Ceres Announces New Additions to its Board of Directors and President’s Council

BOSTON – Ceres, a leading sustainability nonprofit, has strengthened its leadership board and advisory team with five new members to its Board of Directors and four to its President’s Council, the organization announced today. 

The new Board members include: 

• Mark Levine, New York City Comptroller 

• Gina McCarthy, former U.S. EPA Administrator and National Climate Advisor to the White House 

• Rose McKinney-James, Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC and McKinney-James & Associates 

• Aniket Shah, Managing Director & Global Head of the Sustainability and Transition Strategy team at Jefferies Group LLC 

• David Young, former Senior Partner and Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group 

These new directors join an already diverse board of 20 leaders with backgrounds in responsible investing, corporate sustainability, government and policy, environmental justice, and nonprofit advocacy. Board members play an active role in shaping Ceres’ long-term strategy and supporting its mission to build a cleaner, more resilient economy. 

“It is a privilege to join the Ceres Board at a time when informed risk-adjusted investing requires absolute clarity in the face of geopolitical and market pressures,” said New York City Comptroller Mark Levine. “Long‑term investors rely on Ceres to help identify and address material climate risks, and I am eager to join this mission of aiding institutional investors in fulfilling their fiduciary duties to secure stable, long‑term returns.” 

Ceres also welcomed four new President’s Council members: 

• Lori Collins, Founder and Principal at Collins Climate Consulting 

• Jim Richardson, Managing Partner at Meritage Wine Group 

• Pat Sapinsley, Advisor to NYU’s Cleantech Initiatives at the Urban Future Lab 

• Joel Sklar, Vice Chair and Principal at Samuels and Associates 

President’s Council members serve as ambassadors for Ceres, offering strategic guidance, expertise, and outreach to further the organization’s impact. With the new additions, the Council now comprises 32 influential supporters and advisors who champion Ceres’ mission. 

“This dynamic group of new members brings experience and depth across business, energy, climate policy, and finance,” said Mindy Lubber, Ceres CEO and President. “Together, they will help guide Ceres as we look to grow our global networks, pursue new financial opportunities, and deepen our relationships and expertise.” 

Ceres continues to expand its leadership board and advisory team as it navigates new challenges and opportunities to scale market- and policy-based solutions globally.  

Learn more at https://www.ceres.org/about/leadership.  

Meet Our New Board Members 

Mark Levine 

Levine was elected New York City Comptroller in November 2025 and assumed office on January 1, 2026. He has been at the forefront of advancing more affordable, equitable, and healthy communities for nearly 25 years. He began his career as a bilingual math and science teacher in the South Bronx and founded the Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union. Mark served for eight years on the New York City Council, including as Chair of the Committee on Parks, Jewish Caucus, and Committee on Health. 

Gina McCarthy 

McCarthy is one of the nation’s most respected voices on climate change, the environment, and public health. She was the first White House National Climate Advisor and former U.S. EPA Administrator. As head of the Climate Policy Office under President Biden, her leadership led to the most aggressive action on climate in U.S. history, creating new jobs and unprecedented clean energy innovation and investment across the country. 

Rose McKinney-James 

McKinney-James is a long-time advocate for clean energy and climate policy. She is the former CEO of the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources, a former Commissioner of the Nevada Public Service Commission, and Nevada’s first Director of the Department of Business and Industry. She is currently the Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC, McKinney-James & Associates, and Advocacy BL/ACK. 

Aniket Shah 

Shah is Managing Director and Global Head of Washington, Sustainability and Transition Strategy at Jefferies Group LLC. He leads the firm’s Washington Strategy efforts, advising clients on the intersection between public policy and investment decision-making. He also leads research and advisory efforts for investors, corporates, and sovereigns on energy transition and sustainable business. 

David Young 

Young has decades of experience in the social, public, and private sectors with developing strategies and transforming organizations to achieve greater business, institutional, and societal impact at scale, more quickly. He spent nearly 30 years at the Boston Consulting Group, remains a senior advisor to the firm, and recently launched CascAIdient, an intelligence and innovation venture. 

Meet Our New President’s Council Members 

Lori Collins 

Collins is the founder and principal of Collins Climate Consulting, where she advises investors, energy companies, nonprofits, and governments. Lori is a climate finance leader focused on accelerating private investment in climate solutions. She brings cross-sector experience with prior leadership roles at LendingTree, Bank of America, and Fidelity Investments, as well as more than 15 years in the energy sector. 

Jim Richardson 

Richardson has served in non-profit management and board roles for the last two decades. In 2023, Jim joined the board of Root Capital and currently serves as chair of the Governance Committee. Since 2017, Jim has been a trustee of The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts and served as board chair from 2020 to 2023. Before his tenure in the non-profit sector, Jim spent twenty years working in the oil and gas industry, first for Mobil Oil Corporation and then for BP. In 2012, Jim also began a wine investment fund called Meritage Wine Group. 

Pat Sapinsley 

Sapinsley is currently an advisor to and was formerly the managing director of Cleantech Initiatives at the Urban Future Lab/ACRE at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. A LEED AP architect, Pat holds a master’s degree in architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and has served on their Alumni Council. She is an Advisor at RA Capital/Planetary and at Helix Earth. 

Joel Sklar 

Sklar is Vice Chair and Principal at Samuels & Associates, where he provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for one of Boston’s leading real estate development and management firms. With decades of experience in the Greater Boston real estate market, Joel is recognized for his ability to integrate complex development goals with community-centric values. His work at Samuels & Associates has been foundational to the firm’s reputation for creating iconic, mixed-use neighborhoods that balance commercial success with public utility. 

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and resilient economy. With data-driven research and expert analysis, we inspire investors and companies to act on the world's sustainability challenges and advocate for market and policy solutions. Together, our efforts transform industries, unlock new business opportunities, and foster innovation and job growth – proving that sustainability is the bottom line.