Catherine Burns Named Managing Director of NatureVest to Advance Impact Investing
Catherine Burns, PhD, has been appointed Managing Director of NatureVest, The Nature Conservancy’s impact investing and sustainable finance division. Burns, who joined TNC in 2010, has taken on progressively influential roles across NatureVest as well as within the organization’s California and North Carolina chapters.
Most recently, she spearheaded the creation of NatureVest’s Impact Management Team, strengthening the group’s ability to deliver measurable results tied to TNC’s 2030 climate and conservation objectives. She has also been serving as Interim Managing Director for the past eight months, leading the team through a period of strategic expansion and increased collaboration.
In her new role, Burns will guide NatureVest’s teams responsible for designing, finalizing, and executing impact investment initiatives across various financial models, including private equity, sovereign debt, and other innovative structures. Her strong foundation in conservation science, combined with her experience working directly with market participants, positions her to advance investment-driven solutions that support climate action and ecosystem protection.
“At a time when private-sector involvement is essential to building a more sustainable world, I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this exceptional team,” Burns said. “Our work sits at the intersection of impact investing and market-based solutions, and together we’re committed to generating environmental, social, and financial value.”
Since its launch in 2014, NatureVest has built a portfolio representing more than USD $4 billion in committed impact capital. Its projects span four continents and encompass a wide range of asset classes and financial models. These initiatives aim to deliver both conservation impact and financial returns across sectors such as forestry and carbon, water systems and agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, renewable energy and infrastructure, conservation-oriented tourism, and sovereign debt solutions that help nations improve debt stability while driving large-scale environmental gains.
“This appointment underscores our dedication to fostering leadership that bridges financial innovation with meaningful conservation results,” said Matt Arnold, Global Head of Impact Finance and Markets at The Nature Conservancy. “Cat’s extensive expertise and collaborative leadership have already shaped the direction of NatureVest, and we’re excited for her to guide its continued growth in advancing nature-positive investment strategies.”
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Most recently, she spearheaded the creation of NatureVest’s Impact Management Team, strengthening the group’s ability to deliver measurable results tied to TNC’s 2030 climate and conservation objectives. She has also been serving as Interim Managing Director for the past eight months, leading the team through a period of strategic expansion and increased collaboration.
In her new role, Burns will guide NatureVest’s teams responsible for designing, finalizing, and executing impact investment initiatives across various financial models, including private equity, sovereign debt, and other innovative structures. Her strong foundation in conservation science, combined with her experience working directly with market participants, positions her to advance investment-driven solutions that support climate action and ecosystem protection.
“At a time when private-sector involvement is essential to building a more sustainable world, I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this exceptional team,” Burns said. “Our work sits at the intersection of impact investing and market-based solutions, and together we’re committed to generating environmental, social, and financial value.”
Since its launch in 2014, NatureVest has built a portfolio representing more than USD $4 billion in committed impact capital. Its projects span four continents and encompass a wide range of asset classes and financial models. These initiatives aim to deliver both conservation impact and financial returns across sectors such as forestry and carbon, water systems and agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, renewable energy and infrastructure, conservation-oriented tourism, and sovereign debt solutions that help nations improve debt stability while driving large-scale environmental gains.
“This appointment underscores our dedication to fostering leadership that bridges financial innovation with meaningful conservation results,” said Matt Arnold, Global Head of Impact Finance and Markets at The Nature Conservancy. “Cat’s extensive expertise and collaborative leadership have already shaped the direction of NatureVest, and we’re excited for her to guide its continued growth in advancing nature-positive investment strategies.”
Click here to contact us to know more.
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