Jose Hernandez

I am a sustainability professional with 5+ years of experience within the climate tech and sustainability space. With a variety of different experiences from consulting to corporate sustainability to philanthropy, I have had the ability to work on a wide variety of different projects. I started my career in research at UC Davis specifically looking at new materials to be used in the circular economy and clean energy generation! With a deep interest in bringing solutions from the lab to the market I decided to pursue opportunities to bring novel technology to the market. After my time at UC Davis, I pursued opportunities to create change via the introduction of novel technology, first at an NGO in Peru and then secondly at Clark Street Associates.

During my time at Clark Street Associates, I instructed clients in the clean tech/tech space on how to build out their technology solutions, partner with government entities, and build out their business models. Moreover, I consistently worked on translating technical information to different stakeholders (government officials, financiers, etc.) so that they could understand the need for new project development. With an interest in melding my sustainability interests and a passion for inciting change in the business space, I decided to pursue an MBA from UCLA Anderson. During my time at UCLA Anderson I became an EDF Climate Corps Fellow, where I was able to help two different organizations (HUB International and Surf Air Mobility) develop GHG inventories, identify appropriate technology solutions, and then develop short- and long-term strategies to help them decarbonize their value chains, along with helping both companies understand the financial implications related to different actions. Most recently as a Decarbonization and Sustainability Strategy Associate at Bezos Earth Fund, I lead program management and technology development efforts for initiatives focused on improving the livelihoods of forest-protecting communities in the Brazilian Amazon. Through these initiatives, I was able to understand the role of finance, policy, and technology to enable change.

I am passionate about creating positive impact through innovative solutions that address climate change and promote sustainable development and I am always eager to use different strategies related to finance/funding, policy, and technology development in order to drive meaningful change! In terms of my education I have an MBA from UCLA Anderson, a MS in Materials Science and Engineering from UC Davis, and a BS in Bioengineering from UC Merced.