Sarah Hendel-Blackford is the Director, Systemic Risk Policy and Response. Previously Sarah worked in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in the Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships unit, where her responsibilities included UNDRR’s work with the private sector, Youth and Parliamentarians. 

Sarah has over 20 years’ experience in climate change mitigation and adaptation working on policy, legislation and practical solutions in large international organisations that span both public and private sectors. Sarah has designed and delivered adaptation masterclasses for megacities, global urban adaptation academies and SMEs. Skilled in disaster risk reduction, risk-informed investment, corporate climate governance, climate-resilient value chains, climate equity, ecosystem-based adaptation, climate change risk and opportunity assessment, Sarah has led numerous multidisciplinary teams on large international projects covering a range of sectors. 

Sarah is also a supervisory board member of EIT Climate-KIC, a European knowledge and innovation community, working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon, climate-resilient society. EIT Climate-KIC tackles climate change in 39 countries worldwide through catalysing place-based systemic transformation through innovation. 

Sarah lives in France where she is often busy planting orchards, restoring meadows and an old house, together with her family.