Jennifer Morris

Jennifer Morris "is currently Vice President and Managing Director of two funds at Conservation International (CI): the Global Conservation Fund and Verde Ventures. The Global Conservation Fund is a $100 million fund dedicated to the creation and long term financing of protected areas in CI’s priority countries. Jennifer has been leading the Global Conservation Fund since the summer of 2006. Verde Ventures is currently a $12 million fund investing in conservation-oriented small and medium sized enterprises in 13 countries. Jennifer has been managing Verde Ventures since 2000.

"Prior to Verde Ventures, Jennifer played a key role in assisting local CI partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America to analyze, structure and develop community-based businesses and credit instruments for the development of rural micro and small enterprises which support conservation. Jennifer worked as the Wild Products Manager at CI where she managed market and product development for 11 products produced by CI local partners in 7 countries, across multiple industries.

"Prior to joining CI, Jennifer was a business development consultant with a micro-finance institution and has lived and worked in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Jennifer has a BA in Political Science from Emory University and a Masters in International Affairs with a business development and micro-finance focus from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs."

• International Jury (2009), SEED Initiative
• Advisory Council, American Bird Conservancy