Bridging the Gap: The Role of Academia and Global Networks in Advancing SDGs

Jose Luis Blasco Vazquez

Global Sustainability Director and CEO of Acciona Carbon Technologies

Acciona

José Luis Blasco has over 20 years of experience in corporate sustainability and ESG strategy. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, an MBA from the IE Business School and a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the Complutense University of Madrid. Since 2019, he has served as Global Sustainability Director at ACCIONA 2019 and as CEO of Acciona Carbon Technologies since 2023. Previously, he was a partner at KPMG, where he led sustainability services at the national, European, and global levels, and also headed the Corporate Governance, Risk, and Compliance area. Additionally, he was one of the four rapporteurs of the European Commission's Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance from 2017 to 2020. Currently, he is a member of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and serves as President of the Corporate Sustainability Commission of the Instituto Español de Analistas Financieros. José Luis is a faculty member at IE Business School and actively participates in academia as a lecturer and researcher for various universities and business schools.

Concepción Galdón

Vice-Dean of Business with Purpose - IE Business School

IE University

Concepción Galdón, PhD, is a devoted advocate for sustainable business and social innovation, currently serving as Vice-Dean of Business with Purpose at IE Business School. Leading the Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation, she collaborates with fellow vice-deans to infuse sustainability into diverse programs. As Director of IE's Center for Social Innovation and Sustainability, Concepción guides a committed team, leveraging global networks for lasting social change. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in International Economy and Development, with Outstanding Award-winning research on technology and social entrepreneurship. In addition to teaching, she co-directs IE's Sustainability, Your Competitive Advantage program. Beyond academia, Concepción contributes to media discussions and speaks at international conferences, emphasizing her commitment to sustainable principles and positive societal change. Concepción Galdón is also the author of Promise, Pitfalls, and Potential of Social Entrepreneurship: Positive Change Unleashed, a book that explores the transformative potential and challenges of social entrepreneurship. 

Marta García Haro

Senior Manager, Network Programs

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Marta is an expert in developing and strengthening networks at national and regional level to promote sustainable development. In her role within the SDSN Networks Program, she provides strategic and operational support to SDSN chapters across Europe and the Mediterranean, enhancing their capacity and impact as well as fostering collaboration between them. She also leads the Universities for Goal 13 climate competition. Previously, she was the Director of SDSN Spain where she led initiatives such as the Spanish Cities SDG Index and the seminars on Culture and Sustainable Development (5 editions). She is the founder of the #SustainableCulture collective and is also the author of several publications on the topic, including How to Implement the SDGs in the Cultural Sector. Before joining SDSN in 2015 she pursued her professional career in the cultural arena, where she carried out projects for some of the most renowned art institutions in Spain. 

Nicole Rosow

Director of Sustainability

IE University

Nicole Rosow (M.S.Ed., University of Pennsylvania) is the Director of Sustainability at IE University, leading efforts to integrate sustainability across campus. In this transversal role, she collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to foster awareness and drive meaningful change in mindsets and behaviors, embedding sustainability in operations and student-led initiatives, aligning IE University’s strategy with global best practices. Previously, she was a USAID contractor on large-scale educational reform projects in developing countries and later served as the founding director of a family resource center in a disadvantaged neighborhood in the greater New York City area, addressing social and environmental challenges.