Financial Innovation for Society

Thursday, March 8, 6:30-7:30pm

Maria Pereira
Member of the Economics & Society Working Group for the National Commission of Justice and Peace, Portugal

The financial crisis has intensified debate about our financial system and has reinforced initiatives and action relating to biosphere economy, social enterprise, impact investing, microfinance, ethical finance and sustainable capitalism, among other things. The challenge that society faces is to provide for an ever-expanding population in a world of increasing shortages of resources, including financial capital. Jobs have to be created, goods and services provided, the natural capital preserved and social harmony ensured. Financial innovation has thus to veer away from financial engineering and aim toward providing real economic value to society in a sustainable fashion. Focus needs to shift from the short-term to the long-term, necessitating collaboration among different sectors in an innovative and integrated approach to solutions. This presentation will be enhanced by one or two case studies.

Maria Pereira works independently and globally to promote sustainable practices in business and finance. She is a member of the Economics & Society Working Group for the National Commission of Justice and Peace, Portugal, and is involved in pro bono work with other think-tanks and organizations promoting necessary transformations in business and financial practice. She is currently working on an inquiry into Conscious Finance at the Sophia University Institute in Italy. In 2008-2009, Pereira worked in Hong Kong with the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a part of the William J. Clinton Foundation, to facilitate adoption of clean energy investment to reduce carbon emissions. CCI is the exclusive implementing partner for the C40 group of cities, with the focus in Hong Kong on building and lighting energy efficiency, as well as on electric vehicles (EV). She continues to volunteer at CCI on the EV project. Previously, Pereira was Managing Director of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (Private Bankers) in New York and Hong Kong and, subsequently, an independent investment advisor. Geographically, her business experience spans the United States, Canada, Europe, Brazil and Asia. Pereira was awarded an MSc Environmental Technology from Imperial College, London, and an MBA Finance from the University of California, Berkeley. Born in Macau, she speaks Cantonese, French and Portuguese in addition to English.