Our Team

The Emergent team is an experienced, multifaceted group of individuals, from diverse backgrounds and regions, who share a common commitment to protect tropical forests for planet, nature and people.

Eron Bloomgarden

CEO and Founder

Bio:

Eron has been a pioneer in the development of carbon markets, as the creator of one of the largest carbon funds in the world, an exchange-listed fund (ETF) on the New York Stock Exchange. He has also advised governments, multilateral institutions, and international corporations on many aspects of the carbon and environmental markets. With extensive experience in the areas of climate finance and carbon markets, Eron has worked on several carbon market milestones, including the first Kyoto (CDM) project in the world to receive issuance of carbon credits. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University, where he was part of the inaugural faculty of the MSc in Sustainability Management at the Earth Institute.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are more than just climate solutions. They are our oldest teachers, our first home, and a living reminder of what it means to be human."

Sean Frisby

Chief Partnerships Officer

Bio:

As Chief Partnerships Officer Sean oversees Emergent’s work with forest governments that are reducing deforestation and seeking to sell carbon credits into markets. Sean joined Emergent from the UK Government, where from 2013-2022 he built up the forests and carbon markets division. He oversaw $900M of new aid-financed partnerships with businesses, governments and communities. Including: overseeing the delivery of several of the world’s first Jurisdictional REDD+ agreements; initiatives to leverage private capital for forests; and a program to tackle deforestation in conflict zones. For the Glasgow COP in 2021 Sean played a leading role in UK diplomatic efforts that agreed the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests & Land Use and the package of accompanying finance commitments. A biologist and environmental economist by training, Sean has spent over 15 years working at the intersection of climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Why forests are important to me:

"They're a big part of where/how I grew up, and I don't want to imagine my children's (or anyone's!) future without them."

Eric Pitt

Chief Commercial Officer

Bio:

Eric Pitt is an experienced climate finance leader with deep expertise in carbon markets, and a background in capital markets and technology. As Chief Commercial Officer at Emergent, he oversees distribution, structuring, and portfolio management. Previously, Eric served as a Managing Director in the fixed income markets at JP Morgan for 15 years and began his career in software development. Eric holds a degree in Physics from Harvard College and an MBA from Columbia University.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are home to plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and more - life intertwined in ecosystems of stunning complexity."

Katherine Zamsky

Chief Financial Officer

Bio:

Katherine is Emergent’s Chief Financial Officer. Katherine has two decades of investment and operating experience in private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and real asset investing. Most recently, she has been a CFO of an aerospace logistics company, which she helped build from the ground up. In her prior roles, Katherine managed fund-to-fund portfolio allocations at AIG, built a $70 billion-dollar alternative investment platform and its fintech at Merrill, and was a board member at premier funds. She also developed a national real asset portfolio at a family office and deployed eco-friendly property improvements. Katherine also co-founded an impact venture fund investing in industrial technologies reducing emissions. She holds an MBA from Columbia University and, as her primary hobby, is a guest lecturer/advisor to several colleges, accelerators, funds, and startups.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests absorb CO₂ and purify air and water; protecting forests enables us to leave a healthier planet for future generations."

Georgie Duffin

Chief of Staff

Bio:

Georgie is Emergent's Chief of Staff. In this capacity, she leads the organization's strategy and planning. She has a background in commercial consulting and within international development, primarily in leading strategy engagements and delivering economic development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. She's worked with clients from governments, donors, and philanthropic foundations through to FTSE 100 companies, and seed to series A start-ups. She's worked on high-level organizational strategy, the design and delivery of complex programs, and in building thoughtful and effective teams.

Why forests are important to me:

"They are a vital resource for maintaining life on our planet. We deplete them at our own cost."

Edwina McKechnie

Executive Vice President

Corporate Engagement

Bio:

Edwina is Executive Vice President, Corporate Engagement, based in Washington D.C. Edwina has over 15 years of experience working with the private sector to integrate responsible business practices and build demand-led sustainability solutions through multi-stakeholder collaboration. She has worked in corporate, non-profit, and advisory roles. Immediately prior to Emergent she facilitated collaborative initiatives with BSR for consumer sector companies’ commodity supply chains, working in partnership to build collective action for supply chain transparency, sustainability performance, and financing for conservation, sustainable production, and community and worker livelihoods outcomes. She has a master’s in environment and development from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s in environmental science and international development from the University of Sussex.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are among our strongest nature-based tools for addressing climate change while supporting local economies and communities."

Alejandra Cicero

Executive Vice President

Legal

Bio:

Alejandra joined Emergent in 2021 and leads Emergent’s Legal team. Previous to joining Emergent, Alejandra worked in a NY-based non-profit that mobilizes pro bono legal support and managed the social enterprises portfolio and a program focused on supporting NGOs in the Amazon Basin. Previous to that, she was a corporate lawyer in private practice. Alejandra holds an LL.M from Columbia Law School and a Law Degree from Universidad Iberoamericana. She is qualified to practice law in New York and Mexico.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests support the clean air, fresh water, and healthy ecosystems that make life possible."

Phil Brady

Executive Vice President

Marketing & Communications

Bio:

Phil has over 20 years of experience of developing marketing strategies and campaigns for businesses and organisations across a wide range of sectors from transport to food, energy, manufacturing and the public sector. Based in London, Phil joined Emergent from leading London communications agency VCCP, where he was a strategist, advising a range of clients, including Shell on marketing strategies to communicate their climate commitments to customers and stakeholders.

Why forests are important to me:

"Without healthy forests we will not win the battle against climate change."

Amybeth Garcia-Bokor

Senior Vice President

Legal & Compliance

Bio:

Amybeth collaborates across Emergent teams to navigate legal, compliance, and enterprise risk challenges in support of the organization’s mission. She brings broad experience guiding companies –from start-ups to Fortune 500s – through legal and regulatory matters, drawing on her background in regulatory risk, litigation, and building practical compliance programs to support cross-functional decision-making. Committed to deploying finance to address climate and social challenges, she also founded and led a social mission-driven capital venture in Lima, Peru before joining Emergent.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are the heart of our planet’s health - and ours."

Andréa Aguiar Azevedo

Advising Vice President

Brazil Origination

Bio:

Dr. Andréa Aguiar Azevedo is the Advising Vice President, Brazil Origination. In this capacity, she oversees the origination of high-integrity carbon credits across Brazilian jurisdictions. She brings more than 15 years of experience leading impactful initiatives across the Brazilian Amazon, with a strong track record in environmental policy, REDD+ strategies, and bioeconomy. She has authored more than 30 technical and scientific studies, with publications in leading journals such as Science and PNAS. Prior to joining Emergent, Dr. Azevedo held leadership roles at IPAM (as Public Policy Director), the Renova Foundation, and the Conexsus Institute (as Institutional Director). She holds a degree in Biological Sciences, a Master’s in Economics, and a Ph.D. in Sustainable Development from the University of Brasília (UnB), along with an Executive MBA.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests protect the livelihoods of millions of people who rely on them every day for culture, home, and opportunity."

Andreas Torres

Associate

Finance & Accounting

Bio:

Andreas is Emergent’s Finance and Accounting Analyst. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for numbers, Andreas meticulously manages the day-to-day financial transactions and activities, ensuring the smooth operation of our financial processes. Specializing in grant reporting and management, Andreas brings unique expertise to our team, ensuring compliance and maximizing opportunities for funding. A graduate of Queens College with a solid foundation in accounting, Finance, and Economics, Andreas is pursuing an MBA at Baruch College, further enriching their knowledge and skills in finance and business management. With a diverse background spanning roles as an AP and AR Accountant, as well as a Staff Accountant for both private companies and non-profits, Andreas brings a wealth of experience and insight to their role. Driven by a commitment to excellence, Andreas goes above and beyond to deliver accurate financial insights and support strategic decision-making.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are important to me because they sustain life, protect our climate, and connect us to the natural world."

Anna Affranio

Associate

Transactions

Bio:

Anna is Associate in the Transactions Team at Emergent. Prior to this role, she worked in impact investing, providing financing to sustainable infrastructure solutions in developing countries. She is passionate about development finance, international cooperation, geopolitics, and Asian affairs. Anna holds a BSc in Economics and Management and a MSc in Public Policy from Bocconi University, Milan. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, doing yoga and cooking for her friends.

Why forests are important to me:

"When protected and well managed, forests create jobs, investment, and justice for local communities."

Annabel van der Kooy

Data Manager

Commercial

Bio:

Annabel is the Data Manager at Emergent, based in London, where she designs and builds systems for ensuring data integrity across the organisation. Prior to joining Emergent, Annabel worked as a software engineer in the investment banking sector and at a financial technology company specializing in market abuse detection. She holds an integrated MEng in Materials Science from the University of Oxford. Annabel is passionate about applying her technical expertise to advance Emergent's climate-focused mission.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are our planet's lungs and home to many people, plants, and animals."

Annie Philip

Advisor

Legal

Bio:

Annie Philip is a lawyer and public policy professional with over 15 years of experience spanning corporate law and environmental policy. She holds a B.A. LL.B (Hons.) from the National University of Juridical Sciences, India, and a Master's in Public Policy from the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals. Her career has taken her from top-tier Indian law firms, where she worked in private equity investment, to leading regulatory and policy work in circular economy and waste management. She has worked with state governments to formulate policies on solid waste in urban and rural areas and consulted with international organisations to lead large-scale initiatives on plastic, solid, and organic waste across India. Annie is currently based in Barcelona, working as an independent consultant on climate and environmental policy, including supporting carbon credit transactions and reviewing legal carbon frameworks and policies at Emergent.

Why forests are important to me:

I come from a country of magnificent forests and extraordinary biodiversity, and I have experienced firsthand the joy and awe of spending time among them. Our lives would be deeply diminished without forests and all that dwells within them.

Ariel Matalon

Fellow

Strategy & Special Projects

Bio:

Ariel Matalon is Emergent’s Strategy & Special Projects Fellow, based in New York. Prior to joining Emergent, Ariel spent four years in consulting, including two years at McKinsey & Company. His work there focused on the energy sector and advanced industries, with an emphasis on energy transition strategy and execution. Ariel is a trained particle astrophysicist and holds an international dual Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago and Sorbonne Université. Outside of Emergent, Ariel is an avid soccer player, crossworder, and birder.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests contain so much of the world's biodiversity and beauty; these ecosystems help to sustain livelihoods, provide clean air & water, and regulate climate."

Blanca Larraín

Manager, MEL and Compliance

Fund Management & Reporting

Bio:

Blanca Larraín is Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Compliance Manager at Emergent. She leads the development of evidence and learning systems that support the effective delivery and continuous improvement of Emergent's forest conservation and climate finance programmes. Blanca has more than twelve years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment, and applied research across international development, spanning consulting, academia, the public sector, and non-profit organisations. She holds an MSc and a PhD in Social Development from University College London and was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Cambridge.

Why forests are important to me:

Growing up in Chile, forests were always the places where I felt most at peace. They remind me of where we come from and of our connection to nature. Protecting forests matters not only for the planet, but also for the people and communities whose lives are deeply connected to them.

Carol Burga

Director, Indigenous Peoples and Local

Communities Stakeholder Engagement

Bio:

Carol Burga works at the intersection of stakeholder engagement, forest governance, and climate finance. She leads efforts across Latin America, Africa, and Asia to strengthen recognition, participation, and benefit-sharing for Indigenous Peoples and local communities in jurisdictional REDD+ initiatives. As Director of IPLC and Stakeholder Engagement at Emergent, Carol leads the design and implementation of the LEAF Coalition’s global approach to community engagement, ensuring that high-integrity climate finance upholds the rights and priorities of forest communities. Her work, grounded in field experience and collaboration with Indigenous leaders, governments, and partners, has helped shape major agreements advancing transparency, equity, and inclusive climate action.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests connect people, land, and life. They hold stories and ancestral knowledge, showing how humans and nature sustain one another and thrive together."

Charlie Leech

Director

Corporate Engagement

Bio:

Charlie Leech is the Director, Corporate Engagement, based in New York, USA. With over 15 years of international experience – at the intersection of climate finance and sustainability alongside news, media, and advertising – she has expertise directing business development and strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management. Immediately prior to joining Emergent, Charlie directed global corporate sustainability at Interpublic Group (IPG) within McCann Worldgroup; and previously directed global client partnerships at Bloomberg, within Bloomberg Green and Bloomberg New Economy. Charlie holds the following industry leadership roles: Mentor for the Conservation Leadership Fellowship led by the WWF and AMANO SO; Advisory Board for The Nest Climate Campus; Member of the Leadership Council for the Earth Public Information Collaborative (EPIC). She frequently moderates and speaks on executive level panels, and has contributed to forums on finance, sustainability, and technology at The United Nations. Charlie holds an MBA from SUMAS, Switzerland Business School, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and English Literature from The University of Reading. Charlie travels the world through endurance pursuits, most recently completing a marathon in Antarctica.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests provide a biodiversity rich environment for people and nature to thrive. As a wilderness explorer, I am inspired to protect and preserve the natural world."

Christopher Coman-Manu

Vice President

Transactions

Bio:

Christopher Coman-Manu is the Vice President of Transactions at Emergent, based in Barcelona, Spain. He has over 10 years of experience working in M&A, private equity, corporate finance, strategy consulting and consulting on climate change adaptation issues. He has worked as an entrepreneur and employee across industries including asset management, renewable energies, smart cities, telco infrastructure. He holds an MSc in Management from ESSEC Business School, France, a BSc in Life Sciences from Aix-Marseille University and is currently enrolled in a MSc in Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution at Aix-Marseille University.

Why forests are important to me:

"All human life depends on these biotic communities. They regulate the climate, the water cycle, provide a basis for essential medicines and a lifeline to many communities. They are not a resource, they are life and a vital pillar for human well-being."

Daisy Payne

Manager

Marketing & Communications

Bio:

Daisy is a marketing and communications specialist who holds an MSc in Climate Change. Before joining Emergent, Daisy worked in the Communications team at Global Canopy across the Trase, Forest 500, Natural Capital Finance Alliance and TNFD programmes. In 2020, Daisy was awarded a Distinction for an MSc in Climate Change from University College London where her thesis explored the relationship between above-ground biomass and tropical forest health in Caribbean protected areas. Before this, she spent 16 months years living in Guyana and working with the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and development after initially starting her career in marketing at L’Oreal UKI in 2013.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests remind me that nature is always changing. No two visits are ever the same - you will always see something that inspires you or brightens your day."

Emma Dowuona-Hammond

Executive Assistant

Bio:

As Executive Assistant, Emma provides executive support across various departments in Emergent. She previously worked in administrative and communications roles in a number of sectors. As well as being passionate about Emergent's mission and environmental preservation, she enjoys curating events and content related to the culture of the African Diaspora. Although originally from London, she is happy to be living on the Mediterranean in Spain.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are full of beauty, life, mystery and peace."

Eric Parfait Essomba

Advising Vice President

Origination (Africa)

Bio:

Eric Parfait Essomba leads Emergent's engagement in Africa. He has more 15 years of experience working at the intersection of environment and development with a focus on REDD+, payment for ecosystem services (PES), forest governance, land use planning, community-based development, conservation and E&S safeguards. Eric has worked extensively on the readiness phase of REDD+ in Central Africa through engagement with the FCPF and implementation of the first PES project in the region. Prior to joining Emergent, Eric was the regional head of the safeguards unit for Africa at WWF International. He holds both an MSc in Environmental Change and International Development from the University of Sheffield and an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. He also holds specialized certifications on Social Impact Assessment from CIG and the University of Strathclyde and on Terrestrial Carbon Accounting from the University of California, San Diego.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests sustain the livelihoods of over 1.6 billion people globally."

Fernanda Ferreira

Advising Director

Brazil Origination

Bio:

Fernanda Ferreira is a climate finance specialist focused on scaling nature-based solutions that protect tropical forests and strengthen sustainable development. She works at the intersection of governments, private sector partners, and philanthropy to mobilize large-scale finance for high-integrity environmental initiatives. She has led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives supporting forest programs and high-integrity environmental frameworks, aligning technical rigor, financial structuring, and cross-sector diplomacy to unlock transformative climate impact. With deep expertise in partnership building, innovative financing mechanisms, and inclusive benefit-sharing approaches, Fernanda is committed to advancing solutions that deliver measurable environmental results while strengthening the resilience and livelihoods communities.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are important to me because they are living systems that connect people, nature, and the planet’s future in profound ways."

Francisco Martes Porto Macedo

Manager

Corporate Engagement

Bio:

Francisco is Manager, Corporate Engagement, based in London. Francisco has almost a decade years of experience in nature and climate finance, carbon markets, and strategy consulting, working across corporate, advisory, and NGO roles to advance nature-based solutions and sustainable finance. Immediately prior to Emergent, he worked at Hamerkop, a carbon credits consultancy, where he advised on the development and certification of nature-based carbon projects and supported buyers across the world with due diligence on carbon credit purchases, working across more than 10 projects globally. Before that, he worked at the Climate Policy Initiative and the OECD, where he specialised in project preparation, innovative financial instruments, and enabling environments for climate infrastructure investment. Earlier in his career, he led fundraising efforts for the Black Jaguar Foundation, overseeing one of Brazil's largest reforestation projects, and began his professional journey at Oliver Wyman. Additionally, Francisco is a member of the Executive Advisory Committee for the FAST-Infra Label. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of São Paulo, a double Master's in Sustainable Forest and Nature Management from the Universities of Copenhagen and Padova, and a Master's in Corporate Sustainability from FIA Business School.

Why forests are important to me:

Forests are at the heart of everything, and a future without them is simply not an option.

Joana Vaz

Senior Vice President

Transactions

Bio:

Joana is Emergent's Senior Vice President of Transactions. With more than ten years of experience and a background in Economics and Finance, Joana started her career at KPMG Portugal as a Corporate Finance advisor, where she gained extensive experience in financial modelling, negotiation and managing transactions, having participated in multiple deals across various sectors, including cross border transactions. Prior to joining Emergent, Joana worked for a private project developer, where she started managing sustainable forestry related transactions, later evolving to managing the efforts on the pre-development of several large-scale Reforestation and REDD+ projects in Latin America, including one of the largest ARR and REDD+ projects in Colombia.

Why forests are important to me:

"Protecting forests means protecting life itself - they sustain our planet, nurture wildlife, and support humanity."

Judit Sarabia

Executive Assistant

Bio:

Judit’s experience in office management, travel arrangement and event organization supports her in her role as Executive Assistant at Emergent. Judit has a background in the tourism industry, which allowed her to learn and connect with people from around the globe. Judit is pursuing a master's degree in corporate communications. She is from Spain and supports our teams in Barcelona, Sitges, and beyond.

Why forests are important to me:

"Childhood walks in the forest made me aware of nature's importance, forests are at the heart of life on Earth."

Katie Deeg

Manager

Strategy & Policy

Bio:

Katie is Emergent's Strategy & Policy Manager, based in Spain with a focus on strategy and policy related to carbon markets. Katie has experience in climate policy, carbon capture and clean energy. Prior to working at Emergent, Katie completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, where she researched materials for clean energy applications. She carried out part of her doctoral work at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland. Before her Ph.D., Katie did computational chemistry research at University Pablo de Olavide in Spain under a Fulbright grant and received her B.A. in Chemistry at Carleton College in Minnesota, U.S.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests have always felt like a sanctuary, where I feel at peace."

Kelsey Close

Analyst

Corporate Engagement

Bio:

Kelsey Close is originally from the United States, and is currently based in Barcelona, Spain. She works as an Analyst on the Corporate Engagement team. Prior to Emergent, Kelsey worked at a tax and management consultancy firm where she supported business planning and compliance for small and medium sized enterprises. Outside of Emergent, Kelsey volunteers regularly at an animal shelter, and enjoys hikes and days at the beach.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests have been doing climate work since long before it was cool."

Leks Olubodun

Vice President

Funding Governance and Impact

Bio:

Leks leads the team supporting forest country governments to identify and select financial intermediaries, monitor the use of funds, evaluate the performance of investments, and generate learning to communicate the impact of Emergent’s work. His role ensures that public and private finance flows through credible partners to beneficiaries. Before joining Emergent, Leks played a central role at the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) from 2017 to 2025. He helped design and embed the governance and delivery systems behind the £4bn International Climate Finance (ICF) portfolio, including a partner assessment and assurance framework that effectively managed risk and upheld programme integrity across a complex, global portfolio. Earlier in his career, Leks worked at the Cabinet Office, where he established and led a cross-government portfolio management function and embedded strategic programme delivery frameworks. He brings specialist expertise in gender, safeguarding, organisational integrity, and alignment with the Paris Agreement. Outside of work, Leks is an avid baker.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are one of the most effective natural solutions we have for tackling climate change and sustaining livelihoods and local communities."

Nina Hrisos

Analyst

Strategy & Communications

Bio:

Nina is an Analyst working across Strategy & Special Projects and Communications & Marketing at Emergent, supporting strategic initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and organizational delivery alongside digital communications and events. With a background in behavioural and social sciences, she brings a research-led, data-informed approach to strategy, analysis, and engagement. Previously, Nina worked as a Research Assistant at Newcastle University, where she co-authored five peer-reviewed publications and contributed to the development of a UK National Health Service behaviour change intervention. She holds an MSc in Psychology from Northumbria University and a BA (Hons) in Sociology with Social Psychology from the University of York, and has certifications in project management, digital marketing, market research, and Google Analytics.

Why forests are important to me:

"I feel at peace when I'm in the forest. They provide for and protect us in so many unseen ways, and we should do all we can to protect them!"

Paz Lozano

Senior Vice President

Origination

Bio:

Paz Lozano is Senior Vice President, Origination at Emergent and is based in Oakland, California. Before joining Emergent, Paz spent eight years at EP Carbon managing the technical development of over 11 successfully validated and verified forest carbon projects under the Verified Carbon Standard and Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standard. Paz has worked in the REDD+ sector in countries across Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, and Central Africa. She holds a degree in environmental science from the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on forestry and geographic information systems.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests remind me that I am an inextricable part of nature and they fill me with a profound sense of awe and peace."

Pietro De Biase

Advising Manager

Transactions

Bio:

Pietro is a legal and policy advisor specialized in international climate finance, carbon markets, and contracts with public and private stakeholders. He has extensive experience negotiating complex agreements with governments, companies, and multilateral initiatives. Pietro works at the intersection of law, policy, and sustainable development. He's assisted an Amazonian Jurisdiction in developing and implementing REDD Socio-Environmental Safeguards Policies. Immediately before joining Emergent, Pietro served as in-house counsel for a multinational energy corporation, where he actively participated in high-stakes negotiations for strategic corporate contracts. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Law and a Master's degree in Environmental and Climate Change Law.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests have the key that unlocks any future worth having."

Subash Pandey

Analyst

Partnerships

Bio:

Subash is a Partnerships Analyst with Emergent, based in New York City. He has contributed significantly to local and international organizations, focusing on sustainable development, climate policy, and environmental research. His work spans the globe, from supporting Community Forest User Groups in Nepal for sustainable forest management to assisting municipalities in the Hudson Valley, New York, in developing climate-smart communities. He has also been involved in research focused on the transparency and accountability mechanisms of the Paris Agreement. Subash's educational background includes a Bachelor's in Forestry Science from the Institute of Forestry, Nepal, and an M.Sc. in Climate Science and Policy from Bard College, New York.

Why forests are important to me:

"Forests are important to me because my family used to depend on them for a living."

Zoe Bienvenu

Director

Origination

Bio:

Zoé leads the engagement with forest governments in Asia. She has 15 years of experience working at the intersection of forest policy, climate finance and international development with international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations /FAO and the Interamerican Development Bank/IDB. She has dedicated the past ten years of her career to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) at a jurisdictional scale across Africa, Asia and Latin America, contributing to the implementation of initiatives such as the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and now the LEAF Coalition. Zoé has hands-on experience accompanying forest governments in their JREDD+ journey, from readiness capacity building to market access. She holds a Master’s degree of Environmental Policy from King’s College London, a Master’s degree of Geoscience from Edinburgh University, and a double major Bachelor’s degree of History and Political Science from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University.

Why forests are important to me:

Forests are important to me because I grew up in countries where they are disappearing at an alarming pace.

Country Representatives

Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc

Consultant Country Representative, Viet Nam

Bio:

Ngoc is currently serving as Emergent’s Country Representative in Vietnam since November 2022. Based in Viet Nam, Ngoc brings over 15 years of experience in climate change and forest carbon market landscape. Prior to Emergent, Ngoc has held key roles including Carbon Expert, REDD+ Development Consultant, Coordinator at several international development organizations such as USAID, GIZ, FFI. Ngoc excels in leading diverse teams, building extensive networks with government agencies, and driving impactful environmental projects. Ngoc holds a Master’s in Climate Change from Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Dr. Shambhu Prasad Dangal

Consultant Country Representative, Nepal

Bio:

Dr. Shambhu Prasad Dangal holds a PhD in the Economics of Forest Management and brings over 35 years of professional experience in forestry, natural resource management, climate change, REDD+, and community livelihoods working closely with government institutions, bilateral projects, international organizations, and the private sector across Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and North Korea. Since 2010, he has been actively engaged with the Government of Nepal in advancing the national REDD+ agenda. He currently serves as the Nepal Country Representative of Emergent, where he leads efforts to advance jurisdictional REDD+ initiatives.

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