our team

Nigel was appointed by the UK’s Prime Minister to be the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion in 2020. In that role, he worked to strengthen collaboration and drive action from businesses, investors, organizations, cities, and regions on climate change and to coordinate this work with governments and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Nigel is a Non-Executive Director for the UK Infrastructure Bank, an Advisory Board Member to the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment, and an Associate Fellow to the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator.

Prior to his Climate Champions work, Mr. Topping was CEO of We Mean Business, a coalition of businesses working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy, and Executive Director of the Carbon Disclosure Project. During that time, he oversaw the launch of various initiatives, programs, and partnerships including supply chain, water, forests, and cities.  These roles were preceded by an 18-year career in the private sector in both developed and emerging markets.

Will Stewart is the Executive Chairman of the Board, of FIUTUR. He has been a board member of dozens of global private and public companies over the span of his 30yr professional technology and finance career, including numerous high-profile ESG companies.

Stewart will assist in driving the capital and corporate strategy, governance, and collaboration opportunities, assist in raising and structuring of capital and advise on technology.He brings an abundance of global tech, ESG, corporate growth, planning, and financial experience to Imperative.

Stewart has been an early investor in ESG, initiating his investment and board involvement with Xpansiv in 2017, and is either a Board Member or Board Advisor today to numerous ESG companies.

Stewart has a BA in Economics from St. Anselm College, Manchester, NH and MBA in Finance from Suffolk University, Boston, MA. In addition, Stewart was the Managing Director of Rogers Venture Partners, Toronto, Canada and Venture Partner at CSV Capital Partners, Shanghai, China.

Emma has amassed over ten years of experience in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence.

Previously serving as the Head of Data Science at Engine No. 1, Emma played a pivotal role in steering the company’s strategic direction in data analytics and AI implementation. Her tenure at Engine No. 1 was marked by significant contributions to the advancement of data-driven decision-making processes.

In addition to her leadership role at Engine No. 1, Emma has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Rice University, where she imparted her extensive knowledge and insights in statistics and data science to the next generation of scholars and professionals. Furthermore, her role as Data Science Lead at Fidelity Investments showcased her ability to navigate and excel in the complex landscape of financial data analysis and investment strategies.

Emma earned her Bachelor of Science from UCLA, followed by a Master of Science from the Drucker School of Management and another from Wichita State University, culminating in a PhD in Statistics from Rice University.

Scobie has over 20 years’ experience across voluntary carbon, international trade, cross-border commodities transactions and structured finance.

Previously Global Head of Origination, Structuring and Sales for Macquarie Group’s Global Carbon Business, Scobie authored the business plan for, and led the establishment of, the voluntary carbon business for Macquarie.

Scobie has sat on the Taskforce on Scaling the Voluntary Carbon Market, the Sustainable Markets Initiative Working Group on Carbon Markets, the Environmental Defense Fund & High-Tide Foundation Steering Committee on Mobilizing Voluntary Carbon Markets and other thought-leading forums in the voluntary carbon space.

Academically, Scobie holds a Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences), a Bachelor of Laws (Hon) and a Master of Laws Degree in International Law, all from the Australian National University. He also holds an Executive MBA from Oxford University.

Scobie is a qualified lawyer in England and Australia.

Mark has held a range of executive level positions globally.

His current role is Chief Operations and Projects Officer for Imperative Global.

Previously, Mark spent 19 years with KBR, a leading global engineering, technology and project delivery company providing solutions to the energy markets and governments of the world.

With KBR, Mark held a range of roles including head of strategy & acquisitions and global senior vice president of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).

Highlights of Mark’s career with KBR included;

• Leading the development of the low carbon energies strategy including green hydrogen and carbon capture & storage; and
• His role as Deputy Project Director and then Project Director on the Ichthys LNG project in Darwin. At the time, Ichthys was one of the largest and most complex projects in the world with a value exceeding A$20billion and an execution team of more than 10,000 people.

Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New South Wales in Australia and an MBA (Project Management Specialism) from Henley Management College, UK.

Jake has approximately 20 years in legal and commercial practice, having advised on projects and transaction in over 45 countries worth over US$20 billion in value.

Previously General Manager, Green Hydrogen at Fortescue Future Industries where he led investments, offtake negotiations and project development across multiple emerging markets projects.

Prior to that, Jake was a senior equity partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, where he had a 16-year career, specializing in emerging market cross-border commodities, energy and resources projects and transactions, including for example a sub-Saharan African carbon project portfolio.

Jake has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the Australian National University and an Executive MBA from Oxford University.

Jake is a qualified lawyer in England and Australia.

Arnaud has held a range of executive positions over the last 18 years across carbon markets, IT Infrastructure and Telecommunications.

Prior to joining Imperative, Arnaud had spent the last 10 years serving in multiple capacities at EcoAct. He was last Managing Director, where he led the business globally to develop and manage projects across both NBS and Technology-based solutions portfolios, and spearheaded the development and implementation of all of EcoAct and ATOS’ carbon offset business strategy at the group level.

Arnaud currently also serves as an Executive Committee Member of ICROA, as well as serving as the Co-Chair of its Policy & Advocacy Working Group.

Before this, Arnaud held various roles including as Head of Technical Department at EcoAct, Head of Deployment Department at VeePee, a France-based IT Infrastructure business, and over 7 years with Bouygues Telecom where he was last Business Project Manager.

Academically, Arnaud holds a Masters in Telecom & Services Network from Telecom SudParis, a BEng in Informatic Network from ISEP – école d’ingénieurs du numérique, and had completed the ATOS Gold Programme (Business/Commerce) at HEC Paris.

Kim was previously CEO and co-founder of Topl, a purpose-built blockchain infrastructure designed to increase coordination and efficiency in ethical or sustainable ecosystems, create stories for responsibly sourced products, and unlock innovative financing mechanisms across industries.

Kim has worked in over 18 developing countries to rebuild and strengthen communities by implementing innovative forms of technology.

Kim comes from an ethical mining and sustainable agricultural background with roots in South Africa. And she holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and is the first Rice University student to simultaneously complete an M.A. in Economics and a Ph.D. in Statistics.

As a leader in sustainability, Kim is a member of CNBC’s ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) Council and sits on the advisory board of Xpansiv, a global market for ESG-inclusive commodities. She also serves on the advisory board of Rice University’s Center for Computational Finance and Economic Systems (CoFES) and a few other impact-driven companies and foundations.

Alywin is a seasoned finance professional with over a decade of experience specialising in financial reporting, audit, taxation, and global expansion. His career spans prominent roles at international Big 4 accounting firms and high-growth tech scale-ups.

Prior to joining Imperative, Alywin was a Finance Director at Airwallex, a FinTech company, where he led the finance controllership team, managing group consolidation and reporting. He was also heavily involved in critical initiatives including ERP migration, business acquisitions, licensing, and regulatory reporting.

Before that, Alywin was a Global Controller at Velocity Global, a HR employment solutions provider. During his stint, he was instrumental in establishing legal entities worldwide, building a shared services team, and driving the digital transformation of finance processes using RPA and other technological solutions.

Alywin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Accountancy) from the National University of Singapore and is a qualified chartered accountant in Singapore and ASEAN.

Brett Henkel has 20 years’ of experience in reforestation, ecosystem restoration and site remediation projects at scale.

He was CEO of Little Smokey Forestry Services, a Canadian ecosystem restoration company operating across a range of landscapes, including oil-sands remediation projects. In his role as CEO, Brett led a team of 100 employees (including seasonal roles) and planted nearly 100 million seedlings.

Brett’s areas of expertise include ecosystem site analysis, restoration design and management plan including hydrology and erosion mitigation, sourcing of raw materials for indigenous species, nursery and contractor management and in-field site management.

Brett holds a B.Sc. from the University of Alberta.

Vahid has led several cookstove carbon financing programs since 2009 and advises various multi-laterals and development agencies on financing strategies.

He has worked on the UNITAR Global Plan of Action Steering Committee and various UN agencies, including the World Food Program, UNCDF, and UNHCR, to formulate realistic energy strategies and introduce innovative technologies in the cookstove and solar sectors.

Vahid has co-authored several policy initiatives in collaboration with local government agencies to create national energy strategies and has recently co-authored the State of the Humanitarian Energy Sector report.

He holds a BS in International Management from UB and Masters in International Public Policy with School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins.

KK has approximately 8 years across voluntary carbon and structured commodity finance, and is part of the founding team at Imperative.

KK was previously Macquarie’s client-execution lead for top-tier accounts, overseeing end-to-end (origination, structuring, execution) of over 340 physical oil purchases, sales, and inventory monetization transactions worth >$17bn. This involved commercial & contractual negotiations, deal structuring, pricing and execution, ongoing oversight and operational handling of cargo flows, and risk distribution with banking partners and insurance providers. Cargo flows were global in nature (US-Asia, Europe-Asia, US-Australia, US-Mexico, LATAM-US, Africa-LATAM) and across the spectrum of commodity products.

In parallel, KK was also a pioneer member of Macquarie’s Global Carbon business, officially launched in May 2021, with specific focus in originating high-impact projects and investment opportunities and structuring bespoke client transactions.

KK holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management (Finance & Corporate Communications) from Singapore Management University.

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Raul Aragonez is a versatile tech leader with over 11 years of experience across IoT, FinTech, cloud computing, decentralized systems, and ESG technology. As the former VP of Software Engineering at Topl, Raul gained a profound understanding of the decentralized technology landscape, value chain asset tracking, and honed a strong track record in developing innovative and impactful solutions within the Web3 space.

Prior to his role at Topl, Raul served as a Senior Software Engineer, and Architect, contributing his expertise to various projects and industries with a particular focus on IoT and Sensor data aggregation.

Raul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas at El Paso. Recently, he furthered his skills with a Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School Online.

Grant is a Project Management specialist with over 20 years of experience overseeing major and mega projects worldwide. His expertise covers a wide range of industries including oil & gas, energy, pipeline, water and wastewater process, logistics, road, bridge, and aviation infrastructure.

As a lean construction expert, Grant excels in implementing cost and reporting systems to enhance efficiency and eliminate waste in construction mega projects. He is known for his leadership skills, particularly in building integrated teams across diverse disciplines.

Grant earned his BSc Hons in Quantity Surveying from Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, and is a registered chartered professional with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

Ross is a senior sustainability leader with over 30 years of experience across NBS, renewable energy, oil & gas, mining, agroforestry and infrastructure sectors. He has worked in over 50 countries supervising teams up to 100 people, including 4+ years in NBS, 10+ years in forest management, 10+ years in energy and 7+ years in mining,

Experienced in environmental and carbon reduction programs (esp. VCS/CCB, Scope 1/2/3 emissions). Familiar with carbon credit requirements, methodologies and pathways particularly for ARR, Avoided Planned Deforestation (APD), IFM, regenerative agriculture (ALM) and blue carbon projects in a variety of temperate and tropical environments.

He is highly proficient in sustainable resource management and safety culture leadership. Certified Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Impact Assessment and Social Performance.

Ross holds a PhD in Environmental Sociology, an MSc in Rural Planning & Development and a BSc (with distinction) in Forestry and has over 30 peer‐reviewed publications.

Roman has over 12 years of experience in project development and climate-related work.  Roman was Head of Project Development at EcoAct, where he led a team of 20 to conduct end-to-end project development work on a number of projects, including the PDD writing a number of projects e.g., agroforestry and mangrove restoration.

Roman also served as the Design Document lead for the Enkima Stove VPA project (GS11319) and Dziva cookstove project (GS11790). Additionally, he was the co-lead and reviewer of various projects including a clean cooking and safe water supply project in Africa, a mangrove IUCN REDD+ feasibility initiative in Cameroon, a mangrove restoration project in Mexico, a Clean Cooking and Safe Water project in India (GS12046), a Hifadhi Improved cookstoves project (GS2898) and a Hifadhi Improved cookstoves project (GS7495).

Roman holds a PhD from Université Paris-Est, a Masters of Energy and Carbon Finance from Paris IX Dauphine, a Masters of Sustainable Development Policies from Sciences Po Lille and a Baccalauréat Economique et Social.

Darren has 10 years of experience investing in renewable energy and climate projects across global emerging markets.

Prior to joining Imperative, Darren was an investment manager and capital raising executive at Climate Fund Managers, an innovative blended finance fund manager investing exclusively in emerging markets. While there, he developed and raised Climate Investor Two, a USD 700mn fund with an investment mandate for sustainable energy, circular economy, water and ecosystem projects. In this role he led the development of the market research and investment strategy for the following sectors: carbon credits with a focus on blue carbon, seaweed aquaculture and nature-based solutions for water management.

Prior to joining Climate Fund Managers, Darren was an investment manager for the Dutch Development Bank (FMO) and in this role sourced, structured and executed numerous renewable energy transactions in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as being part of the team which created FMO’s sustainable forestry investment strategy.

Academically, Darren holds a Master of Science in International Finance from the University of Amsterdam as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. In parallel with his studies Darren served for 4 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, including a year in Afghanistan as part of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team in 2008.

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Fernanda has approximately 4 years of experience in the voluntary carbon markets, serving as an executive and partner at a carbon projects development company in Brazil.

Previously, in the positions of Legal Counsel and Relationship Manager, she worked over the past 10 years in the financial market at companies such as Banco Fator, BTG Pactual, and XP Investments, with an emphasis on advising clients on investments and succession planning.

Before entering the financial market, she spent 5 years at one of the most renowned Brazilian business law firms, where she was responsible for tax litigation lawsuits and consultancy services related to direct and indirect taxation.

Fernanda is a Lawyer graduated from FAAP, holds a specialization in Business Administration from Insper, and has an MBA in Finance from the University of North Carolina.

Catherine has close to a decade of top-tier legal experience, having advised on a wide variety of corporate finance and M&A transactions in multiple jurisdictions for clients across several industries, including commodities and natural resources.

Prior to joining Imperative, Catherine was an Associate at Davies, Ward, Phillips & Vineberg LLP in Toronto, Canada where she advised corporate, investment banking and private equity clients on domestic and cross-border transactions and general corporate matters including IPOs, common share offerings and acquisitions, investment grade and high yield bonds, and credit facilities.

Before that, Catherine was an Associate at Sidley Austin LLP in their New York, London and Sydney offices where she established a global practice focused on advising corporate and investment banking clients as they conducted public and private securities offerings in the U.S. equity and debt capital markets.  Catherine regularly participated in pro bono initiatives, including the Veterans Advocacy Program and the Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program.

Catherine holds a Bachelor of International Studies with Distinction (majoring in Globalisation) from the University of New South Wales and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Sydney.  Catherine is a qualified lawyer in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Nico has over 16 years in sustainability, specializing in the integration of environmental stewardship with agricultural practices. His expertise spans from green building and climate change mitigation to pioneering sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration.

As Nursery Director, Nico applies his extensive knowledge to optimize nursery operations, ensuring that our practices promote ecosystem health and resilience. His dedication to sustainable land management and nature-based solutions supports our commitment to nurturing plant life in harmony with the environment.

Nico holds a Bachelor in Environment and Development Management from Stellenbosch University and a Diploma in Agriculture from Agri Skills College. His efforts to align environmental sustainability with economic viability are essential to our mission of fostering a healthier, more sustainable future.

Kinne has over 10 years of experience providing science-based policy and technical advice for the development of forest conservation and environmental projects in Latin America and Africa.

Prior to joining Imperative, she worked as an independent consultant providing technical advice for the development of carbon forestry projects in the tropics and helped various clients, including local communities, landowners, local governments and private companies on sustainability issues, including ecological impact assessment, woodland creation and sustainable forest management. Previously, she led the development of a multi-partnership research project in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve to evaluate REDD+ strategies and coordinated the environmental compliance of the Supervia Poniente in Mexico.

She holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Environmental Geography, a BSc in Biology – both from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and a diploma in Environmental Modelling from ITC/University of Twente (The Netherlands).

Sreekanth is a seasoned Finance Manager with over a decade of experience spanning multiple industries, including the Big 4, retail, EOR, and real estate. He has developed expertise in managing global payments, payroll accounting, financial reporting, financial planning, and month-end activities, demonstrating his proficiency in financial operations across diverse sectors.

He started his career at a small audit firm and has worked with prestigious organizations such as EY, Lowe’s, Velocity Global, Compass, and Multiplier before joining Imperative. Throughout his career, Sreekanth has specialized in financial reconciliation, inter-company accounting, and leading cross-functional teams to drive operational improvements. At Velocity Global, he oversaw payments across multiple regions and took ownership of taxation, general ledger management, and financial reporting. His experience in transfer pricing has further enriched his expertise in financial management.

Sreekanth is also skilled in driving process automation to build efficiencies across financial operations. He has implemented systems that streamlined workflows, enhanced accuracy, and reduced manual effort, significantly improving the overall financial performance of the teams he leads.

Sreekanth holds an MBA with a focus on Accounting, Finance, and Marketing, and an Advanced Diploma in CIMA, equipping him with a solid foundation in accounting and finance.

AJ is a seasoned Finance Manager with over a decade of expertise in accounting, financial analysis, reporting, FX management, budgeting, and audit. He has held key positions previously, including Finance Manager and Inventory Manager at one of South Africa’s largest FMCG importers, and Cost and Treasury Controlling Manager in the agricultural sector.

In these roles, AJ led finance and inventory functions, improving financial operations and strategic decision-making. He focused on cost reporting and management, as well as treasury management and optimization. AJ’s key responsibilities included preparing financial statements, conducting audits, and implementing test of control procedures to minimize risk. He was also instrumental in driving cost-saving initiatives and enhancing internal controls.

Throughout his career, AJ has been known for his strategic insight and proactive approach, consistently driving financial success and operational excellence. His expertise in financial modelling, risk management, and financial legislation, combined with his ability to thrive in collaborative environments, makes him a valuable asset. AJ is passionate about making a positive impact and continuously strives to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

AJ holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Accounting Science from Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth and is a registered member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

Nihar has 8 years of relevant climate and energy project experience, with particular expertise in developing Improved Cookstove and Safe Water Supply projects globally.

Prior to joining Imperative, Nihar was Project Development Manager at EcoAct, where he was involved in the end-to-end development process for cookstove and safe water projects under the TPDDTEC methodology, including performing baseline and usage surveys, conducting Kitchen Performance Tests, Water Boiling Tests, Water Quality Tests, Water Consumption Field Tests and local stakeholder consultations.

Previously, Nihar worked with an Indian Carbon Offset Project Development Consulting firm in New Delhi, where he was involved in the registration of large-scale cookstove project in Bangladesh, and registration and validation related workstreams for over 25 projects across CDM, Gold Standard and VCS frameworks. During this time, Nihar was involved in the issuance of 1.9 million carbon credits.

Nihar holds a Master’s in Renewable Energy Engineering & Management from TERI University, a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and is a certified Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Engineers, India.

Yitno Suprapto is a dedicated expert in sustainable aquaculture and marine resource management, with a strong focus on small-scale shrimp farming, ecosystem-based approaches, and environmental sustainability.

Yitno has extensive experience working with small-scale shrimp farmers across Southeast Asia. As an Aquaculture Improvement Assistant at the Asian Seafood Improvement Collaborative (ASIC), he played a crucial role in advancing responsible aquaculture practices. He worked closely with farmers, industry stakeholders, and sustainability experts to develop improvement projects that align with global sustainability standards. His work with ASIC focused on addressing key environmental and social challenges in shrimp farming, particularly through collaboration with regional stakeholders in Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Following his tenure at ASIC, Yitno joined The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as an Aquaculture Coordinator for the Shrimp-Carbon Aquaculture (SECURE) program. This groundbreaking initiative aimed to integrate climate change mitigation with sustainable shrimp farming by exploring the potential of mangrove restoration and conservation to sequester carbon. His contributions to this project highlighted his ability to bridge the gap between environmental conservation and aquaculture, showcasing his commitment to finding solutions that benefit both ecosystems and local communities.

Yitno holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Aquaculture and Marine Resources Management from Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands. His academic background provides him with a solid foundation in fisheries governance, ecosystem-based management, and certification frameworks for responsible aquaculture.

Chris was previously employed with Dimension Data, a technology company specializing in information technology services focusing on consulting, technical and support services. Primarily focused on data administration and analytics.

Chris has experience in implementing ERP software and IoT technology solutions empowering organizations and transforming operations to become digitally driven. Chris has implemented projects in various industries including mining and agriculture. He has implemented software and technology solutions in emerging African countries such as the DRC, Swaziland, and South Africa. He also has experience in technology product development, specifically focused on product demands driven by customer needs.

Chris is from South Africa and holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and is currently completing his MBA from Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) at University of Pretoria. He strives to create value in projects by enabling partners with relevant technology driven solutions.

Inna has over 7 years in environmental science, technical writing, research and project management & coordination roles.

Inna was previously an environmental scientist with AECOM Philippines for 4 years, where worked on several environmental monitoring and impact assessment projects for a range of industries, including power, water supply and land development.

Inna also held technical writing, research and project coordination roles with Jacobs Philippines, Centre for Conservation Innovations (CCI), Futures Inc and Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute. Notably, as part her work with CCI, she actively consulted the Philippines government on the authoring of its National REDD+ Strategy.

Inna holds a BSc (Environmental Planning & Management) from MIRIAM College, Philippines.

Leveraging over 18 years of experience, Dale van Blerk is a passionate IT professional with a proven track record of leading and optimizing technology solutions across various industries.

His expertise lies in cloud solutions (Microsoft Azure), data analysis, IT infrastructure management, and leading high-performing teams. Dale has a strong ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear solutions that empower businesses to achieve their goals.

Highlights of Dale’s experience include:

• Increased client satisfaction by 20% through proactive support and problem-solving strategies. Successfully implemented and managed IT infrastructure for various organizations, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.
• Provided strong support for Ortus’ cloud-first approach utilizing Microsoft Azure. His technical expertise helped deliver advanced technical support and enhance client infrastructures.
• Led IT teams at NATIVE VML for over 6 years, directing IT, Product Support, QA, and Linux sysadmin teams. In this role, Dale oversaw budgets, implemented best practices, and ensured exceptional client service.

Beyond his technical expertise, Dale has demonstrated leadership skills in building and motivating high-performing teams. Dale holds multiple ITIL® certifications, showcasing a commitment to IT best practices. A lifelong learner, Dale is constantly seeking new ways to expand his knowledge and stay ahead of the curve.

Nay is a forester with over 8 years of experience in remote sensing and geospatial analysis.  

Prior to joining Imperative, Nay was a Range Officer with the Forest Department of Myanmar, where he was involved in several nature conservation projects and led work relating to forest cover mapping, biomass estimation, forest inventory, landuse and landcover assessment and web mapping. 

Nay holds a MSc in Geospatial Science from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia and a BSc in Forestry from University of Forestry (Ye Zin), Myanmar. 

Nikita has over a decade of experience in the legal field and has held a number of managerial positions in both private practice and in-house within global organisations, wherein she has been responsible for providing legal advice to an extensive client base including internal business teams across twenty-six African countries.

Nikita has previously worked for the likes of Deloitte; EY; Eversheds Sutherland and Schindlers Attorneys in South Africa and has gained experience in the following areas of law: Corporate and Commercial; Mergers & Acquisitions; Property; Environmental and Intellectual Property Law as well as in Corporate Governance.

She also has a passion for community involvement and whilst working at Eversheds Sutherland, she took on the role of managing the law clinic, a joint pro bono initiative between Eversheds Sutherland and Women and Men Against Child Abuse (‘WMACA’) aimed at fighting, and preventing, child abuse. Whilst working at Deloitte, she spearheaded further volunteering initiatives including a collaboration with Book Village NPC, an organisation that focuses on teaching children how to read.

Nikita was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2015 and holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA), completed with a triple major in Law, English Literature and Psychology and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of the Witwatersrand. Nikita has also earned a number of certificates in Intellectual Property Law.

Angeli has experience in the conduct and management of various environmental projects ranging from impact assessments to monitoring studies and audits. Her projects are spread across a range of industries, including voluntary carbon markets, urban development, power, and transportation. Her work as an environmental scientist with AECOM mainly comprised of data collection through fieldwork supplemented by research and report preparation.  

During her work as a research assistant with Ateneo URC, she conducted a comparative assessment of blue carbon stocks in conserved and disturbed seagrass beds. This helped her hone her skills in fieldwork, in-situ sampling, technical writing, and community engagement. Her study was published in 2021 as “Seagrass biomass and sediment carbon in conserved and disturbed seascape”. 

In 2020, Angeli graduated with a BS in Environmental Science, Honorable Mention from Ateneo de Manila University.

Jonathan has over 5 years’ experience in emerging market investment and climate finance.  

Jonathan was previously an associate at Climate Fund Managers, an innovative blended finance fund manager investing exclusively in emerging markets. Together with Darren, he helped raise Climate Investor Two, a target USD 1 Billion blended finance fund focused on sustainable energy, circular economy, water, and ecosystem projects. During his time, he facilitated the investment of several different climate providers into the fund and developed the market research and investment strategy for the firm’s new climate finance investment products.  

Prio to joining Climate Fund Managers, Jonathan was a development economist at Urban-Econ Development Economists (based in South Africa) where he developed economic impact assessments, business plans and models for public and private sector organizations. He started his career at Kempen & Co, a Dutch investment bank.  

Jonathan holds an MSc in Economics with Distinction (specializing in Sustainability & Growth) from Tilburg University and a BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Cape Town.