Our Team

Mercedes Vela Monserrate is the CEO of the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC). Previously, she led Finance Sector Partnerships at COP28 and served as Head of Sustainable Finance at ADGM. With senior roles at Morgan Stanley, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the European Parliament, Mercedes has a strong track record of advancing sustainability initiatives across global financial markets.

She holds a BSc from Maastricht University and is recognized for her leadership in driving impactful strategies in climate finance.

Omar Saif is the VP of the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC). Previously, he was part of the COP28 team, focusing on private sector engagement in the ClimateTech space. Before COP28, he worked across government, consultancy, and trade promotion, supporting sustainability and decarbonization efforts in the Middle East for over a decade.

Omar’s experience includes roles at EY, WSP, and Masdar Institute, where he led a wide range of sustainability projects in energy efficiency, net-zero, smart city, and waste management. He has also worked with the Dutch and New Zealand governments to promote climate-tech startups and SMEs in the MENA region. He holds an M.Eng. in Engineering & Public Policy from McMaster University in Canada.

Khalid is the Director of Climate Policy, Regulations, and Market Mechanisms. He previously served as Climate Policy Manager at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and also represented the UAE in international climate negotiations as part of the national delegation to the UNFCCC, with a focus on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement at both COP and SB sessions.

Khalid has driven high-impact climate initiatives at both national and project levels, from shaping sustainability at Expo 2020 Dubai to advising public and private sector leaders on climate policy, ESG, and decarbonisation strategies during his tenure at EY and Deloitte. He is a member of the UN Roster of Experts, a Chevening Scholar, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, holding an MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development from University College London and an MA (Honours) from the University of Edinburgh.

Dima brings over 15 years of experience across corporates, consultancies, startups, and nonprofit organizations throughout the GCC and North America. She specializes in building and scaling strategic partnerships that deliver shared value for all stakeholders. With more than a decade in sustainability consulting, Dima brings a stakeholder-centric approach, designing tailored solutions that address the diverse needs of partners and collaborators.

At GCFC, Dima will lead partnership development and stakeholder engagement, focusing on enhancing partner experience, driving value creation, and accelerating finance for climate solutions. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Delaware and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Jordan. She also received executive education from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, the Stanford School of Business, as well as the Wharton School of Business.

Sara Torelli is a Senior Specialist at the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC). Before this, she was a Senior Associate at a Big 4 firm, specializing in sustainable finance and ESG integration. With international experience across Italy, the USA, and the Middle East, Sara has worked in venture capital in Boston, focusing on financial modeling and ESG impact analysis. She has developed ESG policies, regulatory benchmarking reports, and sustainability strategies for various sectors, including banking and investment management.

Sara holds a Master of Science in International Business in the US, a Master’s in Law and Finance in Milan, and has studied Sustainable Investing at Harvard Business School. She is certified in CFA ESG Investing and CFA Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing.

Zahra Hashi is a Senior Specialist at the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC). Previously, she served as a Consultant at KPMG Middle East, where she worked with private and public sector clients across the UAE and GCC region on a wide range of sustainability and climate change initiatives. Her key focus areas include strategy development, ESG risks and opportunities assessment, data collection and monitoring, and sustainability reporting and communication.

She holds a Master’s in Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Health Management from Canadian University Dubai. She is currently part of the Masdar WiSER Pioneers Program, a platform empowering female leaders to play an active role in the global transition to a net-zero future.

Fleur Peters is the Office Manager at the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC). Previously, she worked in account & support management in hard-to-abate sector such as shipping & aviation.

She holds a BSc from Avans University of Applied Sciences.

Antonio’s previous experience as an ESG consultant allowed him to work with local governments and institutions across Africa to support sustainable finance solutions and unlock climate capital. He brings experience in Net Zero and ESG strategy development, risk and opportunity assessments, and ESG and sustainability reporting.

At GCFC, Antonio will support the development and execution of strategic collaborations to mobilize climate capital and advance sustainable transition efforts. Working closely with corporates, government representatives, financial institutions, and climate funds, he will strengthen commercial partnerships and investment pipelines. He holds an MSc in Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions from University College London (UCL) and a BA in International Politics, Law and Economics from the University of Milan.

Tom brings extensive experience delivering strategic communications and marketing programmes across the GCC. He has worked in senior roles within international agency networks including JWT and the Dentsu Aegis Network, where he led integrated campaigns, corporate communications strategies, and brand positioning work across regional markets. He brings a strong track record in shaping organisational messaging, strengthening brand visibility, and delivering communications programmes that support growth and stakeholder engagement.

At GCFC, he will lead our communications function, strengthening our global profile, sharpening our messaging, and supporting the organisation’s continued growth and impact.