Geetha Tharmaratnam

Geetha Tharmaratnam is an investment executive and the chief impact investment officer at the WHO Foundation, where she leads global efforts to mobilize capital for health and sustainable development. With more than two decades of experience in private equity, venture capital, development finance, and impact investing, Tharmaratnam has developed investment strategies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Her expertise includes gender lens investing, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) integration, and health-focused finance, positioning her as a leader in sustainable finance and impact investment.

Throughout her career, Tharmaratnam has held roles such as head of impact and ESG at the Abraaj Group, where she was a founding member of the $1 billion Global Health Fund, and principal at Aureos Capital, where she developed the first private equity sustainability index and helped launch funds targeting healthcare and underserved markets in Africa. She has also served as partner – Africa and global head of impact at LGT Impact, contributing to investment strategies in health, education, agriculture, and financial services. Her leadership extends to advisory and board positions with organizations including the Church Commissioners' £100 million impact fund, Aleyo Capital, Nyala Ventures, and Okavango Capital Partners, where she supports gender-lens and climate investments.

A frequent speaker at international forums such as the Milken Institute and the World Economic Forum, Tharmaratnam is known for translating complex investment concepts into actionable strategies for global audiences. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Bridgeport and both an MBA and a Master of Science in management research from Oxford University. Tharmaratnam’s experience in impact investing and sustainable finance, combined with her public speaking, highlights her role in aligning capital with global health and development challenges.