Brian Smith

Managing Director of Engagement

Brian Smith is an experienced leader and advisor in the social innovation and impact investing space.  He is an Advisory Member for TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good and the co-founder and Board Chair of Persephone Brewing Company – a Certified B Corp that is widely recognized as an early adopter and model of ecologically positive systems, including regenerative agriculture and community impact.  Working at the intersection of clean technology, finance and climate action, Brian is passionate about mobilizing finance solutions that can catalyze the adoption of regenerative agriculture and other nature-based solutions to the climate emergency. Brian served as Executive Director of a Community Futures office and was a co-founding partner and CEO at Rhiza Capital, where he helped unlock more than $180M of new capital for investment in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.