Louise Mabulo

Louise Mabulo is a chef, farmer, and entrepreneur dedicated to cultivating resilient, climate-smart livelihoods in rural communities. Motivated by the devastation wrought by Typhoon Nock-Ten in 2016, which destroyed 80% of agricultural land in her hometown, Mabulo founded The Cacao Project. By removing middlemen, the project empowers farmers to run their own enterprises and localise production of chocolate and artisan goods, fostering a rural-led green economy that restores landscapes and combats deforestation.

Mabulo’s work has earned her international recognition, including being named a National Geographic Young Explorer, a Young Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme, and one of BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring and Influential Women of the Year. She is also a featured honoree on Forbes Asia’s ‘30 Under 30’ list, a Young Activists Summit Laureate, a Tatler ‘Generation T’ honouree, and recognised among the World’s 50 Next Game-changing Producers by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awarding Body.

Mabulo is an official TED Speaker and a member of the UN Women 30 for 2030 Network. She also holds the distinction of being the youngest member of Disciples des Escoffier Philippines and an Earth Prize Changemaker. Early in her career, she was a finalist on Junior MasterChef Philippines.

Mabulo hosts the cooking show Simply Sarap promoting cultural diplomacy under the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, and leads #GenGeo Conversations for the National Geographic Society. Beyond entrepreneurship, Mabulo advises on international climate policy, bridging agriculture, food systems, economy, and environmental policy to promote inclusive and regenerative development worldwide.