Head of Impact Investment and Gender-Lens Expert
Carolyn Burns is an impact investor and gender-lens technical assistance practitioner with a substantial career dedicated to supporting economic development projects in Emerging Markets. She has a versatile background encompassing various fields, including direct and fund-of-funds investing, the design and operationalization of blended finance initiatives, and coaching individuals on climate and social inclusion mainstreaming endeavors. She excels in forging unconventional partnerships across government agencies, investment professionals, academics, grassroots organizations, and international non-profits, among others. Her passion lies in leveraging finance to address social justice-related challenges and adeptly managing the entire project lifecycle. She finds inspiration in researching and crafting system-level solutions aimed at fostering a more equitable future on a global scale.
Carolyn has worked with the leading Canadian impact investors, including Sarona, the Equality Fund, Grand Challenges Canada and MEDA. She is a Director for the Board of the Canadian Forum of Impact Investment and International Development (CAFIID). She also serves on the Investment Committee for the Charities Aid Foundation’s Venturesome Social Business Impact Programme, dedicated to facilitating access to blended finance funding for localized businesses run by women from minority-ethnic backgrounds.
Carolyn holds an Honours Bachelor of Political Science from Western University and a Master of Science in International Management from the Ivey Business School. She is certified in Responsible Investing Essentials by the UN Principles for Responsible Investing and Fundamentals of Alternative Investments by the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association.
