Chief Ecosystem Development Officer (CEDO) & Executive Director, Climate

As CEDO, Sonia drives CIFF’s commitment to strengthen global ecosystems to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges facing children. She oversees efforts to strengthen philanthropic communities and institutions, including the incubation of new infrastructure the co-design of innovative strategies. Sonia sits on the board of several strategic CIFF partners and grantees.

Sonia also leads CIFF’s Climate Change team and portfolio, which is working to accelerate the transition to a low emissions future for children. Over 50 professionals at CIFF manage more than $1billion in active investments, spanning a range of sectors, including energy, transport, industry, food and land use, alongside cross-cutting strategic levers such as climate finance, diplomacy, legal action, and climate communications.

Prior to joining CIFF in 2013, Sonia was Chief Operating Officer of a start-up company with a mission to connect Africa to the green energy economy by developing high-quality biomass supply chains. Previously, Sonia worked at EcoSecurities, one of the world’s largest carbon offset project developers, from start-up to acquisition by J.P. Morgan & Chase. She was US Country Director and before that Global Head of Origination managing 20 local teams on five continents. Sonia started her career at the United Nations Environment Program.

Sonia holds a BSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Madrid, an MSc in Environmental Change and Management (specialisation in Energy and Environmental Economics) from the University of Oxford and an Executive MBA from the London Business School.  Sonia was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2014.