Dr. Sarah Burns leads ESG and impact at Catalyst Fund, bringing extensive experience in impact investing, ESG advisory, and development impact measurement across Africa. Since 2018, she has worked with fund managers, development finance institutions (DFIs), and impact investors across more than 20 African countries.
At Catalyst Fund, she works across the investment process, from pre-investment ESG and impact assessments to post-investment support for portfolio companies. She focuses on developing practical ESG and impact systems that help early-stage businesses manage risks, strengthen practices, and measure their impact.
Sarah is also the founder of Nia Impact, an advisory firm through which she has worked with organizations including British International Investment (BII), GIZ, UNCDF, UNDP, and FSD Africa. Her work has included developing ESG guidance and training programmes for early-stage fund managers, designing impact measurement systems, and evaluating investment programmes across Africa.
Sarah holds a DPhil in International Development and an MSc in Economics for Development from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. She also holds a BA (Hons) in Economics and Political Science from Dalhousie University.
