Kristina Wyatt

Kristina Wyatt stands at the forefront of a global transformation where sustainability, governance, and innovation converge. A distinguished business leader, educator, and legal expert, she is widely recognized for her ability to distill complex regulatory and environmental frameworks into practical strategies that guide corporations toward resilience, compliance, and competitive advantage. Her cross-disciplinary leadership continues to shape the future of ESG reporting and climate accountability on both national and international stages.

Currently serving as Deputy General Counsel and Chief Sustainability Officer at Persefoni, Kristina plays a pivotal role in advancing AI-powered climate management technologies. Her work enables companies to measure, monitor, and manage carbon emissions in alignment with evolving global standards. Through this, she helps businesses anticipate risk, ensure compliance, and unlock strategic value in an increasingly regulated sustainability landscape.

Kristina's influence extends beyond the private sector. She previously served as Senior Counsel for Climate and ESG at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where she led the drafting of a landmark climate change disclosure rule. Her representation of the SEC on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) underscored her critical role in assessing climate-related systemic risks across the financial system. Earlier roles at the SEC included Senior Counsel in the Division of Corporation Finance and Counsel to Commissioner Roel Campos, through which she gained comprehensive insight into the regulatory machinery shaping corporate America.

Before rejoining the SEC, Kristina was Senior Counsel and Director of Sustainability at Latham & Watkins LLP, where she co-chaired the firm’s ESG practice. She was instrumental in creating the firm’s internal sustainability framework and advising Fortune 500 companies on practical solutions to environmental, social, and governance challenges. Her approach is characterized by legal precision paired with a forward-looking business mindset.

Earlier in her career, Kristina served as Assistant General Counsel at Food Lion, Inc., overseeing securities law compliance and leading the company’s disclosure and M&A efforts. This role laid a strong foundation for her continued focus on transparency, accountability, and ethical governance throughout her career.

Complementing her corporate and regulatory contributions, Kristina is an active educator and public speaker. She regularly presents at elite academic institutions, including Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, Stanford University, and UC Berkeley, where she prepares emerging leaders to navigate the future of sustainable business. In global forums such as COP27, the Oxford Sustainable Finance Summit, and numerous industry conferences, she continues to lead critical conversations around ESG regulations, climate risk, and sustainable finance.

Kristina’s academic credentials reflect her multi-faceted expertise. She holds a BA from Duke University, a JD from the University of Colorado with a focus on environmental law, and an MBA in Sustainability from Yale University. She is a certified director with the National Association of Corporate Directors and serves on numerous boards and advisory bodies, including the Paul, Weiss ESG and Law Institute, Yale Alumni in Energy, and the Persefoni Sustainability Advisory Board.

In recognition of her outstanding impact, Kristina received the SustainabilityX Magazine Global 50 Women in Sustainability Award in 2024 and was honored with the Directorship 100 Governance Award by the National Association of Corporate Directors in 2023. Her leadership also extends into the arts and non-profit sectors, having served as CEO of Robin Song Productions and led fundraising efforts for the Washington Ballet.

Through her commitment to legal integrity, environmental progress, and leadership development, Kristina Wyatt exemplifies the new paradigm of executive leadership, one that merges compliance with conscience and strategy with sustainability. Her work continues to redefine success for the next generation of women leaders shaping a more resilient, transparent, and inclusive global economy.