Jason joined the GIF in 2015 as Lead Infrastructure Finance Specialist after working at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank Group for 10 years. Jason became the Head of GIF in July 2017, and previously as Acting Head helping to transition the GIF from a start-up facility to the largest fund dedicated to the preparation and structuring of commercially viable infrastructure projects in developing countries, with a growing pipeline. 

While at MIGA, Jason worked on a broad range of complex energy and infrastructure projects worldwide. He has built expertise in managing and closing complex projects and advising clients on infrastructure financing, risk mitigation, and credit enhancement to support their investment and financing needs in developing countries. Jason started his banking career with Bank of America in its Global Project Finance Group where he was responsible for transaction structuring and execution. He also worked at ABB Energy Capital on renewable energy financing in the United States, and at State Street Corporation. Jason, a Chinese national, holds graduate degrees from Yale University (MBA), Central European University (Prague), and China’s Peking University.
 

Towfiqua Hoque, a Bangladeshi national, has been with the GIF since 2015 and has been part of the team that designed, launched, and operationalized the Global Infrastructure Facility.  Towfiqua is passionate about development finance and has 20 years of experience in delivering infrastructure projects in emerging markets.  Her experience spans policy design, transaction advisory, bid structuring and implementation, project development, and equity and debt financing. 

Towfiqua brings deep experience in building relations between public and private sector decision-makers, financiers, and donors influencing infrastructure investments and policies.  Prior to joining the GIF, Towfiqua spent 18 years with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and worked on both the transaction advisory and investment side in Washington, D.C., Dubai, Hanoi, and Singapore. She has worked in many sectors, including power, airports, ports, water, and social infrastructure sectors in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands. Towfiqua is based in Singapore and oversees GIF’s activities in Asia.  She has an MBA from George Washington University. 

Michael covers the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions for the GIF. His current portfolio consists of projects from across a diverse range of infrastructure sub-sectors including water, telecommunications, transport, and energy and he works in collaboration with the GIF’s Technical Partners including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the World Bank.

Michael joined the GIF from the African Development Bank (AfDB) where over an 8-year period he held several infrastructure-related positions/titles with the latest being as a PPP Advisor within the renewable energy department working on project development and transaction structuring for small- to medium-scale renewable energy projects across several technologies including biomass, waste-to-energy (WTE), mini hydropower plants, and solar.

Prior to the AfDB, Michael worked in engineering consultancy in the UK focusing on the transport/highways sector where he advised clients, including the Highways Agency (on the private finance initiative (PFI) roads programme) and PFI Contractors, Transport for London (TfL), the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), private developers, and municipal/county councils. 

Michael is a national of Ghana where he completed his undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering. He has an MS in Transport Engineering & Planning (University of Salford, UK), an MS in Infrastructure/Construction Economics (University College London/UCL, UK), and an MBA from Imperial College London. 
 

With 10 years of experience in the infrastructure sector, João joined the GIF in 2019 focusing on transport and energy across different regions including Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Prior to joining the GIF, João started his career at IFC’s investment business focusing on the real estate sector. In 2013, he joined IFC’s Corporate Transaction Advisory team in Brazil, supporting central and local governments to develop and structure their infrastructure projects in various sectors including transport (airports and roads), energy (distribution and public street lighting), and social infrastructure. 

Juan has over 20 years of global experience in infrastructure initiatives and is responsible for the design and implementation of GIF’s Downstream Financing Window.  Prior to joining the Global Infrastructure Facility, in November 2020, Juan spent eleven years at the Inter-American Development Bank Group, originating, structuring, and negotiating complex project finance transactions in Latin America and the Caribbean.  This involved leading multicultural teams throughout the analysis/due diligence, documentation, and internal approval processes.  As part of that role, Juan executed innovative financing structures, including loans, guarantees, and bond issuances, aimed at mobilizing cross-currency and capital markets solutions for emerging markets.  Previously, Juan worked as a project management and infrastructure consultant in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia for nearly a decade.  The last position he held was Project Services Manager at a BHP Billiton operation, in Perth, Australia.  Juan holds an MSc in Project and Program Management from the Skema School of Business in France and a BSc in Civil Engineering from Javeriana University in Colombia.

Ms. Silva Zuniga is a senior infrastructure and sustainable finance specialist, with over 15 years of experience. She started her career in the investment banking industry in Hong Kong before transitioning into the policy space. Over the last decade, working as an infrastructure finance expert for the International Institute for Sustainable Development and most recently the InterAmerican Development Bank, she provided technical advisory services to governments in Asia, America and Europe on their infrastructure procurement processes in a manner that provides for economic growth, social justice, and stewardship of the natural environment. Mariana has ample experience in the capitalization of infrastructure assets, with emphasis in project finance, investment due diligence and Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s).

Mariana has designed and implemented multiple funds & Initiatives, including: the UK Sustainable Infrastructure Program, the MDB Sustainable Infrastructure Aligned Set of Indicators and she acted as a member for the G20 infrastructure taskforce, co-authored and presented a report at the Antalya G20 summit on ideas and solutions for closing their infrastructure deficits.

Mariana Silva holds a Master’s degree (Hons) in International Banking and Finance from Hong Kong Lignan University. She has pursued her studies and working experiences in different regions to gain an international perspective born in Mexico, she has since lived in Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and now the United States.

She speaks fluent English, German, French, and Spanish.

Nadine Ghobrial is a finance and infrastructure professional with around 12 years of experience across multiple sectors. Originally from Cairo, Egypt she started her career as Equity Analyst at the top-ranked Research Department of regional investment bank EFG Hermes, where she provided investment recommendations to institutional investors and eventually held the position of Vice President, Equity Research. Subsequently, Nadine moved to New York for graduate studies at Columbia University, graduating with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) with a focus on energy finance and policy. During her time at Columbia University, she held graduate internships at Roubini Global Economics and the Albright Stonebridge Group. Upon graduation, she consulted on several projects at the World Bank’s Energy and Extractives practice, Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as at infrastructure consultancy Castalia. Prior to joining the GIF, Nadine spent three years working for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), across both the Corporate Strategy and Partnerships and Multilateral Engagement departments. Nadine is currently a CFA Level III candidate. She is fluent in English, Arabic, and has intermediate proficiency in French.

Giulia joined the GIF in August 2018 through the World Bank Group’s Analyst Program after 4 years of experience in developing infrastructure policy and projects in the public and private sector. Before the GIF, she worked for the World Bank’s Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), focusing on creating the enabling environments for private sector investment in infrastructure and developing knowledge products on PPP frameworks, urban mobility, and energy sector reforms. 

Before joining the World Bank, Giulia served as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton to develop utility-scale renewable energy projects, and at the Confederation of British Industries and the EU Delegation to the United States, supporting renewable energy, consumer regulations, and financial sector policy analysis. Giulia holds a Master’s degree in International Economics, Energy, Resources and Environment from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Economics from the University of Bath.
 

Jade Wong is an infrastructure finance professional with a wide range of experience in the public and private sectors. She has direct hands-on experience in financial and project structuring as well as in assessing public policies for infrastructure projects. 

Before joining the GIF, Jade was with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Infrastructure group where she had closed investments totaling over $550 million. She has built expertise in originating new business, conducting due diligence, structuring project and financial instruments, managing portfolios, and executing successful exits. She was a key member of the pioneering team to structure convertible loans and syndicate equity investors for the Asia Infrastructure program. Prior to IFC, she was an investment analyst at a global macro hedge fund with $1.7 billion of assets under management where she was responsible for investment strategies in the global commodities and energy sectors. 

Jade is bilingual in English and Mandarin Chinese. She holds an Executive Master’s in Finance from INSEAD and obtained her Bachelor’s degrees in Accountancy and Finance from the Nanyang Technological University.

Javier, a Spanish national, joined the GIF as Research Analyst in January 2021. Prior to this, he worked in the Embassy of Spain located in the U.S. as a Trade and Investment Analyst, where his work involved analyzing large data sets of exports/imports and investments, tracking the main macroeconomic factors in the U.S. on a monthly basis, and writing reports about the Water and Transportation sectors in the U.S. Moreover, he worked in the pharmaceutical industry as an intern in Merck KGaA for six months. Javier holds a Bachelor in Business Management and Law from the University Carlos III of Madrid and an MBA in International Management from ICEX.

Sara joined the World Bank Group in 2014 and worked for several years in the Infrastructure Finance, PPPs and Guarantees (IPG) group of the World Bank, as well as spending one year at the International Finance Corporation (IFC). While at IFC, she worked on multilateral engagement and managed relationships with key multilateral development bank (MDB) partners and other global platforms—such as the G20 Infrastructure Working Group, MDB Infrastructure Cooperation Platform, and the OECD. She has also continued to manage the strategic partnership with the Islamic Development Bank on the role of mobilizing Islamic finance for infrastructure PPPs, while both at IFC and the World Bank.

Before IFC Sara worked on supporting the management of the IPG Group and Infrastructure Vice Presidency, including support to various infrastructure-related trust funds. She also spent a few years at the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), managing the Global PPP Knowledge Portfolio, focusing on developing products to help client governments strengthen policies, regulations, and institutions that enable sustainable infrastructure development with private sector participation.

Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Sara worked as a Program Manager at AECOM International Development, where she managed USAID-funded infrastructure programs based in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. She holds a Master of Arts in International Economics & Energy, Resources, and Environment from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Carmel Lev joined the GIF in 2019. In tandem to her work at the GIF, Carmel serves as a Strategy Associate for Spectrum Impact, an impact investing consulting firm that works with public and private sector clients to develop investment strategies and products that integrate social and environmental impact. 

Before joining the GIF, Carmel worked for the IFC’s Inclusive Business team, housed within the Blended Finance department. Her work at the IFC focused on scaling private sector investment into emerging market companies that integrate low-income populations into their business models. In her role, Carmel also helped manage IFC’s Social Bond Program, which funds projects that have a direct focus on increasing access to goods and services for underserved groups. 

Previously, Carmel worked at Impact Investment Exchange in Singapore, providing investment readiness advisory services and recommending innovative financing solutions to social enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region. Carmel also supported the Case Foundation’s Impact Investing portfolio, focusing on investment opportunities in the U.S. Prior, Carmel served as a Senior Program Assistant at the National Democratic Institute, managing and implementing U.S. government and international donor-funded foreign assistance programs in the Middle East & North Africa. Carmel earned an MS in Global Business & Finance from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a BA in Global Studies and World Arts & Cultures from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Tehreem brings over 12 years of experience working with diverse teams in international organizations including the World Bank, ADB, NATO, the US Congress, and academia on tough issues like COVID, conflict and climate. At the World Bank, she led strategic communications and stakeholder engagement for the South Asia regional gender platform and WePOWER- South Asia Women in the Power Sector Network. She is highly skilled at advocacy campaigns, media engagement, brand awareness and reputational risk management. Before joining the World Bank, Tehreem worked as a Research Associate and International Programs Coordinator in the Center for Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security (CIP/HS) at George Mason University. Tehreem holds a Master’s of Public Policy degree from George Mason University and a Master’s of Political Management from the George Washington University.

Erkin has over 15 years of experience working with the World Bank (WB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the European Union (EU), where his work has involved monitoring, evaluation, and program management. Before joining the GIF, Erkin worked for various units of the World Bank Group including Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), Urban and the Social Development unit. 

Erkin is an Urban Planner and holds Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Management (MPM) degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park. He has certifications in CP3P® (Certified PPP Professional by APMG), Development Evaluation (IPDET), and Corporate Sustainability (Harvard University) with a focus on green practices, energy & innovation. Prior to the World Bank, he worked for the Turkish Prime Ministry, State Planning Organization (SPO) as a Planning Specialist mainly responsible for the management of EU co-financed regional development programmes.

Rui joined the GIF in May 2017 as an Operations Analyst. Over her 20 years with the World Bank she has held various positions, including most recently supporting the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) on its budget formulation and monitoring, funds management, and financial reporting. Prior to that, Rui was responsible for the resource management of the Poverty Global Practice and South Asia Region. She also worked in the World Bank’s Beijing office to provide project support to the energy team. Rui holds an MBA from the University of Maryland University College.

Stephen Akinwale joined IFC in 2021 as a Young Professional. He completed his first rotation with the Global Transport team based in Washington, DC, where he worked on logistics and airport transactions in Latin America, Africa and MCT (Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan).

Prior to joining IFC, Stephen held various positions at PwC, InfraCredit (an infrastructure guarantee company) and MYRA Investments, with experience coordinating due diligence, transaction structuring, and portfolio monitoring activities for assets/companies located in Nigeria, Mexico, and other emerging markets.

Stephen is a Nigerian, holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and is a CFA Charter holder. In his spare time, Stephen watches soccer and spends time with his family.

Min Jie is a final year undergraduate at NUS Business School majoring in Accountancy.

Before joining the GIF team, Min Jie interned with PwC's Capital Projects & Infrastructure team, and Siemens Bank GmbH's Project & Structured Finance team.

In the coming months, Min Jie hopes to learn more about infrastructure advisory from the perspective of multilateral development banks.

In her free time, Min Jie enjoys playing the violin, bringing her dog out for walks, and reading. She has also recently picked up badminton.

Min Jie is excited to work with the GIF team in the coming months.