Pollination recognises internal talent from across its global offices
MEDIA RELEASE
5 JANUARY 2021
Pollination, the specialist climate change investment and advisory firm, has promoted Zoe Whitton to Partner in its Sydney office with immediate effect. In her position as Executive Director, Zoe has been instrumental in developing Pollination’s global advisory offer and guiding major financial institution clients as they establish transition pathways and targets and building industry partnerships to support companies and financial institutions as they navigate their leadership responsibilities on nature and climate change. She has spearheaded key projects on behalf of corporate and institutional investors, managing their climate change risk and SDG exposure.
Zoe previously led Citi’s APAC ESG Research team and advised investors on climate change at Credit Suisse and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. She serves on the board of the IGCC and was an observer to the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative’s Coordinating Working Group.
This promotion coincides with several changes to the Pollination team as it continues to recognise extraordinary talent within the firm and reflect its commitment to diversity & inclusion as a strategic priority.
Lauren Drake has been promoted to Executive Director. Her global experience in environmental markets, and deep legal and advisory experience in nature-based solutions and climate law, policy and finance has been invaluable to the firm. Lauren was previously an Associate in Baker McKenzie’s Global Environmental Markets Practice, and at Pollination she provides expert advice to companies and governments on strategy, risk, governance, law, policy, unlocking new value particularly in carbon markets, and building organisational resilience to the climate change and biodiversity loss challenge.
Mitch Shannon has been promoted to Director. Mitch has extensive experience working with governments on energy markets and policy design and advising clients across the energy, industrial, finance and automotive sectors on decarbonisation strategies, climate risk management and technology investment. He was formerly a Senior Adviser at the Australian Energy Market Commission, where he led the development and implementation of complex regulatory reforms to address economic, policy and technical issues arising in Australia’s energy market.
Sara Oishi has been promoted to Director. Her experience includes providing legal and strategic advice on carbon market transactions, domestic and international climate change regulations, sustainable finance, and environmental marketing claims. Sara was previously an Associate at Lathrop GPM, LLP in Chicago, Illinois where she advised Fortune 500 corporations on complex environmental risk and regulatory issues. She also spent three years with non-profit and start-up companies helping develop innovative means of financing large scale energy efficiency projects.
Dan Shafqat has been promoted to Director. Dan has been focused on developing Pollination’s climate-tech investments platform to provide growth capital to companies commercialising decarbonisation technologies for high emission sectors. He has led on identifying high impact climate thematics as well as the sourcing and due diligence of investment opportunities. Prior to joining Pollination, Dan worked in energy investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Cantor Fitzgerald.
Laura Waterford has also been promoted to Director. Laura has extensive experience in international climate law and policy, with a particular focus on nature-based solutions and natural capital. Laura advises government and private sector clients across the spectrum of risks and opportunities presented by the interlinked climate change and nature loss crises. Laura’s work at Pollination includes driving thought leadership on the need to address systemic nature-related risks alongside climate risks, and emerging role of environmental markets in that context.
“We are very fortunate to have a wealth of talent within Pollination and, as we continue to grow, it is very important to recognise the contribution each individual has made to our success so far,” Martijn Wilder AM, Pollination’s co-founding Partner said. “Zoe is an exceptional addition to our leadership team. She has managed complex issues for our clients across the world and her expertise, insight and energy have had a profound effect on the company. And Lauren, Dan, Laura, Sara and Mitch have all demonstrated passion for and commitment to our mission, bringing their full range of expertise to deliver meaningful results on behalf of our clients. Their diverse skills, when combined, is what makes Pollination truly unique.”
