Kayla Economou is from Kahuku, Hawai‘i with roots in Samoa. She works at the intersection of climate policy and technology and she is passionate about navigating equitable transitions to renewable energy.

Kayla cut her teeth in international climate diplomacy as a lead coordinator at UNFCCC COP conferences, where she provided technical assistance on capacity building and technology to climate-vulnerable countries in the Pacific, and drafted National Adaptation Plans for Small Island Developing States, a key mechanism for accessing climate finance for frontline communities. Kayla currently works at Elemental Excelerator, where she supports a growing portfolio of 150+ climate tech companies with targeted programming and business development. She spearheads services for traditionally excluded entrepreneurs and facilitates the delivery of Equity In curriculum to help companies foster equitable practices in their cultures, products, and deployments. Previously, she worked to expand energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, conducted legislative research on marine protections and nature-based solutions at the Hawaii State Senate, and supported the development of marine energy technologies at the Department of Energy.

She dedicates her life’s work to ensuring Pacific Islanders can continue to live and thrive on the islands their ancestors have called home for generations. Kayla holds a Masters in Sustainability Science and Practice and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Political Science from Stanford University.