Laura Clarke is CEO of ClientEarth, having two decades of experience in public policy, and in diplomatic roles across Africa, Asia and Europe. She has worked extensively on climate, environmental and sustainability issues throughout her career. Laura was British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands, from January 2018 – July 2022, and High Commissioner to Samoa from March 2018 – December 2019. As British High Commissioner, she worked to strengthen the UK – New Zealand relationship, including through the negotiation of a standard-setting Free Trade Agreement, co-operation with New Zealand and the South Pacific during the UK’s COP26 Presidency, and work on international security. She also enhanced the UK’s relationship with New Zealand Māori: both by acknowledging the wrongs of the past, and in building forward-looking co-operation on trade, culture and climate.