Maria Lombardo is a distinguished leader in sustainable finance, transition and ESG strategy, with over 25 years of experience in investment banking and sustainability roles. Most recently, she served as Managing Director and Global Head of ESG Advisory at Standard Chartered Bank, where she built from the ground up and led an innovative global advisory group, delivering transformative sustainability and ESG solutions for corporates, sovereign wealth funds, and financial institutions across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Previously, Maria held senior Sustainability leadership roles at Invesco and CDP, spearheading initiatives such as Net Zero strategies, TCFD reporting, and the integration of sustainability data into investments frameworks. Earlier in her career, she led emerging markets equities and capital markets teams at Lazard, UBS, Sberbank, and Unicredit.
An accomplished author and speaker, Maria is recognized as a top ESG influencer and active advocate in global climate initiatives. Maria holds a BSc in Business Administration and Financial Intermediaries from Bocconi University, followed by a CEMS Master in International Management from Bocconi University and Louvain School of Management. To deepen her expertise in sustainability, she earned an Executive Diploma in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. She is fluent in Italian, English, and French.
She brings unparalleled expertise to drive business transformation implementation and practices.