2024
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & HOST
Pedro Antonio Guazo Alonso
Representative of the Secretary-General for investments and assets,United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)
Frank Altman
Forbes Author, A New Capitalism: Creating A Just Economy That Works for All;Founder, Community Reinvestment Fund, USA
Laura Weeks
Senior Responsible Investment Manager,Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
CHAIR OF THE DAY
Pedro Antonio Guazo Alonso
Representative of the Secretary-General for investments and assets,
United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)
Mr. Guazo serves as the Representative of the Secretary-General for the investment of the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). Acting Representative of the Secretary-General for the investment of the assets of the UNJSPF since April 2020. Mr. Guazo is Director of the Finance Division and Deputy Controller in the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget of the United Nations Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance in New York, since 2012. He served in a similar capacity as the Director of Finance and Treasury at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome (2010-2012).
With over 10 years of experience in high level management positions in the United Nations system, together with more than 17 years of experience in the private and public sectors, Mr. Guazo brings a balance of deep knowledge of the United Nations system and expertise in national, regional and global practices for financial and pension fund systems.
During a 15-year banking career, he contributed to the modernization of the Mexican Financial System, while serving as its regulator and supervisor. As Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Treasurer at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Mexico (2008-2010), he negotiated and managed loans from the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. He championed financial inclusion among people with low and middle incomes as CFO and Treasurer of the National Savings and Financial Services Bank of Mexico (2001-2008). His government service included posts at the Ministry of Finance (1999-2001) and at the National Banking and Securities Commission (1996-1999), as a member of its Financial Sector Supervisory Body. He started his professional career in 1993 at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
A former professor of Finance at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Mr. Guazo received an International Executive MBA from the Instituto de Empresa Business School in Madrid. He earned a master's degree in Business Economics from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and graduated from ITAM in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in Accounting.
With over 10 years of experience in high level management positions in the United Nations system, together with more than 17 years of experience in the private and public sectors, Mr. Guazo brings a balance of deep knowledge of the United Nations system and expertise in national, regional and global practices for financial and pension fund systems.
During a 15-year banking career, he contributed to the modernization of the Mexican Financial System, while serving as its regulator and supervisor. As Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Treasurer at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Mexico (2008-2010), he negotiated and managed loans from the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. He championed financial inclusion among people with low and middle incomes as CFO and Treasurer of the National Savings and Financial Services Bank of Mexico (2001-2008). His government service included posts at the Ministry of Finance (1999-2001) and at the National Banking and Securities Commission (1996-1999), as a member of its Financial Sector Supervisory Body. He started his professional career in 1993 at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
A former professor of Finance at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Mr. Guazo received an International Executive MBA from the Instituto de Empresa Business School in Madrid. He earned a master's degree in Business Economics from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and graduated from ITAM in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in Accounting.
Frank Altman
Forbes Author, A New Capitalism: Creating A Just Economy That Works for All;
Founder, Community Reinvestment Fund, USA
Frank Altman is a Forbes best-selling author, social entrepreneur, and pioneer in transforming the community development finance system.
He is the Founder and former CEO of Community Reinvestment Fund, USA, an innovative national Community Development Financial Institution committed to collaborating with others to fill gaps in access to capital and grow the capability of the industry. In partnership with a network of community partners, CRF has funded nearly $4 billion in loans to small businesses, community facilities, charter schools, and affordable housing projects in forty-nine states.
Altman is a founding member and first President of the Board of Directors of the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition and helped spearhead the creation of a federal tax credit to encourage private investment in low-income communities. He is a member of the Center for Community Development Investors at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and an advisor to the Social Innovation Initiative at Brown University.
He is the Founder and former CEO of Community Reinvestment Fund, USA, an innovative national Community Development Financial Institution committed to collaborating with others to fill gaps in access to capital and grow the capability of the industry. In partnership with a network of community partners, CRF has funded nearly $4 billion in loans to small businesses, community facilities, charter schools, and affordable housing projects in forty-nine states.
Altman is a founding member and first President of the Board of Directors of the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition and helped spearhead the creation of a federal tax credit to encourage private investment in low-income communities. He is a member of the Center for Community Development Investors at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and an advisor to the Social Innovation Initiative at Brown University.
Laura Weeks
Senior Responsible Investment Manager,
Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
CHAIR OF THE DAY
Laura Weeks is a Senior Responsible Investment Manager on the U.S. Responsible Investment Ecosystem team at the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Laura has responsibility for supporting and engaging with East Coast signatories in their advancement of Responsible Investing initiatives. She is also tasked with the development of local ecosystems, convening regional communities of practice of investors, policy makers and other stakeholders – providing a connection point for the groups and platforms that already play a convening role in the region and supporting further collaboration.
Laura has over 18 years of experience in the finance industry, working in client relationship management roles supporting institutional investors. Prior to joining the PRI, she spent 15 years at Acadian Asset Management in various roles focused on relationship management, strategic initiatives, and on working groups committed to ESG advancement and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Before joining Acadian, Laura supported global business development efforts at Wellington Management Company.
Laura obtained her B.A. in International Relations from Boston University and her MBA from Simmons University. Laura has also achieved the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.
Laura has responsibility for supporting and engaging with East Coast signatories in their advancement of Responsible Investing initiatives. She is also tasked with the development of local ecosystems, convening regional communities of practice of investors, policy makers and other stakeholders – providing a connection point for the groups and platforms that already play a convening role in the region and supporting further collaboration.
Laura has over 18 years of experience in the finance industry, working in client relationship management roles supporting institutional investors. Prior to joining the PRI, she spent 15 years at Acadian Asset Management in various roles focused on relationship management, strategic initiatives, and on working groups committed to ESG advancement and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Before joining Acadian, Laura supported global business development efforts at Wellington Management Company.
Laura obtained her B.A. in International Relations from Boston University and her MBA from Simmons University. Laura has also achieved the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.
FEATURED SPEAKERS 2024
Allie Barry
Vice President,J.P. Morgan Development Finance Institution
Amantia Muhedini
Executive Director, Sustainable & Impact Investing Strategist,UBS Wealth Management Chief Investment Office
Ander Iruretagoyena
Vice President- Funds & Co-Investments,Impact Engine
Andrew Behar
CEO,As You Sow
Beth Collins
Managing Director, Impact Investing,Catholic Relief Services
Chantal Hermans
COO,Phenix Capital Group
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Cynthia Muller
Director Mission Driven Investment,W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Carol Tarr
Impact Measurement and Management Lead,Phenix Capital Group
David Rowlett
Portfolio Manager U.S. Impact Equity,T. Rowe Price
Enith Williams
Executive Director,Reparations Finance Lab
Evalinde Eelens
MBA MSC FRM CAIA,Professional Board Member,
Pension Funds
Georges Dyer
Co-founder and Executive Director,Intentional Endowments Network & the Crane Institute of Sustainability
Pedro Henriques da Silva
Director,Shifting Trillions, the Sierra Club Foundation (SCF)
Joshua Torres
Manager, Sustainable FinanceEnvironmental Defense Fund
Jyoti Aggarwala
Principal,Private Capital Raise
Karen Sunderam
Investment Strategist,ImpactAssets Capital Partners
Kate Walsh
Director, Training and Accreditation,GIIN
Kunal Doshi
Chief Investment Officer,Accelerate Investment Group
Marie-Celine Damnon
Investment Associate,Capricorn Investment Group
Mark Hays
Director of Sustainable & Impact Investing,Glenmede
Panos Smyrnios
Foreign Affairs Specialist (IBSS contract),NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Rajith Sebastian
Head of ESG and Sustainable Investing ,New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF)
Richard E. Zimmerman
Partner,WE Family Offices
Sunit Shah
Vice President,Private Equity Partnerships
Tara Roth
President,Goldhirsh Foundation
Allie Barry
Vice President,
J.P. Morgan Development Finance Institution
Allie Barry is a Vice President of J.P. Morgan’s Development Finance Institution, a team that focuses on mobilizing capital towards advancing the UN SDGs.
In her role, Allie is responsible for deal origination, structuring, investor syndication and overall business development. Allie is also a member of the Impact Disclosure Taskforce. Allie joined J.P. Morgan as a part of the firm’s Management Associate Program, a leadership development program.
Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Allie worked as an associate at Glade Brook Capital, a global investment firm that invests in emerging leaders in the internet and software sectors through its growth equity and private credit strategies.
Allie holds a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in International Politics from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
In her role, Allie is responsible for deal origination, structuring, investor syndication and overall business development. Allie is also a member of the Impact Disclosure Taskforce. Allie joined J.P. Morgan as a part of the firm’s Management Associate Program, a leadership development program.
Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Allie worked as an associate at Glade Brook Capital, a global investment firm that invests in emerging leaders in the internet and software sectors through its growth equity and private credit strategies.
Allie holds a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in International Politics from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Amantia Muhedini
Executive Director, Sustainable & Impact Investing Strategist,
UBS Wealth Management Chief Investment Office
Amantia Muhedini is an Executive Director and Sustainable and Impact Investing Strategist in the UBS Chief Investment Office, Global Wealth Management, based in New York. Amantia supports clients with thought leadership, investment advice and strategy on a range of topics related to sustainable and impact investing. She specializes in topics tied to impact measurement and reporting, sustainable investing strategic asset allocation and portfolio construction, identifying impact objectives, and market trends tied to sustainability.
Prior to joining UBS, Amantia was a Sustainable Investing Fellow with Morgan Stanley’s Investing with Impact Wealth Management team. She also spent time at Working Capital – The Supply Chain Innovation Fund, conducting impact and commercial due diligence.
Amantia started her career as an Investments Associate with the Omidyar’s Group Humanity United, where she helped design and implement a strategy to address forced labor in global corporate supply chains. Amantia is a Board Director for United World Colleges International (UWC), a global education organization, and was a founding board member and acting Executive Director for UWC in Albania.
Amantia holds a BA from Princeton University and a MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Prior to joining UBS, Amantia was a Sustainable Investing Fellow with Morgan Stanley’s Investing with Impact Wealth Management team. She also spent time at Working Capital – The Supply Chain Innovation Fund, conducting impact and commercial due diligence.
Amantia started her career as an Investments Associate with the Omidyar’s Group Humanity United, where she helped design and implement a strategy to address forced labor in global corporate supply chains. Amantia is a Board Director for United World Colleges International (UWC), a global education organization, and was a founding board member and acting Executive Director for UWC in Albania.
Amantia holds a BA from Princeton University and a MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Ander Iruretagoyena
Vice President- Funds & Co-Investments,
Impact Engine
As Vice President at Impact Engine, Ander is responsible for supporting fund and co-investment sourcing, diligence, and management.
Prior to joining Impact Engine, Ander was an investment banking associate at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, working with Latin American corporations. During these years, Ander worked on a total of 17 transactions for $10.7B across 4 products, 9 industries and 6 geographies. Ander also previously worked on financial inclusion strategies at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Ander holds a BA in Economics as well as Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago, and earned his MBA degree from the Chicago Booth School of Business.
Prior to joining Impact Engine, Ander was an investment banking associate at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, working with Latin American corporations. During these years, Ander worked on a total of 17 transactions for $10.7B across 4 products, 9 industries and 6 geographies. Ander also previously worked on financial inclusion strategies at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Ander holds a BA in Economics as well as Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago, and earned his MBA degree from the Chicago Booth School of Business.
Andrew Behar
CEO,
As You Sow
Andrew Behar is CEO of As You Sow, the nation’s leading non-profit practitioner of shareholder advocacy and engagement.
With a 30-year track record of success, As You Sow advances values-aligned investing and uses shareholder power to compel companies to reduce material risk on issues including climate change; toxins in the food system; ocean plastics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; racial justice; and wage equity.
Previously Andrew was a documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur founding start-ups that developed innovative physiological monitoring devices and grid-scale fuel cells.
He is an inventor on five patents and was recently named as one of the Purposeful-50 “true changemakers who deliver on social justice, environmental protection, diversity, inclusion, racial equality, and gender and pay equity.” He is currently on the Sustainable Media Center Board of Advisors. He is the author of the book, The Shareholders Action Guide: Unleash Your Hidden Powers to Hold Corporations Accountable, published by Berrett-Koehler.
With a 30-year track record of success, As You Sow advances values-aligned investing and uses shareholder power to compel companies to reduce material risk on issues including climate change; toxins in the food system; ocean plastics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; racial justice; and wage equity.
Previously Andrew was a documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur founding start-ups that developed innovative physiological monitoring devices and grid-scale fuel cells.
He is an inventor on five patents and was recently named as one of the Purposeful-50 “true changemakers who deliver on social justice, environmental protection, diversity, inclusion, racial equality, and gender and pay equity.” He is currently on the Sustainable Media Center Board of Advisors. He is the author of the book, The Shareholders Action Guide: Unleash Your Hidden Powers to Hold Corporations Accountable, published by Berrett-Koehler.
Beth Collins
Managing Director, Impact Investing,
Catholic Relief Services
Beth Collins, Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) Managing Director of Impact Investing, has structured and led CRS's impact investing and innovative finance activities since their inception in 2015.
A leading global humanitarian and development agency, CRS reaches over 130 million people across more than 110 countries. Beth oversees CRS' multi-prong impact investing strategy and serves as Chair of Azure Source Capital, LLC, a financing vehicle developed by CRS to expand communities' access to water services in Latin America.
Beth has a 30-year executive career with global experience spanning corporate and nonprofit sectors throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Beth holds a B.A. in International Studies from Miami University and an MBA in Finance from NYC.
A leading global humanitarian and development agency, CRS reaches over 130 million people across more than 110 countries. Beth oversees CRS' multi-prong impact investing strategy and serves as Chair of Azure Source Capital, LLC, a financing vehicle developed by CRS to expand communities' access to water services in Latin America.
Beth has a 30-year executive career with global experience spanning corporate and nonprofit sectors throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Beth holds a B.A. in International Studies from Miami University and an MBA in Finance from NYC.
Chantal Hermans
COO,
Phenix Capital Group
Chantal Hermans is the head of events & publications at Phenix Capital Group, leading the events & marcomm team. Chantal started her career at Management Events, working with C-level executives across industries. In 2014 she moved to London and started working for financial publisher Euromoney Institutional Investors as an investor relations manager. Here she was responsible for building relationships with the key financial players in the Benelux, UK and Eastern Europe. Next to her IR role, she was also responsible for building the European network for the II conferences. In 2018, Chantal joined EQDerivatives as Executive Director of machineByte. A platform focused on delivering education around machine learning and AI in the investment industry. Her passion for sustainability and building a better world brought her to Phenix Capital Group, where she can fully focus on delivering education on impact investing and helping the industry move forward.
Cynthia Muller
Director Mission Driven Investment,
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Cynthia Muller is the director, mission investments, at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. In this role, she is responsible for developing and managing strategic impact investment activities that address systemic barriers that create vulnerable conditions for historically marginalized communities and children. Her work includes sourcing and deploying market-rate investments to increase social change impact; ongoing analysis of solutions and trends; developing relationships within the field; fostering alliances with community, corporate, government and philanthropic partners; and supporting the overall direction and implementation of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s strategic framework.
Prior to joining the foundation, Muller developed and managed Arabella Advisors impact investing practice where she helped foundations and individuals understand the field of impact investing and developed strategies and structure investments to accomplish their social and environmental goals. During her tenure she oversaw deal sourcing and structuring of investments in health, education, microfinance, housing and green technology—both domestically and internationally. Muller also led several evaluations of impact investment portfolios, and she regularly presented and blogged about trends and practices within the field.
Muller previously led strategic initiatives at Capital Impact Partners, where she developed and managed impact investments and worked on nationally focused investment funds and initiatives targeting health, food, education, energy efficiency and economic development. Cynthia serves on the boards of Groundswell and Enterprise Community Loan Fund.
Muller holds a Master of Business Administration from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stanford University.
Prior to joining the foundation, Muller developed and managed Arabella Advisors impact investing practice where she helped foundations and individuals understand the field of impact investing and developed strategies and structure investments to accomplish their social and environmental goals. During her tenure she oversaw deal sourcing and structuring of investments in health, education, microfinance, housing and green technology—both domestically and internationally. Muller also led several evaluations of impact investment portfolios, and she regularly presented and blogged about trends and practices within the field.
Muller previously led strategic initiatives at Capital Impact Partners, where she developed and managed impact investments and worked on nationally focused investment funds and initiatives targeting health, food, education, energy efficiency and economic development. Cynthia serves on the boards of Groundswell and Enterprise Community Loan Fund.
Muller holds a Master of Business Administration from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stanford University.
Carol Tarr
Impact Measurement and Management Lead,
Phenix Capital Group
Before joining Phenix Capital Group as Impact Measurement and Management Lead, Carol was a Portfolio Manager for a VC fund and a lecturer in Research Methodology and Sociology for Nyenrode Business University.
She has a Master’s degree from Harvard University in Religious Studies where she specialized in World Religions with a focus on Ethics. She is from Chicago, USA and lives in Amsterdam.
She has a Master’s degree from Harvard University in Religious Studies where she specialized in World Religions with a focus on Ethics. She is from Chicago, USA and lives in Amsterdam.
David Rowlett
Portfolio Manager U.S. Impact Equity,
T. Rowe Price
David Rowlett is the portfolio manager for the US Impact Equity Strategy in the U.S. Equity Division. He is a vice president and member of the Investment Advisory Committees of the US Large-Cap Growth Equity, US Large-Cap Core Equity, Global Industrials Equity, and Global Impact Equity Strategies and a vice president of the International Funds. David is a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
David's investment experience began in 2003, and he has been with T. Rowe Price since 2008, beginning as an investment analyst focusing on aerospace and defense and multi-industrial companies in the U.S. Equity Division. Prior to this, David was employed by Neuberger Berman as an analyst and a portfolio manager. David also was employed by Merrill Lynch as an investment banker within the Financial Institutions Group.
David earned a B.B.A., cum laude, with high honors, in finance from the University of Georgia and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He also has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
David's investment experience began in 2003, and he has been with T. Rowe Price since 2008, beginning as an investment analyst focusing on aerospace and defense and multi-industrial companies in the U.S. Equity Division. Prior to this, David was employed by Neuberger Berman as an analyst and a portfolio manager. David also was employed by Merrill Lynch as an investment banker within the Financial Institutions Group.
David earned a B.B.A., cum laude, with high honors, in finance from the University of Georgia and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He also has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
Enith Williams
Executive Director,
Reparations Finance Lab
Enith Williams founded and manages the Reparations Finance Lab after an international career in economic and social development and finance. She has held senior positions as an international banker with Merrill Lynch in New York City and with the Government of Jamaica, where she worked with the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the Jamaica Investment Promotions Agency, Jampro.
Early in her career, she was a Program Associate, with the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation where she worked on a multi-stakeholder program to address homelessness in New York City. She then moved on to work with the New York City Housing Partnership in its groundbreaking programme to engage with local entrepreneurs to secure their participation in the economic revitalization that was underway in Central Harlem and the South Bronx in the early 1990s.
As a native of Jamaica, and an immigrant to the United States, Enith has lived and worked in both countries throughout her professional career and has seen and experienced first-hand the impact of the capital markets and financial decision making on economically disadvantaged individuals, communities and countries.
She hopes to utilize this unique insight into crafting a new area of exploration at 17 Asset Management around closing the Black-White wealth gap by reconnecting the history and economics of the African Slave Trade, and the involvement of the global financial markets in that endeavour. She hopes to engage with thought leaders and market players to craft new solutions that can positively impact on the wealth disparity that continues to exist for the descendants of that horrific trade.
mEnith is the Founder of the Downtown Kingston Music Theatre, a social intervention programme that uses musical theatre to engage the youth of the inner-city communities of Downtown Kingston. She is a published author of short stories and poems based on her memories of growing up in rural Jamaica and her lived experience as a mother, and woman of African ancestry.
Early in her career, she was a Program Associate, with the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation where she worked on a multi-stakeholder program to address homelessness in New York City. She then moved on to work with the New York City Housing Partnership in its groundbreaking programme to engage with local entrepreneurs to secure their participation in the economic revitalization that was underway in Central Harlem and the South Bronx in the early 1990s.
As a native of Jamaica, and an immigrant to the United States, Enith has lived and worked in both countries throughout her professional career and has seen and experienced first-hand the impact of the capital markets and financial decision making on economically disadvantaged individuals, communities and countries.
She hopes to utilize this unique insight into crafting a new area of exploration at 17 Asset Management around closing the Black-White wealth gap by reconnecting the history and economics of the African Slave Trade, and the involvement of the global financial markets in that endeavour. She hopes to engage with thought leaders and market players to craft new solutions that can positively impact on the wealth disparity that continues to exist for the descendants of that horrific trade.
mEnith is the Founder of the Downtown Kingston Music Theatre, a social intervention programme that uses musical theatre to engage the youth of the inner-city communities of Downtown Kingston. She is a published author of short stories and poems based on her memories of growing up in rural Jamaica and her lived experience as a mother, and woman of African ancestry.
Evalinde Eelens
MBA MSC FRM CAIA,
Professional Board Member,
Pension Funds
Evalinde Eelens, Advisory Board Member, Financial Investigator Magazine, aims to add value to the pension industry in more than one way. She is an executive board member for the Dutch industry-wide private security pension scheme, a board member for the Dutch painters' pension scheme, and a board member for the PostNL corporate pension scheme.
Before becoming a full-time trustee and supervisor Evalinde was an investment strategist advising multiple Dutch and international pension schemes on investments at organisations including PGGM and A&O Services.
Evalinde is an outspoken advocate for diversity and inclusion, excellent pension governance, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), and its integration into the risk management structure of financial institutions. She holds an MSc. from Wageningen University, Financial Risk Management designation from GARP and CAIA Charter Holder Certificate.
Before becoming a full-time trustee and supervisor Evalinde was an investment strategist advising multiple Dutch and international pension schemes on investments at organisations including PGGM and A&O Services.
Evalinde is an outspoken advocate for diversity and inclusion, excellent pension governance, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), and its integration into the risk management structure of financial institutions. She holds an MSc. from Wageningen University, Financial Risk Management designation from GARP and CAIA Charter Holder Certificate.
Georges Dyer
Co-founder and Executive Director,
Intentional Endowments Network & the Crane Institute of Sustainability
Georges Dyer is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Crane Institute of Sustainability, and leads its flagship initiative, the Intentional Endowments Network, which supports endowments in aligning investment policies with institutional mission, values, and sustainability goals. For over 20 years he has been engaged in solutions-based, whole-system approaches to sustainability. From 2006-2014, Georges served in various roles, including Vice President, at Second Nature to develop and support the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitment -- a network of nearly 600 colleges and universities committed to achieving climate neutrality in campus operations and integrating climate and sustainability into education, research, and community engagement activities. He has spoken and presented widely at national and regional conferences and individual campuses, and written for Fast Company, GreenBiz, Sustainability: The Journal of Record, The New England Journal of Higher Education, and The Journal of Cleaner Production.
Prior to Crane and IEN, Georges engaged in a variety of sustainability projects through his freelance consulting practice, Greenland Enterprises, including strategic evaluations for the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University and for Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative. Previously, Georges was the Head of Market Intelligence for the Institutional Equities Group at LaBranche Financial Services in New York, where he was an NASD Series 86/87 licensed analyst. Georges also worked with design-build firms on residential green building projects Vermont and Colorado, and is certified in Permaculture design.
Georges serves on the Board of Change Is Simple, a non-profit bringing project-based sustainability education into classrooms in eastern Massachusetts, and served as a Trustee of Stratleade Sustainability Education for seven years. He is a graduate of The Mountain School of Milton Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Dartmouth College. He holds a M.Sc. in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden, where his thesis research focused on carbon reduction projects under the Kyoto Protocol and EU Emissions Trading Scheme.Get up to date IEN News
Prior to Crane and IEN, Georges engaged in a variety of sustainability projects through his freelance consulting practice, Greenland Enterprises, including strategic evaluations for the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University and for Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative. Previously, Georges was the Head of Market Intelligence for the Institutional Equities Group at LaBranche Financial Services in New York, where he was an NASD Series 86/87 licensed analyst. Georges also worked with design-build firms on residential green building projects Vermont and Colorado, and is certified in Permaculture design.
Georges serves on the Board of Change Is Simple, a non-profit bringing project-based sustainability education into classrooms in eastern Massachusetts, and served as a Trustee of Stratleade Sustainability Education for seven years. He is a graduate of The Mountain School of Milton Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Dartmouth College. He holds a M.Sc. in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden, where his thesis research focused on carbon reduction projects under the Kyoto Protocol and EU Emissions Trading Scheme.Get up to date IEN News
Pedro Henriques da Silva
Director,
Shifting Trillions, the Sierra Club Foundation (SCF)
Pedro Henriques da Silva is the Director for Shifting Trillions at the Sierra Club Foundation (SCF). At SCF, Pedro provides strategic direction for the Foundation’s leadership role in shifting trillions of dollars towards an economy that addresses the climate crisis and restores ecosystems while benefiting people and advancing justice. In addition to his role at the Foundation, Pedro serves on the Board of Directors of The Crane Institute for Sustainability, and on the Environmental Justice Advisory Board of the Coalition for Green Capital. Prior to joining the Sierra Club Foundation, he was on the impact investments team at Global Endowment Management.
Rooted in his current role, foundation in social science, and formative personal background, Pedro works to help move capital towards a healthy planet for all. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Reed College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and completed the General Course at the London School of Economics (LSE).
Rooted in his current role, foundation in social science, and formative personal background, Pedro works to help move capital towards a healthy planet for all. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Reed College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and completed the General Course at the London School of Economics (LSE).
Joshua Torres
Manager, Sustainable Finance
Environmental Defense Fund
Josh leads EDF+Business' food and nature strategies in the financial sector. He works with asset managers and investment banks as a technical advisor, advocating for the reduction of agricultural methane emissions and the integration of nature and biodiversity into sustainable finance frameworks.
He has 8 years of experience in managing sustainability projects across 4 industries in different geographies.
He has 8 years of experience in managing sustainability projects across 4 industries in different geographies.
Jyoti Aggarwala
Principal,
Private Capital Raise
Jyoti is a New York-based, senior private markets business development professional with 30+ years of experience across asset classes and geographies in the financial services industry. She is a registered representative with Profor Securities, LLC and works with impact and emerging market GPs to access capital from institutional and family office investors. As Principal of Private Capital Raise, Jyoti serves as an outsourced ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) integration facilitator to asset managers seeking to include sustainability factors in their investment process and has also served as a senior ESG consultant to UN Women on partnerships with the private sector. She earned the CFA ESG Investing Certification in February 2022. She is a W!SE certified personal finance educator, and a council member of an expert network providing phone consultations and educational webcasts on various aspects of private equity. Jyoti holds Series 7, 63, 79 and 24 registrations. She earned an MBA in Finance from Bentley University and a BA (Honors) in Economics from Delhi University.
Karen Sunderam
Investment Strategist,
ImpactAssets Capital Partners
Karen manages client relationship excellence, facilitating the design and execution of impact investment strategies for institutional clients of ImpactAssets Capital Partners, including family offices, foundations and corporations.
Karen brings over 16 years of investment industry experience including serving as a municipal investment banker at Morgan Stanley and UBS where she helped debt finance tens of billions of dollars of infrastructure projects spanning education, affordable housing, clean water and safe transportation. Most recently, she served as the Head of Inclusive Investing within the wealth management division at UBS where she launched a platform for clients to apply a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to their investment portfolios across all asset classes. Karen is also a proud alumnus of Teach For America and taught middle school math in the Bronx, NY.
Karen has a BA in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and an MS in Elementary Education from Lehman College. Karen serves on the advisory board for the Diverse Investing Collective.
Karen brings over 16 years of investment industry experience including serving as a municipal investment banker at Morgan Stanley and UBS where she helped debt finance tens of billions of dollars of infrastructure projects spanning education, affordable housing, clean water and safe transportation. Most recently, she served as the Head of Inclusive Investing within the wealth management division at UBS where she launched a platform for clients to apply a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to their investment portfolios across all asset classes. Karen is also a proud alumnus of Teach For America and taught middle school math in the Bronx, NY.
Karen has a BA in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and an MS in Elementary Education from Lehman College. Karen serves on the advisory board for the Diverse Investing Collective.
Kate Walsh
Director, Training and Accreditation,
GIIN
Kate serves as the Director of Training and Accreditation, managing the GIIN’s initiative to scale the availability and depth of education accessible to impact investing professionals globally. She has committed her career to deepening networks for organizations to both scale sustainable finance and measure their impact.
Previously, Kate served as the GIIN’s the Associate Director for Faith-Based Initiatives supporting religious organizations interested in impact investing. Prior to the GIIN, she was with Investor Advocates for Social where she focused on advocacy regarding food sustainability, financial markets reform and forced labor concerns. In addition, she served as a board member for the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. She is also experienced in impact measurement having previously been the Manager of Program Evaluation for the Actors Fund.
Kate holds a Masters of Public Administration from the Robert F. Wagner School at NYU and a BS in Management & Politics from Fairfield University. In addition to her professional roles, she is active in volunteer work, sitting on a grant funding committee and a retirement endowment committee for a religious organization.
Previously, Kate served as the GIIN’s the Associate Director for Faith-Based Initiatives supporting religious organizations interested in impact investing. Prior to the GIIN, she was with Investor Advocates for Social where she focused on advocacy regarding food sustainability, financial markets reform and forced labor concerns. In addition, she served as a board member for the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. She is also experienced in impact measurement having previously been the Manager of Program Evaluation for the Actors Fund.
Kate holds a Masters of Public Administration from the Robert F. Wagner School at NYU and a BS in Management & Politics from Fairfield University. In addition to her professional roles, she is active in volunteer work, sitting on a grant funding committee and a retirement endowment committee for a religious organization.
Kunal Doshi
Chief Investment Officer,
Accelerate Investment Group
Kunal Doshi is currently the Chief Investment Officer at Accelerate Investment Group. Formerly he worked at Capricorn Investment Group conducting diligence, evaluating investments, and supporting existing portfolio companies. He acted as a Board Member and Observer for select technology-impact venture and growth investments currently valued at ~$3.5 billion. Some of Capricorn's past and current investments include Form Energy, Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY), Pagatech, Planet (NYSE: PL), Saildrone, SpaceX, Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) and QuantumScape (NYSE:QS).
Prior to Capricorn, Kunal was at Greentech Capital Advisors, an Investment Bank acquired by Nomura, where he focused on projects in the energy and sustainability sector. He began his career on Wall Street as an Investment Banking Analyst within Citigroup’s Mergers & Acquisitions team. During his tenure at Greentech and Citigroup, he successfully raised over $1 billion in capital for the sustainable global infrastructure sector. Kunal briefly served as a delegate to The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. He continues to serve on various boards including a non-profit, Brighter Children.
Kunal earned his Master's Degree at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and his Bachelor’s Degree from the McIntire School of Commerce at The University of Virginia.
Prior to Capricorn, Kunal was at Greentech Capital Advisors, an Investment Bank acquired by Nomura, where he focused on projects in the energy and sustainability sector. He began his career on Wall Street as an Investment Banking Analyst within Citigroup’s Mergers & Acquisitions team. During his tenure at Greentech and Citigroup, he successfully raised over $1 billion in capital for the sustainable global infrastructure sector. Kunal briefly served as a delegate to The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. He continues to serve on various boards including a non-profit, Brighter Children.
Kunal earned his Master's Degree at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and his Bachelor’s Degree from the McIntire School of Commerce at The University of Virginia.
Marie-Celine Damnon
Investment Associate,
Capricorn Investment Group
Marie-Céline Damnon is an Associate on the Investment Team. She joined the firm in 2018. Prior to Capricorn, Marie-Céline worked as a consultant at Akoya Consulting. Marie-Céline earned her Master in Management and MSc in Sustainability and Social Innovation from HEC Paris.
Mark Hays
Director of Sustainable & Impact Investing,
Glenmede
Mark Hays is Director of Sustainable & Impact Investing. In this role, he provides strategic leadership of Glenmede’s sustainable and impact investing efforts. Mark and his team are responsible for the development of new investment capabilities, the creation and delivery of innovative thought leadership, and the deepening of relationships with clients and industry partners.
Previously, Mr. Hays served as Vice President of Sustainable Investing for J.P. Morgan Asset Management. In this role, he developed an enhanced ESG integration framework and led its implementation for more than 25 investment teams, while helping to create and launch three sustainable investment strategies. Before this role, he served as Vice President of Impact Investments for Flat World Partners, where he oversaw a team responsible for sourcing, investment due diligence, impact analysis, and recommendation of opportunities for sustainable thematic portfolios representing over $1 billion in institutional capital. Mark started his career at Cambridge Associates, serving endowments and foundations on portfolio construction.
Mark is a Board Member & Treasurer for Believe in Students, a national charity, and a member of the Sustainable Investing Leadership Team for the CFA Society. Mr. Hays holds an M.B.A. from London Business School and a B.S. from Wake Forest University.
Previously, Mr. Hays served as Vice President of Sustainable Investing for J.P. Morgan Asset Management. In this role, he developed an enhanced ESG integration framework and led its implementation for more than 25 investment teams, while helping to create and launch three sustainable investment strategies. Before this role, he served as Vice President of Impact Investments for Flat World Partners, where he oversaw a team responsible for sourcing, investment due diligence, impact analysis, and recommendation of opportunities for sustainable thematic portfolios representing over $1 billion in institutional capital. Mark started his career at Cambridge Associates, serving endowments and foundations on portfolio construction.
Mark is a Board Member & Treasurer for Believe in Students, a national charity, and a member of the Sustainable Investing Leadership Team for the CFA Society. Mr. Hays holds an M.B.A. from London Business School and a B.S. from Wake Forest University.
Panos Smyrnios
Foreign Affairs Specialist (IBSS contract),
NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Panos is a Foreign Affairs Specialist working in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries department.
His work focuses on building the capacity of coastal nations and communities around the world to preserve biodiversity, sustainably manage their fisheries, and adapt to climate change. He is currently helping lead a NOAA's USAID-funded Partnership for Sustainably Managed Fisheries project in South America, where a focus is developing trainings and facilitating regional coordination for environmental managers in Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia to manage their marine protected areas (MPAs) in ways that maximize ecological and socio-economic benefits.
Panos is also focused on identifying and developing funding for a variety of public and private initiatives that conserve ocean ecosystems and support sustainable natural resource management.
His work focuses on building the capacity of coastal nations and communities around the world to preserve biodiversity, sustainably manage their fisheries, and adapt to climate change. He is currently helping lead a NOAA's USAID-funded Partnership for Sustainably Managed Fisheries project in South America, where a focus is developing trainings and facilitating regional coordination for environmental managers in Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia to manage their marine protected areas (MPAs) in ways that maximize ecological and socio-economic benefits.
Panos is also focused on identifying and developing funding for a variety of public and private initiatives that conserve ocean ecosystems and support sustainable natural resource management.
Rajith Sebastian
Head of ESG and Sustainable Investing ,
New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF)
Rajith Sebastian, CFA has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and industries. Currently, he serves as the Head of ESG and Sustainable Investing at the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF). Prior to this, he was the Head of Impact Investments at The Wharton School, where he was responsible for developing and managing ESG/Impact Investment vehicles. Rajith also gained experience as a Summer Intern at Credit Suisse and as a Regional Coverage Executive at Nedbank in East Africa.
Additionally, he worked as a Director in Investment Banking Coverage at Standard Chartered Bank, as an Assistant Vice President at ChinaVest, and as an Executive at Macquarie Bank. Rajith’s career began at Monitor Deloitte (formerly Monitor Group) as a Consultant. Overall, Rajith's work experience demonstrates his expertise in ESG investing and their ability to succeed in various roles within the financial industry
.Rajith holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree in Finance and Management from The Wharton School, which was earned from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelors degree in Business Science with Honors in Finance and Marketing from the University of Cape Town from 2000 to 2003. Additionally, he has obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder certification from the CFA Institute in September 2014.
Additionally, he worked as a Director in Investment Banking Coverage at Standard Chartered Bank, as an Assistant Vice President at ChinaVest, and as an Executive at Macquarie Bank. Rajith’s career began at Monitor Deloitte (formerly Monitor Group) as a Consultant. Overall, Rajith's work experience demonstrates his expertise in ESG investing and their ability to succeed in various roles within the financial industry
.Rajith holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree in Finance and Management from The Wharton School, which was earned from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelors degree in Business Science with Honors in Finance and Marketing from the University of Cape Town from 2000 to 2003. Additionally, he has obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder certification from the CFA Institute in September 2014.
Richard E. Zimmerman
Partner,
WE Family Offices
Richard Zimmerman is a Senior Advisor at WE Family Offices, based in New York, where he leads the firm’s Values-Aligned Investing Advisory Service. WE Family Offices is a Family Office Company that provides strategic wealth advice on approximately $12.5 billion of assets for over 80 U.S. and international families. WE is highly recognized in the industry, including being named among Barron’s Top RIA Firms of 2019 and Best Multi-Family Office from $5 billion AUM/AUA by the family wealth report in 2020.
Richard is a recognized speaker in the Impact Investing arena and works with some of the world’s wealthiest families helping them align their values to their investments. He has spoken at over 25 conferences, including the UN Sustainable Investing Conference, Barron’s ESG and Impact Summit, Opal’s Impact Investment Forum, and Responsible Investing. He has a positive and pragmatic speaking approach and uses real world examples to illustrate how sophisticated investors can invest with impact.
Richard has held senior positions at global banks and multi-family offices as well as board positions at philanthropic organizations. He is a Board Director at the Capital Institute and has served on the Ceres President’s Council, the Earth Charter Initiative International Council, and the Earth Institute Leadership Council.
Richard has a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. He holds a Sustainable Investment Professional Certification (SIPC) with the John Molson School of Business as well as numerous financial industry designations. He is a published author of “What Can I Do to Make a Difference,” Penguin Books USA, a guide to environmental and social issues and individual actions to make positive change.
Richard is a recognized speaker in the Impact Investing arena and works with some of the world’s wealthiest families helping them align their values to their investments. He has spoken at over 25 conferences, including the UN Sustainable Investing Conference, Barron’s ESG and Impact Summit, Opal’s Impact Investment Forum, and Responsible Investing. He has a positive and pragmatic speaking approach and uses real world examples to illustrate how sophisticated investors can invest with impact.
Richard has held senior positions at global banks and multi-family offices as well as board positions at philanthropic organizations. He is a Board Director at the Capital Institute and has served on the Ceres President’s Council, the Earth Charter Initiative International Council, and the Earth Institute Leadership Council.
Richard has a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. He holds a Sustainable Investment Professional Certification (SIPC) with the John Molson School of Business as well as numerous financial industry designations. He is a published author of “What Can I Do to Make a Difference,” Penguin Books USA, a guide to environmental and social issues and individual actions to make positive change.
Sunit Shah
Vice President,
Private Equity Partnerships
Sunit Shah joined Blue Earth Capital in 2024 on their Private Equity Partnerships team, leading fund, co-investment, and secondary opportunities across the Americas.
Prior to joining Blue Earth, he was a Director at The Rockefeller Foundation where he led impact investments across the climate landscape. Prior to that, he was a consultant in Bain & Company’s New York office focused on strategy work for Fortune 100 clients across industries. Previously, he was an Investment Analyst at the International Finance Corporation (Funds, Venture Capital) and a Senior Investment Analyst at Prudential Financial (Alternative Assets).
He holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. He is also a CFA Charterholder.
Prior to joining Blue Earth, he was a Director at The Rockefeller Foundation where he led impact investments across the climate landscape. Prior to that, he was a consultant in Bain & Company’s New York office focused on strategy work for Fortune 100 clients across industries. Previously, he was an Investment Analyst at the International Finance Corporation (Funds, Venture Capital) and a Senior Investment Analyst at Prudential Financial (Alternative Assets).
He holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. He is also a CFA Charterholder.
Tara Roth
President,
Goldhirsh Foundation
Tara Roth is the President of the Goldhirsh Foundation. Prior to this role, Tara bridged the worlds of marketing, media, and philanthropy as the founding COO of GOOD and a social strategy advisor.
Tara began her career in marketing and business development for NBCinternet and Infoseek. She has worked with organizations such as Participant Media, and the New Schools Venture Fund. As a senior advisor to GOOD, Tara helped launch the Pepsi Refresh Project.
Tara received a bachelor’s degree at Cornell University, and has an MBA from Oxford University where she was awarded a Skoll scholarship in social entrepreneurship.
Tara is a member of the L.A. Sustainability Leadership Council, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator Advisory Council, the Lyft City Works Advisory Council, the 2023 Zócalo Book Prize selection committee, and is a judge of the 2021 and 2022 Anthem Awards. Tara serves on the board of the Ad Council, AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, Good Mvmt, and UCLA’s School of Arts and Architecture. She previously sat on the board of Southern California Grantmakers, USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy, regional advisory boards of Opportunity Fund and 826LA, and was a Senior Fellow at USC’s Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab. In 2024, Tara was named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles, by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Tara began her career in marketing and business development for NBCinternet and Infoseek. She has worked with organizations such as Participant Media, and the New Schools Venture Fund. As a senior advisor to GOOD, Tara helped launch the Pepsi Refresh Project.
Tara received a bachelor’s degree at Cornell University, and has an MBA from Oxford University where she was awarded a Skoll scholarship in social entrepreneurship.
Tara is a member of the L.A. Sustainability Leadership Council, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator Advisory Council, the Lyft City Works Advisory Council, the 2023 Zócalo Book Prize selection committee, and is a judge of the 2021 and 2022 Anthem Awards. Tara serves on the board of the Ad Council, AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, Good Mvmt, and UCLA’s School of Arts and Architecture. She previously sat on the board of Southern California Grantmakers, USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy, regional advisory boards of Opportunity Fund and 826LA, and was a Senior Fellow at USC’s Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab. In 2024, Tara was named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles, by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
FEATURED SPEAKERS FROM OUR PAST EVENTS
IN THE COMPANY OF THOUGHT LEADERS
Al Gore
Former Vice President of the United States
Anita Bhatia
Former Assistant Secretary - General & Deputy Executive Director,UN Women
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Sir Ronald Cohen
Chair,The Global Steering Group (GSG)
Ndileka Mandela
Founder and CEO,Thembekile Mandela Foundation
Matt Damon
Co-founder,WaterEquity and Water.org
Scilla Elworthy
Peace Builder, Three-time Nobel Prize Nominee
Mark Mobius
CEO,Mobius Capital Partners
Eva Halvarsson
CEO,AP2
Eduard van Gelderen
Chief Investment Officer,PSP Investments
Anna Snider
Managing Director and Head of Due Diligence for the Chief Investment Office,Bank of America Corporation
Amit Bouri
CEO & Co-founder,The GIIN
Fran Seegull
President,U.S. Impact Investing Alliance
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Roger Havenith
Deputy CEO, The European Investment Fund
Hazel Henderson D.Sc.Hon., FRSA,
Founder, Ethical Markets Media,Certified B Corporation
Hartwig Liersch
Chief Investment Officer,Pensioenfonds Metaal en Techniek
Jennifer Morris
CEO,The Nature Conservancy
Former Vice President Al Gore is the cofounder and chairman of Generation Investment Management, and the founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, a non-profit devoted to solving the climate crisis. He is also a senior partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and a member of Apple Inc.’s board of directors. Gore was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, 1978, 1980, and 1982 and to the U.S. Senate in 1984 and 1990. He was inaugurated as the 45th vice president of the United States on January 20, 1993, and served eight years. He is the author of the #1 New York Times best-sellers "An Inconvenient Truth" and "The Assault on Reason," and the best-sellers “Earth in the Balance,” "Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis," "The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change," and most recently, The New York Times best-seller "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.” He is the subject of the documentary movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” which won two Oscars in 2006 and a second documentary in 2017, “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.” In 2007, Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, for “informing the world of the dangers posed by climate change.”
Anita Bhatia
Former Assistant Secretary - General & Deputy Executive Director,
UN Women
Former Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women’s Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, UN System Coordination, Sustainability, and Partnerships. Ms. Anita Bhatia served as the Former Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women’s Deputy Executive Director since August 2019.
Before that, Ms. Bhatia served since 2014 as the Director for Development Partner Relations at the World Bank Group. Previously, she held the position of Director of Partnerships and Advisory Services Operations (2011–2014) and Global Head of Knowledge at the International Finance Corporation (2010-2011).
Ms. Bhatia also served as Head of IFC’s Latin America Advisory Operations. In addition to Latin America, she has worked in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and South and East Asia. Ms. Anita Bhatia brings extensive experience in the area of strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and management. During her time at the IFC, she developed and expanded innovative partnerships with public and private sector partners to support its strategy in key areas, including fragile and conflict-affected states, gender equality, financial inclusion, support to women-owned businesses, and other priorities critical for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ms. Bhatia holds a BA in History from Calcutta University, an MA in Political Science from Yale University, and a Juris Doctor in Law from Georgetown University.
Sir Ronald Cohen
Chair,
The Global Steering Group (GSG)
Sir Ronald Cohen is a pioneering philanthropist, venture capitalist, private equity investor, and social innovator, who is driving forward the global Impact Revolution. For nearly two decades, his ground-breaking initiatives have catalyzed global efforts to drive private capital to serve social and environmental good. He serves as Chairman of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment and The Portland Trust. He is a co-founder of Social Finance UK, USA, and Israel; and co-founder Chair of Bridges Fund Management and Big Society Capital. He chaired the G8 Social Impact Investment Taskforce (2013-2015), the UK Social Investment Task Force (2000-2010) and the UK’s Commission on Unclaimed Assets (2005-2007). In 2012 he received the Rockefeller Foundation’s Innovation Award for Social Finance. He was a co-founder and Executive Chairman of Apax Partners Worldwide LLP (1972-2005), a global private equity firm. He was a co-founder and Chairman of the British Venture Capital Association and a co-founder of the European Venture Capital Association. He is a member of the Board of Dean’s Advisors at Harvard Business School; a former director of the Harvard Management Company; and formerly a member of the Harvard University Board of Overseers and the University of Oxford Investment Committee. He graduated from Oxford University, where he was President of the Oxford Union. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School to which he was awarded a Henry Fellowship. Sir Ronald was born in Egypt and left as a refugee at the age of 11, when his family came to the UK.
With a background deeply rooted in healthcare and a passion for humanitarianism, Ndileka embodies dedication in all endeavors. As the grandchild of Nelson Mandela, her extensive network underscores her commitment to collaboration and inclusive governance.
Ndileka, having more than 15 years’ experience in the medical field, leads the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, which focuses on health, education and youth development in South Africa's rural villages. She recently participated in a panel at COP28 entitled "Strategies in Climate Financing; Empowering Sustainable Development in Africa", where she called for an end to "climate apartheid".
Ndileka's philanthropic ethos also shines through her involvement with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. Beyond her contributions to healthcare, Ndileka's leadership extends to impactful community projects, including the transformation of Clarkebury High School. She is also a council member for the Nelson Mandela Museum and a Global Fund Champion for HIV, TB, and malaria.
Through her memoir, "I am Ndileka," she shares her remarkable journey, inspiring others to embrace their own potential for change.
Ndileka, having more than 15 years’ experience in the medical field, leads the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, which focuses on health, education and youth development in South Africa's rural villages. She recently participated in a panel at COP28 entitled "Strategies in Climate Financing; Empowering Sustainable Development in Africa", where she called for an end to "climate apartheid".
Ndileka's philanthropic ethos also shines through her involvement with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. Beyond her contributions to healthcare, Ndileka's leadership extends to impactful community projects, including the transformation of Clarkebury High School. She is also a council member for the Nelson Mandela Museum and a Global Fund Champion for HIV, TB, and malaria.
Through her memoir, "I am Ndileka," she shares her remarkable journey, inspiring others to embrace their own potential for change.
Matt Damon
Co-founder,
WaterEquity and Water.org
Academy Award winner Matt Damon is an actor, screenwriter, producer and humanitarian, who has garnered international acclaim for his work both on- and off-screen.
Inspired during international travel with his family throughout Mexico and Guatemala as a youth, Matt has long been devoted to environmental and social issues. Learning about the immense challenges of accessing safe water and sanitation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Matt decided to create the H20 Africa Foundation. In 2009, he teamed up with Gary White to join their organizations and launch Water.org.
For his work as Co-founder of Water.org, Matt, along with fellow Water.org Co-founder Gary, was recognized as one of the TIME 100 most influential people in the world in 2011 and received the Environmental Media Award from The Environmental Media Association in 2013. In 2014, the World Economic Forum named Matt as the Crystal Award winner for his work through Water.org. Matt’s active participation in his organization’s work, including site visits to multiple countries, strategy development, advocacy, and high-level meetings with institutions like the World Bank and the World Economic Forum over the past decade, has positioned him as one of the world’s experts on water and sanitation issues.
Inspired during international travel with his family throughout Mexico and Guatemala as a youth, Matt has long been devoted to environmental and social issues. Learning about the immense challenges of accessing safe water and sanitation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Matt decided to create the H20 Africa Foundation. In 2009, he teamed up with Gary White to join their organizations and launch Water.org.
For his work as Co-founder of Water.org, Matt, along with fellow Water.org Co-founder Gary, was recognized as one of the TIME 100 most influential people in the world in 2011 and received the Environmental Media Award from The Environmental Media Association in 2013. In 2014, the World Economic Forum named Matt as the Crystal Award winner for his work through Water.org. Matt’s active participation in his organization’s work, including site visits to multiple countries, strategy development, advocacy, and high-level meetings with institutions like the World Bank and the World Economic Forum over the past decade, has positioned him as one of the world’s experts on water and sanitation issues.
Scilla Elworthy
Peace Builder, Three-time Nobel Prize Nominee
Dr Scilla Elworthy turns vision into action. Today her full attention is on developing Business Plan for Peace, resulting from her 2017 book: The Business Plan for Peace: Building a World Without War. She has been three times nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for developing effective dialogue between nuclear weapons policymakers worldwide and their critics, with the Oxford Research Group she founded in 1982. Peace Direct, voted ‘Best New Charity’ in 2005, goes from strength to strength under brilliant young leadership, founded by Scilla in 2002 to fund, promote and learn from local peace-builders in conflict areas. Scilla was adviser to Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sir Richard Branson in setting up ‘The Elders’, and was Awarded the Niwano Peace Prize in 2003. She co-founded Rising Women Rising World in 2013, and FemmeQ in 2016 to establish the qualities of feminine intelligence - for men as for women - as essential for building a safer world. Her TED talk on non-violence has been viewed by over 1,400,000 people on TED and YouTube. Her book Pioneering the Possible: awakened leadership for a world that works (North Atlantic Books, 2014) continues to receive critical acclaim from experts in the field. She’s Ambassador for Peace Direct, a Councillor of the World Future Council and patron of Oxford Research Group; adviser to the Syria Campaign and the Institute for Economics and Peace. She advises the leadership of selected international corporations as well as young social entrepreneurs. Scilla is a mother, stepmother, and grandmother and loves messing about in her garden near Oxford in the UK.
Eva Halvarsson
CEO,
AP2
Since 2006, Eva Halvarsson has acted as the CEO of the Second Swedish National Pension Fund -- AP2. She heads up an organization with more than SEK 345 billion (approx. USD 43 billion) under management in virtually every asset class, and one that is active in all parts of the world; AP2 is one of northern Europe's largest pension funds.Ms. Halvarsson began her career as an accountant, progressing to the point that before joining AP2, she spent ten years working for the Swedish Government where she was responsible for the governance and management of the large and extensive portfolio of state owned companies. Eva Halvarsson has had a distinguished and varied leadership career. She took part in the working group that put into effect the Swedish Corporate Governance Code in 2004. She also spent several years, serving on the Swedish Corporate Governance Board. Eva has been a board member of several large companies and has chaired the nomination committees of some of Sweden’s largest listed companies. She recently left after serving for ten years as the Deputy Chairperson of the board of the University of Gothenburg.Presently, she is board member of the UN-PRI (the United Nation´s Principles for Responsible Investments), Vasakronan (the largest real estate company in Sweden), The Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development and The Royal Swedish Opera. In addition, she serves on the advisory board of the Women Entrepreneur´s Opportunity Facility, the first-ever global finance facility dedicated exclusively to women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises.Eva Halvarsson was born in 1962 and holds an MSc in Business and Economics from the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg.
Eduard van Gelderen
Chief Investment Officer,
PSP Investments
Eduard van Gelderen is senior vice president and chief investment officer at the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) where he oversees the organization’s total portfolio and establishes the long-term investment portfolio strategy. He also heads the responsible investment, public policy, and government relations functions.
Prior to joining PSP Investments, Eduard was senior managing director at the office of the chief investment officer of the University of California. As a member of the executive team, his primary responsibilities included overseeing the University’s retirement plan, heading up equity and real assets activities, and handling strategic partnerships in Europe. He also served as CEO of the Dutch financial service provider APG Asset Management and as deputy CIO of ING Investment Management.
Eduard is a certified financial risk manager and a chartered financial analyst and has served on several investment advisory boards. He holds a master’s degree in quantitative finance from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a post-graduate degree in asset liability management from Maastricht University in Limburg. He is currently a PhD candidate at the International School of Management in Paris. Eduard began his career as an investment banker in London and Amsterdam.
Prior to joining PSP Investments, Eduard was senior managing director at the office of the chief investment officer of the University of California. As a member of the executive team, his primary responsibilities included overseeing the University’s retirement plan, heading up equity and real assets activities, and handling strategic partnerships in Europe. He also served as CEO of the Dutch financial service provider APG Asset Management and as deputy CIO of ING Investment Management.
Eduard is a certified financial risk manager and a chartered financial analyst and has served on several investment advisory boards. He holds a master’s degree in quantitative finance from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a post-graduate degree in asset liability management from Maastricht University in Limburg. He is currently a PhD candidate at the International School of Management in Paris. Eduard began his career as an investment banker in London and Amsterdam.
Amit Bouri
CEO & Co-founder,
The GIIN
Amit Bouri is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of the GIIN. His work in impact investing began when he was a strategy consultant with the Monitor Institute. At Monitor he was part of the team that produced the Investing for Social & Environmental Impact report, and he left Monitor to co-found the GIIN in 2009.Amit's other projects at the Monitor Institute included strategic planning and organizational development work for nonprofit organizations and foundations. Amit previously worked in the private sector as a strategy consultant with Bain & Company. He left Bain to work in global health at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. He also worked in the corporate philanthropy units of Gap Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. Amit holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, an MPA from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Swarthmore College.
Fran Seegull
President,
U.S. Impact Investing Alliance
Fran Seegull is the Executive Director of the U.S. Impact Investing Alliance which works to increase awareness of impact investing in the United States, foster deployment of and demand for impact capital across asset classes globally, and partner with stakeholders, including government, to build the impact investing ecosystem. The Alliance is being accelerated by the Ford Foundation and supported by a range of philanthropies and individuals.
Fran was the Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Investments at ImpactAssets where she headed investment management for The Giving Fund—an impact investing donor advised fund. She also oversaw product development for and managed the Global Sustainable Agriculture and Microfinance Plus Notes.
Prior to joining ImpactAssets, Fran was Managing Director at Funk Ventures, an early-stage impact venture capital and acceleration firm. She also served as Vice President of Business Development at Novica, an online retailer of products made by artisans in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Fran has consulted to National Geographic and NPR West as well as a number of family foundations and offices.
Fran has a BS in Economics from Barnard College at Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She serves on the Investment Committee of Align Impact. Previously, Fran taught a graduate-level course on impact investing at USC’s Marshall School of Business and served on the Investment Committee of the Goldhirsh Foundation and on the G7 Social Impact Investment Task Force Working Group on Asset Allocation. She tweets on impact investing at @franseegull.
Fran was the Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Investments at ImpactAssets where she headed investment management for The Giving Fund—an impact investing donor advised fund. She also oversaw product development for and managed the Global Sustainable Agriculture and Microfinance Plus Notes.
Prior to joining ImpactAssets, Fran was Managing Director at Funk Ventures, an early-stage impact venture capital and acceleration firm. She also served as Vice President of Business Development at Novica, an online retailer of products made by artisans in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Fran has consulted to National Geographic and NPR West as well as a number of family foundations and offices.
Fran has a BS in Economics from Barnard College at Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She serves on the Investment Committee of Align Impact. Previously, Fran taught a graduate-level course on impact investing at USC’s Marshall School of Business and served on the Investment Committee of the Goldhirsh Foundation and on the G7 Social Impact Investment Task Force Working Group on Asset Allocation. She tweets on impact investing at @franseegull.
Roger Havenith is Deputy Chief Executive of the EIF since 1 January 2016.In his role, Roger is part of the Fund’s governance providing leadership and direction to the institution.He deputises for the CE in the day-to-day management of the Fund, has specific responsibilities for supervising the risk management, compliance, financial control and middle/back-office services and acts as main senior counterpart for the EU institutions.Previously, he had several key roles at the EC: among others, he was a Commission negotiator in charge of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) SME Window, as part of the Investment Plan for Europe. He also led the EC’s Designated Service responsible for the negotiation, implementation and oversight of financial instruments under CIP, EPMF, MAP and other initiatives.He has a B.A. in Business Administration from HEC St. Louis in Brussels (Belgium) and LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from Vrije Universiteit Brussel; He also earned a postgraduate degree in European Studies from Institut d’Etudes européennes de l’Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and M.A. as conference interpreter from Institut supérieur de Traducteurs et Interprètes/ULB
Hazel Henderson D.Sc.Hon., FRSA, founder of Ethical Markets Media, Certified B Corporation. She is a world-renowned futurist, active environmentalist, syndicated columnist, and author of award-winning Ethical Markets: Growing the Green Economy (2006); Mapping the Global Transition to the Solar Age (2014), and other books in 800 libraries, in 20 languages, including “Planetary Citizenship “co-authored by Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda. Ethical Markets is the publisher of Henderson’s forthcoming textbook, “Mapping the Global Green Transition: 2009-2020“.
She is the producer of the global TV series “Transforming Finance“ and the Ethical Markets TV series. She created in 2004 the EthicMark® Awards for Communications Uplifting the Human Spirit & Society, showcasing positive messages to raise the ethical bar on global advertising and in 2009 the annual Green Transition Scoreboard®.
She launched the EthicMarkGEMS®.com, the first global standard certifying only gems NOT mined from Mother Earth, to phase out unnecessary global gem mining, now chemically- identical gems are cheaply available worldwide and also co-created Ethical Biomimicry Finance®. Henderson served as a cabinet-level science policy advisor to the US Office of Technology Assessment, the National Science Foundation, and the National Academy of Engineering.
Her over 400 articles appear in Harvard Business Review, New York Times, LeMonde Diplomatique, and journals in Japan, Britain, Venezuela, China, France, Australia. Honorary Member of the Club of Rome, Fellow of Britain’s Royal Society for Arts and of The World Academy of Art & Science, Henderson shared the 1996 Global Citizen Award with Argentinian Nobelist Pérez Esquivel. She has many honorary degrees.
Jennifer Morris
CEO,
The Nature Conservancy
Jennifer Morris is Chief Executive Officer of The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization working with partners around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Jennifer leads nearly 4,000 global staff who are dedicated to creating a world where people and nature thrive together. Her teams bring diverse groups together in a collaborative way to transform business practices, shape government policies, and leverage rigorous science to prove and scale on-the-ground conservation work. Jennifer brings more than 25 years of conservation leadership experience to her role as CEO. Previously, she was president at Conservation International, where she developed some of CI’s most enduring programs, partnerships, and innovative strategies using business development as a tool to protect nature for the well-being of humanity. Jennifer is a passionate storyteller, avid outdoors enthusiast, and mentor to the future generations of conservation leaders.