Board of Directors

Akinola is the President & CEO of the Center for Global Sustainability Law (CGSL), where he leads the Center’s global efforts towards the acceleration of a just and sustainable transition. His strategic leadership is demonstrated through the Center’s commitment to addressing global environmental and socio-economic challenges within the intersection of law and sustainability. Akinola began his legal career in Nigeria well over a decade ago, providing legal representation and advisory services to a wide range of private, corporate, and governmental clients in diverse areas of the Nigerian economy. He is a leading voice in different aspects of corporate and environmental sustainability law, with a strong bias for Climate Change, Corporate Governance, Energy Transition, Sustainable Finance in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies, as well as the critical role of the private sector in addressing global sustainability challenges. Akinola is also a Fellow of the Institute for Energy Democracy, Pace Energy & Climate Center, Pace University, where he plays a pivotal role in providing leading expertise on energy and climate-related legal and regulatory issues to advance the work of the Center. He previously worked with ServiceNow as an ESG Specialist, as well as served as Vice Chair of the Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources Law (IERL Committee) of the American Bar Association. He is a recognized thought leader who speaks regularly at conferences and webinars. His research cuts across different aspects of corporate and environmental sustainability law. Having earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University and Barrister at Law (BL) from the Nigerian Law School, Akinola has been further educated at Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University, and the Columbia Climate School/Columbia School of Professional Studies, broadening his expertise in International Environmental Law and Sustainability Management, at the graduate level. Akinola lives in New York, United States, with his family.