The arrival of de Alwis as new CEO marks the start of the next chapter for Subak, with preparations underway to welcome ten early-stage startups to the accelerator programme in early 2022.
Previously serving as managing director of Microsoft for Startups UK, de Alwis will to help to establish Subak as a leading global hub where data-focused climate tech startups come to scale, and train her focus on the potential of non-profits and open data to solve the climate crisis.
Prior to her leadership tenure at Microsoft for Startups UK, de Alwis served as CEO of social enterprise Code First: Girls, was named Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in IT in 2018, and received an MBE for for her services to women in technology.
Additionally, the new appointment is on the Inclusion and Diversity Board at the Institute of Coding, as well as the Advisory Board at Cajigo.
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“I’m so excited to be joining the Subak team. The global need for innovation has never been more critical, and I believe Subak is uniquely positioned to drive real, tangible change in climate impacting tech, policy and consumer behaviour,” said new Subak CEO, de Alwis.
“I feel very lucky to be joining a team of such talented and motivated individuals who have already achieved incredible milestones with their current member organisations. I know this is only the start of what we can accomplish together.”
Baroness Bryony Worthington, co-founder of Subak, commented: “Subak is devoted to the task of fighting the climate emergency, and to do that we need people with radical world-changing ideas to grow and scale.
“Amali is a remarkable leader and brings that innovative mindset and tenacity for change that the climate crisis so desperately needs. Her appointment at Subak marks the beginning of the next chapter for our organisation – it’s truly exciting to have her on board.”
About Subak
Founded earlier this year by by Baroness Worthington, lead author of the 2008 Climate Change Act, Subak funds and scales a growing network of data focused climate tech organisations, to transform understanding of the climate crisis and drive change in policy and mass-market behaviour.
Its founding members have already raised over £8.5 million in funding while delivering remarkable data-driven achievements, and individual Subak fellows can receive a £10,000 grant with an idea for an innovative, data-driven climate project.
The accelerator’s membership includes Michelle You, entrepreneur and co-founder of Songkick, Gi Fernando MBE, and Dr Jack Kelly, former DeepMind machine learning engineer.
