Yossef Zahar

Yossef Zahar has more than 20 years of global experience in financial markets and has served in a variety of senior roles in international finance. Over the past 12 years, he has focused on impact and climate finance work in Asia Pacific and Central Asia. Yossef recently led the climate finance strategic positioning in Asia Pacific of leading think tank, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), where he has developed schemes for vulnerable and rural communities to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. Prior to this, as Senior Financial Advisor, Yossef led the sustainable finance regional activities for UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre in Bangkok, and oversaw the development of innovative regional financial structures, integrating blended finance mechanisms. Further, he served in various senior climate finance advisory roles including for USAID and the private sector.

Prior to this, for a decade, Yossef worked in Europe for leading international financial institutions including Citi Group, Deutsche Bank, and DLJ, in corporate and investment banking and asset management being often responsible for running regional activities and development of new products or programmes.

Yossef holds a Masters in Finance from London Business School (LBS, Chevening Leadership Scholar), and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Management (summa cum laude) from Haifa University. He founded the LBS Alumni Carbon Network, serving on its board and as its president. Ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to much-needed finance for the green transition and adopting a multi-stakeholder and partnerships approach embedding gender and social equity are key drivers for Yossef’s work.