Aimee Elise Keliʻi Barnes of Hua Nani Partners Announced as 2024-2025 Obama Foundation Leader
Honolulu, HI — Aimee Elise Keliʻi Barnes recently announced her selection as one of 205 global leaders joining the prestigious Obama Foundation Leaders program. The initiative provides leadership development and civic engagement training to help participants amplify their impact across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Aimee will be one of only 35 individuals participating in the Leaders Asia-Pacific program.
Aimee is the Founder and CEO of Hua Nani Partners, a Hawaiʻi-based consulting firm dedicated to advancing equitable climate solutions through policy, strategy, and advisory services. Under her leadership, Hua Nani Partners has guided governments in implementing innovative climate policies, advised philanthropies on investment strategies, and built cross-sector coalitions across geographies and scales. Aimee also founded Powerwomen, a platform showcasing leading women in climate and energy, and Bright Spot Network, which supports parents battling cancer while raising young children. Her work is deeply inspired by the natural world and her Native Hawaiian heritage, and she strives to advance inclusive climate and energy policy at local, national, and international levels.
Over the course of the six-month program, these committed changemakers will gather virtually each week for interactive sessions aimed at enhancing their leadership skills, fostering meaningful relationships with peers, and engaging with thought leaders and members of the Obama Foundation community. Participants will also have the opportunity to join various virtual experiences and special events, including one-on-one conversations with experienced mentors from the Foundation's global network.
President Obama’s ties to the region—shaped by his upbringing in Hawai’i and time spent in Indonesia—has greatly influenced his values and his belief in the power of this generation of changemakers across the Asia-Pacific. Launched in 2019, the program is building a network of leaders driving innovative, positive change within their communities and across the globe. The 2024-2025 cohort of Asia-Pacific Leaders are tackling a wide range of critical issues, including the climate crisis, indigenous rights, education, and more.
The Obama Foundation Leaders program aims to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States, equipping them to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond. To learn more, visit obama.org/leaders.
