Sonia Medina
Chief Ecosystem Development Officer and Executive Director, Climate
As Chief Ecosystem Development Officer (CEDO), Sonia drives CIFF’s commitment to strengthen global ecosystems to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges facing children. She oversees efforts to strengthen philanthropic communities and institutions, including the incubation of new infrastructure, and the co-design of innovative strategies.
Sonia also leads CIFF’s climate change team and portfolio, which is working to reduce emissions and deliver a prosperous future for everyone. CIFF’s climate team manages over $1 billion in active charitable investments focused on accelerating clean technology across critical sectors, supporting the climate transition in specific regions and countries, and building climate participation.
Prior to joining CIFF in 2013, Sonia was Chief Operating Officer of a start-up company with a mission to connect Africa to the green energy economy by developing high-quality biomass supply chains. Previously, Sonia worked at EcoSecurities, one of the world’s largest carbon offset project developers, from start-up to acquisition by JP Morgan & Chase. She was US Country Director, and before that Global Head of Origination, managing 20 local teams on five continents. Sonia started her career at the United Nations Environment Programme.
Sonia holds a BSc in environmental sciences from the University of Madrid, an MSc in environmental change and management (specialisation in energy and environmental economics) from the University of Oxford, and an executive MBA from the London Business School. Sonia was named a World Economic Forum young global leader in 2014.
