Who stands behind elea?
Our team
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Dr. Peter A. Wuffli
Founder & Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Dr. Peter A. Wuffli
Founder & Chairman of the Board of TrusteesPeter Wuffli is the Founder and Chairman of elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization.
elea fights absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means. As an active philanthropic impact investor, elea supports impact entrepreneurs and their ventures in the post-startup and growth phase in combining long-term economic success with sustainable, measurable impact. To this end, elea provides its portfolio companies not only with capital, but also with business know-how, coaching, and access to the global elea network. As such, elea sees itself as a growing community of committed entrepreneurs and philanthropic investors.
In addition, Peter is Honorary Chairman of IMD and a Member of the Advisory Board of the elea Center for Social Innovation at IMD. He also serves on the Board of Sygnum, a digital asset bank in Zurich and Singapore. Furthermore, he is an Honorary Senator of the University of St. Gallen, and the Vice Chairman of the Zurich Opera House.
Previously, Peter was Partner at McKinsey & Company, CEO of UBS Group, and Chairman of Partners Group and IMD respectively. Peter earned a Ph.D. in economics from University of St. Gallen based on a dissertation on Swiss Direct Investment in Mexico.
He regularly publishes articles and books on themes of globalization, ethics, impact investing and leadership. His latest books are: "Inclusive Leadership – A Framework for the Global Era", Springer 2016, and "The elea Way – A Learning Journey Toward Sustainable Impact" (together with Vanina Farber), Routledge, November 2020.
He is married and has three adult children.
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Andreas R. Kirchschläger
Founding Partner & CEO
Andreas R. Kirchschläger
Founding Partner & CEOAndreas R. Kirchschläger is Founding Partner & CEO of the elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization and President of the Max Schmidheiny Foundation.
elea fights absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means. As an active philanthropic impact investor, elea supports impact entrepreneurs and their ventures in the post-startup and growth phase in combining long-term economic success with sustainable, measurable impact. To this end, elea provides its portfolio companies not only with capital, but also with business know-how, coaching, and access to the global elea network. As such, elea sees itself as a growing community of committed entrepreneurs and philanthropic investors.
Since its inception in 1978, the Max Schmidheiny Foundation has advocated the promotion of a free economic and social order. It actively supports dialogue between business, politics, and society on key issues confronting Switzerland and open societies world-wide.
In addition, Andreas serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the University of St. Gallen, a member of the Advisory Board of the elea Center for Social Innovation at IMD, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Gallen Endowment for Prosperity through Trade. Furthermore, he is a Senior Advisory to Houlihan Lokey, a leading global investment bank.
As Managing Director and President of the St. Gallen Foundation for International Studies, he led the annual International Management Symposium St. Gallen for more than one decade. Andreas holds a Master’s degree in Law and Economics from the University of St. Gallen. -
Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh
Managing Director & CFO
Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh
Managing Director & CFONiloufar Aazam-Zanganeh is a Managing Director and the Chief Financial Officer of elea. She is responsible for finance functions supporting elea’s activities in fighting absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means. In addition, she oversees elea’s impact management and measurement and is involved in all stages of the investment process – from sourcing to strategic value creation. Niloufar joined in 2023 and represents elea on the boards of Elucid, Guavay (ad interim), Nilus, and SMV Green Solutions.
Niloufar brings a wealth of senior experience in banking, finance, and transaction management to elea’s philanthropic impact investing activities. From 2017 to 2023, she held the position of Group Treasurer, first at Orior AG and then Colosseum Dental Group. Amongst her responsibilities were group financing, liquidity and risk management. She began her career at UBS and spent a decade in various roles mainly in the Corporate Finance and Investment Banking divisions in Geneva, New York, and Zurich.
Niloufar holds an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley, and graduated from Duke University in Durham (North Carolina) with a BA in economics.
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Stéphanie Abels
Executive Director
Stéphanie Abels
Executive DirectorStéphanie Abels is an Executive Director and a member of the Extended Leadership Team at elea. In addition to being part of the investment team, she leads our pipeline and due diligence activities. Stéphanie ensures that elea has a relevant pipeline of impact ventures that align with the organization's philanthropic investment strategy and enables the successful implementation of due diligence processes. She also spearheads the further development of our employable skills investment theme as part of a practice group that provides sector-specific expertise in support of the investment process. Stéphanie currently represents elea on the boards of ATEC, BluLever Education, and Guavay.
Before joining our Zurich office in April 2020, Stéphanie worked for us as an external consultant in Costa Rica. Prior to that, she gained professional experience as a financial analyst at Credit Suisse in the Mergers & Acquisitions department and at a textile machinery manufacturer in India. Stéphanie holds an MSc in Strategic Management from HEC Paris and a BA in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). -
Adrian Ackeret
Partner & CIO
Adrian Ackeret
Partner & CIOAdrian Ackeret is a Partner and the Chief Investment Officer of elea. He is responsible for overseeing elea’s philanthropic impact investing activities focused on building, managing, and strategically supporting a portfolio of impact ventures that create lasting social impact by giving people living in absolute poverty access to employment, markets, and value chains.
Adrian has been involved in all phases of elea’s investment process – from sourcing, carrying out due diligence, providing strategic support for active portfolio ventures to managing exits – across elea’s global portfolio. He currently represents elea on the boards of BagoSphere, Essmart, Kwanza Tukule, Leap Skills, and Fundamento.
Before joining elea in 2013, Adrian worked at the St. Gallen Symposium, an initiative that fosters global dialogue between business, politics, and society, and at RISE management research at the intersection of strategy and entrepreneurship. He graduated with an M.A. in Management from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).
Adrian also serves as the Deputy Managing Director of the Max Schmidheiny Foundation, a private Swiss foundation promoting a free economic and social order. It actively supports dialogue between business, politics, and society on key issues confronting Switzerland and open societies world-wide. -
Dr. Martina van Berkel-Schwarz
Senior Associate Philanthropic Investors & Partnerships
Dr. Martina van Berkel-Schwarz
Senior Associate Philanthropic Investors & PartnershipsMartina van Berkel-Schwarz is a Senior Associate at elea and part of the Philanthropic Investors & Partnerships Team. She plays a key role in identifying and managing relationships with philanthropic investors like individuals, companies, family offices or foundations, who partner with elea to fight absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means.
Martina van Berkel-Schwarz brings deep expertise across innovation, banking, and organizational transformation. Before joining elea in June 2025, she spent several years at UBS, where she was most recently responsible for the investor management within the Digital Platforms & Marketplaces division. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Senior Consultant at Accenture, specializing in agile transformations across diverse industries.
A two-time Olympian in swimming, she competed internationally at the highest level of elite sport and now serves on leading Swiss sports bodies. Before completing a CAS in Strategic Philanthropy at the University of Geneva, Martina van Berkel-Schwarz studied Communication, Political Science, and Social Anthropology at the University of Zurich, where she earned her PhD from the Department of Media Economics & Management. -
Mauro Betschart
Senior Associate
Mauro Betschart
Senior AssociateMauro Betschart is a Senior Associate at elea. He contributes to our investment and value creation activities. Mauro joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2023 and graduated in August 2025.
Before working at elea, Mauro was an Executive Assistant to the Group CFO at the Schindler Group. He holds a CEMS Master in International Management as well as an MA in International Affairs & Governance from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). During his studies, he spent semesters abroad in Hong Kong and Milan and gained professional experience through several internships in Finance and Business Development. -
Lianne Bingen
Director
Lianne Bingen
DirectorLianne Bingen is a Director at elea. She contributes to our investment and value-creation activities with a regional focus on Asia and Latin America and our investment themes climate and livelihoods and last-mile retail and services. Lianne initially joined elea from 2017 until 2019 as an Associate and subsequently returned in 2025 in her current role.
Before returning to elea, Lianne worked as a strategy consultant at SparkOptimus in Amsterdam supporting global corporations in AI and digital innovation as well as data-driven business growth. Alongside her consulting work for clients, she also co-shaped SparkOptimus’ sustainability value proposition. Lianne holds an MSc in Business Management from University College London and a BA in Economics and International Affairs from the University of Amsterdam (AUC). She spent exchange semesters in Dublin and Buenos Aires. -
Anna Blunschi
Senior Associate
Anna Blunschi
Senior AssociateAnna Blunschi is a Senior Associate at elea. She contributes to our investment and value creation activities, focusing on Asia and employable skills. Additionally, as part of the Communities & Awareness Team, she organizes the activities of the elea Entrepreneurs’ Community. Anna joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2022 and graduated in August 2024.
Before working at elea, Anna gained initial experience in corporate communications at UBS and international business development at Planted. A volunteering experience as an English teacher in rural China sparked her interest for development economics. Anna holds an MA in International Economic Policy from Sciences Po Paris and a BA in International Affairs from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). She spent exchange semesters in Beijing and Milan. -
Ester Bortot
Director
Ester Bortot
DirectorEster Bortot is a Director at elea. She is part of the investment team with a regional focus on Africa and plays a key role in our pipeline, due diligence, and value creation activities. Furthermore, she supports the continued development of our hub and its contribution to elea’s overall goals. Ester joined the global elea team in September 2024 and is based in the elea Africa Hub in Johannesburg.
Prior to joining elea, Ester worked for a series of mission-driven start-ups in Africa and the UK across industries, including regenerative agriculture, nutrient upcycling, and techbio. She began her career in the financial services industry in London, gaining professional experience at Renaissance Capital, HSBC, and Rothschild & Co.
Ester holds an MSc in African Development from the London School of Economics and a BA in Economics & Finance from the University of Durham. -
Dagma Burki
Assistant
Dagma Burki
AssistantDagma Burki is an Assistant at elea, supporting the smooth operation of all organizational and administrative matters in our office in Zurich. This includes database management, processing support requests, and ensuring seamless communication. Additionally, she organizes internal and external elea events for our philanthropic investors and venture partners. Dagma Burki has been with our team since September 2022.
Prior to working at elea, Dagma completed a vocational training in Business Administration, which included a traineeship with Schroders, a global investment manager. Dagma currently pursues a BSc in Business Administration at the University of Applied Sciences Zurich (ZHAW). -
Dominik Candreia
Head of IT
Dominik Candreia
Head of ITDominik Candreia is the Head of IT and a member of the Extended Leadership Team at elea. As the IT lead, he is responsible for ensuring smooth operations, security, and the ongoing development of our technical infrastructure. Additionally, he leverages his expertise to identify investment opportunities, takes part in due diligence processes, and provides technical support to portfolio companies. As a passionate photographer, he visually documents our events. Dominik joined our team in September 2022.
Prior to working at elea, Dominik founded two companies: the ETH spin-off Projekt Neptun and OpenCircle. He is still involved in OpenCircle, an IT infrastructure management company, as a member of the Board of Directors. Projekt Neptun is now one of the leading IT suppliers for students in Switzerland. Dominik completed an MSc in Computer Sciences and an MA in Management and Economics at the University of Zurich (UZH). -
Greta Carioli
Senior Associate
Greta Carioli
Senior AssociateGreta Carioli is a Senior Associate at elea, contributing to our investment and value-creation activities. Additionally, she is an integral part of the Philanthropic Investors & Partnerships team, establishing relationships with elea’s growing network of institutional partners. Greta joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2021 and graduated in September 2023.
Before joining elea, Greta completed a master's degree in Economics at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). While pursuing her studies, she contributed to the development of the ROSE framework at START Global, focusing on the establishment of a sustainability and impact assessment for startups. Prior to that, she completed a BA in Business and Economics at the University of Bologna with an exchange semester at the Technical University of Buenos Aires. -
Jennifer Chan
Senior Associate
Jennifer Chan
Senior AssociateJennifer Chan is a Senior Associate at elea. She contributes to our investment and value creation activities. Jennifer joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2023 and graduated in August 2025.
Before starting the elea Talent Program, Jennifer completed a six-month internship at elea to support our team in developing the elea Vision 2030. She was responsible for conducting comprehensive environmental analysis on the topics of impact investing and poverty alleviation. Jennifer graduated from the University of Zurich with an MSc in Mathematics and a BSc in Psychology. -
Melody Chua
Senior Systems Engineer
Melody Chua
Senior Systems EngineerMelody Chua is a Senior Systems Engineer at elea. She is responsible for the user and client management, as well as the network infrastructure, and team training. A main focus of her work is on finding and implementing new technologies such as AI and machine learning to optimize and automate processes, aggregate existing knowledge, and gain new data insights. Melody joined our team in October 2018.
Melody finds synergies between her work at elea and her extensive background in systems engineering in the arts as an audiovisual programmer and performer-composer. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music technology, performance, and transdisciplinary studies from the University of Illinois and Zürich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and is a recipient of the Fulbright for her research at the Zurich Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the Kunstuniversität Graz and in residence at the ZHdK Immersive Arts Space, working with AI in music systems. -
Amanda Turner Ege
Executive Director
Amanda Turner Ege
Executive DirectorAmanda Turner Ege is an Executive Director and a member of the Extended Leadership Team at elea. In addition to being part of the investment team, she is responsible for leading elea’s ecosystem development initiatives, including its partner network and the elea Entrepreneurs' Community. Also responsible for elea’s Talent Program, Amanda is dedicated to empowering a new generation of impact investing professionals. She represents elea on the boards of B’Ayoba and Signalytic.
Before joining elea in April 2018, Amanda developed expertise in poverty alleviation working for a non-profit in Guatemala, the UNDP, and an award-winning social enterprise that develops small-scale farmers in Latin America. She lived in Guatemala for almost four years and travelled extensively in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Amanda obtained an MBA at the Yale School of Management with a focus on emerging market finance. Her degree led her to study entrepreneurship and social enterprises in China, South Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. She graduated from Yale College with a BA in History. -
Lars Flükiger
Senior Data Engineer
Lars Flükiger
Senior Data EngineerLars Flükiger is a Senior Data Engineer at elea. He is responsible for data management and oversees the maintenance and enhancement of our CRM and web infrastructure. Lars tailors Salesforce precisely to meet our requirements and programs the foundational elements of elea's impact reports. In addition, he provides support to team members facing technical issues and ensures smooth operation of the technical equipment at external events. Lars joined our team in July 2021.
After his apprenticeship as a computer scientist, Lars worked for several years as a Java Software Engineer at Siemens / ATOS. He then completed the Berufsmatura and the general qualification for university entrance, while pursuing engagements in the social sector and in the airline industry. Lars completed a BA in Philosophy and Political Science at the University of Zurich. -
Sophia Gampp
Associate
Sophia Gampp
AssociateAs part of our two-year elea Talent Program, Sophia Gampp is acquiring in-depth knowledge of philanthropic impact investing. She sources potential investments, supports the due diligence process of impact ventures and works closely with the elea team to create value for impact entrepreneurs worldwide. She also engages with the impact investing ecosystem, creating productive relationships with investors, co-investors, and other stakeholders. Sophia joined our team as an Associate in September 2024.
Sophia’s passion for connecting people and investing in innovative ideas began during her time as head of the International Students’ Committee, organizing the St. Gallen Symposium. She frequently engaged with the elea ecosystem, gaining valuable insights. Prior to and alongside her studies, she expanded her global perspective through international experiences, spending longer periods in Canada, Egypt, and the Netherlands. Sophia holds a Bachelor in International Affairs at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). -
Victoria Gentile
Associate
Victoria Gentile
AssociateAs part of our two-year elea Talent Program, Victoria Gentile is acquiring in-depth knowledge of philanthropic impact investing. She sources potential investments, supports the due diligence process of impact ventures and works closely with the elea team to create value for impact entrepreneurs worldwide. She also engages with the impact investing ecosystem, creating productive relationships with investors, co-investors, and other stakeholders. Victoria joined our team as an Associate in September 2025.
Victoria’s passion for entrepreneurship was sparked during her involvement with the student association START and grew through her time in several tech startups. She gained further industry experience as a Sustainability Analyst at Nestlé. Victoria is currently finalizing an MSc in Sustainable Management and Technology at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). She also holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). -
Jacob Greil
Senior Associate
Jacob Greil
Senior AssociateJacob Greil is a Senior Associate at elea and part of the investment team. He contributes to the evaluation and value creation of impact ventures, focusing on ventures in Southeast Asia active in agricultural value chains. Jacob joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2022 and graduated in August 2024.
Before working at elea, Jacob gained experience in the venture capital industry and in strategy consulting, including at Arthur D. Little. He completed an MSc in Philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and graduated from the University of St. Gallen (HSG) with a BA in Business Administration. Jacob spent semesters abroad in Barcelona and Medellín. -
Lisa Jean-Mairet
Executive Director
Lisa Jean-Mairet
Executive DirectorLisa Jean-Mairet is an Executive Director and a member of the Extended Leadership Team at elea. In addition to being part of the investment team, she leads the elea Africa Hub in Johannesburg. Lisa is responsible for the continuous expansion of our hub activities and our investment portfolio in Africa. She also oversees due diligence and awareness activities on the continent. She currently represents elea on the boards of AMAZI, Lernern, and Qwili.
Before joining elea in June 2018, Lisa worked in the Impact Investing team of the Chief Investment Office at UBS, where she previously completed the Graduate Talent Program. Prior to that, she gained professional experience at start-ups and a social enterprise in India. Lisa holds a MA in International Affairs and Governance and a BA in International Affairs from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). She spent exchange semesters at the National University of Singapore and Maastricht University.
Lisa is also a board member of the Dalyan Foundation. The foundation promotes the well-being of women, young people and children in India and Turkey with a focus on education and income opportunities. -
Isabelle von Jeinsen
Co-Head of Philanthropic Investors & Partnerships
Isabelle von Jeinsen
Co-Head of Philanthropic Investors & PartnershipsIsabelle von Jeinsen is a Co-Head of Philanthropic Investors & Partnerships at elea and a member of the Extended Leadership Team. Together with Elena Torresani, she is responsible for ensuring elea’s funding base by collaborating with and systematically expanding elea’s circle of philanthropic investors consisting of entrepreneurially minded personalities, families, foundations, corporates, and family offices. They all share elea’s values and are committed to promoting measurable and lasting social impact through the interaction of philanthropy and entrepreneurship. Isabelle joined our team in April 2024.
Prior to elea, Isabelle served as the Head of Competence Center Charitable Foundations at Credit Suisse where she built up a new offering for charitable foundations. She began her career at a major law firm in Geneva and held further legal positions in Zurich and Frankfurt in commercial, succession, and art law. Isabelle is admitted to the Swiss bar, has an LLM from Columbia University, graduated from University of St. Gallen with a MA in Law, and completed the Social Finance Program at Oxford University.
Isabelle is a member of the board of two charitable foundations and Hemlata, an association with the vision to shape the future for young women in underserved populations in India thanks to their access to education. Furthermore, she is a member of the board of the Friends of the Opera Zurich. -
Stefan Kappeler
Partner & COO
Stefan Kappeler
Partner & COOStefan Kappeler is a Partner and the Chief Operating Officer of elea. He is responsible for elea’s activities related to talents, resources, and communities providing the necessary infrastructure and creating an environment that facilitates shaping the ecosystem to further strengthen the fight against absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means.
Having been with elea since 2011, Stefan has contributed to building up the organization for more than a decade. He plays an active role in all phases of elea’s investment process – not least as a member of elea’s Investment Committee – and represents elea on the boards of bukaPO, Digital Divide Data, Pricepally, and Zebra CropBank.
Prior to elea, Stefan worked for Esri Switzerland Ltd., both in Eastern Africa and Europe. From 2006 until 2009, in collaboration with a local university, he built an office and a flourishing business in Rwanda. He graduated with a Master of Science from the University of Zurich, where he studied Geography, and completed his MBA at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). -
Khaya Makhubu
Director
Khaya Makhubu
DirectorKhaya Makhubu is a Director at elea. He is part of the investment team with a regional focus on Africa and plays a key role in our pipeline, due diligence, and value creation activities. Furthermore, he supports the continued development of our hub and its contribution to elea’s overall goals. Khaya joined the global elea team in September 2024 and is based in the elea Africa Hub in Johannesburg.
Prior to joining elea, Khaya worked in philanthropic and impact investing advisory at ELMA Philanthropies Services, was a management consultant at McKinsey and Company, and worked in Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Chartered Bank. He holds an MBA (conferred with Distinction) from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and a BSc in Finance and Accounting from the University of Cape Town. -
Beatrice Möckli-Bürge
Assistant
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Chloé Morenne
Associate
Chloé Morenne
AssociateAs part of our two-year elea Talent Program, Chloé Morenne is acquiring in-depth knowledge of philanthropic impact investing. She sources potential investments, supports the due diligence process of impact ventures and works closely with the elea team to create value for impact entrepreneurs worldwide. She also engages with the impact investing ecosystem, creating productive relationships with investors, co-investors, and other stakeholders. Chloé joined our team as an Associate in September 2024.
Before joining elea, Chloé worked as an Associate at the Boston Consulting Group in Paris. She holds a Master in Management from HEC Paris and an MSc in Economic and Social Sciences from the Bocconi University. During her studies, Chloé gained professional experience through several Private Equity and Consulting internships. -
Ija Ogwang
Director
Ija Ogwang
DirectorIja Ogwang is a Director at elea. She contributes to our sourcing, due diligence, and value creation activities on the African continent. Furthermore, she supports the growth of our hub and its contribution to elea’s overall goals. Ija joined the global elea team in August 2023 and is based in the elea Africa Hub in Johannesburg.
Before joining elea, Ija gathered professional experience working in value-creation and venture building in an impact investing fund in Southern Africa. She has worked with multiple ventures across industries, including Waste Recycling, Fintech, and Edtech. Ija completed an MSc in Development Studies at SOAS University of London and a BSc in Finance at the University of Cape Town. She has co-founded two ventures and is also an author. -
Mischa Orlow
IT Analyst
Mischa Orlow
IT AnalystMischa Orlow is an IT Analyst at elea. He supports the development of the organization’s technical infrastructure and manages the administration of Salesforce. He also trains new team members in IT systems and contributes to workflow improvements by identifying areas for automation. Mischa joined the team in March 2025.
Mischa is currently completing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a focus on cybersecurity and machine learning. -
Nicola Roten
Senior Associate
Nicola Roten
Senior AssociateNicola Roten is a Senior Associate at elea. She supports our investment and value creation activities with a focus on Latin America and India as well as on our investment theme of agricultural value chains. In addition, she contributes her experience in organizational development to strengthen our value creation activities with our portfolio ventures. Nicola has been with elea since August 2025.
Before joining elea, Nicola led the bioRe Foundation in Switzerland, where she was responsible for the implementation and further development of the bioRe Sustainable Cotton Standard, which underpins leading sustainability labels such as Coop Naturaline. She also co-developed the Empowerment Program in India and Tanzania, designed to strengthen local organizations and enable long-term impact for smallholder farmers. Previously, Nicola lived for more than ten years in Guatemala, promoting women’s entrepreneurship. She is the founder of the Swiss foundation CRECER, which supports women-led enterprises in Colombia and Guatemala. -
Tina Ruchti
Executive Director
Tina Ruchti
Executive DirectorTina Ruchti is an Executive Director and a member of the Extended Leadership Team at elea. In addition to being part of the investment team, she leads the elea Latin America Hub based in Mexico City. She is responsible for the continuous expansion of our hub activities and our investment portfolio in Latin America, where she also oversees due diligence and awareness activities. She spearheads the further development of our last-mile retail and services investment theme as part of a practice group that provides sector-specific expertise in support of the investment process. Tina represents elea on the boards of Arbusta, Inka Moss, and Voalá.
Before joining our Zurich office in February 2018, Tina completed a five-month assignment as an external consultant for one of our impact companies in Nairobi. Prior to that, she worked at Credit Suisse in the Strategy and Business Development team for Latin America. Tina holds an MA in International Affairs and Governance and a BA in International Relations and Affairs from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). She spent semesters abroad at Queens University in Canada and at Fundação Getulio Vargas University in Brazil. -
María José Sámano
Senior Associate
María José Sámano
Senior AssociateMaría José "Majo" Sámano is a Senior Associate at elea. She contributes to our investment and value creation activities with a regional focus on Latin America. Furthermore, she supports the growth of the elea Latin America Hub and its contribution to elea’s overall goals. Majo joined the global elea team in August 2024 and is primarily based in Mexico City.
Before joining our Mexico office, Majo worked in wealth management at Credit Suisse and was a Venture fellow at Amplifica Capital. She holds an MBA from IE Business School with a Finance and Sustainability concentration and a BSc in Finance from Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO). Majo also spent semesters at the London School of Economics (LSE) and SciencesPo Paris. -
Romy Sauer
Senior Communications Specialist
Romy Sauer
Senior Communications SpecialistRomy Sauer is the Senior Communications Specialist at elea and the primary point of contact for all communication and media matters. She leads the newsroom, develops our Annual Review, prepares website content, and writes stories for the elea blog and our social media channels. Additionally, she advises our team on communication and branding and manages relationships with impact entrepreneurs and media partners. Romy joined our team in September 2022.
Before working at elea, Romy gained extensive experience in marketing and communications within the international medical device sector. Most recently, she was a Communications and Brand Manager at the Corporate Foundation of a global leader in the hearing aid industry. She also worked as a copywriter at a Swiss children's aid foundation. Romy holds a master's degree in International Business Management from Hochschule Harz and a BA in Marketing and Accounting from Saxion University of Applied Sciences in Deventer. She spent semesters in Belgium and France. -
Jutta Schläpfer-Elsässer
Assistant to the Chairman and to the CEO
Jutta Schläpfer-Elsässer
Assistant to the Chairman and to the CEOJutta Schläpfer-Elsässer is the Assistant to the Chairman and to the CEO at elea. In this role, she supports the Founder and Chairman as well as the CEO of elea in a variety of matters and also acts as Secretary to the Board of Trustees. From 2018 to 2024, she also headed elea’s Human Resources unit. Jutta joined our team in November 2017.
Before joining elea, Jutta was a Program Director of the Notenstein Academy, an internal scientific platform of Notenstein La Roche Private Bank. Prior to that, she worked for Wegelin & Co. private bankers in its wealth management. From 1996 to 2010, Jutta was with the St. Gallen Foundation for International Studies where she supported the activities of the Board of Trustees and shared responsibility for the programme design and the selection of the members of the faculty of the St. Gallen Symposia. Jutta studied economics at the FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany. -
Livia Schneider
Head of Human Resources
Livia Schneider
Head of Human ResourcesLivia Schneider is the Head of Human Resources at elea, where she is responsible for shaping and leading HR-related activities across the foundation. In this role, she supports elea’s vision by fostering a strong, purpose-driven workplace culture and guiding the organization through change and growth processes that enable the team to thrive in a dynamic and impact-oriented environment. Livia joined our team in August 2025.
Livia is bringing over almost two decades of experience in strategic and operational human capital development, leadership advisory, talent acquisition, and organizational transformation – gained through senior HR roles at global firms such as McKinsey & Company and Deloitte. Her deep expertise in coaching, people development, and staffing equips her to support elea’s growing team in aligning talent with purpose and performance. Livia holds a Federal Diploma in Human Resources. -
Arian Schül
Director
Arian Schül
DirectorArian Schül is a Director at elea. As part of the investment team, he contributes to the evaluation and value creation of impact ventures, with a particular focus on ventures in Southeast Asia in the investment areas of agricultural value chains and last-mile retail and services. Further, he contributes to coordinating and steering our sourcing and due diligence activities.
Before joining elea in August 2024, Arian worked as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company in Zurich with corporates and non-profit organizations globally. Arian completed an MA in International Affairs & Governance at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and graduated from University of Mannheim with a BSc in Business Administration and Management. He spent semesters abroad in Shanghai and Dar es Salaam. In 2024, Arian completed a CAS program in Development Cooperation at ETH Zurich.
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Arnaud Schuele
Senior Associate
Arnaud Schuele
Senior AssociateArnaud Schuele is a Senior Associate at elea. He contributes to our investment and value-creation activities, notably in Western Africa. He joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2021 and graduated in August 2023.
In parallel to his work at elea, Arnaud joined the Development Economics Group at ETH Zurich as a PhD student in August 2023. His research focuses on impact investing and impact entrepreneurship in the Global South and is supported by elea.
Before joining elea, Arnaud worked with Terre des Hommes Suisse, BlueOrchard Finance Ltd., and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. He holds an MA in Quantitative Economics and Finance and a BA in Economics from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). -
Leva Sidler
Assistant
Leva Sidler
AssistantLeva Sidler is an Assistant at elea, supporting the smooth operation of all organizational and administrative matters in our office in Zurich. This includes database management, processing support requests, and ensuring seamless communication. Additionally, she organizes internal and external elea events for our philanthropic investors and impact ventures. Leva Sidler has been with our team since August 2024.
Leva completed a bilingual high school degree in June 2024 and is currently studying political science and biodiversity at the University of Zurich. -
Jeannine Stehli
Head of Controlling & Reporting
Jeannine Stehli
Head of Controlling & ReportingJeannine Stehli is the Head of Controlling & Reporting at elea. She leads elea’s financial and impact reporting processes and ensures transparency through controlling of our activities and those of our philanthropic investments. In addition, she is a member of the investment team, where she can apply her strong expertise from due diligence and acquisition processes to exit management. Jeannine joined our team in April 2024.
Jeannine brings extensive experience in M&A, finance, and business development to elea’s philanthropic impact investing activities. Before joining elea, she worked in the M&A team of Colosseum Dental Group where she was responsible for sourcing and executing international transactions. Prior to that, she gained professional experience in transaction services and M&A at KPMG Deal Advisory and Novartis. Jeannine graduated from the University of Zurich with an MA in Accounting and Finance and a BA in Banking & Finance. She also holds the international accounting diploma ACCA. -
Marcin Stryczek
Director
Marcin Stryczek
DirectorMarcin Stryczek is a Director at elea. He contributes to our investment and value-creation activities with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia and our investment theme agricultural value chains. Marcin is also responsible for the elea Talent Program, recruiting the future generations of impact investing professionals, as well as elea’s impact management and measurement. He joined elea as part of the first cohort of the elea Talent Program in September 2019 and graduated in August 2021.
Before joining elea, Marcin completed an MA in Accounting and Finance at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and a BA in Finance and Accounting at Kozminski University in Warsaw. During his bachelor studies, he spent a semester at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) and completed an internship at a management consulting company in Warsaw. -
Isabelle Sun
Senior Associate
Isabelle Sun
Senior AssociateIsabelle Sun is a Senior Associate at elea, contributing to our investment and value creation activities with a regional focus on Latin America. Isabelle also spearheads the further development of our climate and livelihoods investment theme as part of a practice group that provides sector-specific expertise in support of the investment process. She joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2021 and graduated in August 2023.
Before joining elea, Isabelle gained professional experience in management consulting and the media industry. Her strong interest in impact investing was sparked while volunteering for a Costa Rican project on climate change and while working with a student-run consultancy for sustainable startups. Isabelle completed an MA in Quantitative Economics and Finance and a BA in Economics at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). She also holds a CEMS Master in International Management. During her studies, she spent exchange semesters in Medellín, Taipei and Paris. -
Pascale Tobler
Associate
Pascale Tobler
AssociateAs part of our two-year elea Talent Program, Pascale Tobler is acquiring in-depth knowledge of philanthropic impact investing. She sources potential investments, supports the due diligence process of impact ventures and works closely with the elea team to create value for impact entrepreneurs worldwide. She also engages with the impact investing ecosystem, creating productive relationships with investors, co-investors, and other stakeholders. Pascale joined our team in March 2024, initially focusing on further developing our investment thesis. As of September 2024, she has transitioned into the elea Talent Program as an Associate.
An internship in Cape Town sparked Pascale's passion for impact investing and the intersection of emerging markets and innovation. In other internships, she gained experience in consulting and the financial sector, including roles at Bain & Company and Credit Suisse. Most recently, Pascale served as an Investment Associate at Rivean Capital, a mid-market private equity firm. Pascale holds an MA in Banking and Finance and a BA in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG), with exchange semesters in Australia and Colombia. -
Elena Torresani
Co-Head of Philanthropic Investors & Partnerships
Elena Torresani
Co-Head of Philanthropic Investors & PartnershipsElena Torresani is a Co-Head of Philanthropic Investors & Partnerships at elea and a member of the Extended Leadership Team. Together with Isabelle von Jeinsen, she is responsible for ensuring elea’s funding base by collaborating with and systematically expanding elea’s circle of philanthropic investors consisting of entrepreneurially minded personalities, families, foundations, corporates, and family offices. They all share elea's values and are committed to promoting measurable and lasting social impact through the interaction of philanthropy and entrepreneurship.
Elena brings a wealth of senior experience in philanthropy, communications, development cooperation, and sponsorship to elea's philanthropic impact investing activities. She joined elea in 2021 and built-up communications and partnerships at elea. Before joining elea, she led the strategic and operational management of the Hear the World Foundation for over nine years. Elena began her career at UBS, working in sports and arts sponsorship in Zurich and New York.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Since then, she has continued her education in communications, media relations and development cooperation. -
Lea Vetsch
Associate
Lea Vetsch
AssociateAs part of our two-year elea Talent Program, Lea Vetsch is acquiring in-depth knowledge of philanthropic impact investing. She sources potential investments, supports the due diligence process of impact ventures and works closely with the elea team to create value for impact entrepreneurs worldwide. She also engages with the impact investing ecosystem, creating productive relationships with investors, co-investors, and other stakeholders. Lea joined our team as an Associate in September 2025.
Before joining elea, Lea worked in sustainability consulting and gained initial experience at an impact venture. She is currently completing her double master's degree in International Affairs and Governance at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) as well as CEMS International Management at HSG and ESADE. In addition, Lea completed a certificate program in Managing Climate Solutions at HSG. -
Melissa Villard
Associate
Melissa Villard
AssociateAs part of our two-year elea Talent Program, Melissa Villard is acquiring in-depth knowledge of philanthropic impact investing. She sources potential investments, supports the due diligence process of impact ventures and works closely with the elea team to create value for impact entrepreneurs worldwide. She also engages with the impact investing ecosystem, creating productive relationships with investors, co-investors, and other stakeholders. Melissa joined our team as an Associate in September 2025.
Before joining elea, Melissa gained professional experience through several internships in Social Impact organizations, as an ESG & Impact Analyst in Private Equity, and in Sustainability consulting. She holds an MSc in International Business and Sustainability from Sciences Po Paris, and a BA in International Relations from the University of Geneva, which included an exchange semester at UC Berkeley. -
Leonard Wachter
Associate
Leonard Wachter
AssociateAs part of our two-year elea Talent Program, Leonard Wachter is acquiring in-depth knowledge of philanthropic impact investing. He sources potential investments, supports the due diligence process of impact ventures and works closely with the elea team to create value for impact entrepreneurs worldwide. He also engages with the impact investing ecosystem, creating productive relationships with investors, co-investors, and other stakeholders. Leonard joined our team as an Associate in September 2024.
Before joining elea, Leonard gained experience in the startup world and worked in the consulting, finance, and industry sectors. He holds a CEMS Master's in International Management at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), as well as a Master’s in General Management at HSG. Leonard also holds a BA in Business Administration from HSG and a diploma in “Managing Climate Solutions.” As a board member of several associations, he is actively involved in social projects. -
Gerald Weigl
Executive Director
Gerald Weigl
Executive DirectorGerald Weigl is an Executive Director and a member of the Extended Leadership Team at elea. In addition to being part of the investment team, he leads our impact value creation, where he is responsible for the continuous strategic support of our portfolio ventures. Gerald also spearheads the further development of our agricultural value chains investment theme as part of a practice group that provides sector-specific expertise in support of the investment process. He represents elea on the boards of J-Palm, Oorja, and Rutopía.
Before joining elea in June 2018, Gerald worked as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in Vienna, focusing on corporations in the financial and industrial goods sector in Germany. Furthermore, he was active in their Social Impact Practice and acted as a mentor in an accelerator program of the Impact Hub in Vienna. He started his career in Financial Risk Management at KPMG.
Gerald graduated from the University of Cambridge with a MPhil in Finance and from the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria with a BA in Accounting in Finance. He spent a semester at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Canada. -
Felix Wüthrich
Senior Associate
Felix Wüthrich
Senior AssociateFelix Wüthrich is a Senior Associate at elea. He contributes to our investment and value creation activities. Felix joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2023 and graduated in August 2025.
Before working at elea, Felix gained experience in management consulting with private and public clients. A volunteering experience in rural Kenya sparked his interest in emerging economies. Felix graduated from ETH Zurich with an MA in Comparative and International Studies and from the University of Zurich with a BA in Business and Economics. During his studies, he spent semesters abroad in Hong Kong and France. -
Carmen Zehnder
Senior Associate
Carmen Zehnder
Senior AssociateCarmen Zehnder is a Senior Associate at elea. She contributes to our investment and value creation activities with a regional focus on Latin America. Carmen joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2023 and graduated in August 2025.
Carmen’s passion for entrepreneurship was sparked during her involvement with the student association START and further nourished during her time at a Berlin fintech. She also embraced opportunities in the Americas: volunteering at a Peruvian children's hospital, studying in Buenos Aires, and working at the Swiss Embassy in Washington DC. Carmen holds an MSc in International Finance from Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE) in Portugal and a BA in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). -
Sarah Zuellig
Senior Associate
Sarah Zuellig
Senior AssociateSarah Zuellig is a Senior Associate at elea. She contributes to our investment and value creation activities, with a focus on Asia and our investment theme climate and livelihoods. Additionally, she is working on further developing the methods and processes we use in the value creation activities with our portfolio companies. Sarah joined the elea Talent Program as an Associate in September 2022 and graduated in August 2024.
Before working at elea, Sarah gained experience in the private equity sector at LGT Capital Partners and in strategy consulting at the Boston Consulting Group. She started working with impact entrepreneurs during her studies at HSG, having organized a large student-led conference focused on purpose-driven business. Sarah holds an MSc in Management and Strategy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a BA in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).
Our Board of Trustees
Our Comité de Patronage
- Ruth Buess
- Thomas Buess
- Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach
- Marianne Haefner
- Martin Haefner
- Maria Haldner
- Felix Haldner
- Dr. Peter Maurer
- Manuela Schaeppi
- Jürg Schaeppi
- Meret Schmidheiny
- Dr. h. c. Thomas Schmidheiny
- Dr. Susanne Wuffli
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