Angela Busheska

Angela Busheska is a Macedonian climate activist, social entrepreneur, and artificial intelligence researcher whose work focuses on technology, climate justice, and youth engagement. Busheska became involved in climate activism after the loss of a family member to cardiovascular complications linked to severe air pollution in Skopje. This experience motivated her to pursue initiatives addressing environmental issues. During a gap year after high school, she learned to code and launched the nonprofit app "EnRoute" to raise awareness about the environmental impact of fast fashion. "EnRoute" is a youth-led organization and mobile application that helps users reduce their carbon footprint through sustainable transport and fashion choices.

"EnRoute" has reached more than 200,000 people, with volunteers in over 50 countries, and has built a network of student ambassadors globally. Under Busheska's leadership, the platform grew to over 80,000 users across 120 countries and has been credited with helping users offset approximately 180,000 kilograms of carbon emissions. Busheska's academic background includes a dual degree in electrical and computer engineering and computer science from Lafayette College, where she was the first woman in three decades to pursue this combination of majors at the institution. She has also achieved recognition in mathematics and physics competitions at both regional and national levels and was part of the first Macedonian team to qualify for the International Young Physicists Tournament.

Busheska has worked as a technologist at organizations including Google DeepMind, Microsoft Research, Google Gemini, Bloomberg, and Amperos Health, and was selected as a Neo Scholar. At Microsoft Research, she developed TerraTrace, a system that uses satellite imagery, NDVI signatures, and large language models to track land use and deforestation, supporting compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation.

Busheska has represented North Macedonia as a youth delegate at the "Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition" event in Milan, contributing to the Youth Climate Declaration ahead of COP26. She participated in the "ActNowFilm," showcased at COP28, and has spoken at events such as the One Young World Summit in Manchester, UN Digital Cooperation Day, Climate Action Day, International Union for Conservation of Nature Conservation Congress, UN Goals Lounge, Google Developers Conference, and Bloomberg Green Festival, focusing on the role of technology in advancing climate action and sustainability.

She was appointed to the United Nations Secretary-General's Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, a group of 14 young leaders advising on global climate strategy. Busheska has been recognized as a We Are Family Foundation Global Teen Leader, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Glamour Magazine College Woman of the Year, GreenTech Festival Finalist, National Geographic Youth Explorer, and recipient of the Diana Award and the Shawn Mendes Wonder Award. Through her work, Busheska demonstrates how technology and innovation can drive progress in climate justice and environmental sustainability.