"You cannot be a modern association without a contemporary board"
Omer Soker, The Future of Associations
Board Members
We all have a leadership role to play in life and there is no time to lose. The international community has come together around two global agreements designed to reduce risk and build resilience. These are the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
The Board is comprised of climate specialists from various industries and they assess the overall direction and strategy of the association. Our Board members are actively involved in a broad spectrum of climate finance and investment products and services.
Andreas Gunst
Partner - DLA Piper
Andreas is an energy and carbon projects and finance practitioner qualified in England & Wales and a Partner at DLA Piper. He has both in-house and private practice experience and was named European Counsel of the Year 2013 by the Association of Corporate Counsel and International Law Office.
In the area of renewable energy projects, carbon finance and environmental securities trading, Andreas is recognised for his regulatory, trading, projects and finance advisory work on renewable energy support schemes, including green certificates (including ROCs, Elcerts, Certficate Verdi, LECs, GoOs, RECS and EECS), feed-in tariffs, market premia and contract for differences. Andreas has advised widely on international emission reduction projects and carbon finance under the mechanisms of the UNFCCC framework, as well as on permitting, allocation, acquisition and trading in relation to compliance as well as voluntary emissions allowances and credits (including EUAs, CERs, ERUs, AAUs, VERs). He has also advised on carbon capture and storage and biofuel tolling projects.
Andreas has served as chairman of several working groups, including CMIA’s EU Emissions Trading Scheme working group and the legal task force of RECS International.
Benjamin Bartle
Principal, Catalytic Climate Capital, RMI
With over 15 years of experience, Benjamin has led climate finance initiatives in over 50 countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. As the principal of RMI’s Catalytic Climate Capital Program, Benjamin spearheads efforts to mobilise and scale climate finance for clean energy projects in developing and emerging markets globally. He leads the design and delivery of Project Preparation Facilities (PPFs) with regional funds, securing financing to de-risk and develop clean energy pipelines. Previously, as a senior climate finance expert at E Co., he managed multi-sectoral teams and secured funding for low-carbon projects. He has a strong record of designing blended finance structures to unlock private capital for clean energy solutions, securing over US$4 billion for over 40 climate projects.
Benjamin serves as a GFANZ advisor on mobilising capital in emerging markets, private sector observer for Climate Investment Fund (CIF), and advisor to the Private Sector Observer, Green Climate Fund. He has held roles at the United Nations Development Program, Global Environment Facility, and was seconded to UN High-Level Climate Champions. Outside of work, Benjamin convenes a group of 400+ New Zealanders working in climate change and is a passionate environmental advocate, having directed documentaries on climate change and environment.
Alexis Leroy
CEO and founder - ALLCOT
Alexis Leroy is CEO of the ALLCOT Group, which he founded in 2009.
A group of companies specializing in end-to-end sustainability solutions for individuals and businesses of all sizes, ALLCOT develops, manages and trades in all sectors related with climate change mitigation, from offices in Switzerland, Spain and Colombia. Allcot’s innovative approach enables it to develop long-term partnerships with clients coming from a range of sectors including fashion, food, sport and tourism.
With extensive trading experience in carbon and other commodities, and having been involved with GHG reductions and renewables since 2007, Alexis is experienced in identifying and commercialising multi-stakeholder opportunities.
He is currently a committee member of the World Energy Forum’s ‘Next Generation Energy Leaders’ group and is the France Chair for G8 Young Global Leaders.
Alexandra Boakes Tracy
President of Hoi Ping Ventures
Alexandra Boakes Tracy is President of Hoi Ping Ventures in Hong Kong, which she founded to provide research and consulting on investment in low carbon energy and infrastructure in Asian emerging markets. Alexandra began her career as an investment banker in Hong Kong and Singapore, and then ran a number of start up businesses, including a software company and a publishing and information business. Following the sale of the latter, she was for several years Vice President – Strategy at First Eastern Investment Group, an independent private investment group in Hong Kong. Alexandra is a member of the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, CMIA’s Private Sector Observer to the United Nations Green Climate Fund and an Advisor to the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology’s Asian Family Business Research Centre. She was non-executive Chairman of the Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia for six years, stepping down in 2015, and was instrumental in establishing the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change during this period.
Alexandra has an MBA from the Harvard Business School and MA degrees from Yale University and Cambridge University.
James Mitchell
Head of Impact, Center for Climate-Aligned Finance, RMI
James drives efforts to ensure climate becomes a part of nearly every business and policy decision globally to slow global heating and return it to below 1.5C by the end of the century. James is Head of Impact at RMI’s Center for Climate Aligned Finance, where his focus is identifying the ideas, projects, and collaborations that can push this frontier. James led the development of the Poseidon Principles, a climate-aligned finance agreement that now covers over 80% of senior shipping debt. He then went on to serve as founding director of RMI’s Center for Climate Aligned Finance, which has delivered the Sustainable Steel Principles, the Sustainable Aluminum Finance Framework, the Pegasus Guidelines, and more. James has previously held roles at the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group and Carbon War Room. His research and work spanning several industries has been featured globally in publications including the Economist, Financial Times, Guardian, New York Times, and many others.