We welcome new staff members to NDF

Védís Ólafsdóttir

Védís joins NDF as the organisation’s first Gender Specialist, a newly created role within the Portfolio Management department. She brings over ten years of experience with the international development sector, including collaborations and projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, and six years with the GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training programme at the University of Iceland. Védís holds a BSc degree in International Business and Politics, and postgraduate degrees in Cultural Anthropology and Gender, and soon in Geography focused on Natural Hazards. Originally from Iceland, she is fluent in Icelandic, English, Danish and Spanish.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to join NDF and to further advance the organisation’s dedicated work on the intersection of climate and gender. I look forward to contributing to NDF’s leadership in this space and to being part of a Nordic organisation that is committed to socially inclusive climate resilient development.”

Vivienne Zerrudo

Vivienne takes up the position of Results and Reporting Specialist. Prior to this, she worked as an Associate Results Management Officer at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), contributing to corporate results reporting, performance analysis, and the annual Development Effectiveness Review. Vivienne also provided guidance to operational teams on project results frameworks and reporting systems, and has experience as a consultant on evaluations and impact analysis for ADB and other development organisations. With a degree in Environmental Science and further studies in Public Policy with AI, she has also strengthened her expertise in results measurement and reporting by working in development finance and impact-focused institutions. Vivienne is from the Philippines and speaks English and Tagalog.

“Joining NDF marks an exciting new chapter. I believe our best work happens when teamwork meets accountability — turning our results data into a story of real-world impact. I look forward to collaborating with my talented colleagues and contributing to our strategic goals.”

Ritva Kauppi

As our new Principal Counsel, Ritva brings nearly 20 years of legal experience in sustainable development and cross-border financing, including 11 years at Finnfund, where she developed her expertise in financing and impact investing. Most recently, she joined NDF from the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), where she worked closely with the Special Funds team. Ritva holds both a Master of Arts and a Master of Laws from the University of Turku, during which she focused on contract law and financing. She also completed a one-year court training at the Savonlinna District Court. Ritva is a Finnish national from Imatra, so she speaks both Eastern and Western Finnish dialects, as well as English. She is also proficient in Swedish and German.

“Maya Angelou’s words resonate deeply with me: ‘Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.’ Joining NDF feels like a continuation of that ethos. I’m motivated by the chance to bring what I’ve learned so far into the impact-driven organisations, while continuing to ‘do better’ together with colleagues who are equally committed to meaningful impact.”

Hoai Mai

Hoai has started as a Finance & Data Trainee after completing an internship in Financial Planning and Analysis at Bolt in Tallinn. Prior to this, Hoai worked as an Assistant intern in Ho Chi Minh City, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship through startup competitions and investor engagement initiatives. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Finance, Hoai holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business, which sparked her interest in how capital can be structured to generate both financial returns and measurable social impact. Originally from Vietnam, Hoai speaks Vietnamese and English, and has a basic proficiency in Chinese and Japanese.

“I am pleased to contribute to NDF’s mission of accelerating sustainable development and climate action in developing and emerging economies. I am motivated by the opportunity to strengthen evidence-based decision-making in impact finance and to work alongside dedicated colleagues committed to advancing sustainable and inclusive development.”