Ben is CEO of Menhaden Capital, a new energy and resources focused investment trust listed on the London stock exchange. Previously, in 2005 Ben founded WHEB, one of Europe’s leading specialist sustainability-focused fund management businesses. Ben is also Chairman of the UK Conservative Environment Network and of the Goldsmith family’s environment-focused philanthropic foundation, the JMG Foundation.

Satish is the Executive Director of Goodhope Holdings, where he is responsible for the turnaround of its Edible Oils & Fats business in Malaysia & Indonesia. Before this, he was an ultra-athlete & competed in the Spartan World Championships, a 24-hour Obstacle Course Race in Iceland. Satish has experience in Private Equity, Management Consulting & Investment Banking. He is a CrossFit Level 1 trainer, has an MBA from Columbia Business School & an undergraduate degree from Oxford University.

Jade works as the Director of the network of place-based environmental foundations that she and Ben are developing. Her role is to share best practice and opportunities for collaboration across the group; as well as to work day-to-day with the Executive Directors, supporting their work running the organisations. She’s always on the lookout for new areas where the model could be rolled out. Her background is in marketing and investor relations, in the environmental investment sector. She visited Sri Lanka to stay with friends ten years ago and cannot wait to go back with her children soon!

Chandan de Silva has held several financial and management positions in the U.K. including that of Chief Financial Officer for Level (3) Communications in Europe a NASDAQ quoted company and Head of Financial Planning for British Telecoms PLC, while working in the UK for over twenty years.

Since moving back to Sri Lanka in 2002 he worked at MAS Holdings, a large global apparel and textile firm in a variety of roles and established the group’s Supply Chain Management function, coordinated the group’s strategy development in 2005-06, set up the MAS training Centre and was the Chief Executive Officer of MAS’ Investment Division until December 2011.

He presently serves as a consultant and adviser to clients in investment management, financial services, property development and the technology sector. In addition, he serves as a non-executive Director on the Boards of several private firms as well as companies quoted on the Colombo Stock Exchange.

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Nirmal joined AtlasAxillia in Colombo Sri Lanka in the mid-nineties, a school & office products company which was near bankruptcy, turned the organization around and sold it to focus on his passion of conservation in 2018. Founder of VOC Capital and The Conservancy, a brand which he hopes to develop in aid of habitat protection, firm believer tying social entrepreneurship to conservation.

John has a real passion for the environment and responsible sustainable tourism. This cumulated in the development and creation of a jungle lodge across 25 acres close to the forgotten national park Gal Oya. The lodge was built entirely by the village community using only local Sri Lankan materials such as cajun and illuk. A research centre was also set up to track the local animal species. He is in the process of creating Sri Lanka’s first sustainable tourism wildlife brand with a collection of lodges across the island.

He also a Director of Balmond Studio and currently lives and works in Colombo with his wife and daughter.

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Pravin is a Director of Par Excellence, a music management agency in London. After he completed his MBA, he went on to work in music management, whilst maintaining a career as a touring musician. He has taken part in many mentoring programmes to help young people get a foothold in the industry. He is also a co-founder of the philanthropic organisation, the DHD Foundation with his wife Daisy Honeybunn.

Gabriella Reis is a Swiss / British citizen, she has been based in Dubai, UAE for the last decade where she lives with her family.

Her professional background is in Private Banking and Marketing. In 2019 she was able to transition into Sustainability, bringing her personal convictions and work together. During covid she set up a small foundation called Olive, a circular self-sustaining framework for impact. By funding promising meaningful projects, it aims to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change through the promotion of biodiversity and conservation.

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Vinod Hirdaramani joined the Board of Directors of the Hirdaramani Group in 1993. He oversees the functions of the Knit facilities in both Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and mainly involved in the investments the group made in the renewable energy sector. Mr. Hirdaramani also serves as a Director on many subsidiary companies of the group. The Hirdaramani Group own facilities across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ethiopia. He is a Member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, where he served as the past Chapter Chair for the Sri Lanka Chapter.

Vinod Hirdaramani was educated at Harrow School in the UK and holds a BA Degree from the Northwestern University in the United States. He is an Alumnus of the Harvard Business School.

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Leah is a leading creative communications specialist delivering cutting-edge campaigns, cultural collaborations and experiences, with a background in journalism and media/publishing. Driving innovative campaigns and high revenue targets for award-winning agencies and brands such as Adidas, MasterCard, MTV Europe Music Awards, Google, Honda Power of Dreams, Virgin, Greenpeace, Durex and Diageo across Sri Lanka, London and Dubai. She has served as the only Sri Lankan juror for the London International Awards (Las Vegas) while leading the charge at Dentsu Communications Sri Lanka since 2011. Following that she was Director of Brand for Vogue Arabia and WIRED M.E. Today she runs Sri Lanka’s first local music management and talent agency, Boom.

Key environment fundraisers (6 years) for Greenpeace at Glastonbury creating experiences highlighting key annual campaigns and driving donations and sign ups.

Core lobby group against Sampur coal power plant, including media education workshops.

John Keells Group conceptualised and launched their countrywide Plasticcycle Initiative including extensions into RDA and Govt depts.

Leah believes in having a greater purpose with everything she does, with a focus on making a positive impact on her island nation Sri Lanka and has worked on critical sustainability mandates for local and global corporate and philanthropic initiatives.

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