International consultant
Dr Isabel B. Franco
PhD, MBA, MA · International Consultant in Climate Finance, ESG and Safeguards
Climate finance, environmental and social safeguards and governance for development banks, United Nations agencies, governments and companies.
For 20 years, I have worked where development decisions meet the communities that live with them, from mining, energy and infrastructure regions to boardrooms, government ministries and multilateral institutions.
I do not treat environmental, social and governance performance as separate reporting categories. I bring them together into one coherent strategy, combining field depth with institutional fluency. My clients include the Asian Development Bank and United Nations agencies, and my work spans Australia, Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America.
I work in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
- 20years of international practice
- 100+peer reviewed outputs
- 100+public engagements worldwide
- 3Springer academic volumes, a fourth forthcoming
Expertise
Integrated E, S and G advice
Climate and sustainable finance
- Climate finance and sustainable investing
- ESG strategy and ESG indicators
- Corporate sustainability reporting and performance
- Climate change and sustainable livelihoods
Environmental and social safeguards
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
- Social Impact Assessment and Social Impact Management Plans
- IFC Performance Standards and World Bank alignment
- Gender and community capacity building
Governance and policy
- Public policy and corporate governance
- Institutional strengthening
- Sustainable resource governance
- Climate and science diplomacy
Sectors: extractives (mining, oil, gas and gemstones), energy, infrastructure, banking and finance, and the public sector.
Track record
Selected engagements
Asian Development BankCountry level ESG strategy
I advise the Asian Development Bank on ESG strategy at a country level.
United NationsCorporate sustainability knowledge products
I led contributions to UN knowledge products adopted by governments and institutions across Asia Pacific, with recommendations actioned by the UN High Level Political Forum in New York.
Sun Cable · Renewable energy · A$30 billionAAPowerLink SIA and SIMP
I led the Social Impact Assessment and Social Impact Management Plan, fully aligned with World Bank and IFC Performance Standards.
UNDP · UNESCAPInternational consultant
I served as international consultant to UNDP in Angola and to UNESCAP across Asia and the Pacific.
Current roles
Leadership and appointments
- FounderFounder and Executive DirectorIBF International Group and IBF International Institute for Better Futures
- 2014 to presentFounder and Global ChairpersonWomen Sustainability Forum and Exceptional Women in Sustainability Awards, 39 networks across Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa
- 2021 to presentResearch FellowEarth System Governance, Utrecht University, Netherlands
- CurrentScientific ReviewerSustainability Science journal, Journal of Cleaner Production and Sustainability journal
- 2020 to 2022Editorial Board memberSustainability Science journal
- 2018 to presentContributing AuthorUN International Resource Panel, Land Restoration for Achieving the SDGs
- FellowJapan Society for the Promotion of SciencePostdoctoral Fellow, Japan
Recognition
Awards and honours
Asia Global Fellows Program
Asia Global Institute, The University of Hong Kong. Selected as a Fellow; the fellowship was deferred.
WEF2018Exceptional Woman of Excellence
Women Economic Forum, New Delhi, India
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, with UNU IAS and Keio University
BCC2017 · 2020Multicultural Scholarship
Brisbane City Council, International Business
TEDx2015TEDxUQ Speaker
Beautiful Women: The Ugly Reality
UQ2014Best Sessional Lecturer
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Queensland
UQ2014Global Leader Award
The University of Queensland
UQ2011 to 2014UQ International Scholarship
Full PhD scholarship, The University of Queensland
BCC2010 to 2011International Student Ambassador
Appointed by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane
ESAP2001 to 2005Honour Tuition, Highest GPA
ESAP, Colombia
Credentials
Education and certifications
Education
- Postdoctoral Fellowships in Sustainability (JSPS)United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU IAS) and Keio University, Japan · 2017 to 2019
- PhD, Governance, Sustainability and Social PerformanceThe University of Queensland, Australia · 2014 · UQ International Scholarship
- Master of Business Administration (Leadership)Central Queensland University, Australia · 2021
- MA, Educational ManagementUniversity of Barcelona, Spain · 2010
- Postgraduate studies, Governance and Public PolicyThe University of Queensland, Australia · 2010
- BA (Hons), Public AdministrationSchool of Public Administration
- BA (Hons), Education and LanguagesUniversidad Nacional de Colombia
Professional certifications
- 2025IS EssentialsInfrastructure Sustainability Council
- 2023Impact Assessment Certified ProfessionalInternational Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA)
- 2019GRI Certified Sustainability ProfessionalGlobal Reporting Initiative
In detail
Career and research
Career history2000 to present
- 2021 to presentResearch Fellow, Earth System Governance, Utrecht University, Netherlands
- CurrentScientific Reviewer, Sustainability Science journal, Japan
- CurrentScientific Reviewer, Journal of Cleaner Production
- CurrentScientific Reviewer, Sustainability journal
- 2020 to 2022Editorial Board member, Sustainability Science journal, Japan
- 2014 to presentGlobal Chairperson, Women Sustainability Forum
- 2019 to 2021Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Business and Economics, The University of Queensland
- 2017 to 2019Project Lead, Global Stakeholder Networks for Impact Sustainability Education and Research, UNU IAS (JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship), Japan
- 2017 to 2018Adjunct Research Fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland
- 2015 to 2016International Consultant, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Angola
- 2014 to 2017International Consultant, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
- 2010 to 2017Research Scholar, Sustainable Minerals Institute, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Business School, The University of Queensland
- 2012 to 2014Researcher, Minerals and Energy for Development Alliance, Australia
- 2008 to 2010Consultant, British Council and Ministry of Education of Colombia
- 2006 to 2008Lecturer, School of Human Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- 2000 to 2006Research Assistant, School of Administrative and Political Science, ESAP, Colombia
Funded projects I have ledNine projects funded by government, United Nations, industry and university partners
- 2017 to 2019Global Stakeholder Networks for Impactful Sustainability Research and Education. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, JPY 10,850,000, with UNU IAS and Keio University
- 2017It is not just a Women’s Issue, photo documentary research grant. Mineros S.A., USD 3,000
- 2015Decentralisation, Corporate Community Development and Resource Governance in Colombia. Sustainable Minerals Institute Writing Fellowship, AUD 5,000
- 2012 to 2013Artisanal Mining and Livelihoods. International Mining for Development Centre, AUD 20,000
- 2013Governance Dynamics for Sustainable Human Capital Capacity Building in Colombian Mining Regions. The University of Queensland, AUD 3,000
- 2011 to 2014Enhancing Human Capital in Resource Regions: The Colombian Case. UQ International Scholarship, AUD 92,000
- 2011Community Capacity Building and a Social Licence to Operate in the Mining Industry. Sustainable Minerals Institute, AUD 3,000
- 2011Socially Responsible Business: A Model for a Sustainable Future. UN ESCAP and The University of Queensland, AUD 2,000
- 2010 to 2011Education for CSR in Mining Regions. Sustainable Minerals Institute Summer Research Scholarship, AUD 3,000
Guest lectures across five continents
See university collaborations
Research alone was not going to solve the problem. I had to use what I researched, and move from theory to impact.
Dr Isabel B. Franco International Consultant · Climate Finance, ESG and Safeguards
Work with me
For advisory mandates, technical assistance or a specialist team I assemble through IBF International Institute for Better Futures, get in touch to discuss your requirements.