Kate Ahern is an executive with 20 years of experience mobilizing the private sector for good. She is an effective leader who drives innovation in corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, sustainability, philanthropy, and impact investing. Kate’s career has spanned global markets, where she has launched and managed ESG strategies, led complex social impact initiatives, and nurtured productive partnerships that benefit companies, communities, and the planet. 
 
Kate is currently Head of ESG at Sandoz, the global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilar medicines. At Sandoz, Kate leads ESG strategy across the firm, focused on four pillars: Access, Sustainability, People, and Corporate Governance. Prior to joining Sandoz, Kate was Managing Director and Head of ESG and Sustainability for Cartica Management, which invests in a concentrated portfolio of public equities in Emerging Markets. At Cartica, Kate led an active engagement approach to promote value-creating ESG and operational improvements at portfolio companies. 
 
Kate was also the first Director of ESG and Communications at Bain Capital, where she oversaw ESG management, citizenship, communications, and philanthropy. Kate was responsible for implementing ESG across asset classes, including private equity, credit, venture, public equity, life sciences, and real estate. She also helped launch the Bain Capital Double Impact Fund, a private equity strategy focused on investing in for-profit companies with a social mission. 
 
Prior to her time at Bain Capital, Kate served as VP of Social Innovation at the Case Foundation, where she created onramps to expand impact investing and corporate responsibility. She also worked for Pyxera Global, managing international development, employee engagement, and corporate social responsibility programs for Fortune 100 companies, USAID, IFC, and other partners in emerging markets worldwide.