental lawyer who helps organisations turn climate uncertainty into decisive action, drawing on nearly two decades of work advising institutions including the African Development Bank Group, the Global Environment Facility, and the United Nations. Combining a survivor's instinct for crisis, a lawyer's grasp of policy, and a financier's eye for what actually gets funded, Alix brings a rare mix of lived experience and institutional expertise to every stage.
In the aftermath of the crash, Alix left to live among nomadic herders in Mongolia, an experience that set the tone for a career built on adaptation rather than control. She returned to build a rigorous academic foundation: a PhD from the Sorbonne, a Master's from the College of Europe, Mst in Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge, and a Harvard diploma on power and positive change.
Alix's expertise deepened through a series of senior advisory roles spanning energy, ocean governance, and sustainable development: Renewable Energy Advisor in 2014, Ocean, Energy and Climate Change Expert for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in 2015, and Renewable Energy Expert for Crédit Agricole in 2016. Since 2017, she has served as a Member of the World Commission on Environmental Law at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and since 2018 as an Expert for the United Nations World Ocean Assessment II and III. In 2019, she became an Advisory Board Member of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative, and took up her current role as Environmental and Climate Finance Specialist for the African Development Bank Group and the Global Environment Facility.
Organisations book Alix because she translates complexity, legal, financial, or ecological, into frameworks people can actually act on. She shows audiences how resilience works in nature, in institutions, and in people, drawing on real examples from climate finance and ocean governance alongside her own experience of surviving and rebuilding after crisis. Alix covers topics such as resilient leadership, crisis response, sustainable finance, and storytelling for change, leaving every audience with a renewed sense of purpose and concrete tools to act.
Books
The Role of Law in Governing Sustainability
Dr Alix Willemez's official speaking topics are listed below:
- Turning Chaos Into Opportunity: A Survivor's Blueprint for Resilient Leadership
- Crisis-Proof: How to Lead Teams Through Any Storm
- From Wreckage to Wisdom: What Surviving Disaster Taught Me About Thriving Through Change
- The Resilience Advantage: Turning Uncertainty Into Your Biggest Asset
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
“Dr. Willemez delivered a high-quality training session on coastal erosion for senior civilian and military officials from ten different countries. She was instrumental in shaping the programme, created an engaging and rigorous learning environment, and guided participants to identify their strengths and challenges while developing an ambitious action plan. She was highly engaging and she blends expertise with deep humanity. Our audience left energised and hopeful. I highly recommend her as a speaker and workshop facilitator.” - Maylis, Senior French Navy Officer, Interregional Maritime Security Institute (ISMI), Africa
“Dr. Willemez made highly valuable contributions as thematic expert on the UN Ocean Decade. Her expertise and passion for the subject were remarkable. I strongly recommend her for thought leadership assignments.” - Ekaterina, Senior Officer, UNESCO Evaluation Office
“Alix Willemez delivered outstanding, high-impact presentations for Crédit Agricole’s regional clients. She has a rare ability to take complex topics and turn them into clear, engaging, and highly accessible messages. Her professionalism, enthusiasm, and stage presence made each session a real success. Alix combines technical depth with an exceptional ability to connect with audiences. I strongly recommend her as a speaker.” -Florence, Renewable Energy Expert, Crédit Agricole Banking Group
"Dr. Alix Willemez is an exceptional speaker who brings clarity, insight, and energy to every audience. I witnessed her ability to explain complex topics in engaging and accessible ways, connecting with diverse stakeholders and inspiring action. Alix’s professionalism, expertise, and passion make her a remarkable voice for conferences, panels, and events seeking thought leadership in sustainability and innovation" - Stefan, Director, Quadran Pacific Renewables
"I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Alix Willemez when she led the organization of a high-level conference in Brussels on the environmental impacts of defense activities. Alix demonstrated exceptional expertise, coordinating with international advisors from the EU, U.S., and Canada. Her deep knowledge of the scientific, legal, and military dimensions of the topic allowed her to convey complex issues clearly and engage diverse audiences effectively. Alix’s professionalism, insight, and ability to communicate make her an outstanding speaker, capable of inspiring, informing, and mobilizing audiences on critical global issues." - Brigitte, Director, 3B Conseils
- 2019 - Climate Finance Expert, Global Environment Facility & African Development Bank Group
- 2019 - Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Mamafrica
- 2019 - Advisory Board Member, Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative
- 2018 - Expert, United Nations World Ocean Assessment
- 2017 - Member, World Commission on Environmental Law, International Union for Conservation of Nature
- 2016 - Renewable Energy Expert, Crédit Agricole
- 2012 - Deputy Bureau Chief for State Action at Sea, French Navy
How to hire Dr Alix Willemez
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Dr Alix Willemez for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
