Management

The Secretariat is headed by the Executive Director, who is appointed by and accountable to the Board. The Secretariat’s senior management team lead the various divisions of the Secretariat, providing the management capabilities to execute the day-to-day operations of the Fund.

Mafalda Duarte, Executive Director

Mafalda Duarte is the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, the world’s largest multilateral climate fund, since August 1, 2023. For decades, Mafalda has challenged business as usual to drive innovative and pioneering development and climate-responsive investments globally. Before her current role, Mafalda was CEO of the Climate Investment Funds, where she steered a multibillion-dollar portfolio of investments pushing the frontiers of clean energy, sustainable land management, and resilience across more than 70 middle and low-income countries. Originally from Portugal, Mafalda is a proud mother to three daughters and a champion of social inclusion and equity. She decided to focus her international development career on climate action after witnessing climate impacts in countries in Africa and learning about climate science.

Henry Gonzalez, Deputy Executive Director

Henry is the GCF’s Deputy Executive Director. He has over 25 years of professional experience across sustainable and impact investing, emerging markets, and political and economic development. Prior to joining GCF he was an Associate Fellow at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. He also served as member of Senior Management and Global Head of Research & Advisory at responsAbility Investments AG, where he led thought leadership, technical assistance, and ESG/impact integration strategies across the sectors of finance, climate and agriculture. He also spent time at Morgan Stanley, serving as a Vice President for Emerging Markets Debt investing and held other positions at the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and the Government of Costa Rica. Henry holds an MBA from Oxford University (Skoll Scholar), an MPA from Harvard University (Fulbright Scholar) and a BA in Political Science from the University of Costa Rica.

Carolina Fuentes, Director (Country Programming)

Carolina Fuentes is Director of GCF's Country Programming Division. She was formerly Deputy Director General for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Mexico, where she was in charge of climate change, international cooperation, and engagement with economic and environmental organisations such as the OECD and CEC. She previously worked as Director for Climate Change in the same ministry where she represented Mexico in international climate change negotiations. Carolina holds a Master's degree in Nature, Society, and Environmental Policy from the University of Oxford (UK).

German Velasquez, Director (Mitigation and Adaptation)

Dr German (Jerry) Velasquez is the Director of GCF's Mitigation and Adaptation Division. He has worked for various United Nations departments on environmental conventions and governance, as well as on disaster vulnerability and risk, since 1994. With the UN Office for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) he supported the development of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Jerry previously led the largest association of cities promoting resilience – the UN Making Cities Resilient Campaign – with more than 3,600 members globally. With UN Environment (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) he helped countries to implement multilateral agreements, in particular the Rio Conventions. Jerry received a Master and Doctor of Engineering degree on Hydrology and Water Resources from Nagoya University (Japan).

Kavita Sinha, Director (Private Sector Facility)

Kavita Sinha is the Director of the Private Sector Facility. Previously she was with the European Climate Foundation, where she was the programme director for energy transition in Asia and also helped set up the Southeast Asia Clean Energy Facility; and was the interim director for Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership. Prior to ECF, she spent more than 15 years in leadership roles in the corporate world – from start-ups to multinational corporations across multiple sectors. She co-founded and successfully exited start-ups in clean energy and infrastructure services. She also worked for nearly a decade with the U.S. Agency for International Development where she held several program management roles including in climate impact.

She has an MBA from Rutgers Business School, USA and an honors degree in Chemical Engineering as well as graduate studies in energy systems from leading engineering schools in India. She has also received training in sustainable investing, international relations, and political economy.

Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director (External Affairs)

Dr Oyun Sanjaasuren is the Director of External Affairs. A former Minister from Mongolia, Oyun has extensive experience in representing international organisations. She served as the first President of the United Nations Environment Assembly, the governing body of UN Environment. After leaving the Government of Mongolia in 2016, she was appointed Chair of the Global Water Partnership, an intergovernmental organization to advance water security by working with over 3,000 institutional partners in more than 180 countries. Oyun's five consecutive terms in Mongolia's Parliament included stints as Minister of Environment and Green Development (2012-2014) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007 – 2008). Holding a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Cambridge, Oyun has also been a prominent advocate of civil and social rights.

Lilian Macharia, Director (Portfolio Management)

Lilian Macharia is the Director of Portfolio Management at GCF. She is a Kenyan national with over 21 years of designing, structuring and managing complex public and private financial sector investments in multiple sectors, including energy, gender, agriculture, manufacturing and SME sectors across Africa. Prior to her appointment, Lilian was a Senior Program Management Specialist where she assisted in setting up portfolio monitoring and management systems, and led the team that monitored and managed the implementation of GCF's portfolio. She had served for over 11 years with the African Development Bank (AfDB) in various capacities, and represented the AfDB in various investee company boards. She also previously served in various roles in Practical Action (Eastern Africa), K-Rep (microfinance) and NEPAD Secretariat in Johannesburg. Lilian holds a Bachelor of Education and Master of Business Administration from Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.

Gülen Newton, General Counsel

Gülen Newton is the General Counsel at the Office of the General Counsel. She is a senior legal executive with more than twenty years’ experience in international development finance organisations, including more than a decade in executive roles at the Asian Development Bank and The Global Fund. Leveraging a breadth of experience and deep grasp of issues across diverse legal frameworks, she provides high-level legal and strategic guidance to senior management, senior government officials and boards of directors in helping countries reduce poverty, forge sustainable growth, and improve global public health. She is a recognised subject matter expert in international development finance and government negotiations, compliance, governance, policy analysis and development, risk mitigation, cross-border transactions, and multi-jurisdictional issues. Gülen has led negotiations with countries for multilateral treaty on immunities, protecting organisation’s interests across different legal regimes. She holds a Juris Doctor from Dokuz Eylül University (Türkiye) and an LL.M. from Southern Methodist University (USA).

Huishu Ji, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer

Huishu Ji is the GCF's Chief Risk and Compliance Officer. She has over 20 years of risk management, compliance, impact investing and management consulting experience. She joined the GCF from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) where she managed risk and compliance issues across industry sectors and geographic regions, promoted IFC’s standards and best practices among partners, and structured climate projects in the infrastructure sector. She also led multi-functional teams in building risk and knowledge management programs and implementing change initiatives. Huishu has a law degree from Jilin University in China and a Master's degree in International Economics and International Law from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies in the US. She passed the Chinese Bar Exam and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.

Artur Cardoso de Lacerda, Director of Governance and OGA Secretary to the Board

Artur Cardoso de Lacerda is the Director of Governance and OGA Secretary to the Board. Before GCF, he was the Director-General for the Office of the President of the New Development Bank (NDB). He also served as Senior Counselor for Brazil at the Inter-American Development Bank, and as Senior Advisor for Brazil at the World Bank. He was also Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Brazilian Ministry of Finance. Artur served as Brazilian alternate negotiator for the establishment of NDB by the BRICS and was a member of the National Executive Secretariat for Rio+20 in 2012, and a member of the Secretariat of Brazil's G20 Presidency in 2008. He holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and an MBA in Projects.

Selina Wrighter, Head of policy and strategy

Selina is the GCF’s Head of Policy and Strategy, bringing over 15 years of experience in multilateral climate negotiations, climate and energy policy and regulation. Selina joined the GCF in August 2017 and has headed strategic planning through two GCF programming cycles, also covering implementation of strategy through annual work planning, institutional capability assessments and policy development. Prior to joining GCF, Selina was a Director at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade / Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, where she led mitigation negotiations on the Paris Agreement, managed engagement with international and domestic stakeholders, and worked on domestic climate policy. She also held foreign policy roles covering the Pacific and United States. Previously, Selina worked as an energy and resources lawyer at Baker & McKenzie, being admitted to practice as a solicitor in 2007. Selina holds a Masters in Law from Harvard University and Bachelors of Arts / Laws (Hons) from the University of Sydney.

Stephanie Kwan, Chief of Staff a.i.

Stephanie is the Chief of Staff ad interim of the Green Climate Fund. She is also Head of Accreditation and Entity Relations in the Division of Country Programming at GCF. Stephanie has nearly 20 years of professional experience in corporate sustainability advisory and partnerships, institutional capacity building and the development of carbon market projects. Prior to joining GCF, she was with ecolutions and Sindicatum Sustainable Resources based in Asia working on business development and project design in renewable energy. She also held Chair and Vice Chair positions for working groups on carbon markets at the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. She previously worked at Trinity Consultants providing environmental, greenhouse gas and climate change advisory services to companies in the energy, manufacturing, food production and aerospace industries. Stephanie holds an MS in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a BS in Environmental Science and Political Science from Emory University.