About us

We are innovators and thought leaders for natural capital finance and a nature-based economy

Our Team

The Blue Green Future team is made up of experts in financial markets, economic modeling, policy, leadership, and psychology, with decades of experience teaching, researching, consulting and advising. Concerned with the fate of our planet, we are dedicated to using our life-long skills and experience to create a better blue-green future.

Our Mission

To build a regenerative, inclusive, and equitable future that places living nature at the center.

We value natural capital — blue and green, fauna and flora, design financial instruments, and provide policy advice to secure a future that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.

“If we are to create a better world, we all need to become better stewards of nature.” - Ralph Chami

Founders

Ralph Chami, Ph.D

Co-Founder & CEO

Policy expert, Researcher, Professor

Over 30 years of experience as a financial economist, with 25 years at the IMF, and expertise in a broad range of topics including remittances, fragile states, inclusive growth, financial markets, and banking regulation and risk management.
Operational expertise working with fragile states worldwide and providing capacity development on macro-financial economic policy.
Has spent the last seven years developing a new field of “science-based finance”, which provides valuation of ecosystem services of living nature, mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss, and developing markets for natural capital that are equitable and nature-positive.

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Connel Fullenkamp Ph.D

Co-Founder & President

Professor, Policy Expert, Teacher

Over 30 years of experience researching financial markets
Expertise in financial market development and regulation
Superb communication skills: has won multiple teaching awards and recorded 4 successful courses on financial economics for The Great Courses

Dinah Nieburg Ph.D

Co-Founder & COO

Nature Advocate, Executive Coach & Psychologist

Ten years as a nature advocate and fundraiser for the protection and conservation of elephants, bonobos, and whales.
Three years on the Board of the Great Whale Conservancy.
Over 35 years combined experience as an executive coach and psychologist, manager of multi-cultural teams, and a training and development specialist.

Thomas Cosimano Ph.D

Co-Founder & CFO

Researcher, Mathematical and Computational Modeler

Emeritus Professor, University of Notre Dame, with over 40 publications in top journals in economics and finance
Innovative approaches to modeling featured in the Handbook of Computational Economics
Recent work involves validating the International Monetary Fund’s models used for risk management

Chief Scientist

Carlos Duarte

Distinguished Professor, Global Ocean Restoration Catalyst, Blue Carbon Expert

A world authority on understanding the effects of global change in marine ecosystems.
Developed the concept of “blue carbon,” showing mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes as globally relevant carbon sinks.
Has published over 950 scientific papers and has been ranked as the top worldwide and the 12th most influential climate scientist in the world.

Advisors & Consultants

Belinda Bramley

Sustainable Blue Economy Consultant, Cross-Pollinator of Solutions

Environmentalist, chartered accountant, and freelance consultant focused on holistic blue economy solutions which champion life below water
Knowledgeable in marine biodiversity conservation tools and approaches and the blue economy paradigm
Skilled in financial analysis and management; research and insights; communication, and cross-pollination.

Christina Geijer, Ph.D.

Marine Mammal Conservationist, Cetacean Researcher, Nature Restoration Expert

15 years of experience working in a broad range of conservation fields including cetacean research, illegal ivory trade, African community-based conservation, and large-scale nature restoration.
Ph.D. in marine mammal conservation, with a particular focus on bycatch and ship strikes, whale migrations and marine policy.
Recent work and interest centered on finding innovative financial solutions to address major threats to marine mega-fauna.

David Guggenheim, Ph.D.

Scientist, Conservation Policy Advisor, Coral Expert

Scientist, conservation policy specialist, ocean explorer, submarine pilot, author, and educator.
Founder and president of Ocean Doctor, a Washington DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Leads collaborative research and conservation efforts in Cuba focused on advancing economically- and environmentally-sustainable solutions for coastal communities that protect and sustain coral reef ecosystems with a focus on coral reef ecosystems and environmental economics.

Elena M. Rosa, Ph.D.

Nature Advocate, Leadership Coach, Researcher, Workplace Policy Expert

Over 25 years of experience in corporate policy and operational and team leadership roles at the IMF, helping shape organizational policies and strategies to support the professional growth, wellness, and psychological safety of employees; the development of leaders; and the promotion of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
Research and publications in refereed journals intersecting the disciplines of cognitive science and applied linguistics.
An academic background in social sciences and the humanities, a growth-mindset, and a deep-seated vocation of service to help improve the lives of people and the health of our planet.

Fabio Berzaghi, Ph.D.

Elephant and Fauna Researcher, Climate Scientist, Conservationist

Researcher at the Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences, a French laboratory that provides science for initiatives such as the IPCC reports and global carbon monitoring.
Background in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in ecology.
His research intersects ecology, climate sciences, and conservation.
Studies the role of animals in maintaining healthy ecosystems and how interactions between plants, animals, and the environment influence climate by changing the state of the biosphere.

Jorge Antonio Chan-Lau Ph.D.

Financial Markets Advisor

Over 25 years of experience in asset pricing, risk management, financial surveillance, and macro-financial issues at several multilateral financial institutions including the IMF and the World Bank.
Developed several state-of-the-art risk modelling methods currently in use at the IMF and central banks in Latin America; led and advised macro-financial research teams at central banks and financial supervisory agencies.
Serves as External Advisor at the Credit Research Initiative, Asian Institute of Digital Finance at the National University of Singapore; and as Associate Editor, Journal of Investment Strategies.

Matt Ross

Sustainable Agribusiness Leader, Rural Economy Innovator, Natural Capital Advocate

Seasoned executive with 13 years of experience in pioneering sustainable agribusiness ventures across Indonesia, transforming rural economies through innovative, eco-conscious business models.
Proven track record in creating globally recognized brands and fostering community development, focusing on projects that blend profitability with environmental stewardship.
Spearheading transformative natural capital projects aimed at reversing the rural to urban migration of global smallholder farmers.

Nathalie Hilmi

Lead IPCC Author, Environmental Economics and Policy Expert, Professor and Lecturer

Lead author for IPCC Chapters, including Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC); Working Group II AR6 on “climate-resilient development pathways”.
Section Head of Environmental Economics at the Monaco Scientific Center, work includes studying the socioeconomic extent of impacts and costs of action versus inaction concerning carbon emissions.
Professor and lecturer in macroeconomics and finance.

Rayyan Chami

Intergenerational Equity Advisor, Musician & Poet, Animal Rights Advocate

Challenges generational thinking and false narratives to awaken an equitable and sustainable way of life.
Creates music across multiple instruments to connect through the universal language.
Advocates for animal rights and protection through a vegan lifestyle and campaigns.

Roger Fleming

Ocean Law Expert, Whale & Ocean Advocacy

Over 20 years of experience in ocean law, campaign strategy, and policy development.
Represented conservationists and fishermen in cases and campaigns resulting in protections for thousands of square miles of ocean habitat, the marine forage base, and working waterfronts.
Current work focuses on innovative solutions that protect North Atlantic right whales and other large whales from entanglement and ship strikes.

Roger Iles

Consultant for risk and valuation in complex environments

Over 25 years of experience working in risk and valuation in vastly different and deeply complex topics; such as climate and nature-related risks and opportunities, financial insurance risk modelling, crop disease modelling, cyber risk and aviation radiation exposure
Application of cutting-edge research in real-world scenarios on multiple occasions, e.g. crop disease modelling for Agronomic Information Services at Syngenta
Innovation and unconventional thinking to implement a radiation exposure monitoring solution for Steve Fossett on the Virgin Global Flyer | Global winner of the NASA hackathon to innovate for space-related technology.

Zack Klyver

Whale conservationist, Naturalist, Science Director

Science Director of Blue Planet Strategies, focus is the conservation of North Atlantic right whale through advocacy, policy and development of ropeless fishing technology.
30-year plus whale watch research and naturalist leading tours around the world.
President of FLUKES: international Whale Tours