Expert Panel

Anthony manages Cleantech Group’s research team, delivering critical insights on new cleantech innovation and opportunities for engagement to Cleantech Group’s clients in the industrial, investment, and policy communities. He is based in the U.S. Anthony joined Cleantech Group in late 2019 after over 8 years of work in US-China cross-border expansion consulting and start-up venture funding roles, including 5 years living in Shanghai. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Rhode Island, a Masters in Sustainability from the Harvard Extension School, and an MBA at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Gideon Blaauw is a Dutch National with over 15 years of experience in the financial industry in Europe, Latin America and Asia. He has been working on the design and structuring of impact and sustainability projects over the past 10 years. Gideon is the Regional Lead for CleantechHUB, an ecosystem builder for climate entrepreneurship in Latin America. Gideon has been living in Colombia since 2015.

Ismaela Magliotto Quevedo is an Environmental Engineer specialising in climate change and corporate sustainability. She is the Head Coordinator at Climatech Chile, the first trade association of enterprises in Chile and LATAM to gather technology-based companies focused on climate change, where she leads efforts in technological solutions to combat climate change. Additionally, she holds the position of Coordinator of the Water Security Pact Chile, where she spearheads initiatives aimed at improving water management in the private sector. She was delegate of Chile in technology negotiations to the UNFCCC for COP27 and COP28 and IUCN Changemaker for 2023 Leaders Forum.

Commercial engineer and MBA, extensive experience in areas of planning, strategy and finance, with special emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation management. Strategic planning, project evaluation and business development in both corporations and startups.

Federico Restrepo Sierra is an entrepreneur and innovator with 15 years of experience in sustainability and business development. As the founder of Energía Vectorial, he has led the decarbonization of mobility in Latin America by promoting the adoption of electric vehicles and reducing carbon emissions in the region. He is also the creator of Impact Hub in Medellín, Cali, and Bogotá, innovation centers that strengthen the entrepreneurial and sustainability ecosystems in these cities. He has received international recognition, including awards such as Social Good Connector from the UN, YLAI from the U.S. Department of State, and the Orchid for Technological and Business Merit for his impact on technological and business development in Medellín. His strong academic background in law, marketing, and sustainable development positions him as a visionary leader at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and business development.

Before joining the founding team of Kayyak, I had the privilege to work for over a decade in Fundación Chile, where I helped foster innovation and entrepreneurship as a driver of sustainable development for Chile. I think we need to mobilize more private financing into innovation and impact investment to support exceptional entrepreneurs that hold the key to solve many old challenges with new answers. That is why I am in Kayyak now; I want to contribute to a new wave of progress in Latam that will be driven by innovation and entrepreneurs. I embrace this challenge with humility and the conviction that VC will make a big change in Latam. Andrés is based out of Santiago, Chile.

Adriana Suarez is co-founder and Managing Partner at MatterScale Ventures. For the last ten years, Adriana has been supporting, investing, and coaching entrepreneurs in the region. As former Managing Director of Endeavor in Colombia, she led the regional expansion, supporting +90 entrepreneurs and +12 accelerating programs around the country. Adriana started as an angel investor in 2015, building a portfolio of 10 companies. Prior to this, she was the Managing Director of Invest in Bogota, led the Colombian soft-landing strategy at Procolombia, and worked as a trade negotiator in the Mission of Colombia to the WTO. Adriana has a Master of International Affairs from SIPA – Columbia University and a business degree from CESA in Bogotá. She is married with two children.

Lizi brings a robust background in Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation (KEC), innovation management, and corporate sustainability. At Oxentia, she has spearheaded entrepreneurship initiatives, expertly designing and managing accelerators, internationalisation programmes, and capacity-building efforts for entrepreneurs. Lizi has also led comprehensive programmes to support universities, government agencies, and the development of regional innovation ecosystems, with a particular focus on cleantech, climatech, food security, and climate adaptation. With over 15 years of experience in technology transfer, Lizi has collaborated closely with research organisations, government institutions, and the corporate sector, often serving as a key intermediary between these entities. Her experience encompasses accelerator and incubator programmes in deep-tech fields and training programmes for mentors, policymakers, researchers, evaluators, and investors. Lizi has also served as an independent expert in Science and Technology Parks for the European Commission, following her four-year tenure as COO at PTLC, a leading science and technology park in Argentina. Notable programmes under her leadership include Oxelerator Colombia (cohorts from 2018 to 2021), the Leaders in Innovation Fellowship Programme (2014-2024), the Innovation and Cleantech Programme Perú, and GROW ABS for Biodiversity Colombia, among others. In these projects, Lizi has successfully managed and coordinated large teams and budgets, while maintaining strong client relationships and navigating the complexities of multi-stakeholder environments.

Lucia is a Partner at Salkantay Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on investing in early-stage companies across Spanish-speaking Latin America. She brings 12 years of experience in the financial sector, in venture capital, impact investing, and investment banking, with a career that includes roles at Salkantay, BBVA, Bancolombia and Bamboo Capital Partners. Lucia holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de los Andes and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.

Felix Steinberg is an economist and has more than 10 years of work experience in managing climate impact investment portfolios for international donors and development banks. As director of the regional initiative CATAL1.5°T at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), funded by the German Government and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Mr. Steinberg promotes climate entrepreneurship in 8 Latin American countries with technical and financial assistance.

Bruno Arcadier is the Head of Vale Ventures, Vale's Corporate Venture Capital arm, investing globally in early stage startups to create the future of sustainable mining and metals. Bruno has over 13 years experience in Vale and prior to designing and leading Vale Ventures, held several roles within Corporate Strategy, New Business Development, Joint Ventures and Technology & Innovation. Prior to Vale, Bruno has a Management Consultant background with experience in financial services, oil & gas, mining & metals and food & beverage industries in multiple countries.