Meet the Global Gender & ESG Experts Behind Rise Sustainability
A Global Team with a Shared Purpose
At Rise Sustainability, our strength lies in our people. We are a multidisciplinary team of gender, ESG, and social impact specialists united by a shared commitment: to embed equality, ethics, and resilience into development projects and investments around the world.
From strategic advisory to grassroots implementation, our diverse experience spans Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Natasha Ezekiel – Founder and Gender Equity & Social Safeguards Specialist
Natasha Ezekiel – Founder & Director
Driving inclusive development across global markets
Natasha Ezekiel founded Rise Sustainability in 2018, fuelled by her deep commitment to advancing gender equality and social impact aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With over 16 years of experience, she brings specialist expertise in gender assessments, inclusive social management systems, and ESG strategy development to development finance institutions (DFIs), private equity funds, and global investors.
Having worked for leading firms such as Environmental Resources Management (ERM) in both the UK and Kenya, Natasha leads multi-sector projects across renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, and extractives. Her work spans Africa, Asia, and Europe, supporting public and private sector stakeholders to embed equity, safeguard communities, and unlock long-term, sustainable impact.
The Team
Giselle Bernard – Project Coordination & Technical Support
Championing GBVH prevention and gender-responsive investment
Giselle Bernard is a French-British PhD candidate researching the intersections of climate justice, development, and gender-based violence. She provides technical and coordination support across Rise’s portfolio of projects, particularly in GBVH risk mitigation and gender-smart investment strategies.
Her background spans research, field coordination, and policy engagement, supporting programmes across Africa and Europe to drive inclusive impact at both institutional and grassroots levels.
Dr. São Miguel Silva – Gender & Social Inclusion
Expert in gender-responsive development in fragile environments
Dr. São Miguel Silva is a cultural anthropologist and gender specialist with over 25 years of experience leading social inclusion programmes in post-conflict and fragile contexts. She works extensively across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean to advance gender equality, good governance, and inclusive value chain development.
Her global portfolio includes advisory roles with donors, NGOs, and local stakeholders to co-create socially transformative solutions that centre community voices and long-term resilience.
Elisabet Torà Mañós – Social Risk, Gender & Human Rights
Multilingual leader in human rights and ESG performance
Fluent in six languages, Elisabet Torà Mañós brings extensive global experience in ESG risk management, social safeguards, and gender equity. Her consultancy portfolio includes impact assessments, stakeholder engagement, and the design of community investment strategies across sectors such as transport, power, nature conservation, and infrastructure.
Elisabet’s deep commitment to human rights and intersectional inclusion shapes all aspects of her work, from land acquisition frameworks to gender-responsive due diligence and policy reform.
Hannah Phillipson – Research & Project Coordination
Data-driven gender research and stakeholder engagement
Hannah Phillipson brings a strong foundation in human rights and socio-economic research to Rise’s global work. Specialising in stakeholder engagement and gender-sensitive baselining, she integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods into practical insights for clients.
Her technical skillset includes digital tools such as Flowfinity and Microsoft Access, helping organisations capture and act on real-world data to improve inclusion and social performance outcomes.
Audrey Winzenrieth – Administrator
Operational excellence and client success
Audrey Winzenrieth supports the Rise team with operations, client coordination, and cross-cultural communication. With over five years of experience in client success and administrative support, Audrey ensures seamless project delivery and high-quality client engagement.
Her dedication to purpose-driven work strengthens team operations and builds trusted relationships across global projects and partners.
Ready to collaborate? Contact Rise Sustainability to explore how we can support your gender equality and ESG goals.