BIO
Ms. Kyte is the 14th dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University. A 2002 graduate of Fletcher’s Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) and a professor of practice at the school since 2012, Kyte is the first woman to lead the nation’s oldest graduate-only school of international affairs, which attracts students from all corners of the globe and at all stages of their careers.
Prior to joining Fletcher, Kyte served as special representative of the UN secretary-general and chief executive officer of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). She previously was the World Bank Group vice president and special envoy for climate change, leading the run-up to the Paris Agreement. She was also vice president at the International Finance Corporation responsible for ESG risk and business advisory services.
In her UN role and as CEO of SEforAll, a public-private platform created by the UN and World Bank, Kyte led efforts to promote and finance clean, reliable and affordable energy as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She served as co-chair of UN Energy.
In the 2020 UK New Year Honours, Rachel was appointed as CMG for her services to sustainable energy and combating climate change.
Kyte is a member of the UN secretary-general’s high level advisory group on climate action, and an advisor to the UK government on climate diplomacy. Kyte is chair of the Rwanda Green Fund and chair of the ESG committee of the board of the Private Infrastructure Development Group. She served as an advisor to Spain’s foreign minister on digitalization and diplomacy and co-chairs a global multistakeholder task force on financial principles for a green recovery. She serves on a number of not-for-profit boards and advises private sector in areas of climate, energy and sustainable development.
A British citizen, Kyte earned her undergraduate degree in history and politics from the University of London. She is a regular contributor on global media. Kyte has received numerous awards for leadership in climate and sustainable development and was named by Time magazine as one of the 15 women that were leading climate action.
