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YANN BORGSTEDT

FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND UK TRUSTEE

“Be the change you wish to see in the world. May this citation, widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, inspire and guide all of us in changing the world.”

Yann Borgstedt is a Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born and raised in Geneva, he pursued his studies in the USA.
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YANN BORGSTEDT

FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND UK TRUSTEE

“Be the change you wish to see in the world. May this citation, widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, inspire and guide all of us in changing the world.”
Yann Borgstedt is a Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born and raised in Geneva, he pursued his studies in the USA. He has created, invested in and managed a wide range of companies in the real estate development, relocation and storage domains in France, England and Switzerland.
In 2005, he created the Womanity Foundation, which focuses on the education, training and empowerment of women in Afghanistan, Brazil, India, the Middle East and North Africa region and elsewhere.
Amongst other innovative initiatives, Womanity created the first commercial women’s radio exclusively in the Middle East, called “Radio NISAA FM”, and played a key role in the transformation of the largest school for girls in Afghanistan into a model school (Al Fatah). Womanity’s WomenChangeMakers Fellowship was launched in 2009 to identify and support social entrepreneurs with innovative solutions for the empowerment of women. The program was inspired by the Ashoka model, which Yann has become familiar with in recent years, particularly through his participation in Ashoka’s Support Network in Switzerland and France, where he worked with François Marty development sustainable social housing.
Yann also sits on the board of the “Gender Equality Project”, a Swiss Foundation working towards equal professional opportunities for men and women. He is also on the board of Internews, an international non-profit organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect and the means to make their voices heard.
He has a small portfolio of social investments as with www.microdon.org, www.mymela.com, www.twodegreesfood.com, Zewaow and http://alter-equity.com and is also a member of YPO network (Young Presidents Organization).
He also has focused on green development projects including the most recent plans for the development of a green neighborhood in Geneva’s Praille-Acacias-Vernets (PAV) district, creating 400 residential apartments (including two-thirds for social housing) and a green residential tower.
Yann has been welcomed by Women Moving Millions as the first European and as one of the rare male members in recognition of his contribution to women’s empowerment and has received the BNP Paribas Award for Individual Philanthropy (Special Jury Prize) in May 2016.
In 2018, he was awarded the Global Philanthropic Philanthropy Prize for his innovative work with women and the YPO 2018 SEN (Social Enterprise Network) Sustainability Award for Equality.
It was an honour for him to be invited to speak at the 2013 TEDx CoventGardenWomen. In this powerful talk, Yann demonstrates the benefits of investing in girls and women.

ARNAUD MOUROT

BOARD MEMBER – SWITZERLAND

“The world needs innovative social entrepreneurs, who have the capacity to provide effective responses to major societal challenges. Their success rests on a close collaboration with organizations that have the ability to assist and guide them through each and every step of their development. That is what the Womanity Foundation does with professionalism and engagement, and the reason why…
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FELIX BOLLMANN

BOARD MEMBER – SWITZERLAND

Felix Bollmann has been a leading actor in the world of cultural tourism, public service media and humanitarian aid in Switzerland and beyond for over 30 years.
In the 1980s, Mr Bollmann moved into the humanitarian field with the Swiss Development Corporation, before entering into the arena of public service media management…
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FELIX BOLLMANN

BOARD MEMBER – SWITZERLAND

Felix Bollmann has been a leading actor in the world of cultural tourism, public service media and humanitarian aid in Switzerland and beyond for over 30 years.
In the 1980s, Mr Bollmann moved into the humanitarian field with the Swiss Development Corporation, before entering into the arena of public service media management, spearheading major projects such as the creation of World Radio Geneva, an English radio station in Geneva, the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation and the universal exhibition hosted by Switzerland in 2002.
Connecting the worlds of media and humanitarian aid from 2000-2012, Mr Bollmann acted as Director of the Swiss Foundation for Swiss Solidarity, successfully leading the expansion of this collaboration between public service media and major non-governmental humanitarian organisations that raises support from the Swiss public for emergency relief world-wide.
Mr Bollmann continues to be actively engaged and in-demand within civil society with his involvement in a wide range of organisations including support to various social and cultural organizations such as Vice Chairman of Land of Men Foundation in Lausanne, Médecins du Monde Neuchâtel, SOS-Women Geneva, the Flying Anvil Foundation and Fonsart, the Swiss public service media Foundation for the preservation and development of radio and TV heritage.

AUDREY SELIAN

BOARD MEMBER - SWITZERLAND

Audrey Selian is a driving force in the sustainable investment and social development fields, worldwide. Ms Selian started her career in management consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers, with a few short stints within the ITU, telecoms-focused agencies at UN. In 2000, she pursued her interest in technology policy and development, completing a PhD at Tufts University…
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AUDREY SELIAN

BOARD MEMBER - SWITZERLAND

Audrey Selian is a driving force in the sustainable investment and social development fields, worldwide. Ms Selian started her career in management consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers, with a few short stints within the ITU, telecoms-focused agencies at UN. In 2000, she pursued her interest in technology policy and development, completing a PhD at Tufts University focused on the interactions of technology and political development in former Soviet transition states in 2005.
Since that time Ms Selian has worked as a consultant for various organizations, including USAID on the use of information and communication technologies for development, as well as in a technology start-up. Since 2006, she transitioned into advising venture philanthropic foundations in their strategic portfolio development. She is presently acting as Director of Impact Investments for Rianta Capital Zurich, an advisory structure to the Singh Family Trust.
In 2008, Ms Selian founded the Artha Platform, a bespoke technology platform and social network designed to connect private investors and donors interested in India into an exclusive ‘community of trust’, with the purpose of sharing due diligence. Artha Platform has been licensed now in other geographies, including Latin America, and Artha Networks Inc. has been formed as a spin-out in 2012. Additionally she is a co-founder of the Impact Hub in Yerevan, Armenia.

DR MAXIMILIAN MARTIN

BOARD MEMBER - SWITZERLAND

“I believe that social entrepreneurship can make an exceptionally powerful contribution to achieving the pattern change required to enter a genuinely gender-equal world. When the founder of the Womanity Foundation first reached out to me with his vision in 2005, I was delighted to mobilize my know-how, networks, platforms and students to assist him in building Womanity’s programmatic work.”
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DR MAXIMILIAN MARTIN

BOARD MEMBER - SWITZERLAND

“I believe that social entrepreneurship can make an exceptionally powerful contribution to achieving the pattern change required to enter a genuinely gender-equal world. When the founder of the Womanity Foundation first reached out to me with his vision in 2005, I was delighted to mobilize my know-how, networks, platforms and students to assist him in building Womanity’s programmatic work.”
Maximilian Martin advises on, conceives and develops social change and impact investment concepts, platforms, programmes, products and services. His work has involved creating the first university course on social entrepreneurship in Europe at the University of Geneva and Europe’s first wealth management philanthropic advisory and knowledge exchange platform, UBS Philanthropy Services. In addition to lecturing appointments at the University of Geneva and St. Gallen, his engagements include or have included serving as founding chief strategist at IJ Partners as well as global head, managing director of UBS Philanthropy Services, head of research at the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, senior consultant with McKinsey & Company, instructor at Harvard’s Economics Department, and fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Maximilian Martin has authored over a hundred articles on philanthropy, impact investments, and related topics, and is a frequent speaker at international gatherings in the areas of wealth management, philanthropy, and impact investments. He holds advanced degrees in anthropology and economics and a Ph.D. in economic anthropology. In addition to the Womanity Foundation, he serves on the boards or advisory boards of Dazzling Oceans (Singapore), FSG Social Impact Advisors (Boston, USA), Haniel Group (Duisburg, Germany), Oasis Fund (Geneva, Switzerland), and the World Toilet Organization (Singapore).

STEFANIA AVANZINI

BOARD MEMBER - SWITZERLAND

Stefania is impact-driven and passionate about collective transformations. As Director of One Planet Business for Biodvisersity, she is working to scale the adoption of regenerative agriculture globally through the organization’s cross-sectoral membership that spans the agricultural value chain from production to distribution. Prior to her work at OP2B, Stefania worked for Danone’s investment fund for social business, and for Ashoka – the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs. Stefania believes in the power of business to transform agricultural systems in a way that is beneficial for people, climate, and nature.

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STEFANIA AVANZINI

BOARD MEMBER – SWITZERLAND

Stefania is impact-driven and passionate about collective transformations. As Director of One Planet Business for Biodvisersity, she is working to scale the adoption of regenerative agriculture globally through the organization’s cross-sectoral membership that spans the agricultural value chain from production to distribution. Prior to her work at OP2B, Stefania worked for Danone’s investment fund for social business, and for Ashoka – the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs. Stefania believes in the power of business to transform agricultural systems in a way that is beneficial for people, climate, and nature.

JOHN REA

BOARD MEMBER - SWITZERLAND

John Rea, born in Belfast N. Ireland in 1952. He was educated at Belfast Royal Academy, and graduated with Honors in Law at Queens University Belfast and was enrolled as a solicitor in the N. Ireland Supreme Court in 1978. He practiced for a number of years in the UK and then worked in banking…
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JOHN REA

BOARD MEMBER – SWITZERLAND

John Rea, born in Belfast N. Ireland in 1952. He was educated at Belfast Royal Academy, and graduated with Honors in Law at Queens University Belfast and was enrolled as a solicitor in the N. Ireland Supreme Court in 1978. He practiced for a number of years in the UK and then worked in banking becoming Managing Director of the trust division and private client asset management group of Grindlays Private Bank. For the last 12 years has been the Director of a large private Family Office. He is very interested in issues surrounding Leadership and the creation of Leaders who possess clear and demonstrable qualities of empowerment, high ethical standards and a desire to bring humanity and a sense of inter-connectedness into a workplace whilst maintaining efficiency and accountability. John has recent experience of working in a supporting role in a Ugandan based Foundation, which focuses on Malaria prevention through education, effective use of malaria nets and direct treatment. Latterly also focusing on Mother and Infant issues including basic hygiene, nutrition, birth control and infant healthcare.
He has been happily married for 26 years to Versha, a Yoga teacher and father to Rose (23) and Samir (19). John is interested in reading, personal development, inspiring movies and music; he plays golf (badly), skis (moderately) and walks dogs in the mountains (splendidly).

NADA FORNIER

BOARD MEMBER - SWITZERLAND

Inspired by innovation and creativity Nada brings more than 25 years of experience in management, influencer marketing, communication strategies and business development and protection across developing and developed markets.
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NADA FORNIER

BOARD MEMBER – SWITZERLAND

Inspired by innovation and creativity Nada brings more than 25 years of experience in management, influencer marketing, communication strategies and business development and protection across developing and developed markets. Dedicated to disruptive ideas to develop socially responsible brands that can build business while having a social impact, Nada is an inclusive and impactful Communications leader.
One of Nada’s biggest achievements was to develop public-private partnerships that have resulted in building trust and business for the brands while generating donations. This has been the case of the global Pampers UNICEF partnership, P&G biggest cause marketing campaign that helped building the Pampers brand equity and business for over 11 years and has been recognized as one of the best global cause marketing programs and set as a business case study by Oxford University. The campaign has also won many awards and was presented at the Clinton Global Initiative as well as World Economic Forum as an example of « doing well while doing good ».
Nada was featured as one of the most successful Arab women in a book entitled Domains of Influence by Jacqueline Hassink. Nada has also been featured in the book “Leading with Care: How Women Around the World Are Inspiring Businesses, Empowering Communities, and Creating Opportunity” authored by Mary Cantando. . Nada was featured in Oxford case study for public private partnerships done by Said business School and recently in the “Path to Purpose” book by Carolyn Butler Madden

ZIAD TABET

UK TRUSTEE

Ziad Tabet is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Amakor Capital.  He has over 20 years’ experience in finance. Prior to founding Amakor Capital, Ziad ran for over 7 years, as the sole portfolio manager, the event-driven fund at Jabre Capital and managed the segregated event-driven book within Jabre Capital Multi-Strategy Fund.
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ZIAD TABET

UK TRUSTEE

Ziad Tabet is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Amakor Capital.  He has over 20 years’ experience in finance. Prior to founding Amakor Capital, Ziad ran for over 7 years, as the sole portfolio manager, the event-driven fund at Jabre Capital and managed the segregated event-driven book within Jabre Capital Multi-Strategy Fund.
Previously, Ziad Tabet worked for three years with Tribeca Capital where he launched the firm’s European event-driven strategy. Prior to that, he was a senior analyst at Holte Capital.
Ziad Tabet started his career in 1993 with Morgan Stanley in New York, where he spent two years in Mergers and Acquisitions and two years in Emerging Markets. He then worked for four years in Private Equity: two years at Texas Pacific Group, a multi-billion Dollar LBO fund, and two years at Deep Capital, a mid-market buyout boutique he co-founded.
Ziad Tabet holds a BS in Computer Science and a BA in Economics from McGill University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

RUTH SZABO

UK TRUSTEE - SECRETARY

Ruth Szabo has worked as in-house legal adviser for international not-for-profit organisations, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the GAVI Alliance, for over 18 years. Since 2012, she has been an independent legal consultant providing services to international organizations and their employees in the areas of organizational development, governance and workplace conflicts.
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RUTH SZABO

UK TRUSTEE - SECRETARY

Ruth Szabo has worked as in-house legal adviser for international not-for-profit organisations, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the GAVI Alliance, for over 18 years. Since 2012, she has been an independent legal consultant providing services to international organizations and their employees in the areas of organizational development, governance and workplace conflicts.
Ruth Szabo qualified as a solicitor in the UK, holds a Bachelors degree in Law from the University of Southampton, UK, and a Masters in Public International Law from University College London. She has been involved in a number of charitable initiatives, serves on the Executive Committee of Giving Women in Geneva, and has been a volunteer for the Womanity Foundation since its inception.

RANAJOY BASU

UK TRUSTEE - CHAIRMAN

Ranajoy Basu is a Partner at Reed Smith and the Co-Chair of Reed Smith’s India practice. He is dual qualified in England and India. His areas of practice include structured finance, securitisation, derivatives, debt capital markets and debt restructurings. He has significant experience in renewable energy project bonds, particularly solar bonds and solar securitisations.
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RANAJOY BASU

UK TRUSTEE - CHAIRMAN

Ranajoy Basu is a Partner at Reed Smith and the Co-Chair of Reed Smith’s India practice. He is dual qualified in England and India. His areas of practice include structured finance, securitisation, derivatives, debt capital markets and debt restructurings. He has significant experience in renewable energy project bonds, particularly solar bonds and solar securitisations. He also has extensive experience in advising on cross-border social impact finance structures and has been recognised as one of the leading lawyers in this space, having advised on some of the most innovative financial inclusion structures around the world, including the Development Impact Bond (DIB) of Educate Girls in India (one of Womanity’s WomenChangeMakers Fellow organisation). He is one of the founding members of the firm’s Social Impact Finance Group.

AASTHA GURBAX

UK TRUSTEE

Aastha is Senior Banker and Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in London, responsible for leading Entrepreneurial Client Coverage at JP Morgan Private Bank. Aastha is responsible for client advisory, discretionary, credit relationships and is responsible for developing business principally in the Ultra High Net Worth International Market in the UK both for principals and family offices.
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AASTHA GURBAX

UK TRUSTEE

Aastha is Senior Banker and Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in London, responsible for leading Entrepreneurial Client Coverage at JP Morgan Private Bank. Aastha is responsible for client advisory, discretionary, credit relationships and is responsible for developing business principally in the Ultra High Net Worth International Market in the UK both for principals and family offices.
Aastha joined J.P. Morgan from Morgan Stanley where she worked as an Investment Advisor in the Wealth Management Group covering ultra high net worth families, family offices and charities managing both advisory and discretionary portfolios for clients across UK, Emerging Europe and Africa.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Aastha was a Tax Consultant advising ultra high net worth families at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte and Touche in London. Prior to her career in Tax and Private Banking, Aastha held various roles in foreign exchange trading, specialised derivatives and strategic business development.
Aastha won the prestigious Rising Star Spears Wealth Management Award in 2016 and was featured in the Top 50 UK UHNW Wealth Advisors by Spears in 2016 and 2017.
Aastha holds a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science with honours from Cass Business School, London. Aastha is also a professionally qualified tax consultant in the UK. Aastha was on the EMEA Advisory Council at JP Morgan and continues to serve on the board of Harvard Business School Angels and the Womanity Foundation in the UK.

NATALIE PINON

UK TRUSTEE – TREASURER

Natalie Pinon graduated from the London School of Economics and Sciences-Po Paris. In 2013, she joined Social and Sustainable Capital (UK) from the Charities Aid Foundation, where she had managed the global philanthropy advisory practice working with philanthropists and investors to help them achieve their social impact objectives.
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NATALIE PINON

UK TRUSTEE – TREASURER

Natalie Pinon graduated from the London School of Economics and Sciences-Po Paris. In 2013, she joined Social and Sustainable Capital (UK) from the Charities Aid Foundation, where she had managed the global philanthropy advisory practice working with philanthropists and investors to help them achieve their social impact objectives.
Natalie Pinon began her career in financial services before moving to the international development field, where she worked for the United Nations Secretary General’s office and later the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). She was also Head of Social Investment at the London-based family office Novator.
Natalie Pinon is an affiliate of the Marmanie Consulting platform, one of the first UK-based impact investment advisory firms. She is also the co-founder of the social enterprise Development Ratings, an intermediary service for donors to assess the performance and impact of social sector organisations.

MAURICE OSTRO

UK TRUSTEE

Maurice is a serial entrepreneur in commercial and charitable spheres looking for innovative solutions to complex problems.  His businesses have a commitment to positive social impact and he also uses his commercial perspective to create sustainable charitable activities.   Maurice has created a number of companies in fields ranging from gemstones, ice cream, food manufacturing, media and logistics for the aviation industry.
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MAURICE OSTRO

UK TRUSTEE

Maurice is a serial entrepreneur in commercial and charitable spheres looking for innovative solutions to complex problems.  His businesses have a commitment to positive social impact and he also uses his commercial perspective to create sustainable charitable activities.   Maurice has created a number of companies in fields ranging from gemstones, ice cream, food manufacturing, media and logistics for the aviation industry.  He is the founder of Air Fayre, which changed the model for the airline catering industry globally.  He invented and patented products and business methodologies internationally and won multiple international awards for his business and charitable achievements.
Chairman of Ostro Minerals (UK) and Fayre Share Investments he is the founder and Chair of Trustees of the Fayre Share Foundation; Vice-Chairman of the Council of Christians and Jews; Founder Patron of the Faiths Forum for London and involved in numerous charitable activities.  His major philanthropic projects include:

• Collaboration House which facilitates greater impact and efficiency by co-locating multiple charities working towards similar goals, initially focussing on interfaith organisations.

• Strengthening Faith Institutions which builds capacity among the UK’s faith communities.

• Entrepreneurial Giving, a campaign to encourage start-up entrepreneurs to embed mission in their companies by committing a % of the founders shares to a charitable purpose.

• Economic development project with the Daw Suu Foundation of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma with a specific focus on helping economically disadvantaged women.
 
Maurice has been involved in advising several UK Governmental bodies, latterly on the Prime Minister’s Holocaust Commission, as well as having been a mentor for Scotland Yard. He has served the Young Presidents Organisation in a variety of roles internationally and has numerous communal involvements.
Maurice has three degrees including an MA from Oxford (Honours degree in Jurisprudence), he is qualified as an Attorney at Law (Admitted to the New York Bar) and is an alumnus of New York University and Harvard Business School.  He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and a Knight of the Royal Order of Francis I in 2014.
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