MELISSA DANN is the deputy director of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. With nearly three decades of experience in international policy and program strategy, she has advised foundations, NGOs, and the private sector on strategies that effect transformative change. Dann is a thought leader on issues such as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), commodity certification, impact investing and raising the profile of capital markets to drive environmental and social change. Prior positions include executive director of the Wallace Global Fund and managing director at the US-Asia Environmental Partnership, a presidential initiative. She currently serves as chair of the board of a start-up NGO, Nature4Justice, and as a director of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) board. She has served on numerous boards, including Root Capital, Winrock International, RARE, and Island Press. She formerly chaired the boards of Fauna & Flora International (US office) and the Consultative Group on Biological Diversity. She is a fellow with the Royal Geographic Society. She holds a master’s degree in political economy from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree from Denison University. She and her husband, Tom, have four grown children.
(Photo credit to Nelson Chenault)
