Mr. Shyam Nokta is a natural resources, environment and climate change specialist. He is the founder and Managing Director of Environmental Management Consultants Inc. (EMC), one of Guyana’s premier environmental service companies; Chief Representative for the Caribbean for The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI); and Honorary General Consult to Norway in Guyana.

Mr. Nokta previously served as Adviser to the President and Head of Guyana’s Office of Climate Change where he played a key role in overseeing Guyana’s response to climate change and the development and implementation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The LCDS received national and international acclaim and was recognized by the United Nations as one of the first working models of green growth. Mr. Nokta was one of the principal negotiators for the Avoided Deforestation (REDD+) Partnership with the Kingdom of Norway and was responsible for coordinating its implementation. This Partnership was recognized as one of first national scale model of REDD+ and Guyana one of the first countries to receive payments for forest climate services under the landmark US$250 Million Agreement.

Mr. Nokta is eminently qualified in the field of natural resources, environmental management, climate change and green growth with substantial experience in policy, strategy development and projects implementation. At EMC, Mr. Nokta oversees a team of national and international experts whose work includes conducting environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs) and preparing environmental management plans (EMPs); biodiversity assessments and management planning; and environmental compliance support for projects in the oil and gas, mining, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, energy, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

He has guided the preparation of over 25 ESIAs and 75 EMPs covering 15+ sectors. EMC also provides support to Agencies to meet Multilateral Environmental Agreements (such as UN Conventions on climate change, biodiversity, land degradation); national strategies and action plans, environmental training and capacity building.

Mr. Nokta has been involved in key conservation initiatives in Guyana having worked with the Iwokrama International Centre and it’s programme for biodiversity conservation and management. He was one of the founding members of the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS) and served as In- Country Representative of Fauna & Flora International (FFI), one of the oldest conservation organisations globally which provided training and capacity development support for Guyana’s Protected Areas System.

Mr. Nokta served as Chairman of the Board for the Kaieteur National Park for over 8 years and played a key role in establishing legislation for Protected Areas and setting up Guyana’s Protected Areas Commission where he served as the first Chairman of the Board. Mr. Nokta was involved in the development of Guyana’s tourism sector by providing policy level support, strategic guidance and involvement in the development of tourism legislation and the setting up of Guyana’s Tourism Authority.

Mr. Nokta has been integrally involved in Guyana’s private sector. He served as three-time President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA). He is currently a member on the Council of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) where he heads the Local Content Committee and serves as Vice President of the American Chambers of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Guyana where he chairs the Energy Committee. In September 2021, Mr. Nokta was appointed by President Dr. Irfaan Ali to chair an Advisory Panel on Local Content for the Petroleum Sector. The work of the Panel provided guidance for Guyana’s Local Content Policy and Legislation.

Mr. Nokta holds a Master of Science in Environmental Assessment and Management with Distinction from Oxford-Brookes University, a Bachelors of Sciences Degree in Environmental Studies with Distinction and Diploma in Tourism Studies with Distinction from the University of Guyana. He is the recipient of several academic awards includes the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship from the US Government to pursued PhD studies and the IDB-Japan Scholarship to pursue studies at the MSc level.

In October 2020, Mr. Nokta was the recipient of the Strait of Magellan Award for Innovation and Exploration with Global Impact. The award was conferred by the Government of Chile as part of celebrations of 500 years of discovery of the Strat of Magellan and in recognition of Mr. Nokta’s work on the environment and climate change. In July 2022 Mr. Nokta was conferred as the 2022 Anthony Sabga Awards Laureate for Caribbean Excellence in the area of Entrepreneurship for his pioneering work in environmental services.

In October 2022 Mr. Nokta established the EMC Foundation, a Not For Profit Organisation focusing on environmental education and awareness targeting young people.