The Deutsche Bank Ocean Resilience Philanthropy Fund: Grant Advisory Council

Dr. Dennis Fritsch
 

Dr. Dennis Fritsch is Blue Economy Associate at the Minderoo Foundation. Previously, he led the United Nations’ Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative, which focused on bringing banks, insurers and investors together to align their activities with SDG 14 - Life Below Water. Dennis also established the Research department at Responsible Investor, where he led several investor research projects, including ‘Investors & the Blue Economy’. He has also worked as a consultant and expert jury member for the European Commission's BlueInvest Fund and BLUE Marine Foundation. After graduating from the University of Tübingen (GER), Dennis worked in research at the University of Cambridge and was awarded a PhD from University College London.

Dr. Jean Harris
 

Dr. Jean Harris directs WILDOCEANS, the marine programme of the WILDTRUST, an NGO focussed on biodiversity protection and building socio-ecological resilience in Southern Africa and the western Indian Ocean. Prior she led the Scientific Services team of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the conservation agency which manages the protected areas in the eastern province of South Africa. Through its initiatives, WILDOCEANS is working to build offshore marine science capacity, inspire and mentor young ocean advocates, promote marine protected area expansion, support effective MPA implementation, implement community conservation approaches, and increase protection for endangered species, and build resilience to global impacts and risks (such as climate change, pollution and offshore industries) for vulnerable ecosystems and people who depend on them.

Jean is a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation, a Research Associate at Nelson Mandela University, and a member of the international IUCN Marine Conservation Committee. She has served on the Scientific Authority and Consultative Advisory Forum that advise the South African Minister on biodiversity and fisheries (respectively), chaired the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research (SANCOR) and Subsistence Fisheries Task Team, and been a member of the Programme Committee of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association.

Viktoriya Brand

Viktoriya Brand is Head of Group Sustainability, Deutsche Bank AG. She joined the bank in 2010 and Group Sustainability in 2012. Her focus is on developing standards and policies on ESG for Deutsche Bank’s core business with clients as well as maintaining the dialogue with multiple stakeholders, including rating agencies and NGOs.

Viktoriya is the Deutsche Bank representative for various international initiatives on Sustainability, including the Banking Environment Initiative convened by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership; the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Council of the international Conference Board; and the Sustainable Business Roundtable at the European School of Management & Technology.

Markus Müller

Markus Müller is Chief Investment Officer ESG & Global Head Chief Investment Office Private Bank, Deutsche Bank AG. In this role, he represents as Managing Director the house view of Deutsche Bank International Private Bank on the financial markets and individual asset classes. Markus is a member of Deutsche Bank's Group Sustainability Council.

He began his career at Deutsche Bank in DB Research as executive assistant to the chief economist. During his studies at Muenster University in Germany, he acquired broad international experience with focus on China, later working as an Economist at Allianz Life Insurance in Shanghai. Markus has held teaching posts in corporate finance and economics, being a visiting scholar at the Frankfurt School of Finance and the University of Bayreuth as well as at the Banking and Finance Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent. In April 2017 Markus Müller was asked by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment to join the advisory board of the “Carbon Bubble” project, which assessed and evaluated the risks of the transition towards a low-carbon economy for the German financial system. He recently published his new book on the Socialistic Market Economy of China.

Karen Sack
 

Karen is Executive Director of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), a multi-sector coalition of governments, finance and insurance companies and civil society organisations. ORRAA pioneers innovative finance products that drive investment into marine and coastal natural capital, reduce ocean risks, and build resilience in coastal communities. She has spoken and written extensively on ocean conservation issues. She previously served as CEO of Ocean Unite co-founded with Sir Richard Branson and José María Figueres, as Senior Director for International Oceans at The Pew Charitable Trusts and, as Head of Greenpeace International’s Political & Business Unit as well as Oceans campaign. She has spearheaded global campaigns to secure a new high seas biodiversity treaty, establish large marine reserves and sanctuaries, reform the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, end illegal fishing and high seas bottom trawling, and drive political and policy action to protect marine species.

Dr. Beverly Goodman Tchernov
 

Dr. Beverly Goodman Tchernov is a marine geoarchaeologist specialising in coastal change, climate and marine hazards. She is the head of the Department of Marine Geosciences in the Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences at the University of Haifa and a National Geographic Explorer.

Her work has addressed how archaeology, geology, and anthropology of marine systems can help us understand the way nature and humans impact coastlines in the past, present, and future. She is actively bridging communications between academia and policy makers as well as the larger public. Her research has contributed to hazard risk preparation policy changes in Israel, particular with regard to tsunami awareness and education. In 2021 her work was recognised amongst 20 climate change influencers in Israel today. 

Dr. Andrew Terry
 

Andrew Terry is the Director of Conservation and Policy at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). In this role, Dr Terry oversees the development and delivery of ZSL’s global conservation strategy in Europe, Africa and Asia. This extends into coastal and oceanic environments where ZSL supports work to develop effective marine conservation policy, drive the recovery of species, empower coastal communities to develop sustainable livelihoods, and restore coastal ecosystems.

Steering the Society’s urgent conservation efforts across the globe, he collaborates with pioneering scientists from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology and animal management experts to continue to shape its cutting-edge approach to field conservation. ZSL’s ambition for conservation is to put science into practice to drive up wildlife recovery. He is particularly focussed on how to support local organisations to lead conservation efforts.

Before his work for ZSL, Dr Terry worked at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust for 11 years, where he was responsible for co-developing Durrell’s new global strategy to ensure mea­­surable conservation impact on the ground. Prior to this, Dr Terry served as a scientific advisor at IUCN’s European Programme in Brussels.

Jacqueline Valouch
 

Jacqueline Valouch is the Head of Wealth Planning and Philanthropy for Deutsche Bank Wealth Management based in New York. Ms. Valouch leads global philanthropy efforts, working closely with our clients and their advisors on strategic philanthropy initiatives. Her expertise covers initial formation of philanthropic vehicles to next generation engagement, as well as impact and long-term legacy planning. 

Ms. Valouch has over 20 years of experience in the wealth planning area. After nearly a decade in private practice, Ms. Valouch joined Fidelity Charitable where, for 15 years, she led a team of charitable planning experts, and advised individuals, families, and their advisors on how to incorporate charitable giving into their long-term planning goals.

Ms. Valouch has been featured as a subject matter expert at numerous conferences and panels on a variety of charitable planning topics. She holds a B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany and a J.D. from New York Law School, where she served as an adjunct professor of law teaching Charitable Organizations. Ms. Valouch sits on the Board of Directors for the Armory Foundation, is on the Executive Committee of WorkingNation, serves as a Leadership Advisor for Grace Farms Foundation and is also Co-Chair of the Lincoln Center Planned Giving Advisory Committee.

Nicky West-Poole
 

Nicky West-Poole is Global Head of Central & Sustainable Marketing at the International Private Bank of Deutsche Bank AG. In this role, she is responsible for identifying and maximising marketing opportunities, with a focus on client experience and sustainability. 

With her background in marketing event consultancy for the financial services sector, Nicky began her career at Deutsche Bank as a consultant managing CEO-level and flagship events. Since joining in 2013, she has continuously broadened her portfolio of expertise, supporting the development of a global brand presence through a range of strategic partnerships, including with Frieze Art Fair globally. She brings her extensive experience to identifying innovative initiatives and sustainable strategies designed to improve client experience and deliver positive impact for Deutsche Bank, its clients and partners.