About the blog

Adriana Valencia

Adriana M. Valencia is the Energy, Water and Sanitation, and Climate Change Officer in the Strategic Planning and Knowledge Division of IDB Invest, the private sector institution of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB). Adriana has more than 15 years of international development experience in energy and environmental issues. Prior to joining IDB Invest, Adriana served as an energy specialist in the Energy Division of the IDB. Adriana joined the IDB in 2010 and has participated as a team leader/co-team leader in several innovative initiatives and projects. Adriana has contributed to devising strategies with countries and guidance documents for different sectors to achieve development goals in 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to joining the IDB, Adriana worked on sustainable energy, environment, and climate change issues at the World Bank and other entities at the country, state, and city levels. Adriana has published and spoken at several conferences. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. and a Master of Science in Energy and Resources from the University of California at Berkeley.

Agustina Morán

Agustina Zamprile

Agustina Zamprile is a senior analyst at Acrux Partners, an advisory firm focused on impact investment in Latin America. The firm advises investors, banks, governments, and non-profit organizations on diversifying their sustainable and impact investment strategies and their implementation, including impact management, measurement, and reporting aligned with international standards and best practices. Agustina has experience in various sectors, including government, academia, private, and NGOs. Before joining Acrux, she coordinated impact entrepreneurship acceleration programs at Hacela Rodar. In her professional career, she has worked in statistics and research at the Observatory of Social Debt in Argentina (ODSA), as a public opinion analyst (Poliarquía), and as an advisor to councilors in the Morón City Council. She holds a degree in Political Science from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA).

Aimee Sentmat

Aimee Sentmat is President of Banistmo, Member of the National Council for Gender Parity, Board member of SUMARSE and Aspen Institute Fellow.

Aitor Ezcurra

Akanksha Sharma

Akanksha Sharma is the Head of the ClimateTech and Digital Utilities programmes at the GSMA. She specialises in the use of information and communications technology for social good and effective climate action. Akanksha has led key research pieces and investments focussed on tech business models linked to energy, water, sanitation, climate resilience and adaptation as well as climate finance in low- and middle-income countries. Prior to her time with the GSMA, Akanksha worked with a power and utilities research firm in India. Akanksha did her Master’s in Business Management in India, the country she was born and raised in.

Alba Quilez Llopis

Alba is an Investment Officer in the Financial Products and Services Division of IDB Invest. As a member of the Trade and Supply Chain Finance team, she is responsible for providing trade and supply chain solutions to IDB Invest clients, including private sector companies and financial intermediaries. These solutions consist in import/export loans and guarantees, receivables discounting, payables finance, among other instruments. Alba has worked for the IDB Group since 2010, holding different positions as trade finance specialist. Before joining the IDB Group, Alba worked as an investment analyst in the Trade Commission of Spain in New York and as a strategic consultant in Analistas Financieros Internacionales, a leading consulting firm in Madrid. She started her career in London, where she worked for CAM bank. Alba holds an MBA from IE Business School with a specialization in corporate finance and several certificates as trade finance specialist.

Alberto Parodi

Alberto is a Senior Officer, Investment Funds at IDB Invest. His role involves leading investment projects in both Private Equity and Private Credit funds in Latin America and the Caribbean. As part of his career at the IDB Group, he structured and provided financing to financial institutions, both banking and non-banking, in various countries in the region. Before joining the IDB Group, he led the Strategic Management Unit at Sudameris Bank in Paraguay. Additionally, he served as Deputy Manager of Operational Risks and Senior Executive of Strategic Planning at AFP Integra in Peru. Alberto began his career at PwC as an auditor for leading companies in their sectors. He holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from the INCAE Business School and graduated with degrees in Business Administration and Accounting from the Universidad del Pacifico (Peru).

Alejandra Barrientos

Alejandra Barrientos is an economist and consultant in the Development Effectiveness Division (DVF) at IDB Invest, where she works on impact evaluations with a focus on gender and financial inclusion. Before joining IDB Invest, she gained experience in applied research and public policy at the University of Zurich and in Peru’s public sector, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Production. She holds a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Oxford.

Alejandra Haro

Alejandra is a Knowledge Management Consultant at IDB Invest. In this role, she leads institutional efforts to promote knowledge sharing on key topics including governance, content management, accessibility, and engagement. Prior to joining IDB Invest, Alejandra held positions related to Learning and Knowledge Management at IFC, Wayfair, General Electric, and Willis Towers Watson.

Alessandro Maffioli

Alessandro Maffioli is Managing Director and Division Chief of Development Impact at IDB Invest. During his years of at the IDB Group, Alessandro has coordinated various impact evaluation projects for agricultural development, technology and innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises, and access to credit. Previously, he worked for five years at the Center for Latin American Studies and Transition Economies at Bocconi University, where he specialized in innovation economics and regional economics. Alessandro has a doctorate in production and development economics from the University of Insubria, in Italy.

Alicia Taylor

Alicia Taylor is an Investment Management Lead Officer, in the Infrastructure and Energy division at IDB Invest, managing sustainable development financing projects in the energy, transportation, water and sanitation, and social infrastructure sectors throughout the Caribbean countries in which the Bank operates. Before joining the IDB Group, she was a Consulting Partner providing Financial Advisory and Strategic Planning services. Preceding this, she was Head of Scotiatrust & Merchant Bank Limited. In her extensive banking career, she has leveraged her regional and international training and experience to assist clients. Alicia earned an International MBA from UWI/Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business and an Undergraduate Honours degree BSc. Management Studies from the University of the West Indies (UWI- Trinidad).