The People Behind the Trees
From Monasteries to Markets
OUR STORY
Vana is a joint venture from Philippe Lenain and Tom Holland, on personal missions to protect and restore forests and other ecosystems in Asia.
The idea for Vana emerged from a corporate social responsibility drive by Rent2Own, a company also founded by Philippe and Tom and now the largest rural non-bank financial institution in Myanmar.
The initiative saw over 300,000 trees planted for Buddhist monasteries in Myanmar, but seeing a greater need to go beyond corporate social responsibility and make reforestation bankable and attractive to private investment, they founded Vana in 2019.
We have since had our flagship project ACRE win support from NGOs such as RECOFTC, IUCN and The Nature Conservancy, while developing capabilities in fields such as consulting to build a holistic ecosystem for a sustainable future.
OUR VALUES
We prioritize the needs and aspirations of local communities in its global context and are committed to creating lasting, scalable change.
Small Roots, Global Impact
Unwavering Resolve
We persevere and innovate in the face of uncertainty and adversity, continuously evolving and refining our approach.
Bold Solutions for a Brighter Future
We embrace creativity and new approaches to difficult problems, and leverage our diverse partnerships as a key asset.
Ethical Leadership
We uphold the highest standards of integrity and believe that safeguarding trust with our many stakeholders is our most important asset.
Team
-
Philippe Lenain
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Philippe has spent over three decades in Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam building leading institutions in insurance, consumer lending and rural finance.
-
Tom Holland
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Tom has invested over $350 million in emerging Asia across capital structures and sits on boards spanning from environmental non-profit to financial services.
-
Sharon Mok
CONTROLLER
Sharon has been part of Vana since inception, and manages and oversees investment valuation, accounting, financial control and regulatory compliance.
-
Mouy Mann
CAMBODIA COUNTRY MANAGER
Mouy brings 20+ years of experience leading programs across Asia focused on natural resource management, REDD+ and sustainable development.
-
Ed Ding
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Ed joined Vana in 2022, and has delivered sustainability consulting mandates for clients including international NGOs, UN agencies and educational institutions.
-
Shivam Purwar
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Shivam manages Vana’s investment strategy and financial analysis, with experience developing fintech software solutions and providing advisory services to banks in Southeast Asia.
-
Jenny Lee
CHAIRWOMAN
Jenny guides Vana’s sustainable finance strategy, with over two decades of experience with Goldman Sachs, Mercer and Credit Suisse and her leadership role at the Hong Kong Green Finance Association.
-
Ehphoe Saw
MYANMAR COUNTRY MANAGER
Saw Ehphoe manages Vana’s Myanmar program, with experience collaborating on field assessments for partners including the UN, ASEAN, and the UNFPA.