Natasha Dinham

„I consider myself so lucky to have a front row seat to what is, undoubtedly, the future of finance. Impact enterprises shouldn’t have to choose between creating impact and realizing growth, and I get to build ways to ensure that they don’t have to.“

Natasha Dinham is the new Co-CEO of Roots of Impact. In her previous role as the Lead Advisory & Advocacy, – which she continues ad interim -, her work included offering inspiration, advocacy, and critical support to build the Impact-Linked Finance market through high-end programs, facilities, and partnerships. Before, she led the Innovative Finance Initiative at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation, an organization using creative and disruptive tools to drive capital towards better social outcomes. Here, Natasha co-convened the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business’s ‘Impact Investing in Africa’ course. Prior to this, she managed technical assistance portfolios in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia at FMO, the Dutch Development Bank.

Natasha has served on multiple investment committees and/or TA advisory boards for SME funds, and is currently the Chair of the Green Outcomes Fund. She holds a master’s degree in Economic Science from the University of the Witwatersrand, where she was an associate lecturer in Economics, and a certificate from Harvard Kennedy School’s Rethinking Financial Inclusion Program.

Annelene Tonn

„What makes my work feel meaningful is being in an impact-driven environment and ensuring that our impact keeps growing.“

Annelene Tonn is the new COO of Roots of Impact and continues to lead the Finance & Business Operations team. In this role, she is responsible for optimizing internal processes and ensuring strong execution capabilities of our project teams. Annelene has a broad professional background, having worked in multinational as well as medium-sized companies both in Germany and abroad.

Before joining the Roots of Impact team, she worked in Costa Rica as a manager for investor relations, financial planning and reporting, having been responsible for the establishment and continual improvement of strategic and operational performance indicators. Annelene also brings extensive knowledge from the healthcare industry. She has lived in Germany, England, Spain, Costa Rica and Guatemala and speaks three languages fluently. She holds a master’s degree in Finance and Management, having graduated with distinction from University of Exeter, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from ESB Reutlingen.

Suzie Cameron

“I’m highly motivated by collaborating with passionate individuals dedicated to shaping a sustainable and impact-centric future.”

Suzie Cameron is Senior Associate in the Finance & Business Operations (FBO) team at Roots of Impact. With a diverse background in accounting, finance, data analysis, and process optimization, Suzie contributes to various projects within the FBO Team, including the development of an innovative platform for Impact-Linked Finance.

Prior to joining Roots of Impact, Suzie worked at an Importer of Record, where she spearheaded the strategic management of the IP team, overseeing the development and safeguarding of internally generated databases. Suzie’s aptitude for data analysis and process optimization played a pivotal role in enhancing IP management within the organization.

Suzie is a qualified Chartered Accountant, with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Cape Town and Business Intelligence Certification from the Corporate Finance Institute.

Jeanette Franke

„I am very excited to be part of the Roots of Impact team to share my passion for having a positive impact on the world.” 

Jeanette Franke is Senior Associate at Roots of Impact, overseeing accounting, administration, and customer relationship management. Jeanette began her career with an apprenticeship as a bank clerk and later advanced her expertise by completing the Trainer Aptitude Exam (CCI) and a Bachelor Professional of Human Resources Management (CCI).

Before joining Roots of Impact GmbH, Jeanette accumulated substantial experience as a finance and office manager in various industries across Germany and Africa. In these roles, she managed a wide range of responsibilities, including human resources, operations management, accounting, financial planning and reporting.

Luciana Di Giovambattista

„I’m happy to be part of the Roots of Impact team because I can make a small contribution to generating more social impact.“

Luciana Di Giovambattista is Associate Finance & Business Operations at Roots of Impact. In her work, she ensures that the right processes are in place by tracking progress and providing timely reports on the business’s critical financial and operational aspects. Before, Luciana has managed and restructured a medium-sized company based in Argentina. She also brings valuable experience in planning, controlling, and reporting.

In addition, Luciana has taken on mentoring roles to guide entrepreneurs in identifying their business potential and making the necessary adjustments in order to pave their way for a sustainable future. She holds a „Licentiatura“ Degree (equivalent to Bachelor’s Degree) in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Córdoba.

Tina Alt

„I am incredibly thankful to be part of a team who deeply cares about positive impact on people and the planet and to contribute making us fit for scale.” 

Tina Alt is Associate Finance & Business Operations at Roots of Impact. She ensures that the right processes and settings are in place for the organization to scale effectively. Tina brings her extensive experience in accounting and human resources from various industries, having worked in Germany, Australia, and Norway before.

Among others, she has been responsible for learning and development programs as well as for recruitment for international and medium-sized companies. In addition, she contributes several years of experience working with accounting, financial planning and reporting. Tina speaks three languages and has a master’s degree of Human Resource Management from the University of Technology Sydney and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the BI Norwegian Business School.

Leonessa Crisci

„I am passionate about engaging with inspiring entrepreneurs and identifying how best to support their economic and impact growth with Impact-Linked Finance.“

Leonessa Crisci is Lead Transaction Management & Consulting at Roots of Impact and currently on parental leave. The transactions she leads cover a variety of sectors including WASH, agriculture, healthcare and vocational skills development, and span various regions such as Central America, Asia and Africa. She is actively involved in Roots of Impact’s efforts to inspire actors to engage with and practice Impact-Linked Finance.

Her professional career started in the private equity space, but she soon moved on to working for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Leonessa entered the impact investing space in 2018 and has worked with different stakeholders ever since, including a venture capital firm in India and  a family office in Germany. She is an EFFAS-Certified ESG Analyst and is fluent in five languages. Leonessa holds degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science and from King’s College London – both focusing on the political economy of development.

Steve McCallum

„I am passionate about using innovative ways to optimally connect capital to sustainable business models with better terms and deeper impact.“

Steve McCallum is Senior Manager Transaction Management & Consulting at Roots of Impact and acts as Ad Interim Lead while Leonessa Crisci is on parental leave. In addition, he largely focuses on managing Impact-Linked Finance programs covering sectors such as education, as well as water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) as well as develoving our ILF Transaction Hub.

Previously, Steve was Innovative Finance Project Manager at the UCT GSB Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and an independent consultant to various stakeholders in the impact investing ecosystem. In these roles, he was involved in implementing innovative impact fund structures, investigating impact investment decision-making frameworks, training impact professionals and helping organizations describe, measure and improve their impact. He holds an MCom Business Management degree from Stellenbosch University and was part of Oxford University’s first cohort for the Executive Education Programme on Impact Measurement.

Laura Marras

„I’m very passionate about helping social enterprises to unlock their full impact potential. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of innovative finance and enable maximum impact by making the most effective use of catalytic capital.“

As a Structuring and Modelling Manager at Roots of Impact, Laura works closely with funders and impact enterprises on Impact-Linked Finance transactions and advisory mandates. She specializes in the design, implementation and review of Impact-Linked Finance structuring tools and incentive schemes. Laura brings extensive international experience in finance, from corporate finance deal structuring to strategic business planning in the private and impact sectors, and across a variety of industries and geographies.

Laura is very passionate about working with innovative high-potential impact organizations, shaping their strategies, and building their capacity to create systemic change and achieve lasting impact. She believes in evidence-based actions and in the catalytic potential of concessional capital. Her vision is that „better terms for better impact“ will be embedded into any financial instrument and result in a lower cost of capital for the value creators.

Laura holds a M.Sc. in Physics, an MBA from the LUISS Business School and a certificate from MITx on Evaluating Social Programs. She speaks 3 languages and has lived in Italy, the UK, South Africa and Spain.

Yevgeniya Bukshpun

„I am very passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to scale and deepen their impact and excited about having the opportunity to shape the practice of Impact-Linked Finance.“

Yevgeniya Bukshpun is Senior Associate Transaction Management & Consulting at Roots of Impact and focuses on implementing and scaling up Impact-Linked Finance. She joins Roots of Impact after having worked in the philanthropic sector with private foundations in California for over ten years. In her previous roles, she gained a deep understanding of organizational, structural and capital needs of social enterprises and helped non-profit organizations to scale their impact across a large variety of sectors.

Yevgeniya’s experience also includes working for New York City’s Independent Budget Office, where she monitored, analyzed and reported on municipal spending on environmental programs. She holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, with a focus on international environmental policy and economics.

Kuhle Mnisi Masilo

„What gets me up in the morning is the opportunity to support entrepreneurs in reaching their goals and rewarding them for their positive impact. I would like to create sustainable solutions to economic problems globally.“

Kuhle Mnisi Masilo is Senior Associate Transaction Management & Consulting at Roots of Impact (currently on parental leave). She focuses on implementing the Impact-Linked Finance programs and transactions, as well as providing guidelines, standards, and advisory to further develop the Impact Linked Finance practice.

Previously, Kuhle was a Principal at Secha Capital, an early-stage impact private equity firm. She joined Secha to combine her skills in finance with her passion for impact and worked in supporting small businesses in South Africa with both financial and on-the-ground support. Kuhle has work experience in investment banking from Goldman Sachs and auditing from PwC. She also interned with Act in Africa, a design thinking and entrepreneurship development program based in Harare. Kuhle holds a Master’s degree in Development Finance from the University of Cape Town, where she was an assistant lecturer in management studies.

Maxime Cheng

„I am most excited when I can help impact entrepreneurs identify the metrics that highlight how their impact and business models intersect.“

Maxime Cheng takes over the new team Insights & Innovations at Roots of Impact and remains Lead Impact Intelligence & Education ad interim until a new team lead is hired. She has been managing the B-Briddhi program in Bangladesh and the Social Finance Academy as an education platform that curates both online and onsite education in the field of impact measurement & management, impact investment readiness, and Impact-Linked Finance.

Before joining Roots of Impact, Maxime built an impact measurement and evaluation database at Impact Hub (Global) and advised mission-driven organizations and policymakers on the subject. She also worked with start-ups creating digital content on business model design and leadership training, and established data analysis processes to drive UX and product development.

Maxime holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hertie School of Governance and investigated the design process of impact indicators of social impact bonds in Europe in her final thesis. She also worked as a marketing officer at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in International Politics and History from Jacobs University Bremen.

Melanie Rodriguez Siow

„The most rewarding aspect of my job is successfully enabling a paradigm shift in impact measurement: from resource-intensive, box-ticking exercises, to insightful, lean data decision-making“

Melanie Rodriguez Siow is Technical Assistance Portfolio Manager at Roots of Impact, bringing more than 10 years of experience in environmental sustainability and social impact development sectors to the team. Upon graduation with a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Hochschule Mannheim, Germany, she was involved in the monitoring and evaluation of environmental engineering projects with multinational consultancy firms in Malaysia.

At the Foundation of Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, she spearheaded Malaysia’s first Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) initiative, a sustainable financing mechanism for management of natural resources. She also gained extensive experience in Pay-for-Success methodologies and cost-effective and customer-centric impact measurement. Melanie holds a M.Sc. in International Development Management from the University of Nottingham, UK, where her dissertation specialized in impact measurement practices in the impact investing industry.

Karoline Rodriguez Rivera

„Let the evidence speak: I am enthusiastic about exploring how exactly Impact-Linked Finance contributes to empowering impact entrepreneurs and helps them create additional impact.“

Karoline Rodriguez Rivera is Senior Associate Impact Intelligence & Education at Roots of Impact, where she specializes in strategic consulting and impact measurement with a focus on social and technological innovations. Before joining the Roots of Impact team, she gathered relevant experience as a research coordinator and successfully implemented large-scale impact evaluations for the World Bank and Innovations for Poverty Action in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, Karoline has served as a consultant for developing effective innovation policies and programs in Germany. Her role primarily involved conducting evaluation studies for government-funded initiatives in the research and innovation sector.

She also gained valuable insights while working at a circular economy start-up, where she immersed herself in the impact-focused business perspective. Karoline holds a master’s degree in economics from Nova School of Business and Economics, complemented by a bachelor’s degree in Global Management.

Adrija Das

„I am most excited about being able to contribute to the journey of entrepreneurs, who are working to better the lives of people in innovative ways.“

Adrija Das is Senior Associate Impact Intelligence & Education at Roots of Impact. She contributes to the team in various capacities, including managing Phase II of the Biniyog Briddhi program and supporting the structuring of Impact-Linked Finance transactions and capacity-building initiatives.

Adrija is a lawyer and public policy graduate from the Hertie School in Berlin. Before joining Roots of Impact, she worked in the Asia Berlin program of the Berlin Senate as a project coordinator, organizing events and conducting stakeholder research to promote exchange between the startup hubs of Asia and Berlin. Adrija’s previous work includes practising competition and mergers and acquisitions law. She also co-founded and led advocacy efforts for an impact enterprise that improved access to quality primary education in northern India. Adrija has experience as a legislative aide for a member of the Indian parliament and as a political consultant, where she developed her expertise on gender and minority inclusion policies.

Jordan Wolken

„What drives me most is accelerating the diffusion of impact capital and community to empower impact enterprises in emerging markets.” 

Jordan Wolken is Senior Associate Impact Intelligence & Education at Roots of Impact. He coordinates the company-wide research agenda and supports the B-Briddhi program in Bangladesh, where he manages impact verifications, trains entrepreneurs in impact measurement and management, and structures Impact-Linked Finance transactions.

Jordan has supported social entrepreneurs in emerging markets for over seven years through Bridges for Enterprise, a UK non-profit he leads. Jordan’s prior work experience includes stints within the venture capital, consulting, government, and non-profit sectors across Africa, Europe, and the US. He holds a bachelor’s degree from NYU Stern in Business and Political Economy and a master’s degree from HEC Paris in Sustainability and Social Innovation, where his thesis focused on the perceived utility of impact measurement among early-stage African startups.

Fannely Mbewe

„I believe passion drives the achievement of social impact. I feel privileged to join that passion and use my skills to contribute to what impact entrepreneurs are working towards: creating a better future for all.”

Fannely Mbewe is Associate Technical Assistance Coordination at Roots of Impact and supports the entire team in various tasks and programs, specifically in managing the learning management system of our Social Finance Academy. Prior to joining the Roots of Impact, Fannely was one of the few selected applicants for the AFRIKA KOMMT! fellowship program. As a fellow, she enjoyed working for technology corporate player Robert Bosch in Karlsruhe (Germany) within the automotive aftermarket sector, as part of their marketing and business coordination digital team.

Fannely always had a passion for social entrepreneurship, which developed during her work as a project assistant with the Chamber of Skilled Crafts, a project in her home country Zambia funded by BMZ, as well as a volunteer tutor at a Zambian NGO. Fannely speaks four languages and holds a bachelor’s degree of Commerce in Economics from Mulungushi University in Zambia and a master’s degree in Business Management from Shenyang Aerospace University in China.

Mercy Zulu-Hume

„Finance holds the potential to be a force for good. I’m driven by a singular passion: unlocking finance for entrepreneurs making a positive impact on people and planet.“

Mercy Zulu-Hume is Lead Advisory & Advocacy at Roots of Impact. Her work includes providing strategic Impact-Linked Finance advisory as well as advocacy and critical support to building the Impact-Linked Finance market through high-end programs, facilities, and partnerships such as the Impact-Linked Fund for Gender Inclusive Fintech.

Prior to this role, Mercy worked in sustainable finance for a development organisation, as well as in impact investing and venture capital, where she was involved in advisory services, developing and managing partnerships, entrepreneur support programs, and investment origination and management across diverse sectors in frontier markets.

In addition to her professional commitments, Mercy actively contributes to entrepreneur ecosystem building by nurturing and supporting entrepreneurs through mentorship.  She has also served on the Taskforce for the National Advisory Board for Impact Investing Zambia, and on the board of businesses in the agriculture and financial inclusion sectors. Mercy is an Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) Fellow having completed her Africa Impact Investing Fellowship.

Anieke de Villiers

„I’m passionate about finding the most effective way to do good for people and the planet. I believe Impact-Linked Finance is the highway for driving optimal positive impact in the world.“

Anieke de Villiers is Manager Advisory & Advocacy at Roots of Impact. Her work includes designing, structuring and implementing the Impact-Linked Fund for Gender-Inclusive Fintech and supporting on advisory mandates for donors, impact investors and impact enterprises.

Prior to joining the Roots of Impact team, Anieke worked for a UK-based alternative debt provider specializing in growth capital and venture debt to high-growth potential SMEs in the UK. Before, she spent time with TechnoServe India in Mumbai, developing an assessment tool to evaluate the performance of the farmer producer companies in their programs. She also has experience in investment banking and corporate finance in South Africa and is a qualified Chartered Accountant (South Africa).

Estefanía Arenas

„I am firmly convinced that by catalyzing capital into the social and environmental sector we can boost social businesses to continue to expand their impact and improve people’s lives on a global scale. I am very lucky to contribute to this mission.”

Estefania Arenas is Senior Associate at Roots of Impact and specializes in designing and implementing social impact initiatives such as the Impact-Linked Fund for Gender Inclusive Fintech. In addition, she is supporting advisory mandates for donors, impact investors and impact enterprises.

Previously, Estefanía worked at Kaya Impacto, an impact investing consulting firm, advising impact investors and social enterprises on investment and fundraising strategies. She began her career at Endeavor, focusing on fostering the growth in Latin American fintech and financial inclusion start up sector , and later joined Zinobe, a Colombian fintech startup, where she led efforts in scaling up and product development. Estefania is dedicated to driving positive change through innovative financial solutions and strategic partnerships.

RickyJesse Daudi

„My motivation is to meaningfully contribute to a holistic vision of a more equitable and sustainable world. I can’t wait to see how Impact-Linked Finance becomes an additional gear in my toolkit, helping me drive and achieve this.”

RickyJesse Daudi is Associate Advisory and Advocacy at Roots of Impact. He provides strategic Impact-Linked Finance advisory as well as advocacy to build the Impact-Linked Finance market through high-end programs, facilities, and partnerships.

Jesse formerly served as an Investment Analyst at Samawati Capital Partners. In this role, he supported research assignments, performed investment and financial analysis, structured deals, contributed to business development, and implemented impact advisory projects. His prior experience includes positions at a commercial bank and a community development institution, where he developed his financial and business analysis skills and passion for creating impact. Jesse holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Science: Financial Economics from Strathmore University.

Maxime Cheng

„I am most excited when I can help impact entrepreneurs identify the metrics that highlight how their impact and business models intersect.“

Maxime Cheng takes over the new team Insights & Innovations at Roots of Impact. In this role, she is leading the generation of market data to improve visibility of the Impact-Linked Finance practice, thus allowing more players to join the market. Her tasks include the development of the Impact-Linked Finance Effectiveness Score. With over 8 years of hands-on experience in the Impact-Linked Finance market, she is also responsible to translate market insights into recommendations for strategy and product development.

Previously, Maxime has been managing the B-Briddhi program in Bangladesh and the Social Finance Academy as an education platform that curates both online and onsite education in the field of impact measurement & management, impact investment readiness, and Impact-Linked Finance. Before Roots of Impact, Maxime built an impact measurement and evaluation database at Impact Hub (Global) and advised mission-driven organizations and policymakers on the subject. She also worked with start-ups creating digital content on business model design and leadership training, and established data analysis processes to drive UX and product development.

Maxime holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hertie School of Governance and a bachelor’s degree in International Politics and History from Jacobs University Bremen.

Christina Moehrle

„My passion and profession is knowledge dissemination. If I can move hearts, minds and pockets of money towards more positive impact, I am all smiles.“

Christina Moehrle is the Lead Communications & Community Management at Roots of Impact and has been with the company since its inception. Her main role is to lead the communication and branding activities for multiple initiatives and programs in which Roots of Impact is involved. In addition, she is supporting the company’s impact investment readiness and blended finance education program offerings for various impact stakeholders.

Since 2012, Christina is active as an independent advisor specializing in impact finance and impact entrepreneurship. Besides Roots of Impact, she is working with several impact pioneers in Europe, such as the Financing Agency for Social Entrepreneurship (FASE), the Initiative for Blended Finance at the University of Zurich, the Impact-Linked Finance Fund, and Ananda Impact Ventures. Her previous career spans management roles such as partner and investor relations manager at the international venture capital firm Star Ventures as well as director of structured products at Deutsche Bank Trust AG, where she was responsible for venture capital, private equity and other alternative fund placements to Deutsche Bank’s high net worth clients across Germany.

Besides work, Christina enjoys being a pro bono advisor and mentor to impact entrepreneurs. She holds a master’s degree with honours in Business Administration from the University of Mannheim and is a member of the German journalist association DFJV.

Daniela Bolivar

„Good communications are key to make the impact sector professional and avant-garde and to mobilize resources to where it matters most. I am truly excited about being able to contribute to the journey of innovative impact entrepreneurs, who are working to better the lives of people.“

Daniela Bolivar is Senior Associate Communications & Community Management at Roots of Impact and focuses on creating high-quality communication strategies and materials  for various funds, programs and projects. For more than 15 years, Daniela has been working as a graphic design and communications expert. Since 2013, she exclusively supports impact-driven organizations and is actively involved in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Latin America, where she developed strong partnerships.

Daniela is passionate about Sketchnotes and visual facilitation that translates complex content in impact finance into user-friendly and accessible visual pieces. As an independent senior consultant in design and strategic communications, she also works with other impact actors in Europe and Latin America, for example, with the ES2 Latam platform.

Daniela van den Berg

„I am particularly passionate about visual storytelling, data-driven creative and community building, using my skills to translate complex impact finance content into user-friendly resources to help drive the impact ecosystem.“

Daniela van den Berg is the Senior Associate of Communications & Community Management at Roots of Impact, where she plays a key role in creating our Impact-Linked Finance Community Hub as well as crafting and executing communication strategies and enhancing the visibility and effectiveness of Roots of Impact’s diverse programs and funds. Her expertise extends to creating engaging content across digital platforms, social media, CRM, TV, radio, and PR, whilst driving her passion and commitment to the impact sector.

Prior to her current role, Daniela was Head of Creative at OneDayOnly.co.za, where she led a creative team in developing and implementing comprehensive marketing campaigns and communication strategies. Her experience also includes significant roles in content creation and brand development as a Studio Manager and Head Stylist, and freelance work across various media platforms. Daniela holds a BA in Language and Culture from the University of Stellenbosch. Her proficiency in multiple languages, strongly enhances her ability to connect with a global and diverse audience.