Melissa Shackleton Dann has been a leader across the nonprofit, philanthropic, government and corporate sectors, specializing in a range of issues that include Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing, climate strategy, and impact philanthropy. Melissa particularly focused on the unintended consequences of large-scale infrastructure projects funded by subsidies from export credit agencies and international financial institutions. Her work linking financial systems to social and environmental goals set the stage for what eventually became MSCI ESG Research.
As Executive Director of the Wallace Global Fund, Melissa oversaw all aspects of a $300 million private foundation, managing both programmatic and financial operations. She pioneered its first investment policy statement and expanded the foundation’s ESG-aligned assets. The portfolio increased in value by 20%, a strong performance that demonstrated the inherent value of an ESG approach. Earlier in her career, she played a pivotal role at the U.S.–Asia Environmental Partnership, directing programs with a $60 million budget to advance sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region, and at the World Wildlife Fund, where she supported executive strategy and led preparations for the 1992 UN Earth Summit.
In addition to her executive and consulting roles, Melissa has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including Winrock International, Root Capital, and Fauna & Flora International, often as chair or governance leader. Her board leadership reflects her deep understanding of organizational effectiveness, strategic planning, and capacity building. A skilled mentor and communicator fluent in French, she holds a master’s degree in international political economy from Columbia University and has been recognized as a trusted advisor and innovator in leveraging capital markets for social and environmental change.