The Climate Counsel

A decade on from the Paris climate summit, the world has made once unimaginable strides towards a net zero future. Yet for those on the frontlines of our rapidly changing climate, that progress is still all too slow as we urgently strive to keep 1.5°C alive. A just transition away from fossil fuels was always going to be a marathon. Now it must be a sprint.

At Purpose Union, we’re hopeful but not naive about the scale and pace of change that’s required. This view is informed by the work we do day in day out alongside our clients. It’s also based on our research.

Over half of Gen Z and Millennials don’t think business is doing enough to address climate change, and the majority believe that governments need to set more ambitious targets and protect vulnerable countries. But optimism remains: most Gen Zs and Millennials actually think the world is in a stronger position to tackle climate change today than it was 5 years ago.

In many ways, the easiest wins have been achieved. The hardest work starts now. That’s why we have created the Climate Counsel - a group of strategists that works with organisations and individuals across the public, private and social sectors to plan, communicate and deliver ambitious, authentic and credible climate initiatives that support a just transition to net zero.

Climate change and environmental campaigns and communications

Policy research, landscape mapping and horizon scanning

Advocacy strategy and delivery

Sustainability reporting

Partnership or initiative design

Philanthropy and corporate citizenship

Meet the Team (Staff)

Kenza Essalama

Kenza is a social impact strategist specialising in climate and human rights. Most recently she has been developing digital climate justice narratives for young adults across Europe. Previously, Kenza led Green Alliance’s digital communications and coordinated the social media campaign for the successful drive to ban disposable vapes in the UK.
Barry Johnston

Barry has worked with WaterAid and the then HRH Prince Charles to launch the Water and Climate Finance Initiative. Previously, he helped to relaunch Stop Climate Chaos as the UK Climate Coalition, working on the UK’s Fourth Carbon Budget and the Paris COP. He is a board member of Friends of the Earth.
Karen Larbi

Karen is a diversity, equity and inclusion advocate and anti-oppression facilitator. She was formerly a Trainer at Campaign Bootcamp, where she coached individuals and groups most impacted by injustice, and is the Founder of POC In Nature. Karen is an England Advisory Committee Member at the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity.
Patrick Steen

Patrick leads our communications and marketing practice, advising clients on how to build engaged audiences across owned and paid channels. At Unilever, he led the company's global content and channels, launching various sustainability campaigns such as Clean Future and Positive Beauty. His digital communications team at Which? grew and mobilised one of the largest supporter communities in the UK.

Meet the Team (Advisors)

Girish Balachandran

Girish brings over 20 years of international experience across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India. He has served as a Board Director at Ketchum UK and EMEA Client Development Director at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. Since founding ON PURPOSE, Girish has overseen social change work in four areas: climate action, public health, education, and social welfare.
Rosalind McKenna

Rosalind is a seasoned advocate with a history of working in the philanthropy and civil society sectors. Now working as an independent consultant for foundation clients including Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Rosalind's previous work at Open Society Foundations (OSF) supported external policy priorities and work on climate finance, global financial architecture reform, and global health. Before joining OSF, Rosalind coordinated Amnesty International Ireland's program on economic, social and cultural rights.
Jad Mouawad

Jad is a senior communications advisor, storyteller and strategist focusing on energy and climate issues with an interest in advancing the clean energy transition. As the former head of communications for the International Energy Agency and a longtime journalist with the New York Times, Jad has more than two decades of experience in media, strategic communications, public policy and advocacy.
Rachael Orr

Rachael is the CEO of Climate Outreach, who help people and organisations tell new climate stories to inspire greater climate action. Rachael joined Climate Outreach from PlaceShapers, the national network for community-based housing associations. Previously, she was Head of Oxfam's UK programme and held various senior policy and campaigning roles at Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity. Rachael has been Chair of Angel Shed Theatre Company, a Non-Executive Director at Suffolk Housing Society and she currently serves as Chair of Trustees at the Refugee Council.