The UNEP FI Global Steering Committee provides executive direction on strategic, work programme and budgetary issues on a regular basis. The Global Steering Committee reports to UNEP FI’s Annual General Meeting, where all Members come together to make decisions on the Initiative’s overall strategic direction, structural issues and budget decisions.

2019 Global Steering Committee Members

Co-Chairs:

• Antoni Ballabriga, Global Head of Responsible Business, BBVA 
• Jacki Johnson, Advisor Climate and Sustainability, Insurance Australia Group Limited and Co Chair Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI)

Position 1: Europe – Banking (2018-20) and Co-Chair

Antoni Ballabriga
Global Head of Responsible Business, BBVA (Spain)

Antoni Ballabriga is Global Head of Responsible Business at BBVA. He reports directly to the Board of Directors. His mission is to ensure that people are systematically placed at the decision-making processes. He assists the CEO in proposing Responsible Banking policy and defines its plans, and is responsible for its implementation & monitoring. He works mainly as second line to challenge and give support to all areas to embed this policy in their operational models. This includes the design of customer solutions to marketing and sales, customer relations & complaints; sustainable finance integrating environmental & social opportunities & risks; reputation monitoring & risk management; integrated report; community investment.

He is CEO of Momentum Social Investment and professor at ESADE Business School. Former President of DIRSE, Spanish Association of CSR Professionals and Former President of SpainSIF, Spanish Forum for Socially Responsible Investment. Antoni holds a Degree in Business Sciences and MBA from ESADE Business School. He has studied at Harvard Business School and is First Mover Fellow at The Aspen Institute.

Position 2: Asia Pacific – Banking (2019-21)

Namita Vikas
Senior Group President & Global Head, Climate Strategy & Responsible Banking, YES BANK LTD. (India)

With 28 years of diverse global experience in Banking, Technology & FMCG, with particular focus on Design Thinking, Sustainable Finance, Climate Action, ESG Risk Management, Public Policy & Corporate Citizenship, Namita Vikas has been instrumental in outlining YES BANK’s integrated approach towards climate finance, by integrating ESG parameters in financial decisions, developing innovative products and services along with various business verticals addressing environmental and social concerns fostering financial inclusion, facilitating and mobilizing investments in positive impact sectors and building institutional capacity and culture of ‘Responsible Banking’.

In line with its vision to be benchmark financial institution for sustainability and inclusivity in India, Namita spearhead development of focused approach towards climate finance, which has led to multiple industry first achievements. These include issuance of India’s maiden green bonds in 2015, facilitation of nation’s first ever social bond in 2017 and launch of India’s first green retail product ‘Green Future Deposit’ in 2018 with a commitment of mobilizing the fund deposited by customers to positive impact sectors.

Namita was ranked one of the “Leading Women in Business Sustainability” by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and was globally recognized as the “Sustainability Leader of the Year” by Ethical Corporation, UK in 2017. In 2018, She was named one of “Asia’s Top Sustainability Superwomen” by CSR Works International.

Position 3: Latin America – Banking (2018-20)

Mauricio Velasquez
Coordinator of Environmental & Social Management Program for Financial Institutions, Corporacion Andina de Fomento, CAF (Ecuador)

Mauricio has over 8 years of experience as Principal executive of the Environmental and Climate Change Department at CAF (Latin American Development Bank). He has been the head of the Strategic Program of Environmental and Social Management for financial institutions (PGASIF). Moreover, since 2015 Mauricio has been co-chair of the Latin American Task Force UNEP FI, and promoter of the Protocol of Sustainable Finances of the Banking of Ecuador. His career has a remarkable background in terms of sustainability and environment protection. He has participated as member of the main group that elaborated the Management Plan for the Galapagos National Park and he worked at Galapagos National Park as a Coordinator of Investigation and Development Projects. Additionally, he was the Director of the Environmental Area at the Municipality of Guayaquil for over four years and the Sub-secretary of the Natural Capital Department at the Environment Ministry of Ecuador. He strongly believes on the necessity to create resilient and low carbon economies to improve the livelihood of the Latin American citizens. He holds a Master degree in Environmental and Forest Biology at SUNY (State University of New York). More of his biography here.

Position 4: Europe – Insurance (2019-2021)

Ulrike Decoene
Group Head of Communication, Brand and Corporate Responsibility, AXA (France)

Ulrike Decoene was appointed AXA Group Head of Communication, Brand and Corporate Responsibility in March 2019, Previously she held the role of Chief of Staff to the Group CEO as well as corporate secretary to the Management & Executive Committees of the Group.

Ulrike started working on sustainable finance over 10 years ago during her role at AXA Investment Managers. Working alongside our CEO Thomas Buberl, she supported the various teams concerned (Group CR, Group Investments, AXA IM) with the announcements made by AXA at the inaugural (2017) One Planet Summit, as well as assisted the CEO on his contribution to the different sustainable finance coalitions (eg. TCFD, WEF Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, Climate Finance Leadership Initiative, Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance).

Of course, in her current role she actively supports AXA’s CR, investments and underwriting teams in advancing our sustainable finance strategy. For example she co-signed the latest TCFD report and actively supported the preparation of our new Climate & Biodiversity strategy, launched on November 27th 2019.

Position 5: Africa – Banking (2018-20)

Musa Salah
Group Manager, Environmental and Sustainability, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (Togo)

Musa Salah is the Group Manager and Head of Environmental and Sustainability Unit at the Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Lome-Togo with responsibility covering 36 countries in Africa. Prior to this, he was a Regional Account Manager, United Nations, Agribusiness and Climate Initiatives in the International Organisations Department of Ecobank. Before joining Ecobank in 2008, he worked in the United Nations systems in Ethiopia and Nigeria, from 2003-2008.

Musa served on the Ghana National Climate Change Committee (2010-2012). He has contributed to a number of Policy reports on the Environment and Sustainable Development nexus, including National Councils for Sustainable Development in Africa: A Review of Institutions and their Functioning, UNECA (2005); and Ghana Policy Advisory Series on Climate Change, Africa Adaptation Programme, EPA-Ghana (2011).

He holds MSc degree in Environmental Management, Sustainable Development option, from University of Surrey, UK. He was a Fellow at the UNEP Risoe Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development, Copenhagen, hosted by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2011); and Chairs the Bank of Ghana Sustainable Banking Principle Committee.

Position 6: Latin America – Insurance (2019-21)

Patricia Coimbra
Human Resources and Sustainability Director, SulAmerica Seguros (Brazil)

Patricia Coimbra is responsible for the overall Sustainability & HR strategy and operations, for ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) business integration, sustainability reports and R$ 6.5 MM social investment strategy. Responsible for International Finance Corporation reports and United Nations Global Compact voluntary commitment. She also share responsibility with SulAmérica Asset Management for PRI commitment.

One recent accomplishment is to be part of Dow Jones Sustainability Indices list for the first time and be part of FTSE4GOOD list again.

SulAmérica employee engagement level has been improving in the last 4 years. In 2015, our engagement level was 75 % in Hay Group survey against 57% in 2013. The percentage of women in executives´ position increased by 14% in the last 3 years.

Before SulAmérica, Patricia was HR Development Director for Oi telecommunications, supporting 1k executives, 25k employees and 30 k third parties (February 2011 – July 2013), in charge of leadership pipeline development, talent management, performance management, and technical training.Patricia has earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology at PUC-RJ and economics at Universidade Candido Mendes-RJ, post graduation in Marketing at PUC-RJ and international executive trainings in SC Johnson and Shell Headquarters.

Position 7: Asia Pacific – Insurance (2019-21) and Co-Chair

Jacki Johnson
Advisor Climate and Sustainability, Insurance Australia Group Limited and Co Chair Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI) (Australia)

Position 8: Europe – Investment (2018-20)

Vacant

 

Position 9: Universal position (2018-20)

Valerie Smith
Chief Sustainability Officer and Managing Director
Citigroup (USA)

Val Smith is Managing Director and Citi’s Chief Sustainability Officer. She joined Citi in 2004 and oversees Citi’s global sustainability initiatives, including leading the bank’s Sustainable Progress Strategy and $100 Billion Environmental Finance Goal. Val also serves as an advisor and spokesperson on sustainable finance, climate risk, stakeholder engagement, ESG integration and sustainability trends towards a low carbon economy.

Prior to joining Citi, Val spent a decade working in the environmental sector, including the National Audubon Society, Brainerd Foundation, and the Houston Advanced Research Center. She began her career with the U.S. Peace Corps, where she served for two years in Honduras. She serves on the boards of the UN Global Compact US Network and the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, and is a member of the Aspen Institute Leaders Forum. Val earned her MBA from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and her BA from the University of Virginia.

Position 10: Universal Position (2019-2021)

Barbara Turley-McIntyre, CIP, MEB
Vice President, Sustainability & Citizenship, The Co-operators Group Limited (Canada)

Throughout Barbara Turley-McIntyre’s insurance career, she has held various roles including independent insurance broker, underwriting manager, community and shareholder relations liaison. For the past 10 years she have been responsible for sustainability leadership at a national co-operative insurance and financial services group in Canada. Barbara lead the enterprise-wide integration of the sustainability policy and strategy, and she has leadership responsibility for the Annual Integrated Report and activities leading to a low carbon economy.She hold a Masters in Environment and Business and a Chartered Insurance Professional designation and am a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Waterloo, Faculty of Environment.Barbara’s experience with Sustainable Finance most recently includes the following:

1. Sustainable Financial Framework. She co-led the recent work in Canada on catalzying our national government to develop a sustainable financial framework for the country.
2. Introduction of a Flood Insurance Product for Canadians. Until April 2015, Canada was the only G7 country without flood coverage for its citizens. The Co-operators developed flood models that allowed us to bring a product to market for all Canadians – even those who are most vulnerable from the peril.
3. Launch of Impact Investments. In early 2016, The Co-operators committed that, by the end of 2018, 6-10% of its institutional investments will be directed to investments that have intentional, measured and publicly-tracked social and environmental impacts. It has exceeded this target and set a new target of 20% of our institutional investments in impact investments by the end of 2022.
4. Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy. The Co-operators Board of Directors passed a motion to support management’s public advocacy of pricing carbon. It continue to be an active public advocate engaging with government, business, suppliers and clients to transition to a low-carbon economy.

Position 11: Appointed Position

Ma Jun
Director of the Center for Finance and Development, Tsinghua National Institute of Financial Research(China)

Dr. MA Jun is the UN Environment’s Special Advisor on Sustainable Finance. He is also Special Advisor to the Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Chairman of Green Finance Committee of China Society for Finance and Banking, and Co-chair of G20 Green Finance Study Group. Before joining Tsinghua University, he was the Chief Economist at the Research Bureau of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) from 2014-17. Prior to that, he worked for 13 years at Deutsche Bank, where he was Managing Director, Chief Economist for Greater China, and Head of China and Hong Kong Strategy. From 1992-2000, he worked as public policy specialist, economist and senior economist at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. From 1988-1990, he was a research fellow at the Development Research Center of China’s State Council. Dr. Ma received his Ph.D. in Economics from Georgetown University in 1994, and his master’s degree in Management Science from Fudan University in 1988.

Position 12: Appointed Position (2019-2021)

Saker Nusseibeh, CBE
CEO, International at Federated Hermes

Saker is CEO of the international business of Federated Hermes, appointed November 2011, having joined in June 2009 as CIO. He is also a member of the Federated Hermes Executive team. Prior to this, Saker was Global Head of Equities at Fortis Investments, having previously been CIO Global Equities since 2005. Before this, he was CIO of Global Equities and Head of Marketing for SGAM UK. This followed SGAM’s acquisition of Trust Company of the West, where Saker was a Managing Director running global and international strategies, as well the London office. He started his career at Mercury Asset Management in 1987.

Saker is founder of the 300 Club and was an inaugural member of the CFA Institute’s Future of Finance Advisory Council from 2013 until 2019. He is a member of the IIRC Council, the FCA-PRA Climate Financial Risk Forum, the United Nations Environmental Programme Financial Initiative Steering Committee, the Banking Standards Board, the UK National Advisory Board on Impact Investing, and the advisory Board of the National Youth Orchestra.

In 2018, Saker was named CEO of the Year at the Financial News Asset Management Europe Awards. He has a BA and PhD in Medieval History from King’s College, University of London.

Saker was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s 2019 New Year’s Honours list for services to Responsible Business and Finance.

Position 13: UNEP Representative

Satya S. Tripathi
UN Assistant Secretary-General

A development economist and lawyer with over 35 years of varied experience, Mr. Tripathi has served with the UN since 1998 in key positions in Europe, Asia and Africa in the areas of Climate Change, Human Rights, Democratic Governance and Legal Affairs.

He was Chair of the Committees on Laws, Treaties and Administrative matters for the UN-mediated Cyprus unification talks in 2004; UN Recovery Coordinator for Aceh and Nias where he facilitated international cooperation and funding of over US$ 7 billion for post-tsunami and post-conflict recovery efforts in support of the Indonesian government and affected populations; and Executive Head of UNORCID, a UN System Office of 10 UN Agencies established by the UN Secretary General in 2011 to facilitate the implementation of a US$ 1 Billion REDD+ partnership between Indonesia, Norway and other stakeholders on climate change mitigation and adaptation through the conservation of forests and preservation of peat-land and bio-diversity.

Mr. Tripathi was instrumental in establishing the Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF) in Indonesia in 2016 and the Sustainable India Finance Facility (SIFF) in 2017 to leverage ‘private finance for public good’ at mega-scale to achieve transformative social and environmental impact in developing countries. He continues to serve on the boards of these institutions.

Mr. Tripathi is a Senior Distinguished Fellow on Natural Resources Governance at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and serves on the Advisory Council of the Natural Capital Declaration (NCD). He previously served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Advisory Council on Forests; and in India as a member of its national civil service.