Durreen Shahnaz

Durreen Shahnaz is a highly accomplished and respected figure in the impact investing space in Asia. With an impressive background in investment banking, development work, media and entrepreneurship, Shahnaz has been instrumental in bringing finance and development together to put women at the forefront of capital markets. She is the founder and CEO of two companies - Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and IIX Foundation - that have unlocked over $100 million of investment and impacted over 30 million lives.

At IIX, Shahnaz has pioneered innovative financial instruments, such as the Women's Livelihood Bond, and created a range of investment platforms to help impact enterprises access capital. Shahnaz is also a thought leader in impact assessment and engages in action-oriented research and advisory work. She is on the Advisory Board to UNDP, UNESCAP, G20 Global Steering Committee, OECD Impact Investment Group, Bangladesh Government's ICT Fund, UN Sustainable Energy for All, and many others.

In addition to her extensive professional experience, Shahnaz holds degrees from prestigious institutions including The Wharton School, The Johns Hopkins University, and Smith College. She is a TED Fellow and has been recognized as an Asia Society Asia 21 Fellow.