Maria Flouda

Founder and Managing Director

Sustainability Switch Consultancy

Maria Flouda is the founder of Sustainability Switch Consultancy, a UAE-based solopreneur venture dedicated to helping organizations align their sustainability strategies with the rapidly evolving, AI- and technology-driven business landscape, as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She also serves as the Board Co-Chair and UAE Network Leader of Lean In Equity and Sustainability, a social impact organization committed to democratizing access to information and opportunities for women and allies in the green transition. A postgraduate Civil Engineer, Maria has a strong foundation in designing and delivering large infrastructure projects across both public and private sectors. With over 24 years of experience in corporate strategy, ESG frameworks, and project operations, she collaborates with major industry players, including some of the UAE’s largest holding conglomerates. Her work encompasses advancing sustainability initiatives, driving ESG compliance, and fostering strategic stakeholder engagement across diverse sectors. She is recognized for her expertise in key climate change and sustainability topics, such as the green transition, alternative fuels, hydrogen, green technologies, AI, decarbonization of supply chains, and green finance. Maria has served as a Strategic Advisor for the EU-GCC Green Transition Strategic Project, funded by the European Commission, and continues to advise several other initiatives. Her contributions include advancing green transition policies, fostering sustainable finance solutions, and leveraging emerging technologies to drive impactful cross-regional initiatives. At COP29 in Baku, Maria collaborated with the Ministry of Energy of Greece to address critical energy transition challenges and solutions. She also worked closely with IRENA during COP16 in Riyadh, contributing to discussions on resilience and sustainable finance. Her ability to bridge policy, technology, and stakeholder engagement underscores her strategic expertise in international climate cooperation. Maria’s educational background includes sustainability credentials from Cambridge University (CISL) and both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Known for her proficiency in embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives into corporate frameworks, she supports corporate clients and SMEs in advancing their net-zero ambitions. A sought-after keynote speaker, Maria addresses topics on sustainability, ESG, diversity, equity, inclusion, and women’s empowerment in energy, inspiring audiences worldwide with her insights into a sustainable, technology-enabled, and resilient future. Maria is also a proud Mentor of the WiSER (Women in Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy) initiative by Masdar, where she supports and empowers the next generation of women leaders in sustainability.