Jessica Smith

Jessica Smith has led on Nature at the UNEP Finance Initiative since 2020, encouraging rapid uptake of this theme amongst the banking, insurance and investment industries. She has led in setting up major initiatives such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and for finance sector engagement in the development and implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Jessica recently led an applied research project with the Biodiversity Credits Alliance and other partners to promote investment in Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities-managed land- and seascapes and is otherwise active in thought-leadership at the forefront of nature and finance. She has worked extensively to mobilise and evaluate nature-related finance, globally and across Africa. She holds degrees in environmental studies and business, development studies, and commerce and is a PhD researcher in development finance at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business.