About Vian Sharif

Vian Sharif emphasizes the growing importance of sustainability and its influence on businesses, society, and the financial sector. As the founder of NatureAlpha, she focuses on integrating biodiversity into large-scale investments. She is also the author of Save for the World, a guide for global citizens aiming to align their investments with their values. Her expertise has earned her roles within influential groups, such as the Taskforce for Nature Related Disclosures Technical Experts Group, HM Government's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Business Advisory Group, and the Experts Group for the CBD Secretariat Financial Sector Engagement Workshop, COP15. She believes in the power of businesses and individuals to shape a better future. According to her, the shift toward sustainability, driven by investors and consumer interests, encourages the reallocation of capital to address pressing environmental and societal issues, while also delivering competitive performance. Her work reflects her deep commitment to sustainability and nature conservation. With involvement in several governmental and international advisory groups on sustainable finance, she offers insights into the varying needs of businesses embarking on sustainability initiatives. One of her latest initiatives, the Benchmark for Nature project, bridges the gap between conservation science and the investment sector to assess the impact of capital allocation on nature. Prior to joining FNZ in 2019, Vian Sharif gained over a decade of experience at Investec Asset Management, now Ninety One, where she honed her ability to embed sustainability and corporate social responsibility into business strategies and communications. A notable achievement during her tenure was her involvement in leading the Tusk Conservation Awards in partnership with Investec Asset Management. Throughout her career, she has thrived in creative and collaborative environments, leading initiatives, adding value to organizations, and working closely with individuals and teams to drive impactful change. Her work includes collaborating with academics at Cambridge and Oxford Universities on the development of science-based insights for investor decision-making with a focus on nature risk and impact, including the Benchmark for Nature Project, the Cambridge AI for the study of Environmental Risks Centre and as a guest researcher at the Oxford Martin School. As part of a number of governmental and international sustainability advisory groups, She holds a PhD in pro-environmental behavior change from Imperial College Business School, and a masters degree from Cambridge University.