Activate Updates: September 2023

A Special Message from Activate Board Chair Liesl Schindler

Friends and colleagues,

On behalf of the Activate board and team, we are thrilled to announce the appointment of Activate’s new CEO, Cyrus Wadia. After an exhaustive global search resulting in a diverse pool of over 400 candidates, we have found a leader with the experience, expertise, passion, and ingenuity to accelerate the trajectory of Activate and deliver impact at scale.

Why we’re excited about him:

Cyrus brings a unique combination of science, business, and government credentials, and connections to broader networks—all of which are well aligned with Activate’s mission.
He’s had notable leadership roles in clean tech and sustainability, as the director of worldwide product sustainability at Amazon, where he launched Amazon’s first sustainable shopping program, and previously as vice president of sustainable business & innovation at Nike. Under President Barack Obama, he served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as assistant director of clean energy and materials R&D, responsible for a $1 billion initiative defining the cutting edge in materials science and innovation. He’s also held positions at organizations including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, UC Berkeley, and McKinsey & Company.
He has an impressive scientific foundation, with both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in energy and resources from UC Berkeley, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from MIT.
He is a proven leader with an inclusive leadership style, who excels at engaging with and inspiring people. Cyrus is a great listener who prioritizes team culture and putting people first—a must-have for Activate.

We are confident in Cyrus’s ability to offer leadership that aligns with our values, supports our growth, and propels us toward our goals.

“Cyrus personifies so much of what Activate is about,” says Ilan Gur, Activate founder and former CEO and current CEO of the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency. “He’s impact-driven, entrepreneurial, and cares deeply about people, family, and community. He’s one of the few people on the planet that I’d be proud and excited to have lead the next phase of what we started.”

Cyrus will officially start on October 16, 2023, but has graciously and enthusiastically agreed to participate in a number of stakeholder events prior to this date, such as Climate Week NYC. We can’t wait for him to start!

Also, we’re immensely grateful to Todd Johnson, who boldly took on the role of interim CEO this past year and did a fantastic job. We’re very happy that he will still offer his support and guidance after he steps down on October 15, when he will return to his previous role on Activate’s board of directors.

In closing, I couldn’t be more excited to introduce Cyrus to our Activate community, which has grown into one of the most impactful science innovation communities in the world in less than a decade. The extraordinary people and culture of Activate give us nothing but confidence as we transition into the organization's next phase of growth—now with Cyrus Wadia at the helm.

Onward!
Liesl Schindler
Activate Board Chair

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Additional Information
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Thank You, Sponsors and Partners

Our dedicated, forward-thinking network of sponsors and partners makes the fellowship possible through direct funding and donations of time, equipment, and services. In addition to generous philanthropic partners, we are supported by the National Science Foundation; the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, and the Buildings Technologies Office; the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; the California Energy Commission; the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Without these collaborations, Activate could not provide fellows such comprehensive financial, community, technical, and career support.