NESsT

Adriana Neira is a Senior Operations and Finance Associate at NESsT with experience in post-sale service coordination and facilities management.

Alejandra Ramírez Loaiza is Country Director for Colombia at NESsT, bringing over 12 years of experience in project management and corporate finance. She specializes in investment analysis and strategic planning, with a track record of developing impact investment ecosystems and executing social and environmental investment programs across Peru and the region.

Alfredo Ramos Cruzado is an economist and portfolio manager at NESsT with over eight years of experience in sustainable development and climate finance across Latin America and the Caribbean. He holds project management certification from the Inter-American Development Bank and focuses on designing financial instruments and projects that enhance climate resilience in agricultural value chains and bio-businesses in the Amazon region.

Ana Belen Jalixto Romero holds a degree in accounting and has worked across microfinance and capital markets, including roles at Caja Sullana, Crediscotia, Cavali, Profuturo, and the Lima Stock Exchange focused on loan origination, financial analysis, and statement preparation. She currently serves as Loan Fund Portfolio Manager at NESsT, an impact investor providing financing to companies with sustainable and social impact models in Peru and Colombia.

Anamaria Pelegrini serves as Director of Human Resources, Systems and Global Compliance at NESsT. She brings experience in operations and market expansion within the educational sector, with a track record in business unit turnarounds and mergers and acquisitions. Her background includes team management, financial and resource planning, and strategic partnerships with educational institutions, private companies, and public agencies.

Aneta Sokolowska is a Portfolio Manager at NESsT with over 14 years of experience in IT and startup companies across multiple sectors, including insurance, pharma, retail, beauty, FMCG, and restaurants. She has four years of NGO experience and specializes in business process optimization, strategy, analysis, partnership development, program and portfolio management, and due diligence. Her background encompasses operations, business development, scaling, and risk management across organizations of varying sizes.

Berenice Brizuela is a Portfolio Manager at NESsT focused on bioeconomy and impact investment. She has experience managing projects that support social enterprises and has worked on conservation initiatives and sustainable value chains in the Peruvian Amazon, including field diagnostics and business management training for rural productive groups.

Cairo Bastos is a Program Manager at NESsT focused on developing economic models for Indigenous-led and conservation businesses in Latin America, with particular emphasis on sustainable finance, food systems, and the Amazon region. His work includes identifying development opportunities related to climate adaptation, traditional agriculture revival, and Indigenous empowerment while supporting rainforest preservation. Bastos has been recognized by the United Nations as part of a case study on transformative sustainability approaches.

Carolina Vásquez Capitán is an Associate at NESsT's Lirio Fund Andes with a background in financial analysis and portfolio management. Her experience includes financing agricultural cooperatives and social enterprises, with a focus on impact investing and using financial instruments to advance sustainable development and economic inclusion.

Catalina Rodriguez Hohman is Chief Financial Officer at NESsT. A bilingual certified public accountant with a Master's degree in Finance and ACCA accreditation, she brings over fifteen years of experience in nonprofit organizations, national and multinational service sector companies, Big 4 firms, and audit practices in managerial financial, accounting, and consulting roles. Her expertise encompasses corporate finance strategy, financial analysis and projections, internal controls and policy development, financial and accounting process consolidation, audit mechanism design, and implementation of local and international accounting standards including full IFRS, IFRS for SMEs, and IPSAS.

Cristopher Gómez is a Portfolio Manager at NESsT Chile with over 10 years of experience in finance, sustainability, and impact investing. He manages a portfolio of social enterprises, conducting financial viability assessments and structuring financing solutions. Previously, he evaluated venture capital and indigenous development projects at CORFO and conducted sustainability analysis for FTSE Russell.

Dana Kuffa is a Development Manager at NESsT, a nonprofit organization that invests in enterprises creating employment in underserved communities across Latin America and Central Eastern Europe. Based in the Philadelphia area, she works with stakeholders, donors, and investors to support operational sustainability while maintaining involvement in local community development initiatives. Her background includes experience in development and communications, alongside international experience as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Chile and study abroad participant in London.

Diego Santana is Portfolio Manager for Colombia at NESsT, where he manages impact investments focused on social inclusion. He brings over ten years of experience in agribusiness project leadership, including work on inclusive business models, producer association strengthening, international certifications, and financial and operational planning. His background includes training as an Industrial Engineer and consulting work aligned with social enterprise and sustainability principles.

Dumitru Jucov is a Portfolio Manager at NESsT who oversees social enterprises across Romania and Central Eastern Europe with focus on refugee employment, gender empowerment, and environmental sustainability. He has designed and managed grant and acceleration programs distributing over €100,000 per enterprise to more than 80 startups across Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, supporting 66+ enterprises that generated or sustained approximately 27,000 jobs and reached over 345,000 beneficiaries. He launched the "Women with Vision" initiative in Moldova, which provided financing to 35 refugee women-led startups.

Fabian Olivares is a Portfolio Manager for ESG and Impact Due Diligence at NESsT with over 12 years of experience integrating environmental, social, and governance criteria into investment decisions and portfolio management. He holds degrees in Commercial Engineering and Agribusiness and has worked across impact funds, the public sector, and commercial leadership roles, with direct experience in stakeholder engagement including indigenous communities, regulatory bodies, and investment ecosystem actors. His background combines impact investing, financial risk assessment, and financing instrument structuring for social enterprises.

Filip Wadowski is CEE & Violet Fund Director at NESsT, where he oversees investment and fundraising activities for inclusive enterprises across Europe. With over 12 years of experience in impact investing, he has raised €7 million in partnerships and deployed €9 million across 300+ enterprises while managing the full investment lifecycle from sourcing through portfolio management. His background includes fund management, ESG strategy structuring, and cross-border operations across multiple European markets.

Fiorella Cutipa is a Portfolio Associate at NESsT with over 8 years of experience in sustainable fashion and international business across Latin America and the U.S. As Commercial Director of Bella Aborigen and a U.S. State Department YLAI alumna, she works on scaling ethical brands, supporting women artisans, and aligning business practices with sustainable development goals. Cutipa is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and serves as a business mentor and speaker on sustainable business and product innovation.

Gonzalo San Martín serves as an Investment Committee Member and Credit Committee Member at NESsT Lirio Fund. He brings 20 years of international experience in impact investing, sustainable development, and cross-sector partnerships, with a focus on Latin America. San Martín holds an MBA and has served in portfolio director and non-executive director roles.

Gustavo Ribeiro holds an MBA in Finance, Auditing, and Accounting, along with a degree in Mathematics with pedagogical training. He works as a Finance & Operations Associate at NESsT and brings over ten years of administrative experience, with expertise in financial management, reporting, and team oversight. His additional qualifications include specializations in Agile methodologies and Power BI.

Homero Recharte is an Investment Associate at NESsT's Lirio Fund Andes, where he evaluates and structures investments in high-impact enterprises focused on sustainable agriculture and inclusive businesses. He brings over six years of experience in capital markets, financial risk management, and impact investing across Latin America, with expertise in financial modeling, credit analysis, and debt structuring. Previously, he has supported investment funds, financial institutions, and advisory firms in risk assessment and market transactions.

Ioana Samoil serves as Country Director at NESsT, where she supports the growth of social enterprises and develops educational programs. She brings experience in finance, entrepreneurship, and education, with prior work at Academia 1,61 and the NESsT Foundation.

Jorge Arturo Chávez Zenteno is an economist and MBA holder with 15 years of experience in financial services and corporate financial management. He currently directs an impact investment fund at NESsT and has worked with banking institutions and impact investment funds throughout his career. His background encompasses finance, risk management, credit analysis, and investment administration.

Juan Pablo Manrique holds a degree in Economics from Universidad de los Andes and serves as Andes Amazonia Portfolio Manager at NESsT. His background includes experience in social impact project management, new business development, and strategic planning, with expertise in stakeholder engagement across public and private sectors.

Júlia Querino is an accountant and postgraduate student in accounting, finance, and labor expertise currently serving as a financial control and finance specialist at an international nonprofit organization. She specializes in financial data intelligence, process optimization, and operational efficiency, working with companies and accounting firms to organize financial workflows and produce strategic reports. Querino operates as an independent contractor with expertise in QuickBooks and offers services including financial routine management, accounting cleanup, and strategic financial analysis.

Justyna Markowicz is a Portfolio Manager at NESsT focused on impact investing and venture philanthropy. She holds an academic background in management and cultural studies and has professional experience across private sector and nonprofit organizations. Her work encompasses sustainability consulting and design thinking facilitation.

Katiuska Kuzniar is a Controller at NESsT with 17 years of experience as a public accountant. She specializes in financial statement analysis, budget projection, tax preparation across multiple Latin American and Caribbean countries, and audit management. Her background includes accounting system integration projects, costing analysis, and profitability reporting.

Laya Hess-Skinner is the Director of Development at NESsT. Previously, she served as Senior Manager for Institutional Relations at Grameen Foundation, where she managed project and new business portfolios totaling $50 million and provided technical consulting to organizations including the World Bank, USAID, the Asian Development Bank, MCC, and the Department of State. She holds an MPA in Economic Policy and Public Finance from Cornell University, a Graduate Certificate in Economics from Oxford University, and a BA in Sociology and Middle Eastern Studies from St. Olaf College.

Márcia Sobreira is a Portfolio Manager at NESsT with over a decade of experience in socio-environmental impact assessment and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) practices. She specializes in impact evaluation for nonprofits, bioeconomy initiatives, impact businesses, and biodiversity conservation, with particular focus on scaling business models that integrate economic development with environmental conservation. Her work involves collaborating with communities, social enterprises, and organizations to advance impact measurement while incorporating traditional knowledge and biodiversity considerations.

Margarita Martinez serves as Portfolio Manager Colombia at NESsT, focusing on impact investment and regenerative business models. She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management and Law and has studied business administration and international business management. Her background includes founding quedaste.com and leading an incubator program at Universidad del Rosario.

Maria Pia Quiroz Valdiviezo is a Portfolio Associate at NESsT focused on impact investment. She has experience in management consulting and program and project management, with expertise in organizational coordination and team leadership. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola.

Mariana Lima is Associate Director of Lirio Fund Brazil at NESsT, where she focuses on fund expansion and pipeline development in Brazilian markets. She brings over a decade of experience in sustainable finance, with expertise in business planning, agricultural economics, credit analysis, and portfolio management. Lima holds an MBA in Sustainability and is trilingual.

Mauricio Verkooijen serves as Country Director for Peru at NESsT, where he leads multi-stakeholder programs in emerging markets. His work focuses on impact investing, entrepreneurship, and corporate sustainability, with particular attention to ecosystem development, poverty reduction, digital inclusion, and climate adaptation. He has collaborated with corporations, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations across international development contexts.

Michele Crater Aguilar is Associate Director of Communications at NESsT. She develops strategic communications and messaging initiatives for the organization.

Mónica Fabiana Hernández Pinto is a Cooperation Officer and Programme Manager at the European Union in Colombia with over 13 years of experience in international affairs and sustainable development. She has led programs and partnerships across Colombia and Latin America, working with multilateral organizations on corporate social responsibility, public-private partnerships, and international cooperation initiatives. Her background includes expertise in stakeholder alignment, institutional coordination, and relationship management across technical and leadership levels.

Nadine Headley is a Senior Executive Assistant at Fannie Mae with over 10 years of experience supporting C-level executives and managing complex executive operations. She has expertise in project management, business operations optimization, and stakeholder relationship management. Her technical proficiencies include Microsoft Office Suite, Google Office, Adobe, SAP Concur, and Tableau.

Nayana Cambraia is a Portfolio Manager at NESsT with over 15 years of experience in social impact, sustainable development, and business strengthening in areas including racial equity, climate justice, and the bioeconomy. She co-founded UBUNTU, a consultancy focused on diversity strategies and impact advising, and holds expertise in portfolio management, fundraising, financial analysis, and impact metrics including ESG frameworks. Cambraia has completed specialized training in market-based impact investing and communication strategy for socio-bioeconomics.

Rachael Pennington is a Communications Manager at NESsT with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector. She specializes in digital content creation, impact storytelling, and content marketing across impact investing, philanthropy, healthcare, and translation. Pennington is fluent in Spanish and English.

Renata Truzzi de Souza is Chief Impact & Operations Officer at NESsT Global, overseeing organizational effectiveness, operational strategy, and impact measurement. Previously, she served as Global Acceleration & Impact Director managing a portfolio of over 90 social enterprises across seven countries, and as Country Director of NESsT Brazil for nearly 12 years, where she led programs that generated 24,000 jobs and reached 350,000 people through investments in 34 companies. She brings 27 years of experience in impact investing, social investment, business development, and nonprofit management, with educational background in business administration, investment management, journalism, and marketing.

Renzo Salas García is Portfolio Manager at NESsT, focusing on impact investment and sustainability. With over nine years of experience in open innovation, he works with companies and entrepreneurs to identify challenges and develop scalable solutions. He teaches methodologies including Lean Startup, Scrum, and Design Thinking at San Ignacio de Loyola University and Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, and previously led venture clienting and corporate venturing projects at Wayra Hispam.

Rocío Hermosilla Rivera is an operations associate at NESsT with over 15 years of experience in administration. She holds approximately 10 years of formal education in administration, bookkeeping, international business, and English-Spanish interpretation.

Spirache is a Finance & Operations Associate at NESsT with over a decade of experience in the finance and real estate industries. Her background includes roles requiring expertise in sales, communication, operations, and project management.

Soraya Castillo is a Data Analyst and Impact Management Associate at NESsT with a Master's degree in Engineering. She works with data processing, visualization, and statistical modeling, and has experience collaborating on projects focused on evidence-based impact measurement and strategic growth. Her technical toolkit includes Power BI, Python, and SQL.

Tiana Lins serves as Country Director of NESsT Brazil, where she supports organizational strengthening and strategic initiatives with focus on social and environmental impact. She brings over twenty years of experience in institutional development, grantmaking, and strategic consulting, working at the intersection of social and climate justice across multiple sectors.