We are delighted today to announce our independent panel of judges for the IJGlobal ESG Awards 2024. Now in its fourth year, we are looking forward to hosting it this autumn in London.

IJGlobal launched our ESG awards in 2021 – stripping this element out of other ceremonies – to give it the platform that it warrants.

Since then, these awards have grown in stature to the point we are looking to geo-clone them next year to give them the dedicated regional audiences they deserve.

For now, we continue to judge international developments on the ESG front in infrastructure and energy from London – but with an international panel of industry experts who meet in person and over Teams for the all-important Judgment Day.

The submissions portal is now live (and remains open until 28 June) and today – true to our commitment to transparency in our judging processes – we are identifying the judging panel.

The panel will meet on 25 July to debate and vote (in secret) on submissions – assessing ALL awards that will be presented… from rising stars through to lifetime achievement, transactions and companies.

They will review market developments from over the course of 15 months – from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2024 – a transition year to align judging better with the awards ceremony that will be hosted in London on 17 October.

IJGlobal takes immense pride in our judging process and the peer-review nature of all our awards which (we believe) make them the most impactful in the infra/energy community. We are unaware of any other title in this sector that goes to such lengths to achieve this level of impartiality.

The judging panel includes:

• Jemima Atkins – Pioneer Point Partner
• John Bills – PEI Global
• Koo Cho – Credit Agricole
• Amy Cleaves – Hogan Lovells
• Rachel Fleming – Qualitas Energy
• Anne Foster – Quinbrook
• Sherif Gebaly – Arcadis
• Emma Haight – ex Fidelity International
• Natasha Luther-Jones – DLA Piper
• Niall Mills – Igneo Infrastructure Partners
• Arash Mojabi – ING Bank
• Parag Narsingkar – Engie
• Ruairi Revell – abrdn Core Infrastructure 
• Sarah Pirzada Usmani – First Abu Dhabi Bank

 

Jemima Atkins

Pioneer Point Partners

Having been selected a rising star at the IJInvestor Awards 2020 (our awards to recognise excellence in infra funds and M&A), Jemima’s career has pivoted since – and has served as a regular judge for IJGlobal, bringing a fresh perspective and deep understanding of ESG.

Judges praised Jemima as a “clear rising star in the world of infrastructure debt”, adding that she is “someone who sets a benchmark in performance that her peers should aspire to”. Another said: “Jemima's ability to step back and recognise when an asset is not meeting a client’s mandate throughout lengthy negotiations processes puts her at a level far beyond her years.”

When she won the IJInvestor trophy, Jemima was working at Allianz – but she has since moved roles to Pioneer Point Partners in London where she makes investments in European infra assets in the energy transition and environment sectors.

Pioneer only invests in sustainable infrastructure and targets investments that contribute to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and the circular economy.

Jemima joined Pioneer in October 2022, and previously held investment roles at Allianz Capital Partners in the infrastructure equity team and Allianz Global Investors on the infrastructure debt investment team.

At Allianz, Jemima worked across private markets asset classes to promote sustainability improvements and the transition of infrastructure assets to net-zero.

Prior to Allianz Global Investors, Jemima worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

 

John Bills

PEI Global

A founding member and partner of PEI Global, John is a well-known figure within the international infrastructure community who cuts a genial figure in the market.

He played a key role in the creation of PEI back in 2022 and has proved pivotal to its swift evolution to playing a formidable role in infrastructure and energy advisory out of its New York office.

IJGlobal exclusively reported back in September 2021 on John’s exit from Cantor Fitzgerald alongside Kevin Phillips, Schuyler Fabian, Adil Sener and Robert Kavanagh. That was a move that caused quite a stir… though not quite as much as when they were part of the team to up sticks from Jefferies to go to Cantor!

Bill is a trusted adviser with more than 20 years of investment banking experience in M&A, capital raising, leverage and project finance, tax equity and commodity structured transactions.

Prior to founding PEI, Bill served in a range of leadership roles across M&A, project finance and commodities in both coverage and execution of transactions at a number of investment banks, including BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Barclays Capital, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse.

Before his career in infrastructure and energy, John served his country for 5 years as a lieutenant in the US Navy aboard a nuclear-powered submarine.

 

Koo Cho

Credit Agricole

Koo relocated to New York in April (2024), having been working at Credit Agricole in London since 2004. She has deep roots in the London team and is now replicating this presence in NY as the French bank’s head of energy and real assets distribution for the Americas.

As an interesting aside on the ESG front, Koo served on the IJGlobal steering committee back in 2019 when we first started acting on our aspiration to create an event to recognise this element of infrastructure and energy. Covid put a halt to those plans, but we brought them back online to launch in 2021.

Koo started her career in Brazil at Citibank and Grupo Fenicia before relocating to New York to work at JP Morgan Securities, and then relocating again to London to progress her career with CA CIB.

At Credit Agricole, Koo is famed for working across distributions – syndications as we used to call it – primarily in infrastructure and energy.

By the summer of 2015, she had risen to the role of managing director and was heading the energy and natural resources business, then taking on the role of head of project finance distributions in October 2022.

In April (2024), she returned to New York where she had last worked in 2002 to drive the distributions business for Credit Ag across the continent, of course in energy and real assets.

 

Amy Cleaves

Hogan Lovells

Another judge from the IJGlobal ESG Awards rising star alumn, Amy received the trophy at our first event back in 2021 – winning over the judging panel with a hugely impressive submission.

At the time of winning the award, Amy was an associate at Hogan Lovells in London. She is now a senior associate at the firm, where she has worked since starting her career in law.

Amy’s primarily advises on renewable energy projects, ESG policies, social inclusion funds, corporate governance arrangements, and how the global energy transition will affect companies.

It was this sector focus combined with a passion for environmental, social and governance issues that won over the IJGlobal independent panel of judges.

At the 2021 Judgement Day, one judge said: “Having worked with her personally – to me – she perfectly fits the essence of this award. She is passionate about ESG and a clear emerging thought leader.”

Amy is viewed within Hogan Lovells as a pioneer, renowned for her work on gender lens investing and social enterprises such as Lionesses of Africa, which focuses on female education and empowerment in Africa to deliver outcomes and changes that align with her core beliefs.

As a founding member of Hogan Lovells' ESG practice, Amy specified and built an app that puts ESG into every aspect of a client's legal infrastructure. Using the app, clients can take steps to consider how their business models and legal frameworks can optimise ESG potential and mitigate risk. Using its “nose-to-tail” ESG 360⁰ Assessment tool developed by Amy and other members of the ESG team, Amy advises clients on how to enshrine purpose, mitigate risk and ensure their ESG commitments drive sustainable, profitable growth and competitive advantage.

 

Rachel Fleming

Qualitas Energy

Another IJ ESG rising star of the 2021 vintage, Rachel started this month (May 2024) in as a VP at Qualitas, having left BlackRock after the famed GIP deal… which you read about in greatest detail on IJGlobal.

Rachel was selected by the 2021 judges to win the Rising Star award for her ESG credentials which is underpinned by the intro to her winner story which states “there’s something of the Greta Thunberg about her… in the nicest possible sense”.

She was singled out for honours at that ceremony when still an associate in the London-based IFM Investors’ infrastructure debt team, having relocated to the UK from Australia in spring 2019. She cut her teeth in the power and energy sector in Melbourne at NAB, joining the bank in its early 2012 graduate intake.

Straight out of the trap, Rachel focused on renewable energy transactions as well as more challenging elements of the job, winning her the Altitude Award for leading the overhaul of NAB’s credit rating tool for project finance borrowers.

After joining IFM in Melbourne in late 2017, Rachel led the greenfield financing of an energy-from-waste plant in Western Australia.

Shortly after joining IFM in Melbourne Rachel got to work on her first ESG project: the development and implementation of the infrastructure debt team’s ESG checklist.

However – as is often the way – winners of an IJGlobal Rising Star Award tend to be snapped up by a rival organisation… and this happened to Rachel in September 2022 when she started at BlackRock as vice president, infrastructure debt. While she is not sharing her reasons for departure this month from BlackRock to Qualitas… you can make your own mind up on that.

 

Anne Foster

Quinbrook

Winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award at the inaugural IJGlobal ESG Awards back in 2021, Anne is steeped in ESG lore and is an established member of the judging committee.

As one of the judges said when she won the award, Anne “embodies ESG leadership in energy and infrastructure sectors” while another recognised her “brilliant achievements” with “no doubt of more in store”.

In Mach 2023, Anne featured in an episode of the Infra Dig podcast where she discussed the role of technology at an infrastructure fund and how it is used to increase Quinbrook’s ESG standing.

Serving as Quinbrook global head of ESG, Anne has led its strategy since inception – designing and implementing ESG processes.

Over the course of her career, she has advised on billions of dollars of transactions in relation to climate and ESG impact, working with organisations that range from blue chips like BHP Billiton, through to start-ups.

She has been appointed to numerous company boards, driving influence through ESG alignment and is a member of Quinbrook's investment committee, valuation committee, procurement and digital innovation committees… which stands testament to the lengths she has driven critical ESG-based decision making.

Anne works daily with portfolio companies to drive change – from designing strategies that can provide beneficial impact on vulnerable communities, water stress, to actively forcing change in supply chains, while also driving suppliers to reassess their transparency and activities.

Her commitment to social impact, assessment and strategy was recognised by the KPMG Human Rights team, showcasing it in a human rights report.

 

Sherif Gebaly

Arcadis

Sherif has 20 years of experience across the energy sector and recently brought that experience to bear in one of IJGlobal’s Infra Dig podcasts – this one focused squarely on offshore wind farms.

Sherif has worked extensively on both the client and contractor sides in the energy space, particularly in challenging technological offshore projects aimed at de-risking through various project lifecycle phases.

Currently he is the investment director for energy, renewables and decommissioning in Arcadis, operating out of the firm’s London offices.

Sherif has supported offshore and onshore wind, solar power, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and energy-from-waste (EfW) M&A transactions, developing business plans and suitable business models.

His expertise extends to financial and commercial negotiations, with access to a robust network of investors and collaborators.

He possesses comprehensive experience in the wind project supply chain, developing skills essential for onshore and offshore projects, including the likes of Neart Na Gaoithe (NNG) off the Fife coast in Scotland; Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm off the Angus coast (also Scotland); and Ajigasawa OWF in Japan.

He focuses on capex, opex, and execution certainty for renewable energy projects, ensuring potential value-added aspects such as O&M, generation improvements and ESG.

 

Emma Haight

ex Fidelity International

Emma was until recently head of infrastructure debt at Fidelity International – that is until the day of the very long knives (which you read first on IJ) – having joined it in December.

Prior to that, she was a partner at Ares Management and her career has spanned an interesting spread of roles that gives her a unique view of the infrastructure and energy sectors.

She was head of infrastructure debt for Europe at AMP Capital and flipped over to Ares in February 2022 to head the team in the organisation that acquired the AMP book of business.

However, her origins in the infra/energy world started at Allen & Overy when she was working with the famed husband-and-wife team of Graham Vinter and Anne Baldock.

From there, she flipped into roles for a couple of years as business development manager at NUR Energie, before joining NIBC Bank as a project finance lender.

She successfully made the leap to the other side of the table to join AMP in spring 2014 and steadily rose the ranks to head up the fund manager’s infra debt segment where mezz debt was the offering. And then she moved to Fidelity International… and the rest is (unpleasant) history.

 

Natasha Luther-Jones

DLA Piper

An old friend of IJ, Natasha has starred in the Infra Dig podcast series when she lent her wisdom and experience for a masterclass on PPAs. As to the IJ stage, she led the team to pick up the trophy as winner of the IJGlobal ESG Legal Adviser for 2022.

One of the primary reasons DLA Piper won this accolade was for leading the field in early 2022 by walking the walk on the environmental front with the signing of a corporate PPA with NextEnergy for the energy generated from a solar farm in the UK, part of its drive to reach decarbonatisation targets.

It was the first law firm in the world to undertake a corporate PPA, demonstrating its commitment to reduce its own carbon footprint through innovative solutions. Meanwhile DLA Piper also signed up to decarbonising and halving its emissions in absolute terms by 2030.

Natasha is a long-established partner at DLA Piper and is something of a household name in renewable energy circles. She was promoted in March 2018 to become the law firm’s global co-chair of energy and resources, and serves as its international head of sustainability and ESG.

She has more than 20 years' experience of helping a range of clients with renewable energy – with a particular focus on wind, solar and storage – and other energy transition projects in the UK and internationally.

Natasha advises on developments, investments, financings, refinancings, acquisitions, disposals, and all the key project documentations – EPCs, O&Ms, service agreements and PPAs.

She works with developers, contractors, equity investors, purchasers, sellers, utilities and off-takers in respect of the development, construction and operation of energy transition projects.

 

Niall Mills

Igneo Infrastructure Partners

Niall is every bit as high profile as he is humble and – without question – one of the best known and most liked members of the European infrastructure community.

He serves as managing partner and global head of Igneo IP, operating out of London, and has built an impressive team underneath him, living and breathing a culture that seeks the best of people to build an impressive portfolio.

At Igneo – beyond being managing partner – Niall stands as a member of the global and European investment committees and a board member of a number of the portfolio companies.

Niall is one of the most highly-regarded professionals in his space and has had a 35-year career in the infrastructure sector as an engineer, project manager and investment manager.

He joined First Sentier Investors (Igneo’s parent company) in 2008 as a founding member of the European infrastructure business and became managing partner of the global infrastructure business in 2020… which subsequently rebranded to Igneo Infrastructure Partners in 2022.

With Igneo as the independently branded direct infrastructure business of FSI, Niall was invited to join the executive leadership team of FSI in October 2022.

Niall currently sits on the board of investee company Anglian Water Group.

Prior to joining the team in 2008, he worked in industry holding senior roles at Southern Water, Honeywell, Bechtel and United Utilities.

 

Arash Mojabi

ING Bank

Another judge who rises the ranks from having won an IJ award – Arash received unanimous approval from the judging committee to lift the ESG rising star trophy in the 2022 awards.

Given his accolades on Judgment Day 2022, he was a shoo-in for the panel in 2023 and returns this year to continue our theme.

One of the judges said of Arash when he won his award: “Arash was one of the first lenders to have approached us about sustainable finance and there was clear innovation and interest in the teach-ins he delivered on this topic and – from recent catch-ups – understanding the progress made in further enhancing ESG into ING’s risk processes.”

His colleagues at ING hold him in the highest regard for the commitment he has shown to ESG and warrants the role he plays at the Dutch bank as UK lead of sustainable finance.

In this role at ING, Arash drives the deployment of sustainable financing solutions across all sectors, proactively engaging with clients on their sustainability and transition strategies.

He also has more than 11 years of infrastructure experience working across financing, consulting and advisory.

 

Parag Narsingkar

Engie

Parag joins the ESG judging panel on a recommendation from IJGlobal’s head of content for the Asia Pacific region and he will be joining Judgment Day remotely from Singapore.

He has more than 20 years of strong track record in project financing, business development and M&A across various infrastructure segments including the likes of renewable and conventional energy, water desalination, district cooling and highways.

Parag currently heads the acquisitions, investments and financial advisory (AIFA) team for Engie covering the AMEA region – including India, the Middle East and Africa.

Over the last 10 years with Engie, Parag has led several key bids, project financings, refinancings and acquisitions.

He leads a diverse team of 20 professionals based across 3 offices in Pune, Dubai and Johannesburg.

Prior to joining Engie, Parag served as a vital member of the leadership teams in 2 reputed listed Indian infrastructure companies, developing large infrastructure platforms in highly competitive markets.

 

Ruairi Revell

abrdn Core Infrastructure

Having served as a judge at last year’s event, Ruairi is back again to help sort the wheat from the chaff at Judgment Day for the IJGlobal ESG Awards 2024.

As head of sustainability at abrdn – or abrdn Core Infrastructure as it (understandably) prefers to be called – Ruairi is part of the infra equity team that invests across diversified UK and European small-mid market infrastructure.

He works with the investment team to assess ESG risks and promote sustainability outcomes throughout the investment lifecycle and ensures compliance with the acronym-soup of disclosure requirements that now apply.

Prior to his current role, Ruairi was head of ESG for core plus and value-add real estate at abrdn.

He joined the company in 2015 from Arup and has 15 years’ experience as a sustainability practitioner in real assets, supporting investors and companies to understand sustainability and develop strategies to support long-term value.

He is particularly interested in exploring the trade-offs and compromises inherent in delivering both sustainability outcomes and financial returns.

Ruairi is a member of GRESB’s infrastructure standards committee and also contributes to industry initiatives on climate change including the IIGCC’s recently-published guidance for infrastructure.

 

Sarah Pirzada Usmani

First Abu Dhabi Bank

Sarah is managing director, head of loan capital markets and sustainable finance at First Abu Dhabi Bank, operating out of Dubai.

She has more than 20 years of corporate and investment banking experience, having worked across a number of banking divisions such as loan capital markets, sustainable finance, project finance, aviation finance, structured export finance, asset finance, structured finance, structured trade finance, and client relationships across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

All of this makes Sarah an ideal judge to join the independent panel of judges who will meet in July at Judgment Day… especially given her current role where she heads sustainable finance at FAB.

Currently based in the UAE, Sarah joined FAB in 2016 from Standard Chartered, where she worked for 16 years and held a number of senior roles, while based in London, Singapore and Karachi.

Sarah is engaged in advising clients on sustainable financing across sectors and has concluded several landmark sustainable finance transactions for clients.

She has successfully delivered bespoke financing solutions (conventional and Islamic) to clients across a slew of sectors, ranging from renewable energy to conventional power, water, oil and gas, mining, construction, transport (aviation, shipping and rail).

Sarah has also worked closely with various export credit agencies (ECA), having originated and led several landmarks, award winning project and export finance transactions and advisory assignments for regional and international clients across Middle East, Asia, and Africa. She also successfully set up the ECA business within FAB.

Sarah serves as a Board Member for Advancing Women in Aviation Roundtable (AWAR), and founded GCFWomen – a global corporate finance initiative within FAB and is recognised as one of FAB’s Women Positive Impact Leaders.