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Carolin Leeshaa (Natural Capital & Biodiversity, Global Lead at KPMG Australia)

Carolin Leeshaa

Natural Capital & Biodiversity, Global Lead at KPMG Australia

Carolin has been at the forefront of global social and sustainable finance, impact investing and environmental markets for over 20 years. She is a trusted impact strategist who works at the intersection of government policy, capital markets and communities across developed and emerging markets.

Shara Lohrasb (Co-Chair of Nature Working Group & Associate Director at Clean Energy Finance Corporation)

Shara Lohrasb

Co-Chair of Nature Working Group & Associate Director at Clean Energy Finance Corporation

Shara is an Associate Director within Asset Management at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and oversees the management of the organisation’s debt capital markets portfolio of AUD1.3b. She has almost 20 years’ experience across the financial sector, including at Westpac, ANZ and Macquarie, as well as several years’ experience actively advocating positive environmental outcomes and managing ESG risk within investments. Shara also has a background in science and has contributed toward research in atmospheric and ocean systems. Drawing on her skills and experience she enjoys actively working with not-for-profits which seek to draw attention and action toward conservation and protection of natural resources and biodiversity.

Elizabeth O'Leary (Senior Managing Director of Macquarie Asset Management)

Elizabeth O'Leary

Senior Managing Director of Macquarie Asset Management

Elizabeth O’Leary is a Senior Managing Director in Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) Real Assets. Since 2003, she has held a number of senior corporate roles across Macquarie Group and worked in Macquarie’s Australian, UK and Hong Kong offices. In her current role, which she has held since 2014, Elizabeth leads MAM’s Agriculture & Natural Asset’s platform encompassing large-scale specialised funds and related investment vehicles. She is also a member of the MAM Real Assets Executive Committee. She sits on the relevant Investment Committees and is a board director of various agricultural operating companies.

Elizabeth is committed to developing the natural assets sector into a mature and attractive asset class with growing institutional investment. Under Elizabeth’s leadership, MAM Agriculture & Natural Assets has taken a leadership position in the development of methods of measuring, reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions across its farming operations.

Elizabeth is a keen participant in the natural assets sector as a member of the Energy, Emissions and Efficiency Advisory Committee, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Agriculture and Food Advisory Group, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) along with not-for-profit boards focused on climate and biodiversity. She is a regular speaker and contributor at industry forums.

Elizabeth was raised on a mixed farm in the Riverina farming region of Australia and has held private interests in farming assets for over two decades.

Guy Williams (Co-Chair of Nature Working Group & Director, Biodiversity and Natural Capital - Sustainability and Climate Change at Deloitte)

Guy Williams

Co-Chair of Nature Working Group & Director, Biodiversity and Natural Capital - Sustainability and Climate Change at Deloitte

Guy Williams is a Director in Deloitte's Risk Advisory practice supporting a global network of clients to develop science-based solutions to existing and emerging biodiversity challenges. Guy brings a unique balance and perspective to the rapidly evolving natural capital agenda, gained from over twenty years field research in landscape ecology across Asia and the Pacific, academic skills in biodiversity, anthropology, and corporate sustainability, combined with his ongoing work advising business to better manage and effectively value nature. Guy serves on the membership of the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosure, the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management and Species Survival Commission, and is an active supporter of the Science Based Targets Network. Guy maintains a deep and ongoing interest in community-led conservation, and the use of digital media to support effective conservation strategies.

Nicole Yazbek-Martin (Director of Financing Solutions for Nature at Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment)

Nicole Yazbek-Martin

Director of Financing Solutions for Nature at Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment

Nicole is the Director of Financing Solutions for Nature at the Australian Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Her role is to drive policy to increase private investment in Australia’s natural capital by helping embed natural capital considerations into financial decision making. This includes representing Australia on the TNFD Forum and as a member of the TNFD Stewardship Council. Nicole previously led the reviews and research function at the Australian Climate Change Authority. Prior to joining the public service, Nicole worked in structured commodity finance for multi-national banks and in development finance with the World Bank Group. Nicole holds a Master of Laws in international trade and post-graduate qualifications in finance and economics.