Verra, the world’s leading standards setter for climate action and sustainable development, is pleased to announce that four new members have joined its Board of Directors in 2024: Janice Kotut-Sang, Jennifer McFarlane, André de Ruyter, and Tsunehiko (Tsuney) Yanagihara. Together, they bring extensive experience as executives, founders, and strategic advisors across various sectors including climate finance and climate technology.
Verra is a cornerstone of the environmental and social markets by managing high-integrity standards programs for climate action and sustainable development, including the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, one of the world’s leading greenhouse gas crediting programs. The four new board members will contribute valuable insights and expertise as Verra works to define the future of the voluntary carbon market and catalyze the growth of other emerging markets in this space.
“Since its founding, Verra has led the development and management of standards that drive climate action and sustainable development. Verra continues to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future through our high-integrity standards, enabling investment in market mechanisms that deliver critical, measurable sustainability benefits. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are thrilled to welcome Jennifer McFarlane, André de Ruyter, Janice Kotut-Sang, and Tsuney Yanagihara to the board. These new members will advance our mission and bring new pragmatic voices responsive to evolving global dynamics and markets. Their diverse experience and expertise will enhance our deliberations and strengthen Verra’s position as a leader in environmental and social markets across our planet.”
Jennifer McFarlane (joined February 2024) is a partner at Asterra Partners, which provides hardware and SaaS companies in the climate sector with advisory services on strategy, ESG, and financing. Having served on the boards of several companies in the climate, energy, and health tech sectors, Jennifer has shaped discussions about strategic growth opportunities, rapid scaling, long-term sustainability, risk management, and governance. She also brings a wealth of finance experience, including twenty years as a CFO/advisor to private and public companies.
André de Ruyter (joined August 2024) brings more than 30 years of global business experience in the energy sector. He has spent the last decade of his career in various senior executive roles, including as group chief executive of Eskom, the largest electricity company in Africa. Recently, he was a visiting senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, the School of Management, and the School of the Environment, where he lectured on the just energy transition and climate finance.
Janice Kotut-Sang (joined October 2024) is the founder of Net Zero Platform Kenya Limited, a niche consulting and climate finance advisory business that helps clients identify, design, finance, and implement climate solutions. She brings with her banking and infrastructure experience, having worked with KPMG in East Africa; GuarantCo, part of the Private Infrastructure Group (PIDG); and Standard Chartered Bank in Asia, the United Kingdom, and Africa. She also sits on the board of Karen Roses Limited, a floriculture operation in Kenya that exports roses around the world.
Tsunehiko (Tsuney) Yanagihara (joined October 2024) is a partner at Allegis Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in enterprise software, fintech, cybersecurity, and climate tech. Tsuney brings extensive international business experience, including 39 years in business management roles at the Mitsubishi Corporation. While at Mitsubishi, he worked in Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States, serving as an executive officer in Tokyo and heading their Silicon Valley office as an executive vice president.
“As we work to tackle pressing environmental and social challenges, we are equipped with numerous tools, but none offer the immediacy and broad impact of market-based solutions. These approaches enable companies and stakeholders that are already committed to addressing environmental challenges to do even more. With the expertise of our board and our staff, we can continue advancing our best-in-class standards programs and breakthrough methodologies, strengthening every facet of the relevant markets.”