Day 1
8 Oct 2025
Welcome and opening remarks
Henry Gonzalez
Chief Investment Officer, Green Climate Fund
Henry is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), where he leads the organization’s investment strategy to drive climate action in developing countries. He also serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Philanthropy for Climate and Nature. Henry has previously held senior roles with the Government of Costa Rica, UNDP, the World Bank, Morgan Stanley, and responsAbility Investments. His career spans global development finance, sustainable investing, and public policy. He holds an MBA from the University of Oxford (as a Skoll Scholar), an MPA from Harvard University (as a Fulbright Scholar), and a BA in Political Science from the University of Costa Rica.
HE. Amb. Majid Al Suwaidi
CEO, Altérra
Majid Al Suwaidi is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Altérra, a catalytic climate fund launched at COP28 to transform how and where the world invests in climate solutions, and drive a net-zero, climate-resilient economy for all. As CEO, Mr. Al Suwaidi leads Altérra’s efforts to mobilize $250 billion globally by 2030, accelerating scalable and economically viable climate solutions. Altérra is the world’s largest private investment vehicle for climate finance, committed to deploying $30 billion toward climate investments that generate both positive climate impact and risk-adjusted returns across developed and emerging economies. Previously, Mr. Al Suwaidi served as Director General/Special Representative (DGSR) of the COP28 Presidency, where he supported the implementation of its Action plan to deliver long-lasting transformational impact to advance key initiatives beyond COP28 and help keep the goal of keeping global average temperature rise to 1.5°C within reach. An experienced ambassador and climate change negotiator, Mr. Al Suwaidi has held leading roles as UAE Ambassador to Spain, Andorra, and Vatican City; UAE Consul General in New York; and as the UAE’s Lead Negotiator on Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability in multilateral negotiations processes that led to the adoption of the Paris Agreement and of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.
From investment to climate impact: asset allocators share views and strategies
This panel will share insights from institutional investors on the role of climate and emerging markets in asset allocation strategies, covering issues such as:
Preferred fund structures and investment vehicles for these investments, and approaches to climate adaptation vs. mitigation; GCF perspectives on what types of allocations have resonated the most so far, and how these could be used for unlocking future capital; Challenges in translating high-level climate finance pledges into actionable, bankable projects that attract private investment; How project pipelines can be strengthened and scaled to meet asset allocator expectations for risk, return, and impact; and how public policy and regulatory frameworks can support faster project development and reduce time-to-market for climate investments.
Amer Baig
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Co-Investments, Green Climate Fund
Amer brings to GCF 30 years of experience in investment banking, investment management and financial services. Prior to joining the GCF, Amer was a partner and co-founder of a private investment firm and previously worked at the World Bank Group developing innovative financial products and mobilizing capital across both private and public sectors. Earlier in his career, Amer was previously in investment banking, working at Standard Chartered and Lazard, focusing on strategic and M&A transactions, capital markets and restructurings. He has also served as an external expert on the working group for connectivity for the UN’s Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, was a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Infrastructure and currently serves on the board of directors of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. Amer holds an economics degree from Durham University.
Nana Maidugu
Head of ESG and Sustainability, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)
Mrs. Nana Maidugu is the Head of Sustainability and ESG at the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, where she is responsible for developing and driving NSIA’s sustainability strategy & climate initiatives, as well as implementation of NSIA’s ESG framework across the Authority, its $2.8bn investment portfolio and its partnerships. With extensive experience in infrastructure investment, Nana has a track record in executing and managing strategic, impactful investments including several climate-focused projects. Nana serves on several national committees including the Presidential Committee on Project Evergreen, Intergovernmental Committee on Carbon Market Activation and the Nigeria Climate Change Fund Steering Committee, where she plays a key role in the development and implementation of important national climate policies and programs. She has authored several articles for prominent sustainability institutes and journals, contributing thought leadership on climate resilience, sustainable finance, and ESG practices. Nana has antecedent at KPMG, a professional services firm, where she worked in Management Consulting. She holds a First-Class Bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent and a Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Management from the University of Dundee
Maximilian Kufer
Head, Sustainability Strategy, EMEA & Private Markets, Invesco
Maximilian Kufer is the Head of Sustainability Strategy for Invesco in EMEA as well as for the Global Private Markets investment centres, which include the global real estate and private credit business units. In his role, he is responsible for client engagement, development of sustainability strategies and chairs ESG committees within investment centres. Representing Invesco in various industry forums, he is an active member in the IIGCC property working group, LSTA ESG Advisory Board, ELFA ESG Committee and GRESB Infrastructure Debt Working Group. Prior to joining Invesco in August 2021, Max was Global Sustainability Manager at AXA Investment Managers – Alts, leading the development and integration of responsible investment for real estate, infrastructure and private debt since 2016. Previously he worked as a financial analyst and in property management. Max holds a double BSc degree in Finance and Environmental Science from the American University of Paris and a MSc degree in Finance from L’Institut des Hautes Etudes Economiques et Commerciales.
Joko Sogie
VP of Investment, Indonesia Investment Authority (INA)
Joko Sogie is INA’s Vice President of Investment with 14 years of experience in investment and capital markets. He joined INA in May 2021 and leads the Green Energy and Natural Capital sector. Before INA, he served as Head of Research at PT Deutsche Verdhana Sekuritas Indonesia (DeutscheBank), covering conglomerates, automotive, infrastructure, building materials, and energy sectors for over a decade. He has also been actively involved in fundraising transactions totalling more than US$2billion across related sectors. Joko holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management from the Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia, graduating cumlaude.
Fatima Hussain
Senior Risk and Sustainability Management, Emirates Investment Authority
Fatima Abid Hussain is a seasoned risk management professional with over 17 years of experience across diverse industries and geographies. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with honors, and a Master’s degree in the same field from Stanford University, California. Her career began in Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs in New York, followed by Citadel Investment Group in Chicago, where she worked across the M&A Risk Arbitrage desk, Mortgage-Backed Securities desk, and Fundamental Equities. She later held a senior role at MSCI, advising sovereign wealth funds, pension plans, asset managers, hedge funds, and banks across the US, Europe, and the Middle East on risk management policies and regulatory compliance. Currently, Fatima serves as a part of the Senior Risk and Sustainability Management at the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA), the Federal Sovereign Wealth Fund of the UAE. She has played a key role in formalizing EIA’s Risk Management Process and Sustainability Framework, aligning them with global best practices while embedding a culture of disciplined risk management across investment teams.
William Campbell
Senior Counsel for Strategic Affairs, I Squared Capital
Bill Campbell is Senior Counsel for Strategic Affairs at I Squared Capital, where he focuses on I Squared’s various relationships with governments and development finance institutions around the world. He also advises I Squared’s investment teams on key transactions. Bill is an active member of I Squared’s Operating Committee. Bill served as General Counsel of I Squared Capital from its founding until December 2024, when he assumed his new role as Strategic Counsel reporting to I Squared’s Chairman to help manage the firm’s critical strategic affairs. Bill has in-depth experience advising sovereign governments in connection with national-interest infrastructure and other capacity building projects. Bill has also worked extensively throughout his career with development finance institutions such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Prior to joining I Squared Capital, Bill was a Partner in the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group.
Bridging the gap: driving the energy transition
Our showcase sessions feature GCF partners and investees, highlighting their work and sharing perspectives on collaborating with the GCF.
Ivette Velasquez Crespo
Climate Investement Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Ivette Crespo has over 15 years of experience at the intersection of energy innovation, traditional energy, and technology. She has advanced sustainable energy projects across Latin America, most recently as Investment Manager at Hydrogène de France, leading investments in Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Brazil, and Chile. Her background also includes advisory roles in the US and Africa, as well as positions with KfW and CABEI.
Emeka Ngwube
Head of Clean Energy, Crédit Agricole CIB
Emeka Ngwube is a Managing Director and Head of Clean Energy at Credit Agricole in New York. He has extensive securitization, project finance and sustainable investment experience. Over his 25+ years at international financing institutions, Credit Agricole and previously Credit Suisse, Emeka acted as a lever to scale up support for clean energy, sustainable finance and low emission projects. For example, I led the first-ever financing of a wind project using the Capital Markets. This groundbreaking transaction unlocked access to institutional capital for renewables. Since then, over US$40BN in financing has been raised in the Capital Markets for wind and solar worldwide. In 2023, Emeka championed the creation, and took the helm of a Clean Energy team to consolidate securitization and capital markets funding for Distributed Generation (e.g. rooftop solar, battery storage, and energy efficiency), and for utility scale renewables projects (primarily large wind, solar PV or hydro). Emeka advocates that financing innovations and business models that have fueled the growth of Distributed Generation in the U.S., and now in Europe, can be exported and blended at scale with public funding and/or guarantees, to unlock access to clean and efficient energy in emerging markets. Prior to banking, Emeka was a senior engineer at the hydro-power generation group of EDF, the French Electric Utility. Previously, he was Deputy Scientific Attaché at the French Embassy in Washington, DC. Emeka holds an MBA from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and a MSc. in Applied Mathematics from Ecole Centrale Lille in France.
Jaap Reinking
Principal Investment Officer, Private Equity, FMO
Jaap Reinking has been Director of the Private Equity department from June 2015 until December 2023. As of January 2024, he became a Principal Investment Officer Private Equity Energy. Prior to that he was Director for Financial Institutions department as from January 2014) and in between January 2009 and December 2013 he acted as Director for the Agribusiness & Diverse Sectors department of FMO. Before Jaap worked at FMO in a variety of positions including, Senior Credit Analyst, (Senior) Investment Officer and Managerial positions. He has gained broad experience in investing in emerging markets and as a Manager and Director he also proved to be a good people manager and a person able to give directions to a team comprising a maximum of 68 employees. Prior to FMO, Jaap worked at Banque de Suez Nederland N.V., Koninklijke Borsumij Wehry N.V., responsible for the implementation of the internal treasury department and as a Credit Risk Analyst at Deutsche Bank de Bary N.V. Jaap has attended various financial, management development, ESG, and Corporate Governance courses/trainings. Jaap Reinking is married and has three children.
The role of effective public and private sector engagement in effectively mobilising capital at scale
To mobilise capital at scale, effective public and private sector engagement is crucial. This panel will address issues such as:
The key barriers preventing greater private sector engagement in climate mitigation and adaptation finance, and how these can be addressed; How the private sector is engaging the public sector to effectively communicate the benefits of private financing to national climate action plans; and the role of NDAs in creating an enabling environment for engaging the private sector.
Thomas Eriksson
Regional Director for the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, Green Climate Fund
Mercedes Vela Monserrate
CEO, Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC)
Mercedes Vela Monserrate is the CEO of the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC). Previously, she led Finance Sector Partnerships at COP28 and served as Head of Sustainable Finance at ADGM. With senior roles at Morgan Stanley, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the European Parliament, Mercedes has a strong track record of advancing sustainability initiatives across global financial markets. She holds a BSc from Maastricht University and is recognized for her leadership in driving impactful strategies in climate finance.
Veronica Scotti
Formerly Chairperson, Public Sector Solutions, Swiss Re
Veronica is a globally recognized leader with over three decades of experience in reinsurance and finance, known for her advocacy of high-integrity, inclusive and nature-positive climate actions and risk management strategies. After a distinguished 26-year career at Swiss Re, Veronica transitioned in April 2025 to board and advisory roles, currently active as ORC Chair of the Gold Standard Foundation, Board member of the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation, and Advisory Council member of the Bretton Woods Committee and the Intact Center for Climate Adaptation. As Chairperson of Swiss Re’s Public Sector Solutions, Veronica led the creation of an industry-leading team and built a highly innovative business in over 80 countries. Her leadership shaped multi-year strategies, developed landmark PPPs, and fostered innovation in risk transfer solutions to support public sector resilience. She acted on High Level Panels for the UK and Canadian governments on disaster response and served on the Board of the IRENA’s Energy Transition Accelerator Financing platform. Previously, as President & CEO of Swiss Re Canada and NY-based MD Global Clients Americas, Veronica expanded client relationships and helped navigate complex regulatory landscapes. She also held various leadership roles at Swiss Re’s headquarters, spanning business development, risk management, in-force book management, asset management, and corporate strategy. Early in her career, Veronica gained expertise in M&A and corporate finance with Fox-Pitt Kelton, Paribas, and UBS. For her inclusive leadership, Veronica received multiple awards, including the Intelligent Insurer’s Top 50 Women in Re/Insurance. She is an active member of the International Women Forum.
Victoria Miles
Founding Partner, Co-CEO and CIO, ImpactA Global
As an expert in the delivery of innovative structured solutions for clients in Emerging Markets, Victoria brings a deep knowledge of project and infrastructure finance, together with Emerging Markets investment and risk management to the ImpactA Global management team. Previously a Managing Director in JP Morgan’s London Emerging Markets trading and syndication teams, she has over 30 years of experience in structured and bespoke investment in Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa and South East Asia. Her focus on infrastructure and complex finance in frontier and emerging markets has developed from her background providing funding solutions for sovereigns, corporates and banks through multiple economic and market cycles. In her previous role heading JP Morgan’s Global Emerging Market Corporate Research, Victoria was consistently ranked as the no 1 analyst for EM corporate and bank risk and for her model portfolio construction. She was widely recognised as the leading industry analyst specialised in identifying early stage systemic risk in Emerging Market financial sectors. She also performed portfolio management and senior risk advisory roles for JP Morgan. Prior to joining JP Morgan Victoria spent five years in Emerging Markets fixed income research at UBS and was an Economist and Banking Supervisor at the Bank of England. Victoria is on the advisory board of Exagon Impact, a specialist Latin America private equity infrastructure fund, and also on the advisory board of Sureco and Partners, a specialist sustainable finance advisor.
Hussain Ali Al Lawati
CEO, Development Bank
Hussain Ali Al Lawati currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank in Oman since February 2024. He brings over 19 years of experience in the banking and financial sector, having held CEO and senior leadership positions in various financial institutions. He actively contributes to national economic development initiatives through his membership in several government committees in Oman. He is also Harvard Business School graduate (Alumni).
Kirtika Challa
Partner, Crossboundary Group
Kirtika Challa is a Partner at CrossBoundary Advisory, and leads the firm’s Power and Infrastructure advisory practice focused on scaling energy and infrastructure investments across emerging markets. Her work spans Africa, Asia, Latin America and other underserved regions, where she supports governments, investors, and companies to unlock capital for critical infrastructure projects. Prior to her current role, she set up and led CrossBoundary’s first North Africa office in Tunisia, and was the Deputy Head of the Nigeria office. Before CrossBoundary Ms. Challa worked at Morgan Stanley in New York as a Trader and in Corporate Finance and has spent time in two different parts of the World Bank – MIGA and the Global Infrastructure Fund of the IFC’s Asset Management Company. Kirtika was born and grew up in India and she holds an MBA from the Wharton Business School and a BA in Economics and Engineering Studies from Lafayette College.
Opposite ends, shared goals: Business models powering the climate transition
Our showcase sessions feature GCF partners and investees, highlighting their work and sharing perspectives on collaborating with the GCF.
Georges Sander
Climate Investement Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Georges is an experienced investment professional with over fifteen years in banking, sustainable finance and emerging market development. He currently works as a Climate Finance Specialist at GCF’s Private Sector Facility. In this role, he originates and manages a portfolio of investments that support climate mitigation and adaptation in emerging markets. He oversees these projects across their full lifecycle, from early design to execution. Before joining GCF, Georges worked as a Projects Investment Manager at the Alliance to End Plastic Waste in Singapore. There, he designed blended-finance solutions to fight plastic pollution and support the circular economy. Earlier, he was Investment Director at Infra Capital Myanmar, backed by the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). He managed teams in Yangon to deliver clean energy, agriculture, and infrastructure projects. He guided these ventures from early concept through to commercial operations. Even in a difficult environment, his team achieved exits and attracted both debt and equity investors into Myanmar. His career began in corporate and private banking in Luxembourg, spanning SME lending, syndicated loan structuring and advising high-net-worth individuals. A CFA Charterholder and MBA graduate from Singapore Management University. With this experience, Georges continues to connect finance with real-world impact, helping emerging markets build a more resilient and sustainable future.
Kingsley Adofo-addo
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Group Manager, SME & Partnerships – Commercial Banking, Ecobank
Kingsley Adofo-Addo is the Group Commercial Banking Manager for SMEs and Partnerships at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the pan-African bank operating in 33 African countries. He leads the SME segment across all regions, driving business growth, profitability, and customer-centric innovation. He also oversees Ecobank’s gender-focused proposition, Ellevate, and provides strategic direction to Regional SME Heads. Kingsley serves as the team lead for the Ecobank Ghana GCF Desk, where he spearheads the development and implementation of the Accelerating Solar Action Program (ASAP), a $31 million climate finance initiative, and the Designated Authority Entity (DAE) Readiness proposal to establish a Climate Finance Centre in Ghana. These efforts aim to mobilize private sector investment for climate resilience, especially among SMEs and women-led businesses. With over 18 years of experience in banking, Kingsley has led transformative initiatives in financial inclusion, climate finance, and digital innovation. He has successfully deployed risk-sharing guarantees and digital credit solutions across Ecobank affiliates and is highly skilled in trade and structured finance. Kingsley holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Leicester, an MSc in International Business and Management from Sheffield Hallam University, and a B.Ed. in Psychology from the University of Cape Coast. He is also a Certified Expert in Digital Finance from Frankfurt Business School and serves on the board of the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies at the University of Ghana.
Lasitha Perera
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, The Development Guarantee Group
Lasitha Perera is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Development Guarantee Group (DGG) and has extensive experience in debt capital markets and structured finance across developed and developing markets. Prior to DGG, Lasitha was CEO at GuarantCo, part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group, where he tripled the portfolio to USD 950 million and doubled the capital base to over USD 650 million. He established key partnerships including with the London Stock Exchange and conceptualised the InfraCredit local currency guarantor model in Nigeria. Before GuarantCo, Lasitha worked at Barclays Capital in London and New York focusing on structured debt products. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Bristol University.
Middle East momentum – perspectives on blended finance in the region
This panel will explore blended finance trends and developments within the region, addressing issues such as:
The role of the Middle East in driving financing for climate, sustainable development and human centricity; Examples of blended finance models being developed in the region, and how these can serve as blueprints for scaling impact, both locally and globally; Ways in which the region is leveraging its capital to support climate finance and sustainable infrastructure development in emerging markets; The role of Islamic finance principles and financial instruments such as green sukuk in advancing blended finance in the Middle East; and necessary policy and regulatory frameworks for sustaining and accelerating blended finance leadership in the region.
Mark Nicholls
Independent sustainable finance writer and editor
Mark Nicholls is an independent journalist and editor specialising in sustainable finance and environmental markets. He writes for specialist media, bluechip companies, financial institutions, trade associations, think-tanks and academic institutions. He was the co-founder of Environmental Finance magazine, and an editor at Risk Publications. He has degrees in politics and policy from Durham University and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Vivek Shah
Head, Corporate Banking, Emirates Islamic Bank
Vivek Shah currently leads the Corporate & Institutional Banking at Emirates Islamic Bank, a subsidiary of Emirates NBD Group. In his current role, he is responsible for the overall growth of the business primarily focusing on deepening and expanding relationships with local and international Corporates, Financial Institutions and Sovereigns while managing account profitability and wallet share through enhancement of product suite. He is also a member of the Executive Committee and Wholesale Banking Islamic Sustainable Finance Committee at Emirates Islamic Bank. Vivek has over 22 years of experience in banking sector and corporate finance in various leadership roles. Previously, Vivek has served ENBD Group for 9 years in various capacities including Regional Head of Institutional and International Banking & Debt Capital Markets at Emirates NBD Bank and Head of Loan Syndications at Emirates NBD Capital. He has also served as Group CFO for Emerald Palace Group in the UAE.
Dina Kasrawi
Head of Company Engagement and Sustainability, MEA, BNP Paribas
Dina Kasrawi is Head of Company Engagement and Sustainability at BNP Paribas in the Middle East and Africa. A seasoned professional, she has over 25 years of experience in financial services and multilateral organisations—with focus on sustainability, CSR and stakeholder engagement. She worked at the World Bank where she advised and implemented development communications programs on across Africa and the Middle East. She also worked at the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and the Arab Energy Fund. Dina has an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, an M.A. from American University, and a B.A. from Kuwait University.
Driving change: Accelerating EV adoption
Our showcase sessions feature GCF partners and investees, highlighting their work and sharing perspectives on collaborating with the GCF.
Marcel Heijman
Climate Investment Manager, Green Climate Fund
Marcel W. Heijman is a global investment professional with over 25 years of experience in lending. He has held leadership roles in Europe and Asia, delivering tailored capital solutions and overseeing multi-billion-dollar portfolios. Currently based in South Korea, Marcel leads private sector investments at the Green Climate Fund, focusing on Climate Resilience Infrastructure. Prior to this, he held senior positions at Rabobank, managing credit platforms and driving innovation in structured finance, project finance and sustainable lending. Marcel holds a degree in Business Administration, complemented by executive training from Wharton, Moody’s, and AIF in private equity, valuation, and risk management.
Sandeep Gambhir
Chief Executive Officer, Vertelo
Sandeep is the Chief Executive Officer for Vertelo and heads the India operations. He has over 27 years’ experience, primarily working in senior leadership positions with large multinationals including Citigroup, Barclays and ORIX India. He has held positions such as MD and CEO , Head – Sales and Distribution and Chief Financial Officer. His capabilities include managing complex turnaround assignments, leading diverse cultural teams, and navigating diverse corporate landscapes. His expertise in B2B auto leasing and EV ecosystems, sound financial acumen and strong people management skills have helped him create high performance organisations. At Vertelo, he is responsible for building an integrated fleet electrification platform that will help Commercial Fleet Operators transition their Diesel / Petrol vehicle flets to EVs.
Impact in Action: Bringing capital, expertise and scalability to successful start-ups in the Global South
Julien Taris
Senior International Expert – Financial Structuring, Green Climate Fund
Edgar Parra Oyervides
Senior Investment Officer, IDB Lab
Edgar Parra holds a Bachelor’s in Finance and Business Administration from Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City, a specialization in Banking and Finance from the Instituto de Estudios Bursátiles in Madrid, and a Master’s in Corporate Finance from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). He has also completed executive certifications on climate risk and adaptation from the University of Oxford, the CFA Institute, and the Frankfurt School. Edgar began his career in investment banking at Scotiabank Inverlat and Multiva before joining FOCIR, a trust fund of Mexico’s Ministry of Finance focused on equity investments in agribusiness and impact companies, where he served as Director of Investments in Impact Funds. Since 2022, Edgar has been a Senior Investment Officer at the Venture Capital Investments Division of the Innovation Laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB Lab), where he leads the division’s climate change and sustainability strategy. In this role, he oversees investments in startups and venture capital funds across Latin America and the Caribbean, with a strong focus on climate technology and nature-based solutions. His work not only mobilizes capital toward innovative business models that address climate challenges, but also strengthens the region’s venture ecosystem, fosters collaboration with global partners, and contributes to the IDB Group’s broader goals of climate resilience, digital inclusion, and sustainable development.
Hendrik Tiesinga
CEO, Climate Edge
Hendrik Tiesinga is the Founder and CEO of Climate Edge, a climate tech deployment accelerator focused on closing the gap between breakthrough climate technologies and large-scale adoption. Climate Edge partners with corporates and investors to source the most promising startups, design and implement pilot projects, and structure catalytic climate financing to scale proven solutions. His current work spans clean energy for AI, maritime and industrial decarbonization, and catalytic finance for early-of-a-kind projects. Hendrik brings more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of climate innovation and finance. Previously, as Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at New Energy Nexus, he built the world’s largest clean energy startup accelerator and funder, launched Southeast Asia’s first clean energy venture fund, and co-created Free Electrons, a global utility-backed open innovation platform. He is also editor of two books on accelerators and innovation labs, and a frequent advisor to philanthropies, DFIs, and corporate investors.
Kijung Kwon
Managing Director/CEO, NH Absolute Return Partners
Mr. Kijung Kwon is the Managing Director of NH Absolute Return Partners in Singapore, a subsidiary of NH Financial Group in Korea. He is the key person in charge of making investment decision for the funds that invest in private equities and private debts focusing on fintech and climate techs in Southeast Asia, India and US. Prior to his current role, he oversaw diversified investment portfolios in Eugene Investment & Securities Co. Ltd. as an Executive Director. Mr. Kwon has previously managed Pan-Asia Equity Long-Short Strategy, CB arbitrage strategy, growth capital strategy and private debt portfolio, and invested in alternative asset funds such as private equity and credit funds as fund of funds strategy. He has long-standing experience in conducting comprehensive due diligence, drafting investment memorandums, establishing and running investment committee and making decisions in investment targets. Prior to joining Eugene Investment & Securities, Mr. Kwon held various positions in Equity Capital Market business of Mirae Asset Securities Singapore, Royal Bank of Scotland Singapore, Macquarie Securities and Merrill Lynch International. He is currently pursuing master of science in sustainable and green finance in National University of Singapore and holds bachelor’s degree in business administration in Korea University.
Sapna Shah
Partner, Novastar Ventures
Sapna is a Partner at Novastar Ventures East Africa Advisors Limited, Nairobi. Sapna started her career in international banking, initially at Lloyds TSB and later at HSBC, working with entrepreneurs and SMEs at various stages of their business lifecycle in the UK, US, Europe and the Middle East. She returned to Kenya in 2012 to continue her passion for working with entrepreneurs, this time as an investor at Acumen and co-founder of a food start-up. She joined Novastar in 2015. Sapna graduated from the London School of Economics with a Bsc (Hons) in Government and Economics.
Unpacking the GCF: Best practices for building effective partnerships to facilitate efficient deployment of private capital
This practical and interactive session will offer tools and support for building a successful partnership with the GCF, with opportunities for questions and troubleshooting. The session will include topics such as:
The key components of an effective accredited entity/partner; Best practices and lessons learned within the different steps of the accreditation process; and identifying and tackling potential pitfalls and challenges .
Achala Abeysinghe
Director - Department of Investment Services, Green Climate Fund
Achala Abeysinghe is the Director of the Department of Investment Services at the Green Climate Fund (GCF), bringing over two decades of leadership experience in climate change and sustainable development. A lawyer by training, she holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Colombo and a Master’s and PhD in international climate law from the University of Kent, UK. Achala is also a certified ESG sustainability professional. Before joining GCF, she served as Director and Head of Programs for Asia at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), where she led its largest regional green growth portfolio and was a member of the senior management team. She previously held the roles of GGGI Country Director in Papua New Guinea and Head of Climate Diplomacy at the International Institute for Environment and Development in the UK. She was a lead author of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report and played a pivotal role in shaping the Paris Agreement on climate change as the legal and strategic advisor to the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group in the UNFCCC negotiations.
Brady Martin
Senior Partnership Officer - Special Funds Management, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Brady Martin has nearly two decades of experience working in development finance, shaped by a diverse set of roles at multilateral institutions including global and regional MDBs, the United Nations, as well as in the private sector impact investors. The throughline has been the creation and management of funding mechanisms to bridge and blend finance to the climate and nature solutions.
Jiwoo Choi
Chief of Strategic Initiatives, Acumen
Jiwoo Choi is Chief of Acumen’s Strategic Initiatives Group and Head of Hardest-to-Reach Initiative. Jiwoo has 25+ years of experience in investment and risk management across a whole suit of structured finance, project finance and corporate finance transactions. Her core area of expertise is climate finance having led the net zero strategy as Chief Risk and Sustainability Officer in Shinhan Bank, serving as Chief Risk Officer of Dubai Green Fund, Dubai’s sovereign fund focused on green investments and as Director a.i. in Private Sector Facility at Green Climate Fund. Before dedicating her career to climate finance, she worked in various positions in Standard & Poor’s for over 10 years, headed the global asset management of Hanwha Life (formerly Korea Life) and served in the Ministry of Finance and Economy in Korea. Jiwoo holds an MBA from INSEAD in France and Tsinghua University in China.
José Carlos Villena Pérez
Director - Development Finance, COFIDES
José Carlos Villena is Director of Development Finance at COFIDES, the Spanish DFI and EDFI member. Graduate in Law, Business Administration, and Actuarial Sciences from Universidad Carlos III. Master’s degrees in International Management, Microfinance, and an MBA. He joined COFIDES in 2007 and has held positions across several departments. He currently heads the Development Finance Division, which support AECID (Spanish Develoment Cooperation Agency), as well as blended finance operations with the EU and the Green Climate Fund. He has also worked at MIGA (World Bank) and he is professor on climate finance and financial inclusion.
Day 2
9 Oct 2025
Mark Nicholls
Independent sustainable finance writer and editor
Mark Nicholls is an independent journalist and editor specialising in sustainable finance and environmental markets. He writes for specialist media, bluechip companies, financial institutions, trade associations, think-tanks and academic institutions. He was the co-founder of Environmental Finance magazine, and an editor at Risk Publications. He has degrees in politics and policy from Durham University and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Financial structures in action
This session will explore the different financial instruments available for mobilising private capital, addressing topics such as:
Examples of financial structures that have proven effective in unlocking private capital, and why; How financial structures can be tailored to support different stages of project development, from early innovation to large-scale deployment; Structures that have proven to be scalable across sectors and geographies; The role of risk-sharing mechanisms within these structures in helping to attract institutional and retail investors to climate-related projects; and the use of blended finance models vs. other structures, and the associated opportunities and challenges.
Andrew Yu Han
Senior Climate Investment Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Andrew currently serves as the senior climate investment specialist overlooking financial structuring of the Private Sector Facility investment in Green Climate Fund. Prior to his service at Green Climate Fund, Andrew worked as the Country Head of the Special Asset Group at Citibank. Andrew is a seasoned investment and legal professional with managerial experience and track records spanning across legal practice, funds, pension funds and investment banks. Andrew has always been passionate in exploring creative and innovative financial structures to unlock private sector capitals and investment leading to greater impacts.
Jennifer Chammas
Managing Director, Regional Head of Sustainable Finance and Transition, Middle East, HSBC
Jennifer Chammas is based in Dubai and serves as Regional Head of Sustainable Finance and Transition for HSBC Corporate and Institutional Bank in the Middle East. Jennifer leads the bank’s commercial sustainability agenda in the region and engages with clients across sectors and their value chains to support their sustainability and transition goals. Jennifer also focusses on scaling fast growing transition ecosystems and supporting the growth of emerging climate technology business. With over a decade of international banking experience across New York, London and Dubai, Jennifer brings a uniquely broad and global perspective to her role. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance) from Boston University and a MBA from New York University (Stern). Jennifer was born in Lebanon and is fluent in English, Arabic and French.
Lina Osman
Regional Head – Sustainable Finance, Middle East & Africa, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Standard Chartered Bank
Lina is the Regional Head of Sustainable Finance, Middle East, Africa and Pakistan at Standard Chartered Bank. She has over 19 years of banking experience across Sustainable Finance, Corporate Finance, and investment banking, delivering innovative deal origination and execution across various industries and regions. In her current role, Lina has developed key relationships with clients advising them on sustainable finance solutions and instruments, and on suitable transition opportunities for their businesses. She also sits on various working groups with the objective of mobilizing capital towards green, social, and transition projects. Lina holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance (Magna Cum Laude) from the American University of Sharjah with a minor in Economics, and an MBA with distinction from London Business School. Lina was also a board member of the MENA Clean Energy Business Council (“CEBC”).
Mohamed Kharbat
Executive Director, Infrastructure Finance, J.P. Morgan
Mohamed Kharbat is a senior member of J.P. Morgan’s Infrastructure Finance and Advisory team, with responsibility for the firm’s infrastructure financing activities across the Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia and Africa. With more than 15 years of experience in the sector, Mohamed has advised governments, financial institutions and corporates on structuring and financing landmark infrastructure projects across a wide range of infrastructure asset classes. J.P. Morgan’s Infrastructure Finance and Advisory team is product-agnostic, providing clients with comprehensive solutions that span loans, bonds, ratings and M&A financings. Within this framework, Mohamed plays a leading role in originating and executing transactions that enable critical infrastructure development in high-growth and emerging markets. In addition to advisory and structuring experience, Mohamed has spent time on the buy side, investing in high-yield infrastructure debt. This dual perspective has allowed him to bring a holistic view of the market and deliver innovative, practical solutions to clients. Before joining financial services, Mohamed pursued an academic path that culminated in a PhD in Engineering from Cranfield University in the UK.
Oliver Phillips
Head of Sustainable Finance – Emerging Markets, Barclays
Oliver Phillips is Regional Head of Sustainable Finance for the Middle East and Africa at Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank, based in the UAE. In this role, he works with clients to structure innovative sustainable finance solutions, evolve their businesses to deliver on their sustainability goals and manage the increasing complexities of the energy transition. A key part of his focus is supporting the flow of capital into the new technologies and companies needed to deliver on decarbonisation and sustainable development. Since moving to the UAE in 2020, Oliver has been at the forefront of many of the landmark transactions across the Middle East and Africa.
Sharing the revised accreditation process for onboarding accredited entities and partners
In it most recent meeting, GCF’s board adopted the new Accreditation Framework and the updated Monitoring and Accountability Framework. This session will provide insight into the major changes between the old and new frameworks, their implications and the roadmap to implementation.
Achala Abeysinghe
Director - Department of Investment Services, Green Climate Fund
Achala Abeysinghe is the Director of the Department of Investment Services at the Green Climate Fund (GCF), bringing over two decades of leadership experience in climate change and sustainable development. A lawyer by training, she holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Colombo and a Master’s and PhD in international climate law from the University of Kent, UK. Achala is also a certified ESG sustainability professional. Before joining GCF, she served as Director and Head of Programs for Asia at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), where she led its largest regional green growth portfolio and was a member of the senior management team. She previously held the roles of GGGI Country Director in Papua New Guinea and Head of Climate Diplomacy at the International Institute for Environment and Development in the UK. She was a lead author of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report and played a pivotal role in shaping the Paris Agreement on climate change as the legal and strategic advisor to the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group in the UNFCCC negotiations.
Water innovative blended finance models for climate-resilient water security
Water security is central to climate adaptation but remains underfunded due to high risks and fragmented governance.
This session explores how blended finance through concessional capital, guarantees, and innovative instruments such as green sukuk and water bonds, can unlock private investment in climate-resilient water solutions. Showcasing successful GCF-supported projects, the session highlights pathways to scale investments in water infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and integrated water resource management. Panelists will discuss risk mitigation, enabling policy frameworks, and replicable financing models that deliver resilience, sustainable development co-benefits, and attractive returns. The session aims to catalyze partnerships that make water security investable, scalable, and impactful for vulnerable regions.
Amgad Elmahdi
Regional Manager, Middle East, Regional Manager, Middle East
Dr. Amgad Elmahdi is the Regional Manager for MENA at the Green Climate Fund-GCF and brings over 25 years of hydrology expertise across operational, research, and academic sectors. Previously, as GCF's Global Water Sector Lead for the last two years, he crafted the water investment strategy. Before joining GCF, Dr. Elmahdi directed R4D business portfolios for MENA at the International Water Management Institute-IWMI. Earlier roles included Head of Water Resources at Australia's Bureau of Meteorology, and establishing the Water Assessment and Accounting Information Program. He chairs the Water Security Bureau at IWRA and serves on steering committees for ICID, Water and Climate Coalition-WCC, Water and Finance Coalition-WFC, and Water Integrity Network-WIN.
Hala Alhuniti
Head of the Projects Management and Agreements Unit, CVDB (Cities and Villages Development Bank)
Hala AlHuniti is the Head of the Project Management and Agreements Unit at the Cities and Villages Development Bank (CVDB) where she expertly navigates complex project landscapes, ensuring meticulous review and collaboration on project proposals with both local and international entities. She is instrumental in studying and finalizing agreements, coordinating with departments to secure international funding, and implementing projects in line with approved plans. With a strategic vision, Hala follows up on periodic and final reports, closes agreements, and amplifies the bank's role to attract international partnerships. She manages international relations, enhances bilateral communications, and organizes pivotal events including meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions. Her coordination extends to overseeing nominations for international events and leading field tours for practical applications and comparative studies. She was instrumental in securing the Bank's recent GCF accreditation the first national entity in the Middle East. Hala's extensive experience includes managing projects funded and implemented by prestigious organizations such as EIB, GGGI, GCF, IFC, AFD, and UN Habitat. Her commitment to excellence and strategic foresight position her as a key figure in driving the bank’s mission to foster sustainable, climate responsive development in Jordan's municipalities.
Martina Dupakova
Deputy Country Director - Programs, Acted Syria
Martina Dupakova is the Deputy Country Director for Programs (Head of Programs) at Acted in the Syrian Arab Republic, where she leads initiatives focused on sustainable water resource management in areas severely affected by climate change. With over a decade of experience working in fragile and conflict affected contexts around the world, she oversees the development and implementation of water security program that aligns climate adaptation goals with local realities, particularly in protracted crisis settings. At the Deep dive session: Water Innovative blended finance models for climate-resilient water security, Martina will share lessons from Acted’s operational experience, sharing insights on integration of nature-based solutions into water resource management that offers potential for blended financing in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable and institutionally fragile environments.
Daouda Ndiaye
Manager, Climate Change and Environment, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
Daouda is the Manager of the Climate Change and Environment Division at the Islamic Development Bank. A Senegalese national with more than 20 years of experience in environmental research, development and climate finance, he has supported developing countries at the global level in the development and implementation of climate and environmental policies and projects. He has developed with time a solid 360° experience in the design, implementation, supervision and technical review of environmental and climate change adaptation projects in Africa and other regions. Daouda is also member of the Executive Committee of the AfDB-backed Adaptation Benefits Mechanism, chairing the Methodology Panel of the Mechanism, and has also co-chaired the joint MDB Working Group on Adaptation and Resilience. Daouda was previously Senior Climate Change Specialist at the Adaptation Fund Board Secretariat, where he was coordinating the Fund’s Results Based Management Framework, including monitoring of the Fund’s portfolio of projects and programmes. He has also worked as a Regional Technical Advisor at UNDP’s Regional Centre for Western and Central Africa, supporting UNDP country offices in the design and implementation of biodiversity and land degradation projects. Daouda holds a PhD in Ecology and a Master's degree in Business administration.
Muhammad El Demerdash
Co-founder and CEO, Engazaat
Muhammad is a social entrepreneur with a solid hands-on track-record of building, managing ventures and investment structures in Egypt and the GCC. He has a passion for supporting entrepreneurship, technology, and sustainable development businesses that create a meaningful positive impact to communities and people. Muhammad carries 21 years of professional experience in both local and multinational companies, with a successful track record of managing a portfolio exceeding MUSD 60 in the development and implementation of flagship projects in digital infrastructure in Egypt and the Region. In 2011, Muhammad Co-founded, engazaat; Egypt's first independent power and water producer (IPWP). All over 14 years engazaat has developed a unique clean tech infrastructure investment portfolio exceeding 50 MUSD, 250 MUSD in pipeline, more than 63MWp of renewable energy, while producing, managing and operating more than 15 million cubic meters of water. This growth trajectory has set engazaat as the leading developer in the C&I space, with 5 subsidiaries, operating in 3 countries: Egypt, UAE, and Lebanon
Nicolas Farhat
Deputy General Manager, Berytech
Nicolas currently serves as the Deputy General Manager of Berytech, where he leads the organization’s full spectrum of business activities, ensuring strategic alignment, operational excellence, and sustainable impact across all programs and initiatives. Prior to this role, Nicolas served as Senior Director of Programs at Berytech and as the Regional Innovation Hub Manager for the MENA region under the Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) initiative, an international effort supported by the German BMZ, the EU, the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norad, Sida, and USAID. In that role, he provided strategic leadership and general technical direction, overseeing the scaling of innovative solutions in water, energy, and food sectors across the region. Nicolas also led Berytech’s SMEs division, managing several support programs for MSMEs in Lebanon across various sectors. These programs were funded by a diverse array of donors, including the UN’s WFP, AFD, GIZ, Canada, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He joined Berytech in 2020 after an accomplished 11-year career in project finance, where he specialized in corporate banking, syndicated lending, and non-recourse project finance. His focus was on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and large-scale renewable energy projects. Over the course of his finance career, Nicolas structured and arranged transactions exceeding $2 billion and collaborated with stakeholders including UHNWIs, international donors and financial institutions, Tier 1 legal counsels, and technical advisors. What continues to drive Nicolas is his passion for leveraging financial innovation to advance sustainable development. He is committed to bridging private-sector acumen with impact-driven goals, creating transformative change in Lebanon and the broader MENA region.
Measuring impact: quantitative and qualitative outcomes from funded projects across developing countries and regions
Neeraj Joshi
Climate Change Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Neeraj Joshi is a senior climate finance and decarbonization expert with over 17 years of international experience advancing low-carbon and climate-resilient development. He serves as Climate Change Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist at the Private Sector Facility of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), where he leads climate impact assessments across the private sector portfolio and supports the integration of carbon markets, GHG accounting, and Article 6 mechanisms into investment strategies. Appointed by the UNFCCC as a technical expert for Article 6 and the Enhanced Transparency Framework, Neeraj contributes to international climate reviews under the Paris Agreement. His career spans Europe and Asia with organizations such as IPC GmbH, Gold Standard, and Nexus for Development, where he managed green finance portfolios, conducted industrial energy audits, and developed carbon projects that collectively issued more than 6.5 million credits under CDM and voluntary standards. With deep expertise in climate finance, carbon markets, and impact measurement, Neeraj is known for bringing practical insights into how sustainable finance and market mechanisms can drive transformative climate action. He actively engages with multilateral climate funds, development banks, and international platforms to shape methodologies that harmonize climate finance tracking and strengthen Paris-aligned investments.
Eduardo Mufarej
Partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Just Climate
Eduardo Mufarej is an investor and entrepreneur with extensive experience across private equity, education, and sustainable finance. He is a Founding Partner of Tarpon Investimentos, one of Brazil’s pioneering investment firms, where he led the investment in Somos Educação, which grew into Latam’s largest K–12 education company before its acquisition by Kroton. Eduardo also founded Good Karma Partners, an investment platform focused on technology and innovation in healthcare, education and climate, which later merged into Generation Investment Management, and co-founded RenovaBR, Brazil’s leading political education initiative. Eduardo is a partner at Generation and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Just Climate, where he advances investment strategies dedicated to accelerating the net-zero transition. He also serves as a Trustee of The Earthshot Prize, supporting one of the world’s most ambitious initiatives to identify and scale solutions to the planet’s most urgent environmental challenges.
Ellie Turner
Director, 60 Decibels
Ellie Turner is a Director at 60 Decibels, where she partners with impact investors to deliver lean, beneficiary-centered impact measurement. Her work focuses on climate resilience and agriculture in emerging markets, helping organizations understand and amplify the voices of the people they serve. Ellie holds a Master’s in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics and brings nearly two decades of experience designing and evaluating livelihoods programs around the world.
Hector Gomez Ang
CIO, Finance in Motion
Hector Gomez Ang is Finance in Motion´s Chief Investment Officer, where he is responsible for the leadership of the global investment management operations and new business development of the firm. He joined Finance in Motion after 16 years at the IFC – International Finance Corporation where he held leadership positions in Mexico, Brazil, Southern Africa and where his last position was the Regional Director for South Asia, based in Delhi. Hector started his career as an oilfield engineer at Schlumberger, and then worked in developing Mexico´s first private power project at Mexico´s Grupo Alfa. He also worked in investment banking and M&A with Citigroup and AIG in Brazil and New York. Hector has been a board member of some of Latin America´s largest banks, Davivienda in Colombia and Banbajio in Mexico, among other financial services and funds. He holds a Chemical and Systems Engineering – and MBA degrees from Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico. He also holds a Master´s degree in Social Business and Entrepreneurship – with distinction – from the London School of Economics – LSE.
Laura Lahti
Head of Impact, Camco
Laura Lahti is Head of Impact at Camco, where she leads the development and implementation of the firm’s impact strategy, Environmental & Social Safeguards Policy, and gender equality approach. With over 15 years of experience designing and managing climate change mitigation initiatives for public and private sector clients and investors, Laura has helped shape the international climate and sustainability action. Her work focuses on monitoring and reporting climate and sustainable development outcomes, ensuring that capital flows are both responsible and results driven. Laura brings strong technical expertise combined with practical implementation, enabling investors to achieve measurable impact through climate finance and sustainable development.
From inputs to impact: Decarbonising fertiliser at scale
Our showcase sessions feature GCF partners and investees, highlighting their work and sharing perspectives on collaborating with the GCF.
Yunyeong Yang
Climate Investment Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Yunyeong Yang is a Climate Investment Specialist at the Private Sector Facility at the Green Climate Fund. Her expertise lies in private sector investment across Energy, Industry, Transport, and other hard-to-abate sectors. Since joining the Fund in 2014, she has held various roles. Prior to her current position, she led sovereign transactions in the Energy and Transport sectors, as well as contributed to the Fund’s sector strategy development. Additionally, she played a key role in establishing technical assistance windows such as the Readiness Programme and Project Preparation Facility in the early years of the Fund. Yunyeong holds a Master’s degree in International Development with a concentration in International Energy from Sciences Po Paris.
Olivier Mussat
CEO, ATOME
Olivier BA, MS, has joined ATOME from being the Chief Investment Officer of Global Energy at the IFC, part of the World Bank Group. After starting his career as a field engineer in the power sector, he is vastly experienced in funding and managing energy infrastructure assets for Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables. He has lead over $500M of equity investments in early stage companies and over $30bn of corporate and structured debt finance transactions
Climate-resilient agriculture in action
Our showcase sessions feature GCF partners and investees, highlighting their work and sharing perspectives on collaborating with the GCF.
Hyejin Lee
Climate Investment Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Hyejin Lee is a Climate Investment Specialist at the Private Sector Facility of the Green Climate Fund and has nearly 20 years of experience spanning corporate banking, climate finance, and investment structuring across a range of financial instruments and climate finance transactions. Since joining the fund in 2016, she has led and managed private equity and structured finance products in the frontier markets in Asia-Pacific and Africa. In her current role, she supports pioneering PE and VC funds and projects with a focus on agriculture, renewable energy and natural capital. Prior to this, she worked at the World Bank’s carbon finance unit, where she contributed to countries’ carbon market initiatives. She began her career at Citibank, where she handled equity and debt transactions for institutional investors. Hyejin earned an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs with a concentration in International Finance and BA degrees in Economics and Political Science from Sogang University.
Tamer El-Raghy
Managing Director, Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF)
Tamer has over 25 years of investment, entrepreneurial and innovation experience in Africa, Middle East, USA and Europe. As the MD of ARAF; an impact fund that invests in Agribusinesses with business models that help farmers adapt to climate change, he led the team that invested in 14 companies that impacted more than two million farmers in East and West Africa. Prior to joining ARAF, he led responsAbility AG Agriculture PE in Africa and Cargill’s growth strategy and investment activities in Africa. He received an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, a PhD in Materials Engineering from Drexel University and a B.Sc. in Metallurgical Engineering from Cairo University.
Desmond Koney
CEO, Complete Farmer
Desmond Koney is the founder and CEO of Complete Farmer Inc. Complete Farmer is an end-to-end platform connecting global industries to build supply chains and source for agriculture commodities grown to their specifications by African Farmers with disruptive technologies. Complete Farmer's aim is to digitize the agriculture value chain in Africa to make it more efficient and competitive for stakeholders. Desmond is a mechanical engineer and product designer with interests in process optimization, product development and strategy development and a keen problem solver. With a firm believe that better products improve livelihood and build a better world. Desmond likes to approach challenges with a contrarian and pragmatic approach and likes to explore possible design solutions to Africa’s pressing challenges. He is also an expert in product design, IoT, Artificial intelligence, agriculture and renewable energy.
Capital for climate: scaling technologies for a greener economy
Erik Grigoryan
Founder and CEO, Environment Group
Erik Grigoryan has over 25 years of diversified experience in government and international organizations, with a strong background in environmental management and climate policy. He served as Minister of Environment of Armenia from 2018 to 2020, where he also acted as Chair of the Interstate Ecological Council of CIS, NDA to the GCF and Adaptation Fund, and Focal Point for the GEF and UNFCCC in Armenia. Earlier, he held senior positions in the Ministry of Environment, including First Deputy Minister (2017–2018) and Assistant to the Prime Minister on Environment and Climate Issues. He also worked extensively with international organizations such as the WB, EBRD, ADB, UNDP, USAID, and UN ESCAP. Currently, Mr. Grigoryan is the Founder and CEO of Environment Group and serves as the Special Envoy of Armenia on Debt for Climate Negotiations. He is also a Bureau Member of the IPBES and chair of the Budget and Finance Working Group. Throughout his career, he has represented Armenia in key international negotiations, led national reforms in environmental governance, and championed innovative climate finance mechanisms, including debt-for-climate swaps not only in Armenia but also in Sri Lanka, Pacific SIDS, and other regions.
The path forward – the business case to support climate action in developing countries
Jeffrey Sachs
Director - Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University & President, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Jeffrey D. Sachs is University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Developmentat Columbia University, where he directed the Earth Institute from 2002 until 2016. He is President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Co-Chair of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition, Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development, academician of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at the Vatican, and Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Honorary Distinguished Professor at Sunway University. He has been Special Advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, and currently serves as an SDG Advocate under Secretary General António Guterres. He spent over twenty years as a professor at Harvard University, where he received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. Sachs has received 42 honorary doctorates, and his recent awards include the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development, the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of the Republic of France, and the Order of the Cross from the President of Estonia. His most recent books are The Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (2020) and Ethics in Action for Sustainable Development (2022).
Final reflection and closing remarks
Kavita Sinha
Director, Private Sector Facility, Green Climate Fund
Kavita Sinha is Green Climate Fund’s Director of the Department of Private Sector where she responsible for global leadership of GCF’s private sector operations and as a member of GCF’s senior management team, plays a critical role in advancing the Fund’s overall strategic goals. She is an internationally well recognized leader of private climate finance, impact investment and international development finance with a stellar record of green market creation in emerging markets and developing economies. She joined GCF after two decades of leadership roles with multinational corporations (both publicly listed and privately held), international agencies, and philanthropic foundations. She also worked in the past for nearly a decade with the U.S. Agency for International Development where she held management roles in renewable energy, power sector reform, and clean energy trade. She is a published author and recognized speaker on topics related to blended finance for impact, energy transition, and market disruption. She also serves on the Boards of non-profit organizations involved in sustainable development issues. She has an MBA from Rutgers Business School, an honors degree in chemical engineering and doctoral studies in energy systems from leading engineering schools in India. She has also studied international relations, climate finance and sustainable investing.
Side events
Preparing a successful FP
Neeraj Joshi
Climate Change Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Neeraj Joshi is a senior climate finance and decarbonization expert with over 17 years of international experience advancing low-carbon and climate-resilient development. He serves as Climate Change Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist at the Private Sector Facility of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), where he leads climate impact assessments across the private sector portfolio and supports the integration of carbon markets, GHG accounting, and Article 6 mechanisms into investment strategies. Appointed by the UNFCCC as a technical expert for Article 6 and the Enhanced Transparency Framework, Neeraj contributes to international climate reviews under the Paris Agreement. His career spans Europe and Asia with organizations such as IPC GmbH, Gold Standard, and Nexus for Development, where he managed green finance portfolios, conducted industrial energy audits, and developed carbon projects that collectively issued more than 6.5 million credits under CDM and voluntary standards. With deep expertise in climate finance, carbon markets, and impact measurement, Neeraj is known for bringing practical insights into how sustainable finance and market mechanisms can drive transformative climate action. He actively engages with multilateral climate funds, development banks, and international platforms to shape methodologies that harmonize climate finance tracking and strengthen Paris-aligned investments.
Georges Sander
Climate Investment Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Georges is an experienced investment professional with over fifteen years in banking, sustainable finance and emerging market development. He currently works as a Climate Finance Specialist at GCF’s Private Sector Facility. In this role, he originates and manages a portfolio of investments that support climate mitigation and adaptation in emerging markets. He oversees these projects across their full lifecycle, from early design to execution. Before joining GCF, Georges worked as a Projects Investment Manager at the Alliance to End Plastic Waste in Singapore. There, he designed blended-finance solutions to fight plastic pollution and support the circular economy. Earlier, he was Investment Director at Infra Capital Myanmar, backed by the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). He managed teams in Yangon to deliver clean energy, agriculture, and infrastructure projects. He guided these ventures from early concept through to commercial operations. Even in a difficult environment, his team achieved exits and attracted both debt and equity investors into Myanmar. His career began in corporate and private banking in Luxembourg, spanning SME lending, syndicated loan structuring and advising high-net-worth individuals. A CFA Charterholder and MBA graduate from Singapore Management University. With this experience, Georges continues to connect finance with real-world impact, helping emerging markets build a more resilient and sustainable future.
Demystifying the ITAP process
Georges Sander
Climate Investement Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Georges is an experienced investment professional with over fifteen years in banking, sustainable finance and emerging market development. He currently works as a Climate Finance Specialist at GCF’s Private Sector Facility. In this role, he originates and manages a portfolio of investments that support climate mitigation and adaptation in emerging markets. He oversees these projects across their full lifecycle, from early design to execution. Before joining GCF, Georges worked as a Projects Investment Manager at the Alliance to End Plastic Waste in Singapore. There, he designed blended-finance solutions to fight plastic pollution and support the circular economy. Earlier, he was Investment Director at Infra Capital Myanmar, backed by the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). He managed teams in Yangon to deliver clean energy, agriculture, and infrastructure projects. He guided these ventures from early concept through to commercial operations. Even in a difficult environment, his team achieved exits and attracted both debt and equity investors into Myanmar. His career began in corporate and private banking in Luxembourg, spanning SME lending, syndicated loan structuring and advising high-net-worth individuals. A CFA Charterholder and MBA graduate from Singapore Management University. With this experience, Georges continues to connect finance with real-world impact, helping emerging markets build a more resilient and sustainable future.
Jan Martin Witte
iTAP member, Green Climate Fund
Jan joined the iTAP of the GCF in April 2023 (with a focus on reviewing PSF projects). He also serves as a senior advisor to Cygnum Capital’s asset management business, and as a Member of the Board of Directors of Finca Microfinance Holding. Between 2009 to 2022, Jan worked with KfW Development Bank, in various roles and with growing responsibilities over time. Most recently, Jan Martin served as Director of the Global Equity and Funds department. Before joining KfW in 2009, Jan Martin was co-founder and Associate Director of the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi). Jan Martin holds a PhD and MA in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University SAIS.
Rey Guarin
iTAP member, Green Climate Fund
Rey Guarin is a member of the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) Independent Technical Advisory Panel, a role he has held since 2001. He is a leading expert in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and climate finance, with more than 25 years of experience in project management and climate advisory services. He is known for developing innovative products and services that support low-carbon and climate-resilient development across Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. Guarin's 35-year career is built on four core areas: Investment and development banking; Business planning, product, service, and strategy development; Program and project development; Risk management. He currently works as an independent climate and green finance specialist. Since 2010, he has consulted for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), advising on investment programs, projects, policies, and strategies for developing member countries in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Central and West Asia. Previously, he was the Country Program Manager for the Philippines under the UNEP-GCF Readiness Program. In this role, he developed a low-carbon and climate-resilient investment roadmap using local public-private partnerships (PPPs). He also served as the Southeast Asia and South Korea focal point for TFS Green UK, where he led their Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) business development and green investment banking initiatives. Early in his career, Guarin pioneered a climate mitigation and adaptation program at the Development Bank of the Philippines. This included launching a carbon investment banking facility in 2001, which was the first climate finance initiative of its kind among development finance institutions (DFIs) in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ricardo (Rick) Nogeira
iTAP member, Green Climate Fund
Ricardo (Rick) Nogueira is an expert on climate finance, international development, and sustainable investing. His clients include major philanthropies, governments, and multilateral development banks. Rick is also the founder of the Tagus Roundtable in Lisbon which supports promising sustainable finance concepts and teams by providing a forum for constructive feedback, networking, and visibility. He is also a Member of the Board of Washington, DC’s Green Finance Authority, the first municipal Green Bank in the U.S. The DC Green Bank leverages public capital to increase and accelerate private investment in DC for clean energy, energy efficiency and climate resiliency. Rick is also a member of the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) independent Technical Advisor Panel (iTAP), which advises the GCF Board on all funding decisions. He previously served as Senior Advisor on Climate Finance in the U.S. Department of State during the Obama administration. He was a U.S. board member of the GCF where he oversaw all GCF related matters, including initial resource mobilization, institution building, strategy, and public outreach. Prior to public service, Rick spent 10 years in private sector fund management with a focus on carbon markets and clean energy. He was the founder and Managing Director at Leaf Clean Energy Company, a private equity fund targeting clean energy investments across the Americas. Rick also has extensive legal experience at Van Ness Feldman, an energy and environmental boutique, and Felsberg & Associados. Rick obtained his B.A. from Lafayette College and J.D. from Seton Hall School of Law.
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
Nuray Celebi
Portfolio Management Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Nuray is a seasoned professional with 15 years of expertise in designing, managing and implementing climate change projects with particular focus on green energy transition and renewables. She joined GCF in October 2021 as a Portfolio Management Specialist where she oversees a diverse portfolio across the world with multiple financing instruments to ensure investments are aligned with GCF’s mission to support countries in their transition to low-emission and climate resilient economies. Prior to GCF, she was working for the European Commission as a Task Manager for Energy where she was responsible for steering numerous initiatives designed to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energy sources in Turkey and across Europe. She has postgrad degrees in Energy Finance from University of Edinburgh (UK) and Finance from Middle East Technical University (Turkey).
Neeraj Joshi
Climate Change Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Neeraj Joshi is a senior climate finance and decarbonization expert with over 17 years of international experience advancing low-carbon and climate-resilient development. He serves as Climate Change Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist at the Private Sector Facility of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), where he leads climate impact assessments across the private sector portfolio and supports the integration of carbon markets, GHG accounting, and Article 6 mechanisms into investment strategies. Appointed by the UNFCCC as a technical expert for Article 6 and the Enhanced Transparency Framework, Neeraj contributes to international climate reviews under the Paris Agreement. His career spans Europe and Asia with organizations such as IPC GmbH, Gold Standard, and Nexus for Development, where he managed green finance portfolios, conducted industrial energy audits, and developed carbon projects that collectively issued more than 6.5 million credits under CDM and voluntary standards. With deep expertise in climate finance, carbon markets, and impact measurement, Neeraj is known for bringing practical insights into how sustainable finance and market mechanisms can drive transformative climate action. He actively engages with multilateral climate funds, development banks, and international platforms to shape methodologies that harmonize climate finance tracking and strengthen Paris-aligned investments.
How do green banks fit into the GCF’s 2024–2027 Strategic Plan?
Doug Sims
Managing Director, Finance and Economic Development, NRDC
Doug Sims is Managing Director of Green Finance and Economic Development at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). He leads NRDC’s efforts to mobilize public and private capital for climate solutions, with a focus on green banks, inclusive finance, and sustainable infrastructure. Doug has been instrumental in the design of the New York Green Bank and US Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the launch of the global Green Bank Network, and green bank initiatives in Africa, India and Latin America. He has published widely on green finance, infrastructure, and climate investment in outlets including the Financial Times, The American Prospect, and NRDC’s platform. A former project finance attorney with Allen & Overy with extensive experience working on infrastructure in emerging markets, he holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in Philosophy from Stanford University.
Kavita Sinha
Director, Private Sector Facility, Green Climate Fund
Kavita Sinha is Green Climate Fund’s Director of the Department of Private Sector where she responsible for global leadership of GCF’s private sector operations and as a member of GCF’s senior management team, plays a critical role in advancing the Fund’s overall strategic goals. She is an internationally well recognized leader of private climate finance, impact investment and international development finance with a stellar record of green market creation in emerging markets and developing economies. She joined GCF after two decades of leadership roles with multinational corporations (both publicly listed and privately held), international agencies, and philanthropic foundations. She also worked in the past for nearly a decade with the U.S. Agency for International Development where she held management roles in renewable energy, power sector reform, and clean energy trade. She is a published author and recognized speaker on topics related to blended finance for impact, energy transition, and market disruption. She also serves on the Boards of non-profit organizations involved in sustainable development issues. She has an MBA from Rutgers Business School, an honors degree in chemical engineering and doctoral studies in energy systems from leading engineering schools in India. She has also studied international relations, climate finance and sustainable investing.
Green bank successes at the GCF
Ricardo (Rick) Nogeira
iTAP member, Green Climate Fund
Ricardo (Rick) Nogueira is an expert on climate finance, international development, and sustainable investing. His clients include major philanthropies, governments, and multilateral development banks. Rick is also the founder of the Tagus Roundtable in Lisbon which supports promising sustainable finance concepts and teams by providing a forum for constructive feedback, networking, and visibility. He is also a Member of the Board of Washington, DC’s Green Finance Authority, the first municipal Green Bank in the U.S. The DC Green Bank leverages public capital to increase and accelerate private investment in DC for clean energy, energy efficiency and climate resiliency. Rick is also a member of the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) independent Technical Advisor Panel (iTAP), which advises the GCF Board on all funding decisions. He previously served as Senior Advisor on Climate Finance in the U.S. Department of State during the Obama administration. He was a U.S. board member of the GCF where he oversaw all GCF related matters, including initial resource mobilization, institution building, strategy, and public outreach. Prior to public service, Rick spent 10 years in private sector fund management with a focus on carbon markets and clean energy. He was the founder and Managing Director at Leaf Clean Energy Company, a private equity fund targeting clean energy investments across the Americas. Rick also has extensive legal experience at Van Ness Feldman, an energy and environmental boutique, and Felsberg & Associados. Rick obtained his B.A. from Lafayette College and J.D. from Seton Hall School of Law.
John McGinley
Managing Partner, Mekong Strategic Capital
John McGinley is a founder and Managing Partner at Mekong Strategic Capital an advisory & investment management firm focused on Southeast Asia, with a specific expertise on climate finance, financial institutions and technology. John has led several successful initiatives to scale up private sector access to green finance across Asia, including conceptualizing, designing and successfully launching the GCF backed USD 100M Cambodia Climate Finance Facility. In addition, John served as the Senior Strategic Advisor to the US Governments flagship climate finance program for Asia, USAID Green Invest Asia which mobilized over 450M of investment for private sector climate focused projects across Asia between 2017-2022. Mekong Strategic Capital seeks to help create a future that is defined by sustainable and equitable management of the capital flows which influence and impact Asia’s environment and society. Prior to co-founding Mekong Strategic Capital in 2014, John served as the Head of Strategy for ANZ (Australia & New Zealand) Bank for the Greater Mekong Region, with country responsibility for Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.John has a Masters of Science – International Development – RMIT University Melbourne, Australia.
Fernand Kamanzi
Head Strategy Research M&E and Resource Mobilization, Rwanda Development Bank
Fernand Kamanzi is an experienced banking professional with 15 years in the industry. He has a strong background in finance and a deep understanding of treasury and other banking functions. Throughout his career, he has held senior management roles, and he currently serves as the Head of Strategy, Research, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), and Resource Mobilization at the Development Bank of Rwanda. In this position, he is responsible for executing the bank's strategic plan and raising funds through various innovative channels, including lines of credit, climate finance, and capital markets. Previously, Fernand worked at Equity Bank Rwanda for 10 years as the Head of Treasury. In that role, he managed all aspects of the treasury, including liquidity management, cash flow forecasting, and investment portfolio management. He also developed and executed strategic financial plans to optimize liquidity and improve profitability.
Mayuresh Patange
Climate Investment Manager, Green Climate Fund
Mayuresh works as Climate Investment Manager in the Private Sector department of Green Climate Fund. He has worked in Risk and Business functions. His experience spans across development finance and climate finance in both debt and equity investments. In his past roles and in the Green Climate fund, he has worked on large scale Infrastructure deals, financial institution investments, climate mitigation and adaptation & resilience building investments as a Risk reviewer as well as led origination, structuring and deal executions. He is a CFA Charterholder and holds MBA in Finance.
ESMS (Environmental and Social Management System) – policies, procedures and practical tools
Nuray Celebi
Portfolio Management Specialist, Green Climate Fund
Nuray is a seasoned professional with 15 years of expertise in designing, managing and implementing climate change projects with particular focus on green energy transition and renewables. She joined GCF in October 2021 as a Portfolio Management Specialist where she oversees a diverse portfolio across the world with multiple financing instruments to ensure investments are aligned with GCF’s mission to support countries in their transition to low-emission and climate resilient economies. Prior to GCF, she was working for the European Commission as a Task Manager for Energy where she was responsible for steering numerous initiatives designed to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energy sources in Turkey and across Europe. She has postgrad degrees in Energy Finance from University of Edinburgh (UK) and Finance from Middle East Technical University (Turkey).
Eleni Kyrou
Head of Sustainability and Inclusion, Green Climate Fund
Eleni is a sustainability and international development expert with 30 years of experience across the Global South. She currently serves as Head of Sustainability and Inclusion with the Green Climate Fund, bringing with her a passionate dedication for equity and social justice, in particular on the topics of women’s economic empowerment and indigenous peoples’ tenure rights and livelihoods. She draws her expertise from applied practice across a range of professionals engagements to date in multilateral investment banking, academia, civil society, and international organizations. She holds degrees from University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies in urban development planning and in development economics respectively.
Diversity of green bank approaches
Neha Khanna
Associate Director, Climate Policy Initiative
Neha is a green and sustainable finance expert with 15 years of financial advisory and risk consulting professional experience, working with multinational corporations, banks, DFIs, foundations, and multilaterals in India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, and the United States. Neha’s expertise includes financial risk management, strategy consulting, development consulting, financial inclusion, and climate-related financial risk, with a focus on banking, capital markets, and insurance. Neha is a Sustainability Climate Risk (SCR) Task Force member with the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), a steering committee member of the Greening of Finance by Women (GroW) Network, and a member of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Expert Advisory Group (EAG) for Financial Institutions Net-Zero (FINZ) Standard.
Josh Heazlewood
Director of Consumer Finance - Debt Markets Team, CEFC
Josh Heazlewood is a Director in the Investments team at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), where he leads debt market transactions and the roll-out of the $1 billion Household Energy Upgrades Fund. In this role, Josh works closely with financiers to develop innovative consumer products that improve home energy efficiency and performance across Australia. Prior to joining the CEFC, Josh held several Executive Manager roles at Commonwealth Bank, where he was responsible for designing sustainable retail banking products. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, is a graduate of the Sustainability Leadership program at the University of Cambridge.
Fernand Kamanzi
Head Strategy Research M&E and Resource Mobilization, Rwanda Development Bank
Fernand Kamanzi is an experienced banking professional with 15 years in the industry. He has a strong background in finance and a deep understanding of treasury and other banking functions. Throughout his career, he has held senior management roles, and he currently serves as the Head of Strategy, Research, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), and Resource Mobilization at the Development Bank of Rwanda. In this position, he is responsible for executing the bank's strategic plan and raising funds through various innovative channels, including lines of credit, climate finance, and capital markets. Previously, Fernand worked at Equity Bank Rwanda for 10 years as the Head of Treasury. In that role, he managed all aspects of the treasury, including liquidity management, cash flow forecasting, and investment portfolio management. He also developed and executed strategic financial plans to optimize liquidity and improve profitability.
Gabriela Vichi Almeida
Director of Operations - Bandes E.S., Development Bank of Espirito Santo
Economist, graduate of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), with a Master’s degree in Economic Development from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). She has served as an economic analyst at the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo, project analyst at Sebrae/ES, and Business Environment Manager at the Federation of Industries of Espírito Santo. Since 2023, she has been Chief Operating Officer of the Development Bank of Espírito Santo, leading the sustainability agenda with a focus on transforming the bank into a Green Bank. The socioeconomic development of Espírito Santo has always been her main area of study and professional engagement. In 2024, she co-authored the book “Women in Espírito Santo – Accelerating and Inspiring Careers”, which gathers stories of resilience and professional journeys of women from diverse fields and backgrounds across the state.
Audrey-Cynthia Yamadjako
Principal Climate Finance Officer, AfDB
Audrey-Cynthia YAMADJAKO is the Coordinator of the African Green Banks Initiative at the African Development Bank. With a strong international background in corporate and investment banking, as well as extensive experience managing environment and climate trust funds, she brings a unique blend of financial expertise and climate leadership. Her work focuses on designing innovative mechanisms and blended finance solutions—such as green financing facilities—that mobilize private sector participation and scale up climate finance across Africa. At COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh (November 2022), she launched the African Green Banks Initiative (AGBI), a pioneering Pan-African platform aimed at building a continent-wide ecosystem of Green Banks. These institutions are dedicated to financing low-carbon, climate-resilient projects aligned with African countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Through this initiative, Audrey-Cynthia champions a sustainable and inclusive development model for Africa, one that accelerates the transition to a low-carbon future while strengthening resilience to climate impacts.