Press Release

Calvert Impact Capital Announces Four New Women Board Members Focused on Global Sustainable Finance

Jul 15, 2021 | Bethesda, MD

Calvert Impact Capital Announces Four New Women Board Members Focused on Global Sustainable Finance

Calvert Impact Capital, an impact investor dedicated to creating a more equitable and sustainable world, has appointed four new board members with expertise in global sustainable finance to strengthen its bold, urgent action on climate solutions, racial and gender equity, and access to opportunity

Calvert Impact Capital, a global impact investor, today announced the appointment of Meesha Brown, Jennifer Isern, Fern Thomas, and Deborah Burand to its Board of Directors – all of them innovators in global sustainable finance. With expertise in marketing and communications, international development finance, corporate finance, and innovative legal structuring, respectively – and with particular focus on building a more sustainable and just world – these four women join to strengthen Calvert Impact Capital's 2021 strategy of bold, urgent action on climate change and racial and gender equity.

Meesha Brown is Executive Director of PCI Media Impact; Dr. Jennifer Isern is the founder of Catalyze Global Impact LLC; Fern Thomas is a senior finance executive providing strategic financial expertise to mission-driven organizations; and Deborah Burand is a professor of clinical law at NYU Law School and co-faculty director of the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship.

"Our work is anchored in the knowledge that to leverage our financial system to address intractable global challenges, we must think bigger, move faster and work together to transition near-term needs into long-term solutions," said Jennifer Pryce, CEO of Calvert Impact Capital. "Our new board members bring experience in sustainability and global finance that will help us do exactly that. We're thrilled to have these talented women join our team."

Calvert Impact Capital's 2021 strategy focuses on creating new products and services that move capital where it is needed at scale, exploring new sectors and structures, expanding impact management and measurement expertise, and sharing key learnings with the impact investment community – with particular attention to sustainable investing, climate action, an equitable economy, and increased accountability and transparency.

Meesha Brown Meesha Brown is Executive Director of PCI Media Impact, an international NGO that specializes in storytelling and strategic communication to inspire change for a healthier, more sustainable, and just world. Brown is an expert practitioner in the fields of learning, social and behavior change communication, and facilitation.

"Calvert Impact Capital is leading the way in channeling capital into building a healthier, more sustainable and just world. I'm excited to join as they strengthen and scale this work," said Brown.

Deborah Burand Deborah Burand is a professor of clinical law at NYU Law School where she is the founding director of the International Transactions Clinic and co-faculty director of the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship. Before joining academia, her career was divided almost equally among senior roles in the public sector (US Treasury and Federal Reserve Board), private sector (global law firm) and nonprofit sector (microfinance and conservation nonprofit organizations). She has also served as General Counsel to the US Government's development finance institution (OPIC, now the DFC).

"As Calvert Impact Capital continues to explore new and improved structures for impact investing, I'm thrilled to join its board of directors and lend my expertise in innovative legal structuring to help scale the movement," said Prof. Burand.

Dr. Jennifer Isern Dr. Jennifer Isern, CFA, is the founder of Catalyze Global Impact LLC, which promotes investing and technical assistance to leverage financial and private sector solutions that improve quality of life for people globally. She holds over 30 years of experience in development in more than 70 countries, having served in multiple roles in the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank Group, including as Senior Manager in South Asia and later in East Asia and the Pacific.

"Joining the Calvert Impact Capital board is a welcome opportunity to follow my passion for high impact projects to improve the lives of people globally," said Dr. Isern.

Fern Thomas Fern Thomas is a senior finance executive providing strategic financial expertise to mission-driven organizations. Fern was most recently President of Cornerstone Capital Group, where she oversaw the design, enhancement, implementation, reporting, and oversight of the firm's financials, operations, human resources, technology, and compliance. Fern began her career at Price Waterhouse and has served in CFO roles, including New York Restoration Project (501(c)3), and Christie's.

"It's an honor to join the Calvert Impact Capital board. This is an organization committed to high quality and high impact, and I'm looking forward to using my expertise in corporate finance to help them advance and expand the impact investing field," said Thomas.

About Calvert Impact Capital Calvert Impact Capital invests to create a more equitable and sustainable world. Through our products and services, we raise capital from individual and institutional investors to finance intermediaries and funds that are investing in communities left out of traditional capital markets. During our 25-year history, we have mobilized nearly $3 billion of investor capital. Calvert Impact Capital also offers loan syndications, where we originate, structure and administer loans for institutional and accredited lenders seeking environmental and social impact. To date, we have syndicated and/or administered more than $430 million of capital for impact-oriented transactions. More at www.calvertimpactcapital.org.

Calvert Impact Capital, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, offers the Community Investment Note, which is subject to certain risks, is not a mutual fund, is not FDIC or SIPC insured, and should not be confused with any Calvert Research and Management-sponsored investment product. Any decision to invest in these securities through this site should only be made after reading the prospectus or by calling 800.248.0337.

For press inquiries: Cat Ulrich cat@emccommunications.com (202) 630-7839