Effective December 19, 2025, Dr. Ash Pachauri, Mr. Zhiyao (Yao) Ma, and Ms. Yang Yang joined the Board of Directors of the International Mayors Communication Centre (IMCC) , injecting new vitality into the IMCC. They will work hand in hand with leaders and partners from various countries who support the IMCC to embark on a new journey of sustainable development.

Dr. Ash Pachauri

Dr. Ash Pachauri is a globally recognized behavioral scientist, author, and sustainable development strategist with more than 20 years of experience advancing climate change improvement action, youth leadership, and public health worldwide.

He is co-founder, director, and senior mentor of the Protect Our Planet (POP) Movement, treasurer of the World Sustainable Development Forum, and advisory board member of the Climate Leadership Coalition. The POP Movement operates in approximately 150 countries and has established close cooperative relationships with heads of state and royal families.

Dr. Ash Pachauri has led major programs with the UN, WHO, and the Gates Foundation across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He is committed to empowering youth and integrating behavioral science into climate action for a sustainable future. He has received an honorary doctorate from Maharishi International University, the United States, as well as multiple international academic awards for excellence. Since March 2020, he has been voluntarily assisting Ms. Jin Lan (Lily Jin), founder of the IMCC, in carrying out various international public relations development work and promoting the IMCC’s international conferences.

His father, Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri (1940-2020), served as chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations and led the IPCC to win the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize (shared with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore). Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri was the first chairman of the IMCC’s Open Green City Laboratory (OGCLab) and spearheaded the design of the “Open World University for Sustainable Development.”

Mr. Zhiyao (Yao) Ma

Mr. Zhiyao (Yao) Ma is a scholar of profound knowledge, fluent in English and knowing Spanish. His research fields include finance, agricultural economics, industrial organization, development economics, commodity storage, and applied econometrics. He possesses diverse experience in market research, public welfare project management, and international exchange, as well as outstanding leadership skills. He was one of the five young representatives from China to attend the 2024 G20 Youth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematical science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is expected to receive his Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of California, David in 2026.

Ms. Yang Yang

Based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Ms. Yang Yang is a global youth leader from China, with commercial, diplomatic, and social influence spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. She is executive director of 8BA Group, president of 8BA Investment Dubai, and advisor to the Africa Youth Forum International. Since 2020, she has been continuously expanded her global influence, actively participating in strategic transnational cooperation, and connecting governments, private enterprises, financial institutions, and development organizations. Her mission is to build long-term, reliable cross-border collaboration mechanisms, empowering emerging markets, particularly those in Africa and the Middle East, through industrial development, entrepreneurial support, and capital linkages.