Soledad Aguilar
Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Argentina

Santiago Lorenzo Alonso
WWF

Santiago LORENZO ALONSO is the Head of Green Finance for WWF Global Climate and Energy Initiative and the Advocacy Leader for the WWF Seize your power global campaign.
He is also Member of the GGKP Fiscal Instruments Research Committee since November, 2014.
Formerly he was the Deputy General Director of Multilateral Environmental Agreements in the International Affairs Unit of the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
He is also a PhD candidate for the Autonomous University of Barcelona’s in environmental sciences / ecological economics. He has been an independent consultant in environmental economics, particularly regarding economic instruments for environmental protection, environmental tax reform, economic valuation of biodiversity, finance for sustainable development and GMOs.
From 2001 to march 2007, he was Director of the Legal and Environmental Analysis in the Mexican Ministry of Finance. He coordinated the development of environmental fiscal instruments and the review of perverse subsidies.
Previously, his former appointment was at the Mexican National Institute of Ecology as Director of Environmental Economics. He also was vice-chairman in the OECD working group on economics aspects of biodiversity (1999-2001). Through this period, three handbooks were produced.
Lorenzo is an economist and has an MSc in environmental assessment and evaluation in the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has also been involved in several researches and publications, as author, co-author or reviewer mostly in the issues of economics & policies in biodiversity and climate change from sustainable development approach. Participating in many meetings, conferences and multilateral negotiations.

Beatriz Americano
Chief Administrative Officer, Terra Brasis Resseguros

Beatriz Americano has degree in Law; post degree in Logistics by Fundação Getúlio Vargas; post degree in International Commerce by Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie and a MBA by the University of Pittsburgh.
She has twelve years of experience in Insurance and Reinsurance and worked in several legal and claims departments of Brazilian Insurances. Actually she is Chief Administrative Officer of Terra Brasis Resseguros in charge for the claims, legal, internal control, administrative and international development areas.
Beatriz gives training of Claims’ Reinsurance and Speeches regarding subjects related to insurance and reinsurance and participates of several class meetings and related events worldwide.

Tatiana Assali
Head of Latin America, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)

Tatiana joined the PRI in October 2014 with extensive experience in investor relations and corporate communications; she has worked at the capital markets for over 10 years. She holds certificates in specialization courses at FGV – Fundação Getulio Vargas, in Sao Paulo, Brazil in both, Sustainability and Social Corporate Management and International Affairs and Foreign Trade and a B.A with emphasis in International Business from Universidade Paulista.

Daniela Baccas
Head of Environmental Department, BNDES

Legal Counsel at BNDES. Has worked in the Legal International Division for 5 years, and in the Environmental Division for 8 years, specially with the Amazon Fund. Currently is Head of the Environmental Department at the Bank.

Marco Bergel
National Director of Savings and Energy Efficiency programs development, Ministry of Energy and Mines of Argentina

Mr. Marco Bergel is the National Director of Savings and Energy Efficiency Programs Development, responsible for planning, measurement and verification of energy savings, energy efficiency education, and the developments of policies and programs.
Mr. Bergel has broad experience in Energy industry, working as a process engineer both in upstream and downstream sectors.
Mr. Marco Bergel is a Chemical Engineer from Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina and holds a Master in Business Administration from Université de Toulouse, France.

Julio Bran
Banco Hipotecario de El Salvador

Julio Bran es el responsable de la colocación de la cartera agropyme de Banco Hipotecario de El Salvador y responsable ambiental del Banco Hipotecario de El Salvador . Cuenta con más de 10 años de experiencia en banca agropecuaria y riesgos . Ingeniero en Desarrollo y Ambiente de Universidad Zamorano, Honduras y Master en Dirección de Empresas de la Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), así como formación en evaluación ambiental y social de proyectos. Actualmente lidera el proyecto de Georeferenciación y mapeo de fincas utilizando drones y SIG, así como el desarrollo e implementación del SARAS en el proceso de crédito.

Julio Bran is responsible for, small scale agriculture productive units portfolio for Banco Hipotecario of El Salvador, and the environmental performance of the bank. He has more than 10 years experience in agricultural banking and risks. He holds a degree in Development and the Environment engineering from Zamorano University, Honduras and has a Masters in Business Management from the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), he has also received training in environmental and social project evaluation. He is currently leading a project on the Georeferencing and mapping of farms using drones and GIS, as well as working on the development and implementation of the ESRA system in the bank.

Hernan Busch
Banco Galicia

Mariuz Calvet
Head of Sustainability and Responsible Investment, Grupo Financiero Banorte

Mariuz has a Law and International Relations degree and a Master’s degree in Human Rights in Latin America. She has worked in the field on non-governmental organizations specializing in human rights and women’s rights. More than a fifteen years ago, she moved to the private sector, advising companies in their sustainability and corporate responsibility strategies, specialized in the financial sector. Currently, she is Head of Sustainability and Responsible Investment in Grupo Financiero Banorte in Mexico. She is President of the ESG Group in the Mexican Stock Exchange, was Co-Chair of the Informal Working Group of the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures, and part of the LATAM Committee of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

Diego Arias Carballo
World Bank

Tomás Carmona
Head of Sustainability, SulAmérica Insurance Brazil

Tomás Carmona brings 18 years of experience dealing with environmental, social and governance issues into corporate management and business strategy, NGOs administration and consultancy for United Nations agencies. He is the Head of Sustainability at SulAmérica Insurance in Brazil since October 2015 and PSI (Principles for Sustainable Insurance) board member. Previously he worked as Head of Sustainability at Serasa Experian Brazil and Experian Latin America. Prior to Experian he worked as a consultant for FAO and UNESCO and as an administrator at NGO Ação Educativa. Tomás has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, an Executive MBA and Sustainability Management Specialization.

Jacinto Coello
Programme Lead, Sustainable Land Use, UN Environment

Jacinto leads the private sector engagement activities for UN Environment’s team on sustainable land use in Latin America. Previously he worked at UNEP FI where he coordinated the REDD+ and sustainable land use activities. Prior to joining UNEP FI, he worked for a forestry company based in London and was a legislative aide in the Mexican Congress. Jacinto holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and BA from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, Mexico.

Patricia Coimbra
Human Capital, Sustainability and Marketing Vice President, SulAmérica Insurance Brazil, & Member of UNEP FI Global Steering Committee

Patricia Coimbra is Human Capital, Sustainability and Marketing Vice President for SulAmérica Insurance Brazil, member of SulAmérica’s Executive, Human Capital and Sustainability Board Committees and President of Human Resources Commission in National Insurance Confederation (CNSeg). She also represents Latin America Insurance Sector at the UNEP FI Global Steering Committee. In 2013, the executive was put in charge of Human Capital and Sustainability at SulAmérica Seguros, where she is responsible for the HR and Sustainability strategy and operation, supporting a team of 5,000 employees, 30,000 brokers and 7 million clients. Before SulAmérica, she worked at OI Participações, SC Johnson and Shell Brazil. Patricia has earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and a degree in Economics from Universidade Candido Mendes in Rio de Janeiro (UCAM). She also obtained a postgraduate degree in Marketing from PUC-Rio.

Pablo Cortínez
Sustainable Finance Focal Point. Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina

Pablo joined Vida Silvestre after 20 years of experience in the financial sector, mostly in capital markets, having worked both in the structuring and sell side and in the buy side. Since 2013 he leads the Business and Environment area of Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, an NGO born 40 years ago, and the associate of WWF in Argentina since 1988. Previously, Pablo was Chief Credit Risk Officer for the fourth pension fund in Argentina, with AUM above USD5,000 millions, where he also participated as member of the Investment Committee. He was responsible for the restructuring of a number of financial instruments after the 2001 financial crisis. Prior to joining Nación AFJP, he worked at Banco Bansud-Banamex as Head of Capital Markets, participating in the structuring and placement among institutional investors of transactions for over US$1,000 million, including first of its kind transactions (ABS and sub-sovereign). Pablo has an extensive experience as a consultant, working for multilateral development banks, private and state owned banks. Pablo holds a Bachelor in Economics (National University of Cordoba), and earned a Masters Degree in Finance from CEMA University (Buenos Aires, Argentina), where he currently teaches Securitization, among other topics. His teaching activities also include seminars and workshops at banks, universities and bankers associations on capital markets; asset backed securities; SME financing; credit risk.

Raquel Marques da Costa
ESG Investment Specialist, Bradesco Asset Management

Raquel is currently taking her MSc in Finance at the University of São Paulo and holds a Bachelor degree in Business from FGV-EAESP. Also monitored a Master program in Sustainability Management and a course in Low Carbon Management, both from FGV-EAESP. Raquel worked at the Center of Sustainability Studies at the Fundação Getulio Vargas (GVces) during 3 years, integrating the team of Sustainable Finance, in which she contributed for the ISE (the Brazilian sustainability index of B3 stock exchange), Guia Exame of Sustainability magazine, the Febraban Matrix of the Protocolo Verde Indicators and Sustainable Finance studies. She has also worked in organizations such as: Banco Real ABN Amro, Visão Sustentável Consultoria, Rabobank Brazil, Quintessa Consultoria, and HSBC Asset Management Brazil. Today Raquel is responsible for ESG analysis at BRAM – Bradesco Asset Management and in the past also worked as credit analyst.

Martin Duhart
Corporación Interamericana de Inversiones (CII) del Grupo BID / Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), Member of the IDB Group

Es Oficial de Inversión Principal en la División de Infraestructura y Energía de la Corporación Interamericana de Inversiones (CII) del Grupo BID. Trabajó en Montevideo, Uruguay hasta fin de marzo’17, trasladándose a posteriori a la oficina de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dentro de los proyectos que lidera actualmente se encuentran proyectos de energía renovable vinculados a la licitación Renovar en Argentina.
Cuenta con más de 27 años de experiencia en las áreas de finanzas y banca. Entre sus áreas de especialización se encuentran los sectores de hidrocarburos, energía y servicios públicos. Ingresó al Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) en Washington, D.C., en 2003 donde se desempeñó dentro de la Unidad de Reestructuración hasta 2007. Cuando comenzó a formar parte del equipo de negocios. Fue transferido a Montevideo en el 2008 para liderar el financiamiento de proyectos y empresas en América del Sur.
Antes de trabajar en el BID, el Sr. Duhart se desempeñó desde el año 2000 hasta el 2003 en Fleet Boston en Argentina en restructuración de deuda y banca de inversión. Desde 1996 hasta 2000, tuvo el cargo de Gerente Financiero en Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A., la mayor empresa de transporte de gas de Argentina, y en Azurix Buenos Aires SA, una concesión (privatizada) de servicios públicos de aguas de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Antes de eso, el Sr. Duhart tuvo diferentes puestos en la banca corporativa de Bank Boston, incluyendo el manejo de una cartera vinculada al negocio de petróleo y gas. Se graduó en la Universidad de Buenos Aires como Contador Público y Licenciado en Administración de Empresas. También cuenta con un Máster en Finanzas del CEMA (Argentina).

Serves as Senior Investment Officer for the Infrastructure and Energy Division of the Inter-American Investment Corporation and member of the IDB Group. He worked in Montevideo, Uruguay until the end of March’17, where he was subsequently transferred to offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Among the projects he is currently leading are the renewable energy projects linked to the Renovar programme in Argentina.
He has more than 27 years of experience in areas of financing and banking. Within his specialist areas he has worked within the oil, energy and public service sectors. He joined the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, D.C, in 2003 where he worked within the Restructuring Unit until 2007. That year he became part of the business team. He was then transferred to Montevideo in 2008 to head the financing of projects and business in South America.
From 2000 to 2003, before working for IDB, Mr. Duhart spent time in Fleet Boston in Argentina working on the restructuring of debt and investment banking. Between the years of 1996 and 2000, he held the position of Financial Manager for Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A, the largest gas transportation company in Argentina, and in Azurix Buenos Aires SA, a public water utility company, which was later privatize within the Buenos Aires Province. Before this, Mr. Duhart held different positions within the banking corporation, Bank Boston, including the management of portfolios linked to the oil and gas. He graduated from the Universidad de Buenos Aires as a Public Accountant with a Bachelor in Business Administration. He also holds a Masters in Finance from CEMA (Argentina).

Alexandre Esposito
Power Sector Research Manager, Brazilian Development Bank

Alexandre Siciliano Esposito is the Power Sector Research Manager at BNDES (Brazilian Development Bank), therefore leading the team currently responsible for analyzing the Brazilian Power Sector regulation and market conditions at BNDES’s Electricity Division, and also is one of the banks’ liaison to government institutions that defines energy and technology policies. Prior to BNDES, he started as a consultant at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), from where he has economics bachelor and master degrees, together with post-graduate courses in social development, energy economy and regulation, and, MBA in Finance from Coppead/UFRJ.

Diego Flaiban
Oficial de Inversión, Corporación Interamericana de Inversiones (CII) / Investments Officer, Inter-American Investments Corporation (IIC)

Diego Flaiban es actualmente Oficial de Inversión de la Corporación Interamericana de Inversiones (CII). El Sr Flaiban posee una amplia experiencia en mercados financieros, habiendo trabajado con más de 50 intermediarios financieros en Latinoamerica y el Caribe. El Sr. Flaiban ha sido responsable por la estructuración de proyectos de financiamiento sostenible y asistencia técnica por más de USD 1000 millones para la promoción del acceso al financiamiento en proyectos de inversión en cambio climático, PYMES lideradas por mujeres y comercio internacional. Antes de comenzar a trabajar en el Grupo BID, el Sr. Flaiban se desempeñó como consultor senior de entidades financieras en Arthur Andersen y Deloitte y trabajo en dos bancos comerciales líderes del mercado Argentino. El Sr. Flaiban es Contador Público egresado de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, y Certified Public Accountant (CPA) del estado de Virginia, Estados Unidos.

Diego Flaiban is currently the Investments Officer for the Inter-American Investments Corporation. Mr.Flaiban boasts extensive experience within the financial market, having worked with more than 50 financial intermediaries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mr. Flaiban has been responsible for the structuring of more than 1000 million USD on sustainable financing projects and technical assistance for the promotion of financial access to projects in climate change investment, SMEs led by women and international commerce. Before starting his career with the IDB Group, Mr. Flaiban worked as a senior financial consultant in Arthur Anderson and Deloitte and worked in two leading commercial banks of the Argentinean market. Mr. Flaiban graduated from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina as a Public Accountant, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Virginia, US.

Thais Fontes
Rabobank

Javier Gonzalez Fraga
President, Banco de la Nación Argentina

-Bachelor in Economics from UCA (Universidad Católica Argentina) (1971). Currently, Ph. D. Candidate.
-Teacher at UCA from 1973 to 2000, appointed Full Professor since 1994.
-Member of the Board of Public Companies (Directorio de Empresas Públicas) in 1987, during Raúl Alfonsín Presidency.
-Chairman of the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina, twice between 1989 and 1991.
-Vice-President of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange between 1994 and 1999.
-Director of the Argentine Institute of Capital Markets between 1992 and 1999.
-Best SMEs Entrepreneur of the Decade (1998) Konex award as Founder of the dairy company La Salamandra S.A.
-Since 1974 Economic and Financial Advisor, Agriculture-Livestock Producer and Lecturer.
-Candidate to Vice-President of Argentina in 2011, with UCR.
-Current Chairman of Banco de la Nación Argentina.

Gianleo Frisari
Climate Change Economist, InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB)

Gianleo is a climate change economist at the InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB) where he focuses on climate finance and sustainable investments research to identify solutions for the mobilization of private capital. Before joining IDB, Gianleo was a senior analyst at the Climate Policy Initiative (Venice Italy), performing analysis on risk mitigation and blended finance instruments for investments in low carbon investments. Before focusing on climate finance issues, Gianleo was a portfolio manager of investment programs dedicated to hedge funds and alternative assets at Key Asset Management and at Rasini & Co, both located in London.
Gianleo holds a Ph.D. in “Science and Management of Climate Change” from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and graduated in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan. He holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) qualification.

Constanza Gorleri
Sustainability Manager, Banco Galicia; Representante de ADEBA

She is a lawyer graduated from the school of Law and Social Sciences of the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), and a journalist graduated from the Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA). She is the Sustainability Manager of Banco Galicia and is in charge of the development and implementation of Sustainability Strategy of the Bank and of the linked companies to Grupo Financiero Galicia. Leads the programs of Social Investment and Relations with the Community, Environment Strategy, Sustainability Report and the Volunteer Program that groups the employees of Banco Galicia. In addition, she participates in the Argentina Network of the UN Global Compact and represents the Bank in the Financial Initiative of the UN Program (UNEPFI). She is married with two daughters.
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Es abogada egresada de la Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, y periodista egresada de la Universidad Católica Argentina. Es Gerente de Sustentabilidad de Banco Galicia y tiene a cargo la elaboración e implementación de la Estrategia de Sustentabilidad del Banco y de las empresas vinculadas a Grupo Financiero Galicia. Lidera los programas de Inversión Social y Relaciones con la Comunidad, la Estrategia de Ambiente, la realización del Informe de Sustentabilidad y el Programa de Voluntariado que agrupa a los empleados de Banco Galicia. Lidera el Comité de Finanzas Sostenible de la Asociación de Bancos Privados de Capital Argentino (ADEBA). Además, participa de la Red Argentina del Pacto Global de Naciones Unidas y representa al Banco en la Iniciativa Financiera del Programa de Naciones Unidas. Está casada y tiene dos hijas.

Carlos Grinberg
Ing. President, Green Building Council Argentina

Carlos Grinberg has more than 30 years’ experience as an engineer with a specialization in facilities ‘design (MEP) for medium and high complexity buildings. Committed to sustainability as a main concept in building construction, Grinberg is a founding member of the Argentine Green Building Council ( www.argentinagbc.org.ar), its first President and an advocacy of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design )rating system In Argentina. Today, there are more than 59 certified LEED buildings and more 180 than under certification.
In the public sector his experience includes advising the presidency of the Banco Hipotecario during 1994-2000 and Director of BHN Inmobiliaria and President of the Central Market of Buenos Aires during 1999-2001. Carlos has been a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Buenos Aires during 1985-2000 and Full Professor at the School of Architecture of the Torcuato Di Tella University. Since 2009 he has been directing the sustainability course given by Argentina Green Building Council in this University. Carlos graduated as an industrial engineer from the University of Buenos Aires with courses in Yokohama Japan in the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship and in Paris and at a course organized and sponsored by UNIDO.

Denise Hills
Head of Sustainability and Inclusive Business, Itaú Unibanco

Denise has 28 years of experience in the financial market, more specifically on investment, financial planning, wealth management and innovation. She is the head of the Sustainability and Inclusive Business, which includes Microcredit and Women Entrepreneurs programs, at Itaú Unibanco. She is president of the Brazilian Global Compact Netwok and co-chair of the Steering Committee’s United Nations Environment Programme – Finance Initiative. Also part of the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development and Member of the Sustainability Commission of Brazilian Federation of Banks.

Felipe Hughes
Director. Member of the Sustainable Finance at ADEBA. Banco Provincia de Buenos Aires

Felipe Hughes is a lawyer graduated from the University of Buenos Aires, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Argentina. He holds a master degree in Corporate Finance from CEMA University, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Felipe has been director of Banco Provincia de Buenos Aires since January 2016. Prior to joining the public sector, he worked as a lawyer in Nicholson y Cano Law Firm, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the financial, banking, capital markets and oil & gas areas. He also worked in TozziniFreire Advogados, São Paulo, Brazil, where he joined the Corporate and Private Equity team. Previously Felipe worked in Matheson Law Firm in Dublin, Ireland, as a member of the Derivatives and Structured Finance team.

Sabina Timco Iacazzi
Lead, Social Issues and Human Rights, UNEP Finance Initiative

Sabina Timco Iacazzi is leading the human rights and social issues activities at UNEP Finance Initiative since 2013. Sabina has more than ten years of experience working on sustainable business development and human rights issues with the United Nations and civil society. Other than UNEP FI, where she was also the European region coordinator between 2012 and 2015, she worked on technical assistance implementation, policy development and stakeholder engagement at the International Trade Centre, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Geneva-based International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights. Sabina holds a Post-graduate degree in international law from University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Sebastian Kind
Ministry of Energy and Mining of Argentina

Pablo Kirchheimer
CEO, Kir Construcciones

Ing. Pablo Kirchheimer, emprendedor, fundador y CEO de KIR construcciones, empresa Constructora Argentina con mas de 20 años de experiencia en la industria, habiendo construido mas de 400 obras de mediana y alta complejidad, obras emblemáticas realizadas en distintos ámbitos, entre los que se destacan, el sector publico, corporativo y comercial, y las áreas de Salud, Educación, Cultura y Restauración de edificios con valor patrimonial, comprometidos con la sustentabilidad y el medioambiente, siendo pioneros en la implementación de sistemas de ahorro energético, domótica e inmotica, logrando la primera certificación EDGE en la Argentina. www.kir.com.ar
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Pablo Kirchheimer, is a Civil Engineer, entrepreneur, founder and CEO of KIR SRL, a Construction Company based in Argentina, with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. KIR has built more than 400 works and interventions, from medium to high complexity emblematic buildings in different areas, among which the public, corporate and commercial sectors as well as the Health, Education, Culture and Restoration building areas with patrimonial value. KIR is a company committed to sustainability and the environment, being pioneers in the implementation of energy saving systems, BMS and automation systems, achieving the first EDGE certification in Argentina. www.kir.com.ar.

Benoit Lebot
Executive Director, The International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC)

Mr. Lebot is the Executive Director of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation, (IPEEC www.ipeec.org) since March 2014. The IPEEC is International Partnership among the largest world economies dedicated to energy efficiency. The IPEEC runs under a mandate from the G20. Mr. Lebot has had an extensive career in the fields of Energy Efficiency, Climate Change Mitigation, and Clean Energy Policies. Beginning as a Research Engineer, Mr. Lebot worked at the Energy Efficiency Division of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in California from 1987 to 1990. Between 1990 and 1997, he was part of the French National Energy and Environmental Agency (ADEME), where he led numerous background technical studies for the first directives related to the promotion of energy efficiency in the European Union, which ignited his international career. From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Lebot worked at the International Energy Agency (IEA) as an advisor within the Energy Efficiency Policy Analysis Division and from 2004, he worked as a Climate Change & Sustainable Energy Policy Advisor for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); where he provided technical leadership on activities designed to address Climate Change and Sustainable Energy policies in developing countries and emerging economies. He also developed and managed the UNDP’s portfolio on Climate Change Mitigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa with a specific focus on energy efficient public policies that included legal, fiscal and technical measures.
Mr. Lebot is a Civil Engineer from France’s National School of Public Works (1986) and holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California in Berkeley (1987).

Mariano Lechardoy
Ministry of Agriculture of Argentina

Claudio Maes
CVM Brazil

Claudio Maes holds a Master in Public Administration (Columbia University), a BA in Economics (UERJ), a graduate degree in Financial Management (FGV) and a degree in a Latu Sensu Post-Graduate Course in Regulation of the Capital Markets (UFRJ). After working a number of years in the Brazilian financial market, Claudio transferred to the public administration sector in 2001, by participating in a public selection process to apply for a position as an analyst in the Securities Commission of Brazil – CVM. Between 2007 and 2016, as an assistant director, the Claudio’s main role was to lead teams which are responsible for supervising the Brazilian investment funds market – more than 15,000 funds and more than 10 million investment accounts, with a total of over US$ 1 trillion in assets. Nowadays, Claudio is serving in the CVM Investors Protection Department, as the CVM’s technical coordinator in the Financial Innovation Lab. Claudio is 46, married, and has two kids. Claudio is from Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, likes football and jiu-jitsu, and is crazy for Fluminense Football Club.

Rodrigo Sánchez Mújica
Director General, AGROASEMEX SA / Managing Director, AGROASEMEX SA

Director General, AGROASEMEX SA
Licenciado en Economía por la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, con Maestría en la misma especialidad, por la New School For Social Research, en Nueva York, Estados Unidos.
Durante los últimos 25 años, el Lic. Sánchez Mújica, ha ocupado diversos cargos en el sector financiero público como Director General Adjunto de Política de Crédito y Riesgo en Financiera Rural, Director General Adjunto de Crédito en Banco Nacional de Crédito Rural, así como Director General del Fideicomiso de Recuperación de Cartera y Director General Adjunto de Coordinación Regional en Nacional Financiera.
De febrero de 2007 a febrero del 2013, se desempeñó como Director General de Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura, FIRA.
Durante 2014, fue asesor del Director General del Grupo Financiero Banorte y hasta diciembre de 2016, Delegado y Comisario Público Propietario del Sector Hacienda, en la Secretaria de la Función Pública.
Del 2011 a 2013 fungió como Presidente de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Instituciones de Desarrollo (ALIDE) y fue representante de los países emergentes en la UNEP-fi.
A partir de enero de 2017, fue designado por acuerdo del Ejecutivo Federal, como Director General de Agroasemex, S. A.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and with a Master’s degree in the same field from the New School for Social Research, New York, US.
During the last 25 years, Mr. Sánchez Mújica has occupied a number of different positions within the public financial sector such as, Deputy Director General of Credit and Risk Policy in Financiera Rural, Deputy General Manager of Credit at Banco Nacional de Crédito Rural, Director General of the Portfolio Recovery Trusts and Deputy General Manager of Regional Coordination at Nacional Financiera.
Between February 2007 and February 2013, he worked as the Managing Director of Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura, FIRA.
During 2014, he was adviser to the General Director of the Grupo Financiero Banorte and up until December 2016 Delegate and Public Commissioner Owner of the Finance Sector in the Public Function Secretariat.
From 2011 until 2013 he served as President of the Latin American Association of Development Institutions (ALIDE) and was the representative for the emerging countries in UNEP FI.
From January 2017, he was assigned, by agreement from the Federal Executive, as Managing Director of Agroasemex, S.A.

Juliana Naranjo
Analista de Riesgos Operacionales, Suramericana S.A / Operational Risk Analyst, Suramericana S.A

Juliana Naranjo López es Analista de Riesgos Operacionales de Suramericana S.A desde al año 2013. Enfocada en el análisis del riesgo ambiental en la operaciones de la Compañía, apoya a la compañía matriz, Grupo Sura, en el diligenciamiento de compromisos como Dow Jones Sustainability Index en el cual ocupan el segundo lugar del índice mundial de las compañías del Sector Servicios Financieros y Mercados de Capital; y apoya también el diligenciamiento de CDP Capítulo Cambio Climático, lo que le valió a Grupo Sura ser reconocida en 2015 como la 5ta empresa Latinoamericana que mejor gestionaba el asunto de Cambio Climático.
Es Ingeniera Ambiental especialista en Formulación y Evaluación de Proyectos Públicos y Privados de la Universidad de Medellín, cuenta con más de 8 años de experiencia en temas ambientales para el sector privado. Amante de la naturaleza, de su protección y cuidado, es una abanderada en la creación de cultura ambiental en quienes la rodean.

Juliana Naranjo López has been the Operational Risk Analyst for Suramericana S.A since 2013. She focuses on the analysis of environmental risk of operations carried out by the company, and supports the parent company, Grupo Sura, in fulfilling their commitment to, for example, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, where they hold second place in the world index of companies in the Financial Services Sector and Capital Markets. She also supports the fulfillment of the CDP Climate Change Act, which earned them the title of 5th business in Latin America with the best Climate Change management.
She is an Environmental Engineer Specialist in the Formulation and Evaluation of Public and Private Projects from The University of Medellín, she has more than 8 years experience on environmental issues that involve the private sector. A lover of nature, its care and protection, she is an advocate for the creation of a greater environmental awareness in those that surround her.

Ángel O’Dogherty
FIRA

Es economista graduado del Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). Estudió una Maestría en Economía en la Universidad de Chicago. Actualmente es Director General Adjunto de los Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura (FIRA), los cuales dependen del Banco de México. Está a cargo del área de Investigación Económica de FIRA, en la cual, entre otros temas se analizan y estudian los temas vinculados con el medio ambiente. A lo largo de su carrera profesional ha ocupado diferentes posiciones tanto en el sector privado, como consultor económico, como en el sector financiero del Gobierno de México, así como en organismos financieros internacionales.

An economist who graduated from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). He studied a Masters in Economics at the University of Chicago. He is currently the General Deputy Director of Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura (FIRA), which depend on the Bank of Mexico. He is responsible for the Economic Research of FIRA, where, amongst other issues, they analyze and study their relationship with the environment. Throughout his professional career he has served in many different positions from working in the private sector as an economic consultant, to working within the financial sector of the Mexican government, to international financial agencies.

Beatriz Ocampo
Bancocolombia

Electric Engineer with specialization in Top Management. Beatriz has worked for 15 years in Bancolombia Group and the last 5 years as Sustainability Manager in Colombia. In this post her major challenges are: incorporating the sustainable business strategy in the different lines of business of the bank including but not limited to, investment banking, loans, leasing, fiduciary and others. She is also responsible to ensure compliance with the environmental and social risk analysis strategy from the projects, investments and suppliers of the bank, and define strategies to incorporate sustainability throughout the organization.

Annie Parseghian
International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Annie Parseghian is French Lebanese of Armenian origin that has lived in Beirut, Dubai, and the US most of her life. She has earned a BA in political sciences from the University of Washington in Seattle and an MPA and MBA from the American University in Washington DC. Annie is an Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) working in the Financial Institution Group (FIG) in different capacities. She is currently the focal person for FIG Green Building coordinating efforts with various specialists and business developers to expand FIG’s portfolio in the Green Building space. Annie has been stationed with IFC in DC, Dubai, Beirut, and back to DC.

Alex Rau
Climate Wedge

Alex Rau is founding partner of Climate Wedge Ltd, an independent firm providing environmental finance and carbon emissions trading related transaction services, and pursuing principal investments and project development in the renewables sector through its asset management subsidiary, Abatement Capital LLC. Alex has over fifteen years of experience in climate finance, carbon markets, and environmental commodities. He currently manages investments in carbon and related commodity markets for several institutional funds, and leads CW’s role as administrator of the IDB/IIC Mexico Green Bond Securitization program, a global first-of-its-kind ABS program providing financing for energy efficiency projects throughout Mexico.
Alex has cofounded several clean energy startups including leading US carbon developer, EOS Climate, Uganda-based efficient cookstoves distributor Up Energy Group, and coauthored the most widely adopted trading standard for the non-Kyoto carbon market. He was previously part of PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Energy Corporate Finance practice in London, has worked with numerous clients such as Cheyne Capital, McKinsey & Co, Rio Tinto, News Corporation, Electricite de France, California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), and Wärtsilä on carbon and clean energy financing strategies, and has transacted with counterparties spanning the global power, fuels, and financial sectors.
Alex has a Ph.D. in physics from Oxford University, a B.A. from Cornell University, and is a CFA charterholder.

Carlos Rivas
Environmental, Social & Reputational Risk Deputy Manager, Banco General

Carlos is an Industrial Engineer, graduated from the Santa Maria La Antigua Catholic University of Panama (USMA for its acronym in Spanish).
He holds a Master Degree in Polluting Processes and Defense of the Natural Environment from the Polytechnic University of Madrid – Spain.
Carlos has been trained to be an internal Auditor of Quality ISO 9,001 and Environmental Auditor ISO 14,001.
He is also an Independent Environmental Consultant and Auditor, authorized by the Ministry of Environment of Panama.
Has worked as specialist in the implementation of operational initiatives for companies in the hydrocarbons distribution sector and has vast experience in Occupational Safety, Health and Environmental Management Systems and as an Environmental Specialist at an engineering consulting firm.
Currently, he is the Environmental, Social and Reputational Risk Deputy Manager of Banco General, and for eight (8) years he has developed and managed strategies for the implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the Environmental and Social Risks Management System (SGAS) of Banco General, S.A.
Carlos is also responsible for the implementation, administration and control of Banco General’s Reputational Risk Management System.
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Es ingeniero Industrial Administrativo, graduado de la Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua de Panamá (USMA). Realizó estudios de Maestría en Procesos Contaminantes y Defensa del Medio Natural en la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid – España. Cuenta con formación de Auditor Interno de Calidad ISO 9,001 y Auditor Ambiental ISO 14,001. Es Consultor y Auditor Ambiental independiente, habilitado por el Ministerio de Ambiente de Panamá. Ha trabajado como especialista en la implementación de iniciativas operativas para empresas del sector de distribución de hidrocarburos y cuenta con vasta experiencia en Sistemas Integrales de Seguridad Ocupacional, Salud y Medio Ambiente. Actualmente es Subgerente de Riesgo Ambiental, Social y de Reputación de Banco General, y desde hace ocho (8) años gestiona y administra la implementación, seguimiento y mejoramiento continuo del Sistema de Gestión de Riesgos Ambientales y Sociales (SGAS) de Banco General, S.A. También es el responsable de la implementación, administración y control de la Matriz de Riesgo de Reputación de Banco General.

Gabriel Sanchez
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Maria Eugenia Sosa Taborda
Sustainabilty Manager, Itaú Unibanco

Maria Eugenia is Sustainability Manager at Itau Unibanco and she is in charge of Financial Education and Social and Environmental Risks and Opportunities, working directly with our Business Units: Investments, Credit and Insurance.
Graduated in business administration at PUCCAMP, post-graduation at FGV and Berkeley University and with extention at Fundação Dom Cabral, Responsible Management and, recently, participated of Sustainability Leadership of Cambridge Institute.

David Tinel
Country Manager Southern Cone, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

David Tinel is responsible for managing new investments and portfolio, as well as IFC’s advisory services, in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Under his leadership, IFC has invested over US$1.5 billion in this region during its most recently finalized fiscal year.
Prior to this appointment, Mr. Tinel was Chief Investment Officer in the IFC Infrastructure Department in Washington DC, where for five years he managed an investment team focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. IFC’s investments in infrastructure in this region grew five-fold during this period, from $200 million in 2011 to over $1.4 billion in 2016. Mr. Tinel joined IFC in 2005 as Senior Investment Officer in the Infrastructure and Natural Resources department, where he led major investment projects in Power, Transport, Water and Oil & Gas sectors in Latin America, the Middle East as well as Asia.
Mr. Tinel previously spent eight years at BNP Paribas in the corporate finance, leverage finance and project finance departments.
Mr. Tinel holds a Master of Science from the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris, France.

Mauricio Torres
Gerente Nacional de Negocios Inmobiliarios, Banco Pichincha CA - Ecuador /National Manager of Real Estate Management, Banco Puchincha CA – Ecuador

Mauricio es Ingeniero Comercial con Post Grados en Administración de Negocios, Asesoría Financiera e Innovate Marketing en la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, el Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey y la Universidad Saint Thomas of Minnesota.
Actualmente es Gerente Nacional de Negocios Inmobiliarios en el Banco Pichincha – Ecuador, con experiencia de 21 años en el Sector Financiero y 13 años en el Mercado Inmobiliario nacional y regional.
Expositor en el evento internacional BID – ALIDE de Octubre 2016 en Lima / Perú sobre Green Buildings Energy Efficiency, responsable en Banco Pichincha de desarrollar el Programa de Financiamiento Sostenible para los Promotores Inmobiliarios y clientes finales del país en alianza con el GCPF y el soporte técnico de EDGE y el IFC.
Consultor particular en Estructuración y Potenciación de Negocios o Emprendimientos innovadores.
Presidente del Directorio del IEFIVI – Instituto Ecuatoriano para el Financiamiento de la Vivienda, enfocado en el análisis, impulso y la estructuración de Políticas que fomenten la colocación de recursos financieros en el Sector Inmobiliario Ecuatoriano, así como también la Capacitación y Desarrollo del recurso humano del sector.

Mauricio is a Commercial Engineer with a Postgraduate in Administration Management, Financial Counseling and Innovative Marketing from the Unviersity of San Francisco Quito, the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey and the University of Saint Thomas, Minnesota.
He is currently the National Manager of Real Estate Management for the Banco Pichincha – Ecuador, with 21 years of experience in the Financial Sector and 13 years experience in the national and regional Real-Estate Market.
He was a speaker in the international event IDB – ALIDE in October 2016 in Lima, Peru which covered Green Buildings Energy Efficiency. He is responsible for developing the Financial Sustainability Programme in Banco Pichincha for the Real-Estate Developer and final customers in alliance with the GCPF and the technical support for EDGE and IFC. A consultant for Structuring and Empowering Businesses or Innovative Entrepreneurship.
President of the board of Instituto Ecuatoriano para el Financiamiento de la Vivienda (IEFIVI), focused on the analysis, promotion and structure of the policies that encourage the placement of financial resources in the Ecuadorian Real-Estate Sector, as well as the Training and Development of the human resource of the sector.

Maria Paz Uribe
FINDETER

Eric Usher
Head, UNEP Finance Initiative

Eric Usher Heads the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, UNEP FI, a global partnership bringing together the UN with a global group of banks, insurers and investors working to develop the sustainable finance and responsible investment agendas. Eric oversees governance, strategy and day-to-day management of UNEP FI’s work programme and global network development. Over the years UNEP FI has established some of the most important sustainability oriented frameworks within the finance industry, including the Principles for Responsible Investment (2006), the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (2012) and the Principles for Responsible Banking (2019).

Since joining in 2015, Mr. Usher has focused on accelerating the deep integration of sustainability risks into financial practice, including addressing climate change, natural capital loss and human rights abuses, as well as building out the frameworks for positive impact finance needed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Eric sits on several industry bodies including as UN representative on the Board of the Principles for Responsible Investment, and as a member of the governing boards of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, the Investor Agenda and the impact fund REPP Africa.

Prior to leading UNEP FI, Mr. Usher has over twenty years of experience in the low carbon sectors, spanning technology commercialisation in Canada, solar rural electrification in Morocco and financial sector development across emerging markets. During 2011, Mr. Usher worked on the establishment of the Green Climate Fund and led efforts to create its Private Sector Facility. Eric has been an editor of the Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment report published annually with Bloomberg and was lead author for finance of the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources. Earlier in his career, Eric was General Manager of a solar rural electrification company based in Morocco.

René Mauricio Valdés
Coordinador Residente, Sistema de Naciones Unidas en Argentina / Resident Coordinator, United Nations System in Argentina

El Sr. René Mauricio Valdés (El Salvador) fue designado como Coordinador Residente del Sistema de Naciones Unidas y Representante Residente del Programa de Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) en Argentina a partir del 1 de mayo del 2014.
Previo a su designación, el Sr. Valdés se desempeñó como Jefe de Gabinete de la Secretaria Única para la Agenda Post 2015 de Naciones Unidas y Asesor Senior en el Departamento de Políticas de Desarrollo del PNUD en la ciudad de Nueva York. Entre el 2008 y el 2012 fue Coordinador Residente del Sistema de Naciones Unidas y Representante Residente del PNUD en Guatemala. Igual cargo ocupó entre el 2004 y el 2008 en Ecuador. Desde el 2001 hasta el 2003 fue Representante Residente Adjunto en Colombia. De 1998 a 2001 se desempeñó como Coordinador del Grupo de Operaciones del PNUD en Nueva York, brindando apoyo a las Oficinas de País en América Central, Haití, México y Colombia. Desde 1994 hasta 1998 fue Representante Residente Adjunto en Guatemala y entre 1991 y 1994 en Panamá.
Antes de ingresar al PNUD, el Sr. Valdés trabajó en el Instituto Centroamericano de Administración Pública de Costa Rica (1983-1989) donde tuvo a su cargo la Dirección de la Maestría en Administración Pública; al mismo tiempo que fue Profesor e Investigador en temas de políticas públicas y administración.
En su país natal, entre 1977 y 1991, fue Coordinador del Programa de Modernización del Sector Público del Ministerio de Planificación y Coordinación del Desarrollo Económico y Social, Director de Economía Internacional del Ministerio de Economía y Jefe de la Unidad de Ferias Comerciales Internacionales del Instituto de Comercio Exterior.
El Sr. Valdés es Licenciado en Relaciones Internacionales de la Universidad de El Salvador, Master en Administración Pública de la Universidad de Costa Rica y PhD en Ciencias Políticas de la Universidad de Toronto.

Mr. René Mauricio Valdés (El Salvador) was designated as the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System and Resident Representative and Senior Advisor of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Argentina from the 1st May 2014.
Previous to this, Mr. Valdés worked as Chief of Staff of the Secretariat for the 2015 United Nations Agenda and Senior Advisor in the Department of Development Policies of UNDP in New York. Between 2008 and 2012 he was the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Guatemala. This same position was held in Ecuador between 2004 and 2008. From the year 2001 until 2003 he was Deputy Resident Representative in Columbia. From 1998 to 2001 he worked as Group Operations Coordinator for UNDP in New York, providing support to the Central American Offices of Haiti, Mexico and Colombia. From 1994 to 1998 he was the Deputy Resident Representative in Guatemala and between 1991 and 1994 in Panama.
Before starting work at UNDP, Mr. Valdés worked in the Instituto Centroamericano de Administración Pública in Costa Rica (1983-1989) where he took charge of the Public Administrations Masters degree, at the same time as being a Professor and Researcher for issues of Public Policy and Administration.
In his home country, between 1977 and 1991, he was Program Coordinator for the Modernization of the Public Sector of the Ministry of Planning and Coordination of Economic and Social Development, Director of International Economy of the Ministry of Economy and Head of the International Trade Fairs Unit of the Foreign Trade Institute.
Mr. Valdés has a Bachelors in International Relations from the University of El Salvador, a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Costa Rica and a PhD in Political Sciences from the University of Toronto.

Liesel van Ast
Deputy Head

Liesel is responsible for engagement with banks, insurers and investors, regional coordination and training. Before joining UNEP FI in July 2016, she was Programme Manager of the Natural Capital Declaration (now the Natural Capital Finance Alliance), a joint initiative of UNEP FI and the NGO Global Canopy Programme. She developed a technical work programme and raised funds for collaborative projects with banks and investors to help strengthen management of environmental risks and opportunities. She managed projects to develop innovative tools and methodologies to integrate natural resource and environmental issues into financial products and services. From 2007- 2013, Liesel was Research Editor at Trucost, the environmental research provider. From 2005-2007 she was a Writer and Online Editor for the leading UK environmental business journal The ENDS Report. She holds an Investment Management Certificate; MSc in Business Strategy, Politics and the Environment; and Certificate in Environmental Management.

Mário Sérgio Fernandes de Vasconcelos
Sustainability and Marketing Director - FEBRABAN – Brazilian Federation of Banks

Economist graduated at the Federal University of Ceará, with an Executive MBA and Post-Graduate Degree in Economics Engineering and Industrial Management from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Mário Sérgio has an extensive experience in the financial market, having held executive positions at the following banks: Nacional, Interbanco (Paraguay), ABN AMRO, Mercantil de São Paulo, Finasa and Santander Banespa. He was a Board member at Tecnologia Bancária S/A, Visa International and ABECS, the Brazilian Credit Cards and Services Association.
As the Institutional Relations Director of FEBRABAN (Brazilian Federation of Banks), he is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Project for Market Readiness (PMR) on carbon pricing, led by the Ministry of Finance, and of the Committee on Market and Finance of the Brazilian Rural Society (SRB). Mário Sérgio also represents FEBRABAN at the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change (FBMC) and UNEP FI.

Javier Vázquez
Sociólogo - Consultor, Desarrollo Urbano Sostenible / Sociologist - Consultant, Urban Sustainable Development

Licenciado en Sociología en la UBA. Abordó la problemática ambiental desde la Política Pública, ocupando varias posiciones en el Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Mediante elaboración y redacción de proyectos de ley y coordinación operativa, lideró distintas iniciativas de Cambio Climático y Resilencia, Energías Renovables y Eficiencia Energética, Residuos y Reciclado, Empleos Verdes y Producción más limpia.
Trabajó en el proyecto de integración social del Barrio 31 en CABA, diseñando un modelo de VIS sostenible, se especializó en EDGE y gestionó la primera certificación en Argentina (en el Barrio 31).
Actualmente, forma parte de la plataforma de Blue Economy Argentina; de CeSus (Centro de Sustentabilidad para gobiernos locales); y se desempeña como consultor para entes gubernamentales y privados, empresas, emprendedores y entidades financieras. Impulsando la transición hacia un modelo sostenible de desarrollo en las Ciudades, diseña e implementa proyectos buscando siempre la vinculación entre diferentes sectores.
Su visión: el crecimiento poblacional de las ciudades de Latinoamerica, los efectos del Cambio Climático, las estrategias de resilencia y el uso de energías renovables presentan desafío inmensos, pero también oportunidades únicas para que los gobiernos, empresas, entidades de crédito y ONGs trabajen alineados y lograr juntos los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible.

He has a bachelors in Sociology from the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). He confronted environmental issues from Public Policy perspective, assuming different roles within the Buenos Aires City Government. Through elaborating and drafting bills and operational coordination he has led various initiatives on Climate Change and Resilience, Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency, Waste and Recycling, Green Employment and Cleaner Production.
He has worked in a social integration project in Barrio 31 for CABA designing a model for sustainable VIS, he has specialized in EDGE and managed the first certification of this in Argentina (in Barrio 31).
He currently forms a part of the platform Blue Economy Argentina: Cesus (Sustainability Center for Local Governments) and works as a consultant for private and government entities, businesses, entrepreneurs and financial entities. Driving the transition toward a more sustainable model of development within cities he designs and implements projects, always seeking the link between different sectors.
His vision: A population growth within Latin American cities, the effects of Climate Change, strategies for resilience and the use of renewable energies presents immense challenges but also unique opportunities where governments, businesses, credit entities and NGOs work in alignment and together achieve the objectives of sustainable development.

Margaret Wachenfeld
Member of the Board of Directors, Corporate Human Rights Benchmark

Margaret G. Wachenfeld is an international lawyer and senior policy adviser. She is one of the founders of the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark and is a member of the Board of Directors. She is also Managing Director of Themis Research & Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Human Rights and Business. Previously, Margaret was Director of Research & Legal Affairs at IHRB for five years. Margaret started her career as legal counsel to the Danish Institute for Human Rights. After practicing law in a commercial firm for eight years, she joined the International Finance Corporation (IFC – World Bank Group) to work on the environmental and social dimensions of IFC transactions and later served as the first principal human rights advisor at IFC and EBRD, followed by six years as senior policy advisor to UNICEF. Margaret has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in biology (Wellesley College), a juris doctor (JD) and masters in international and comparative law (LLM) (Duke University School of Law) and a PhD in law (licentiat) (University of Copenhagen).