Carla Chizmar brings 20 years of experience in scientific research, sustainable development, clean energy, climate change, green lending, and impact investment across Latin America and the Caribbean. She currently serves as Head of ESG at CIFI, where she leads the development and implementation of the company’s ESG strategy, managing environmental and social risks and overseeing the ESG performance of a USD 700 million portfolio in infrastructure assets across the region.

Since joining CIFI in 2016, Carla has been instrumental in integrating international ESG best practices and a strategic sustainability alignment into CIFI’s risk management and compliance systems, including spearheading CIFI’s Decarbonization Strategy to align its portfolio with a 1.5°C economy. 

Carla is responsible for stakeholder engagement with shareholders, regulators, civil society, and clients, and drives transparent ESG reporting, as well as leading CIFI's Gender Equality Strategy, and oversight of the company’s Human Rights commitments. She played a key role in issuing Panama’s first $200 million Green Bond Program and continues to support the growth of key business lines and funding efforts through a responsible and high impact approach. 

Before CIFI, Carla contributed her expertise at the United Nations Environment Programme, focusing on environmental governance, climate adaptation, and capacity building in the Latin American region. Her early career included botanical research and conservation work with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Yale University.

Carla holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Botany) from the University of Panama, a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Yale University, and a Certification in Financing and Deploying Clean Energy from Yale University.