Green, Resilient, Inclusive Development (GRID) in Action: A High-level Dialogue for Nepal

Dr. Mari Pangestu is the World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships. In this role, she provides leadership and oversees the institution’s research and data group, Global Practice Groups, and External and Corporate Relations function. Mari joins the Bank with exceptional policy and management expertise, having served as Indonesia’s Minister of Trade (2004-2011) and as Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (2011-2014). 

H.E. Ms. Nona Deprez is the EU Ambassador to Nepal. Prior to this, she was the head of unit for the Partnership Instrument in the Service for Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI) of the European Commission in Brussels. At the start of the new Commission, she was appointed as the Equality Coordinator for the Service. Within the FPI, she has worked previously on Election Observations Missions and the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace after having served in two European Union Delegations to Indonesia and Benin. She holds a Master of Science in European Studies from London School of Economics, following a first master's in business engineering from the Solvay Business School (ULB).

Mr. Bidhya Sigdel is the Managing Director of Dolma Impact Fund, an investment advisory and private sector consulting company based in Nepal working towards generating sustainable prosperity. Mr. Sigdel is a Chartered Accountant, has been in professional finance and accounting in both India and Nepal for more than 15 years, including six years in the Nepal banking sector. He was Head of Business at Kailash Bikas Bank, the largest development bank in Nepal, where he oversaw the bank’s high performing credit portfolio. He was also a member of various top management level committees. Mr. Sigdel is also a member of the board of Rastriya Banijya Bank Ltd, a government owned commercial bank with one of the biggest portfolios in lending and deposits in Nepal. Mr. Sigdel holds an MBA from Kathmandu University School of Management.

Ms. Goma Karki is the Project Lead of Youth Innovation Lab and is an environmental and sustainability enthusiast who aspires to influence communities to move towards sustainability. While completing her bachelor’s degree, she did a semester abroad in Cambodia where she lived with communities whose livelihoods were highly vulnerable to climate change. This experience ignited her interest in environmental research and sustainability and led her path to the Netherlands where she completed her master’s degree in Sustainability Science and Policy. Goma also has multiple years of experience working with young people and guiding them as Fellowship Coordinator and a mentor. Ms. Karki has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Mathematics from Hollins University, Virginia, USA.