The Climate Innovation Coalition (CIC) is a force for inspiring rapid cultural transformation toward a sustainable future.
Our planet is at a critical juncture, but hope is not lost. Renewable energy breakthroughs, corporate leadership, and progressive policies show us what’s possible when we act with urgency and vision. A net-zero world is within reach—but only if we build it together.
We all share responsibility for the climate crisis, and we all share the power to solve it. CIC bridges the gap between aspiration and action, connecting those ready to make change with those already leading it. The moment is now.
Gregory Feist is Professor of Psychology at San Jose State University. He is widely published in the psychology of creativity and psychology of science. He received his Ph.D. in 1991 from the University of California at Berkeley. He is author of The Psychology of Science: Origins of the Scientific Mind. He is also co-author of Psychology: Perspectives and Connections and Theories of Personality. His research focuses on personality, creativity, psychology of science, motivated reasoning, and the psychology of climate change. He is currently President of Western Psychological Association.
Serial entrepreneur and technology executive with 32+ years driving breakthrough innovation at the intersection of AI, sustainability, and emerging tech. Deep expertise in AI integration, autonomous systems, and smart infrastructure with a founder's mindset focused on rapid iteration and product-market fit. Accomplished executive with extensive experience in technology and policy leadership across industries, including autonomous vehicles, ADAS, smart cities, geothermal energy, and ocean exploration. Proven track record of collaborating with government leaders, regulatory agencies, and standards organizations such as SAE, NIST, and NHTSA in the US, Europe, and China. Actively informed U.S. Congressional Leaders and the Vehicle Regulatory Agency (NHTSA) on critical developments. Expertise spans Lidar technology, autonomous systems, geothermal energy, intelligent infrastructure, and deep ocean exploration. Led high-impact projects with global corporations, universities, and research institutions. Co-founder of the Climate Innovation Coalition (CIC), a nonprofit dedicated to driving cultural shifts toward a sustainable future.
Jamie Hyneman is a special effects expert and former co-host of the popular TV series MythBusters (2003-2016). He currently is owner of the special effects company M5 Industries in San Francisco. Previously, Hyneman has been a boat captain, divemaster, wilderness survival expert, and machinist.
Mark Bourgeois is a technology and innovation ethicist with a background in engineering, design, and normative philosophy. He has led numerous NSF awards in Responsible Innovation, social responsibilities of researchers, and research ethics. At Northwestern he taught Design Thinking and co-authored the internal design textbook. At Notre Dame he taught a range of technology ethics courses for the Philosophy department and developed a comprehensive course in innovation ethics for ND's Silicon Valley Semester program. He is affiliated with the innovation hub of Notre Dame, the IDEA Center, where he has advised on Responsible Innovation in the tech transfer process, taught in the graduate entrepreneurship program, run a Tech for Good program with national nonprofits, and redeveloped student innovation competitions to focus on impact. He is also affiliated with the Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values and the Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society at Notre Dame. He currently consults for Venture Capital firms on ethics and strategy and is working on his first book, on ethical innovation. He holds a Ph.D., MA, and BA in Philosophy as well as a BS in Physics.
Mark Westwind has over 50 years professional and technical experience working with businesses, community agencies and non-profit organizations. As a community organizer, Mark has founded/co-founded over a dozen community organizations, projects and programs and continues to guide and support non-profits as the Executive Director of The Praxis Group. Mark was the founding Director of the Contra Costa Software Business Incubator and the founding Associate Director of John F. Kennedy University’s Center for Entrepreneurship. He also served as the Resident Entrepreneur for the University’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership. As a certified Business Advisor for the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center for over ten years, Mark has assisted numerous start-ups and early-stage companies. Mark also served as the Senior Research Associate for Munroe Consulting and Senior Business Analyst for Enterprise Valuations, Inc. Together with Dr. Tapan Munroe (former Chief Economist for PG&E), Mark co-authored “What Makes Silicon Valley Tick?“, an analysis of the Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem. Internationally, Mark served for four years as the U.S. Associate for Canton Venture Capital Company, a $100 million Chinese VC firm.