We are Clima Now

Martin Meili worked for 30 years as a general practitioner in a group practice in Zurich. Through datuma.ch, he and his brothers are already now funding projects that are combating climate change. In 1970, he took part in the first-ever Earth Day as an exchange student in the USA and already then was confronted with the problems of climate change and the “point of no return”. With his commitment to Clima Now, he would like to work to ensure that viable solutions are at last promoted and appropriate measures adopted. Martin is president of the foundation board of Clima Now.

As a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Daniel Meili worked for many years as a chief physician for the treatment of drug addicts and thus helped to shape liberal drug policy in Switzerland. Today he runs his own practice. More than 20 years ago, Daniel’s father, Ernst Meili, left his fortune – while he was still alive – to him and his brothers as an advance inheritance to be used to build sustainable projects. The Meili brothers increasingly focused their commitment on the most important issue of the day – global warming – and established Clima Now to efficiently pool as much privately-donated funding as possible to reduce the greenhouse gas balance.

After a childhood spent in French-speaking Switzerland, Sabine von Stockar studied environmental sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. During the first 10 years of her working life, Sabine worked to promote a resource-efficient and renewable energy policy as a project manager at the Swiss Energy Foundation. Currently, she is Head of Development and Training at Minergie and a member of the Management. The aim of all her committed work is to support a resource-efficient and climate-friendly society and policies.

Ruedi Gerber is an entrepreneur, film producer and film director. He treats social, cultural or artistic themes in his films – some of which have won awards – such as LA FUGA , BREATH MADE VISIBLE or JOURNEY INTO SENSUALITY. For 30 years, he has been developing a farm for biodynamic products and natural wine in Italy. He revitalized an entire village by developing this vineyard and the agriturismo project that forms part of it, and by reviving the only restaurant in the village. He has been intensively involved in cultural activities and environmental issues for many years.

Swiss-born Nathalie, who has a Spanish background, was already influenced in her childhood by the social commitment of her parents, who worked in India. After graduating from the University of St. Gallen and subsequently working in consulting with PwC in London and Bain & Company and Zurich, she was employed by LGT Venture Philanthropy before founding her own consultancy, mavia, in Zurich in 2012.

The idea for Clima Now originated from her many years of cooperation with the Meili family, out of a shared desire to focus on the most important issue facing society today and to pool resources accordingly. Nathalie is the Executive Director of Clima Now.

After studying architecture, Tobias Rihs began his career in 1999 as an entrepreneur in the hospitality and wellness sector. In 2015, he relocated to Portugal with his family and opened a guesthouse on the Atlantic Ocean. In the heatwave summer of 2018, he became truly aware of how topical climate change is and how urgent the need for immediate action is. In the same year, his father Andreas Rihs died and left him and his brother a large fortune, which he is now investing in various nature-oriented and sustainable projects.

Franziska has many years of experience in international development cooperation with a wide range of partners and has a sound insight and overview of international climate policy, various climate protection measures, technologies and financing options.
Franziska studied International Relations at the Technical University of Dresden before completing a Master's degree in Environmental Science at Lund University in Sweden. After the postgraduate program at the German Development Institute, Franziska worked for three years at KfW Development Bank in the Resource Conservation Team Asia and joined myclimate in 2009. There, she managed the carbon offset projects department for ten years and has been building up bilateral carbon offsetting since 2022. On the side, Franziska organizes environmental education and wilderness education offerings for a deeper connection to nature and a more conscious sustainable lifestyle.

Anna graduated in 2021. She focused her Master's degree on the environment and sustainability and wrote her Master's thesis on bee mortality. Through her work as a facilitator at the Discuss it association, she has been constantly reminded of the importance of social change in order to achieve a certain goal.

Anna would like to see a world where climate protection is the first priority. When Anna is not campaigning for more biodiversity and planting flowers or plants, she spends her time exploring with Nola. Anna works as an event and project manager at Clima Now.

Claudia already worked in different media fields during her studies in Basel: as a vjane, program developer TV and journalist in print and online.

During another stint at a Swiss embassy, she realized how much decisions on one side of the world can have a global impact. She then spent the last few years working in the Swiss education sector, helping to build social media at USI University of Italian Speaking Switzerland and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, among others, and driving their web presences.

With her digital knowledge she moves between text and technology and uses these inputs to reach Clima Now's goal of activating 100'000 people for the climate.

Jana has a master's degree in cultural psychology and intercultural communication and has already taken on many roles in the world of communication: as a copywriter and concept developer, blogger and event manager. For the last three years she has been Communications Manager at the Zurich-based direct air capture company Climeworks, specializing in the field of emissions reductions and carbon capture.

With her work, she wants to contribute to the solidarity of climate protection - not someday, but now. At Clima Now she is responsible for communication and social media.

Harald is a biochemist and entrepreneur. After working in the technology sector with a focus on consulting, programme and portfolio management, he finally found his passion in climate work. Harald held various positions at Climate-KIC in the European climate context focusing on energy systems, exponential technologies and systemic societal change. On these topics Harald is a lecturer, book author and advisor. At Clima Now, Harald leads the programs, portfolio strategy, and development of the impact and MEL frameworks.

Harald holds a PhD from ETH Zurich and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Dominique completed her Master's degree in Accounting and Finance in 2012 and worked as a Group Controller. In 2015, she and her husband moved to Singapore, where she first worked as a nutritionist and then as an event manager for an NGO in the field of female entrepreneurship.

With the birth of her children, she became increasingly aware that we have to change something now - otherwise it's too late. Dominique hopes that this awareness will increase in the population and that everyone will do their part to preserve the earth for the generations to come.

Nola is still in training to become an office dog. She started working in the environmental field when Anna took up her position at Clima Now. Nola loves animal documentaries, walks and snacks.

When Nola is not sleeping in Clima Now's offices, she is out exploring with Anna. Nola works as a feel-good manager at Clima Now.

Dirk Muenchis an analyst, entrepreneur and impact investor. He co-founded Persistent, the largest impact venture builder in Africa, which has led to the formation of over 15 companies. Dirk is a co-founder of the Energy Access Entrepreneur Fund, which finances energy companies in Africa through their early growth stages, and an independent board member at Übermorgen Ventures. Dirk’s motivation is to foster global sustainable development and in particular to minimize climate change.