Oryx Impact

Unlocking Africa's growth potential through
Impact Investing

Make a difference with Oryx Impact

The story of the Oryx is a story of success, cooperation and collaboration between the private and public sectors on an international level: the reintroduction into the wild of an animal species that neared extinction by human action.

At Oryx Impact, we believe that we can address and alleviate some of the world’s challenges by investing with purpose. As we have seen with the Oryx, if we join all our talents and efforts, we can achieve great outcomes. So, let’s embark on building a better world for us all.

Our Mission

Mobilising capital for investments in Africa to promote more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive societies, with the aim of reducing forced migration and global inequities.

Oryx Impact fosters the eco-system of impact fund managers investing in Africa, with a substantial focus on women-led and emerging fund managers.

Oryx Impact will channel funding to enterprises that generate local and regional jobs and economic development, mitigate climate change and promote gender equality, while generating attractive financial returns.

Our Values

Integrity

Transparency and accountability with all stakeholders are integral to the way Oryx Impact operates.

Diversity

Oryx Impact values and encourages diversity as a driver of thriving teams and inclusive communities.

Expertise

Experience, know-how and a constant pursuit for excellence make the Oryx Impact team differential.

Purpose

Oryx Impact is purpose-driven and is highly committed to its mission.

Collaboration

Oryx Impact promotes collaboration internally as well as externally, as an ecosystem building driver.

- EXECUTIVE TEAM -

We are a global and diverse team combining passion, investment experience and determination to ensure maximum impact.

Our group of dedicated investment professionals have a significant financial track record and ample social and environmental expertise. Our team is comprised of people with diverse personal and professional backgrounds who share the conviction that building a better future for people and the planet is not only an opportunity to foster profitable and sustainable economic growth but also a responsibility to those around us and the generations to come.

Teresa Guardans

Founding Partner
More than 24 years of experience in investment banking, wealth management, and impact investing with SBC Warburg, UBS, Rothschild and Pictet. Driving the transition from traditional financial return driven portfolios into net positive impact investments.

Sebastian Waldburg

Founding Partner
Seasoned impact investor with significant experience in climate finance and venture capital. More than 25 years in the financial sector related to energy investments and private equity, with relevant exposure to emerging markets.

Eva Abel

Partner, Head of Investments
Investment professional with over 13 years of investment experience, including Investment Banking in Nigeria, Venture Capital with Giza Polish Ventures, a Polish-Israeli VC firm, and Fund of Funds investing with the European Investment Fund in Luxembourg.

Lisa Hehenberger

Chief Impact Advisor – Advisory Committee Member
Professor at ESADE Business School and a recognized expert on impact measurement, impact investing and social entrepreneurship. Active in expert groups (EU, OECD, GSG, etc.) and advisory boards (Rubio, Creas) and former research and policy director of the European Venture Philanthropy Association.

Maria Oliva

Impact, ESG & Compliance Manager
Leveraging her background in business and development economics, Maria has worked for 6 years as sustainability consultant for diverse stakeholders, specialising in responsible and impact investing.

Timothy Llewellyn-Davies

Investment Associate
Emerging impact investing professional with over 10 years of work experience in Impact Investing, Social Consulting, Business Development and IT Consulting. Timothy has worked and/or studied across five continents and holds an MBA from ESADE.

Somalisa Sahoo

Analyst, Business Development
Entrepreneurial background and over 8 years of cross-sectoral work experience in healthcare and finance. Passionate about social impact, Somalisa has worked and studied in the USA and Europe and holds an MBA from ESADE.

Kanini Mutooni

Senior Executive Advisor – Advisory Committee Member
Renowned Impact investment practitioner. MD at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, Senior Adviser at Toniic EMEA, Chair of AMREF Africa. Recently retired Chairperson of the Global Innovation Fund.

Karim Ben Salah

Senior Executive Advisor – Advisory Committee Member
Management consultant to corporates, PE and VC backed companies and start-ups. +25 years experience managing PE growth funds in ME & North Africa and running regional operations for a global FMCG company in Europe, US, Latin America, Africa.

Farah Mulji

Venture Partner
Principal at ImpactVine Advisors. Entrepreneur, investor and strategic advisor with more than 12 years working in multiple countries in Africa in industries such as education, technology, manufacturing and healthcare, international trade and venture capital. LP and investor in impact businesses in Africa, Canada, and Europe.

- Advisory Committee -

We are supported by an international and multidisciplinary advisory committee with extensive experience in the fields of entrepreneurship, business, asset management, impact investing, and technical assistance. The members of the Advisory Committee have set up and worked for a myriad of companies and institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Lisa Hehenberger and Kanini Mutooni are both part of the Executive Team and the Advisory Committee.

Nasser Ali Khasawneh

Chairman of a renown international law firm for the Middle East. Head of the Firm’s TMT Sector.

Grace Obado

Political Scientist with expertise in Internatio-nal Relations and Sustainable Development. Serves on the boards of Africa 2.0 International Foundation, Choiseul Institute, IE sustainable development club and Spain’s Casa Africa.​​

Alexander Sainsbury

Experienced financial investor and entrepre-neur with significant personal initiatives in the cultural field. Initiator of numerous philanthro-pic endeavors in education and development.

Xenia Hohenlohe

Successful entrepreneur with significant experience in sustainable management, Founding Partner at Considerate Group.