Ms. Irina Likhachova is the global lead for Biodiversity and Nature Finance at IFC, member of the World Bank Group. She focuses on developing new business models and products to mobilize private sector investments for projects that generate positive outcomes for nature in mainstream economic activity, promote conservation and restoration of ecosystems, and integrate nature-based solutions into infrastructure projects. She spearheaded IFC Biodiversity Finance Reference Guide, the world’s first and only guidance on investment opportunities that contribute to protecting, maintaining, or enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services and support the transition towards nature positive goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss across economies. For this work, Irina was awarded Personality of the Year by Environmental Finance’s Sustainable Debt Awards 2024.