Sarah Adams
Chief Sustainability Officer & Co-founder
I started in financial services at a boutique brokerage firm during the late 90s dotcom boom. I liked finance but wanted more academic grounding and I found this at institutional asset managers Dimensional Fund Advisors and GMO (Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo).
Thinking environmental issues would become pertinent for the next generation (but not knowing much about them) I studied human rights approaches to environmental protection earning two masters degrees in environmental law and policy. I worked with a handful of UK non-profit groups on environmental advocacy in finance including the WWF, Forum for the Future and UnLtd. Seeing a need for retail financial services to engage with environmental and social issues, I started a consulting firm educating financial advisors on sustainable and impact investments in the UK and US.
At Vert, I lead on engagement. My role builds on my experience in both finance and environmental advocacy. I design our engagement program in close collaboration with the Vert Investment Research Group.
I passionate about education. I am an instructor on the Chartered SRI Counselor (CSRIC) Professional Designation Program. I am also a fellow at the Center for Innovative Leadership at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
I have a BA in History from UCLA, a MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development from University College London (UCL), a MA in Environmental Law from SOAS (School of African and Oriental Studies), and a MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
The sustainable choice that is the most fun for me:
Gardening – particularly citrus!
What I’d like to see more of in the world:
Urban farming and green spaces in cities.