About the Speaker About the Speaker

Maria Kristine Josefina G. Balmes has extensive experience in government service and in championing various advocacies since 1998. Joining the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as Deputy Executive Director for Operations (DDO) in 2017, she has made use of her experience in advocating for climate justice and renewable energy towards unceasingly advocating for the empowerment of women and girls and the promotion of gender equality in the Environment Sector. Fulfilling her role as DDO, she oversees proactive technical assistance efforts of the Commission in this sector and participates in various domestic and regional sector-related engagements. Notably, she spearheaded the partnership of PCW with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) in 2019 towards a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines. She also serves as PCW’s representative in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Full Council, People’s Survival Fund (PSF) Board, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Technical Working Group (TWG).