Meet the Team
A dedicated team with extensive experience identifying and managing investments grounded in a landscape approach
Our team consists of international experts in impact investing, climate adaptation and integrated landscape approach. Together we are working to mobilise transformative climate adaptation finance for rural communities in the global south. Find out more about our team here and get in touch to learn more about the work of the Landscape Resilience Fund.
Administrative office
Urs Dieterich
Managing DirectorUrs Dieterich
Managing DirectorUrs is responsible for the overall management of the fund and reports to the LRF Board. He has over 8 years experience working in finance and forestry across developed and developing countries.
Carolina Kitchen Fabre
Pre-Investment Support ManagerCarolina Kitchen Fabre
Pre-Investment Support ManagerCarolina manages the LRF’s Pre-Investment Support activities, funded by the GEF, which provide assistance to SMEs with climate resilient practices that need support to become investment ready. She has worked for 20+ years managing sustainable development projects, designing environmental policies, and coordinating programs for the Colombian government.
James Medcalf
Investment ManagerJames Medcalf
Investment ManagerJames leads the investment process into SMEs and builds partnerships for the LRF. He has 10 years of experience in investments & finance with a specific focus on agricultural SMEs and projects.
Marie Andrée Liere
Climate Adaptation and Impact ManagerMarie Andrée Liere
Climate Adaptation and Impact ManagerMarie Andrée conducts vulnerability analyses and recommends adaptation strategies to build the resilience of communities and landscapes. She contributes to building partnerships for the LRF and has 5+ years experience in climate adaptation.
Claire Wheeler
Impact Investment SpecialistClaire Wheeler
Impact Investment SpecialistClaire works on pipeline sourcing and business development. She has 4+ years of experience investing in Africa including primary agriculture, conservations tourism, and renewable energy.
Advisory & Services
Yougha von Laer
Senior AdvisorYougha von Laer
Senior AdvisorYougha co-developed the LRF and provides strategic advice on design and implementation of the LRF as a Lead for WWF on Bankable Nature Solutions for land-use. She has over 15 years of experience in forestry and climate projects worldwide.
James Rawles
Landscape & SME Engagement ManagerJames Rawles
Landscape & SME Engagement ManagerJames manages landscape coordination and SME engagement for the LRF and is based in Vietnam. He has worked on impact investing and sustainable land use for WWF since 2019, and previously for Mirova.
Inna Bilschuk
Landscape ExpertInna Bilschuk
Landscape ExpertInna advises and coordinates landscape work at the LRF and a focal point for WWF Network. She has over 7 years experience working across renewable energies, forestry and agriculture as well as nature conservation projects.
Landscape Coordinators
Luis Silva
Landscape AdvisorLuis Silva
Landscape AdvisorLuis provides support to the landscape coordinators in applying the landscape approach in a productive and inclusive manner. Luis is leading the New Generation Plantations and working with the WWF Forests Forward program.
Daniel Venturi
Landscape Coordinator, BrazilDaniel Venturi
Landscape Coordinator, BrazilDaniel has worked for WWF Brazil for 10+ years. He is a forest landscape restoration expert, focused on efforts to restore ecological functionality and improve livelihoods.
Khanh Ton
Landscape Coordinator, VietnamKhanh Ton
Landscape Coordinator, VietnamKhanh joined WWF Vietnam in 2019. He is a business and rural development expert with over 20 years of experience in Vietnam and Greater Mekong countries.
Investment Committee
Gaëlle Bonnieux
Impact investment, agri SMEsGaëlle Bonnieux
Impact investment, agri SMEsGaëlle has more than 15 years of experience in the development finance industry. As Head of Agriculture Debt Investments at responsAbility, Gaëlle was responsible for the performance and contribution margin of agriculture debt funds and managing assets up to USD 250 million invested in more than 100 agricultural companies active in more than 50 countries and crops.
Dr Martin Stadelmann
Climate change adaptation, M&EDr Martin Stadelmann
Climate change adaptation, M&EMartin is Executive Senior Director of Climate Investments at South Pole. He has 15+ years experience in developing and evaluating climate finance projects and programmes in developing countries, with a significant focus on climate change adaptation including all major multilateral adaptation funds, bilateral adaptation programmes, and contributing to relevant IPCC, G20 and UNEP finance reports.
Karine Basso
Agricultural value chains, incl. E&SKarine Basso
Agricultural value chains, incl. E&SKarine is Principal, Agricultural Value Chains at South Pole. She has worked for 16+ years in sustainability, particularly in corporate agricultural supply chains, including many years spent at KPMG evaluating sustainable agri-commodities.
Technical Committee
Elèsha Van Doorn
Finance and AccountingElèsha Van Doorn
Finance and AccountingElèsha has more than 14 years of experience within the Manufacturing, Agriculture, Timber and Carbon compliance industry as a Finance professional. Managing the implementation of Accounting policies, procedures and internal controls. Ensuring compliance in Statutory Reporting and IFRS within Group reporting and the accounting teams of 65 South Pole Legal entities.
Gaëlle Bonnieux
Impact investment, agri SMEsGaëlle Bonnieux
Impact investment, agri SMEsGaëlle has more than 15 years of experience in the development finance industry. As Head of Agriculture Debt Investments at responsAbility, Gaëlle was responsible for the performance and contribution margin of agriculture debt funds and managing assets up to USD 250 million invested in more than 100 agricultural companies active in more than 50 countries and crops.
Julia Kachynska
Finance, deal structuringJulia Kachynska
Finance, deal structuringJulia is an investment and finance professional with 15 years of experience, focussed on sustainability and impact investing in emerging markets. She has been involved in origination and execution of debt and equity transactions across various sectors, most recently in infrastructure and transport.
Dr Martin Stadelmann
Climate change adaptation, M&EDr Martin Stadelmann
Climate change adaptation, M&EMartin is Executive Senior Director of Climate Investments at South Pole. He has 15+ years experience in developing and evaluating climate finance projects and programmes in developing countries, with a significant focus on climate change adaptation including all major multilateral adaptation funds, bilateral adaptation programmes, and contributing to relevant IPCC, G20 and UNEP finance reports.
Karine Basso
Agricultural value chains, incl. E&SKarine Basso
Agricultural value chains, incl. E&SKarine is Principal, Agricultural Value Chains at South Pole. She has worked for 16+ years in sustainability, particularly in corporate agricultural supply chains, including many years spent at KPMG evaluating sustainable agri-commodities.
Imme Rindt
Finance & deal structuringImme Rindt
Finance & deal structuringImme is Senior Corporate Investment Manager at South Pole with 6+ years experience in start-ups and investing in social enterprises, NGOs and for-profit businesses in developing countries.
Board of Trustees
Stefan Schwager
LRF PresidentStefan Schwager
LRF PresidentStefan Schwager is a Partner at 5S Swiss Sustainable Solutions. Previous roles include Council Member at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Board Member at the Green Climate Fund (GCF). From 2010 – 2020 Stefan served as Head of International Climate and Biodiversity Finance at the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.
Simone Stammbach
LRF Vice PresidentSimone Stammbach
LRF Vice PresidentSimone Stammbach is the Head of WWF Switzerland’s Global Network Development unit and a member of the Executive Board. Simone serves as WWF Switzerland’s leader for a portfolio of strategic projects and initiatives and develops new programmes in pursuit of WWF’s goal to conserve the world’s biological diversity and combat climate change.
Marc R. Büttler
LRF TrusteeMarc R. Büttler
LRF TrusteeMarc R. Büttler is a Partner at Holenstein Brusa, specialising in media, intellectual property, litigation and business law. He joined the firm in 2000 and became partner in 2009. Over his career, he has represented numerous cases and authored several publications on the subject of his expertise.