Discover best practices and trends from the Latin American and Caribbean private sector shared by IDB Invest specialists in agribusiness, development impact, energy, financial institutions, transportation, and more.
Blog authors
-
Neil WalkerNeil is a senior strategist at Forum for the Future, a leading sustainability non-profit working for 25 years with the private sector, with a focus on value chain projects covering multiple commodities and regions worldwide. Neil's interests lie in understanding the underlying structures that exist within value chain systems, how actors engage and interact with each other, and understanding what needs to change to create resilient and regenerative value chains of the future. Before joining Forum, Neil worked in East Africa on ethical trade and market systems programmes in coffee and energy systems, working on the intersection between climate, livelihoods, and global trade. Neil's recent public work includes as researcher and author for the Oxford Farming Conference 2023 "Supply Chain Synergies" report, as a lead author for the “Integrating Social and Environmental Agendas” report launched in Climate Week 2023 alongside Mars Inc. and IDH, as well as the Cotton 2040 Impact Report.
-
Nelson ChacónNelson Chacón is a consultant in the Development Effectiveness Division (DVF) of IDB Invest. His work is related to economic analysis, data science, monitoring and impact evaluation for development. Before joining the IDB Group in 2014, he worked as a macroeconomic analyst at the Central Bank of Bolivia and was also a consultant on development bank projects in Latin America and Africa. Nelson is a Bolivian economist and holds a Master's degree in Economic Policy from the University of Lausanne.
-
Nikolai OrglandNikolai Orgland is a Blended Finance Investment Officer in the Financial Products and Services Division at IDB Invest. He specializes in designing innovative financial solutions to support catalytic private sector projects with the potential to achieve impactful outcomes in climate mitigation and adaptation. Prior to joining IDB Invest, Nikolai worked as an energy finance consultant at the World Bank’s global energy practice and the International Energy Agency’s clean energy innovation unit. In 2021-22, he was a fellow of the Mercator Fellowship for International Affairs. An engineer by training, Nikolai holds a Master of Science in Energy Management & Sustainability, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, both obtained from the Ecole Polytechnique Féderale de Lausanne in Switzerland.
-
Nora LambrechtNora Lambrecht is a Senior Environmental and Social Officer for Climate Change at IDB Invest. She helps mainstream climate change institutionally and supports clients in managing climate-related risks and impacts. She previously worked in strategy and public affairs, particularly in developing sustainable practices to mitigate climate change and embedding circular economy strategies at Heidelberg Materials. Before working in the materials sector, she gained experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, and at the Council of the European Union. Nora has a graduate degree in economics from Cambridge University and an interdisciplinary background, having also studied energy and climate policy and international relations at SOAS London, UC Berkeley, and University College Maastricht. Nora is alumna of the Global Shapers Community, a World Economic Forum initiative.
-
Norah SullivanNorah Sullivan is a Development Effectiveness Officer at IDB Invest. She focuses on implementing the organization’s Impact Management Framework, particularly on capturing and communicating the impact of IDB Invest operations. She previously worked at IDB Lab, developing projects to support social innovation and inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean.
-
Olga CantilloExecutive Vice President and General Manager of the Panama Stock Exchange, SA, Olga Cantillo has 30 years of professional experience in the financial industry, specializing in banking and securities markets, and has been in charge of investment and banking operations responsibilities in local and regional financial institutions. She's also Vice President of the Ibero-American Federation of Stock Exchanges (FIAB), Secretary of the Association of Capital Markets of the Americas (AMERCA), Director of the Association of Central Securities Deposits of the Americas (ACSDA), Independent Director of BI Bank Panamá, head of Fundación Calicanto, Founding Associate of the Directors Association of Panama, and member of Renaissance Executive Forums Panama.
-
Omar ZacaríasOmar holds the position of Investment Officer at IDB Invest, as part of the institutions Infrastructure and Energy Division working on investment projects across Central America and the Caribbean. A Dominican national, Mr. Zacarías boasts a professional trajectory spanning over 15 years in activities related to multilateral development banking, investment, corporate finance, treasury, and business consulting. He has worked on the structuring and financing of infrastructure, energy, and corporate projects in Central America and the Caribbean. Within the energy sector, he has spearheaded investments in solar, wind, natural gas projects, electric distribution companies, distributed generation, among others. Before joining IDB Invest in 2017, Mr. Zacarías worked for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group as an Investment Associate. Prior to that he held roles in finance and treasury in the metallurgical and airport industry. He also has experience in strategic business consulting in Spain. He earned his MBA from IE Business School in Madrid and holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) university in Santo Domingo.
-
Orlando FerreiraOrlando Ferreira, a Paraguayan national, is the Chief Finance and Administration Officer of IDB Invest. He is responsible for managing the company's financial resources. He has deployed successful financial and investment strategies while implementing an annual funding program reaching US$2.8 billion, which has positioned IDB Invest as a key Sustainable Bond Issuer. Before this role, he served as Chief Strategy Officer and Operating Officer. Mr. Ferreira joined the organization as a Senior Advisor to the CEO in 2006 and later held several Division Chief positions. Orlando is passionate about development and pioneered the first Inter-American Investment Corporation initiative to measure, track, and report on the results of each operation Development Impact and Additionality Scoring System. Also established the first strategic planning framework for the Organization. He also served on the IDB Group's Board of Executive Directors from 1999 to 2005. Before that, Mr. Ferreira worked for 15 years in Paraguay's construction, financial, and advisory services sectors. He holds a degree in economics from the Universidad Nacional de Asunción in Paraguay, a graduate degree in Economics from the same university jointly with Universidad de Santiago de Chile, and a master’s degree in finance from The George Washington University.
-
Ornella GutiérrezOrnella Gutiérrez trabaja en el Programa de Facilitación del Financiamiento al Comercio Exterior (TFFP, por sus siglas en inglés) parte de la división de Productos y Servicios Financieros de BID Invest. Su trabajo se centra en facilitar el acceso de instituciones financieras de América Latina y el Caribe al financiamiento específico necesario para promover el comercio exterior en la región. Ornella nació en Argentina y cuenta con más de 10 años de experiencia en distintas áreas de comercio internacional. Posee una licenciatura en comercio internacional de la Universidad Empresarial Siglo21 y una certificación en comercio internacional y finanzas del London Institute of Banking & Finance.
-
Owen BethelOwen Bethel, President & CEO of Inti Corporation Ltd., brings extensive experience in the financial and investment sectors, having studied law and finance in both Canada (Carleton University, Ottawa – Bachelor of Arts in Law and Political Science) and England (University College London, University of London – Master of Laws). His career covers experience at Credit Suisse (Vice President), International Monetary Fund (Assistant to Executive Director), World Bank (Assistant to Executive Director), Bahamas Financial Services Secretariat (Executive Director), Bahamas Investment Authority (Executive Director), and The Montaque Group (President & Managing Director). He has also served on the Board of Directors of several private and public companies and government agencies.
-
Pablo Alejandro CotsifisPablo Alejandro Cotsifis is an Environmental and Social Lead Officer at IDB Invest, responsible for identifying and treating environmental and social risks and impacts of Projects financed by the bank, consistent with best international practices. He has over 32 years’ experience in the field of environmental and social impact assessments of infrastructure projects including ports, marinas, shipyards, real estate, industry, renewable energy, offshore oil and gas, airports, coastal protection, environmental monitoring and related fields. Before joining IDB Invest, Pablo worked in many large infrastructure projects in Brazil, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Chile and the Caribbean. Pablo holds a BSc. In Biology obtained at Federal University of Bahia, Brazil and an MSc in Aquatic Resource Management obtained at King’s College, London, United Kingdom.
-
Pablo PereiraPablo Pereira is an Strategic, Program Innovation Officer and economist at the Strategic Planning and Knowledge Division (DSP/SPK) based in HQ. He supports strategic and corporate planning, IDBG Country Strategy processes and knowledge products and dissemination. Pablo holds a MSC in Project Finance from the University of York (UK), a MSC in Financial Markets from the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) and a Major in Economics from the same University. Before joining IDB Invest in September 2019, Pablo was a regional economist for Central America, Mexico, Haiti and Dominican Republic at IDB/VPC and consultant at IDB/VPS in INE. He worked for the World Bank in payments system development in Washington DC and was a Senior Advisor and Executive Director at the IMF representing the Southern-Cone countries. He also worked as an Investment Officer in economic and social infrastructure at FONPLATA and provided consultancy services to the private sector in green field projects.
