Barclays global head of green banking, Rhian-Mari Thomas, has been appointed as the first ever chief executive officer of the Green Finance Institute.
The new organisation, which is being constructed in partnership between the City of London Corporation and the UK government will launch on 2 July at the Corporation’s third annual Green Finance Summit.
Catherine McGuinness, policy chairperson at the City of London Corporation confirmed the news in an announcement on Tuesday.
“She will bring a host of expertise to this role as the Institute prepares to launch this summer,” she said. “The new Green Finance Institute will play a critical role in catalysing this important agenda both in the UK and overseas.
“The City Corporation is working in close partnership with the Government so that the Institute builds on the UK’s existing green finance offer and ensure we remain at the cutting edge of this fast-growing global market.”
The organisation is being established as a catalyst to accelerate the adoption of sustainable environmental finance techniques and enhance London’s position as a world leader in the field. The Green Finance Institute is aiming to bring together the public and private sectors to work on joint initiatives.
See also: What is driving social and environmental impact investing?
“The science is clear, we need to act urgently to build a resilient and low carbon economy,” said Thomas in a statement.
“To do so, will require new forms of cross-sector collaboration, the removal of barriers to investment and ultimately the re-directing of more private capital towards climate change mitigation and resilience projects and strategies.”
The Institute’s new CEO said the organisation, under her leadership, is “uniquely placed to foster the partnerships that will lead to the creativity, innovation and commitment needed to unlock the opportunities from the emerging green economy.”
