About Us
Imagine Land 2040 is an innovative project that Tomorrow in Focus led in partnership with the
G20 Global Land Initiative, hosted at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification This project aims to harness the creativity of young people and AI technology to confront the environmental challenges we face today.
The G20 Global Land Initiative works to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation globally by 50% by 2040. Imagine Land 2040 brings attention to the urgent need for action, using the power of youth storytelling and AI technology to inspire change
MEET THE TEAM
Dr. Muralee
Thummarukudy
Creative Producer
Muralee Thummarukudy is the Director of the Global Land Initiative Coordination Office at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. An AI enthusiast, Muralee is also the vice Chair of the Global Focus Group on AI for Natural Disaster Management.
Augustus Boettcher
Director
boundaries.
Shaun Karakkattu
Exec Producer
Shaun is the Co-founder of the AI startup Atlog and a renowned speaker at global forums like the
UNFCCC and TEDx. His expertise lies in futurist climate education projects, AI innovation, public
sector consulting, and youth engagement.
Apoorva Bose
Creative Director
Apoorva is an International Human Rights lawyer who works as the Project Coordinator, Global Initiative G20 at UNCCD. She holds a Master’s degree in International Law from the Graduate Institute in Geneva.
Benedict Ballman
Exec Producer
Benedict is a climate and AI policy expert, youth mental health advocate, and award winning filmmaker. Benedict has global experience at Terracycle and Surge Health, leveraging bleeding edge AI technology for climate and mental health solutions.
Theodore Perl
Creative Director
Theodore is an industry-recognized AI synthographer and filmmaker. His NFFTY award-winning film Cupid headlined the Nashville Film Festival. With corporate experience at The Cantellus Group, Theodore also specializes in Responsible AI.
Simreen Siraj
Simreen Siraj is a high school student passionate about programming & web development. Her tech-savvy skills helped her win numerous international code-fests and white-hat hackathons.
Deniz Orbay
Creative Director
Deniz is a Math and Computer Science major with
a minor in Cinema and Media Arts. He has
developed an open-ended learning environment
website that leverages virtual agents for interactive
educational experiences.
Dr. Leah Dundon
Dr. Leah A. Dundon is the Director of the Vanderbilt Climate Change Initiative. She is also a practicing environmental attorney with the law firm of Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., and holds a research appointment in environmental engineering at the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering.
Gabija Tonkunas
Gabija is a philosopher with experience in responsible AI for government at Deloitte. She has taught in NYC public schools, covering topics like climate change for elementary students and technology ethics for high school students.
Hannah Testa
Hannah is the Founder of Hannah 4 Change, an environmental advocacy platform focused on
mobilizing youth to address climate change and sustainability issues. An award-winning passionate speaker/activist, Hannah inspires young
people to take action for a cleaner future.
Jenna Weber
Jenna is a multi-medium writer and film producer. She has created community through her blog, Moments and Meaning, since 2022 and has fiction published in Spitfire Literary Magazine. Her production experience includes her work at CAT5 Content and on “Cupid."
William White
William White IV is an emerging AI synographer with a focus on healthcare policies and economics. His contributions include work on the short film Cupid, which headlined at the Nashville Film Festival.
Sophia Arnold
Sophia Arnold is a third-year student at Vanderbilt University. As President and Director of Vanderbilt Fashion Week, Sophia channels her passion for fashion, entertainment, and beauty into creating an inclusive, dynamic community on campus.
Armaan Parikh
Armaan is the Founder of the AIQ Foundation, which supports foster children in the Las Vegas
area through education and technology initiatives. He also created an AI tool designed to assist children with ADHD, improving focus and learning outcomes through innovative solutions.
Saky Nguyen
Saky is an expert at creating stories through pictures and in the editing world with experience from working with Vanderbilt Athletics and having her own photography business, this made her honed in on her craft.
Sai Mattapalli
Sai is the co-founder of Vytal.ai, a pioneering brain tech startup focused on democratizing eye-
tracking technology for brain health diagnostics. Sai is passionate about creating technology with accessibility as a core tenet.
Laura Gayre
Laura Gayre is a student at Vanderbilt University, pursuing a dual focus in film and child psychology. With a passion for bridging these two fields, she aims to explore the impact of storytelling on child development and emotional well-being.
Kate Doyle
Kate Doyle is a casting director who specializes in casting children and young adults. She previously worked in the Youth and Young Adult department at AEFH Talent, and is passionate about the impact of cinema and film on children’s development and ability to learn.
Eva Cherasi
Eva Cheraisi is a UX strategist and writer with a creative edge. She has crafted compelling scripts, poems, and prose, led content strategies to enhance user engagement at State Farm, and co-founded a college consulting venture helping students gain entry into top universities.
Aaliya Ramakrishnan
Aaliya is a music composer from Mumbai, India. She enjoys drawing from a wide range of musical influences, from electronic music to jazz, working with analog synthesisers and creating music for multimedia projects.
Shilo Karakkattu
Shilo Karakkattu is a high school student at BASIS Mesa. Shilo is well-versed in digital transformation and assisted on this project as a junior producer and web designer.
Anais Rivera
Anais Rivera was the main child actor for this film.
Anya M. Krawcheck
Anya was an adult actor for this film.
Jadorie A. Roach
Jadorie was the side child actor for this film.
Marina Castelo
Marina was the side child actor for this film.
Brayden K. Lo
Brayden was the side child actor for this film.
Drew Ellis
Drew is a dedicated cinematographer with a passion for creating visual stories and creating impactful art. He has an expertise in post-production and has hands-on experience in both student and professional productions. Drew’s ultimate goal is to help others share the stories that matter to them.
Ade Forest
Ade is a filmmaker and photographer from Philadelphia, passionate about finding strategic and creative ways to tell stories.