Introducing the Planet Fund
Our vision is to harness the power of investment capital to accelerate the global transition to a sustainable and climate-resilient future. For pioneering investors, the Climate Revolution offers a unique opportunity to generate alpha returns. Other stakeholders, including governments, foundations and corporates, have a critical role to play in accelerating the transition and delivering a sustainable and prosperous future.
At Ecotone Partners we strive to be a trusted partner for others that share this vision.
An ecotone is an area that represents the boundary between two ecosystems. One may also consider this place as a transition zone, since it’s different from either of the two ecosystems that it lies between. We operate in the ecotones between private investors, companies, governments and philanthropic foundations.
Accelerating the climate transition while delivering financial returns. Ecotone Partners is a boutique funds management and advisory firm focused on advancing the climate transition. We are passionate about supporting new innovations and technologies that accelerate the economy wide shift away from carbon. Our tailored services act as a bridge between high-growth companies developing climate solutions and investors seeking strong financial returns aligned with positive climate impact.
Amanda has been at the forefront of impact investing in Australia for the past decade, and is passionate about how finance can fuel positive change in the world. Prior to co-founding Ecotone Partners, Amanda was Head of Capital Raising and Investor Relations at Impact Investment Group. She has deep relationships with private clients, family offices and wealth advisory groups across Australia. Amanda helped raise over $700m of investor capital during her time at IIG and helped develop a number of industry-first impact funds in Australia, including Australia’s first 100% impact-focused VC fund. Amanda started her career at Goldman Sachs in the US and UK, after which she became a Principal in a UK-based VC firm. After arriving in Australia in 2001, Amanda worked with LJCB Investment group, a diversified private investment group, and JCA, a non-profit fundraising and planning organisation for the Jewish community. Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and a Master of Applied Finance degree from Macquarie University. Outside of work, Amanda and her husband Lance juggle volunteer boards, raising a teenage daughter and soon-to-be teenage son, and ensuring someone remembers to feed the dog (a very lovable schnoodle).
Nicole believes that new funding models hold the key to unlocking both scalable climate action and significant financial returns. Existing funding models are often not fit for purpose for climate solutions. At Ecotone Partners we are working to solve for this. Drawing on 20 years of diverse experience across venture capital, investment banking, and strategy consulting, Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. As Investment Director at Rampersand VC, she played a pivotal role in shaping the fund's investment thesis, leading the team, and holding directorships in portfolio companies. Prior experience at Rothschild, ANZ Bank, and SEEK further refined her financial acumen and strategic thinking. Nicole has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering for The University of Melbourne, and an MBA from Melbourne Business School. Outside of work, Nicole tries to find time to play tennis or go for walks in between juggling her three children.
Dan is passionately curious about how business and finance can be utilised as tools for building a sustainable and equitable future. Before Ecotone Partners, Dan was CEO of Impact Investment Group (IIG), one of Australia’s largest impact fund managers. Dan joined IIG following three years as the inaugural CEO of Impact Investing Australia. In addition to conducting research, education and convening activities, Impact Investing Australia is the primary support organisation for the Australian Advisory Board that leads Australia’s contribution to the Global Steering Group on Impact Investing (formerly the G8 Taskforce). Dan began his career in finance with 13 years at JBWere and Goldman Sachs JBWere across roles as an Investment Advisor, Executive Director Investment Services, Head of Advice - New South Wales, COO and Acting CEO. Outside of work Dan and his wife Laurence have three football (soccer) mad boys who play at his local club in Berwick where Dan is a coach. Dan is a keen gardener and bee keeper.
Jeremy is committed to working at the forefront of how we create, and transition to, a greener economy. He has financial services experience in Melbourne, London and New York including extensive experience in developing solutions to deliver responsible and green investments. Most notably Jeremy was part of the establishment and operations of the UK Green Investment Bank as the inaugural Finance Director and then Director, Strategy. Prior to Ecotone Partners Jeremy was Head of Product & Strategy at Impact Investment Group , where he developed a number of positive investment funds. Jeremy has extensive governance experience within for-profit and not-for-profit organisations and is chair of the Audit & Risk Committee for CDP Worldwide (the leading global environmental reporting platform) and on the investment committee of Social Enterprise Finance Australia (Sefa). Jeremy has run a number of marathons, most noticeably the Medoc wine marathon, and is convinced he has one more just around the corner, ‘to prove to the kids I’ve still got it’.
Cyle is an analyst at Ecotone Partners and is currently pursuing a Master of Finance at the University of Melbourne. He has extensive experience in building financial models for capital raises, assisting in M&A transactions, and advising on debt refinancing. Cyle is also a data enthusiast dedicated to extracting actionable insights from complex datasets. He excels in designing and implementing robust databases, developing customised business intelligence solutions, and automating workflows to streamline reporting. Outside of work, Cyle enjoys hiking with his 10-year-old orange mini Pomeranian, Casper, and trying unique cuisines with his partner.
Andrew is the Angel Network Manager of Ecotone Ventures, our climate-focused Angel Network that connects the growing amount of climate conscious investors to early stage, climate solutions. In his role, he manages our community of angel investors, founders and ecosystem partners, sourcing the most impactful investment opportunities and activating capital towards a more sustainable future. Andrew previously worked at Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP), where he played a hands-on role in supporting early-stage startups to create a lasting impact. He also serves as a mentor for Blackbird Giants, Startmate and MAP. In his spare time, he plays soccer for his local club and has worked as a statistician at the Australian Open for the last 16 years.
Mele-Ane is passionate about using business and finance as tools to create positive impact. Her approach is informed by her cultural background, personal work and varied professional experiences, which include working in Australia (predominantly based in Melbourne and the Kimberley) and overseas (the Netherlands, the UK and the UAE). She’s worked in corporate law, human rights and community law, leadership development, strategy, operations, investment management and media. Most recently, as the founding CEO of Small Giants Academy and before that as co-CEO of the Small Giants impact investment family office. Mele-Ane is currently the co-Chair of B Lab Aotearoa Australia & New Zealand and founding Board member of Regen Melbourne and runs the Governing for Purpose program at Small Giants Academy. Mele-Ane holds an MBA from Oxford (where she was a fellow of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship) and an LLB/BA from Monash University. Mele-Ane lives in a multi-generational home, including two small children which provide her with exercise, tests in patience and immense joy. She is also a part of the Pasifika Storytellers Collective, a collective aimed at supporting and elevating Pasifika voices.
Helani is an analyst at Ecotone Partners, driven by a deep passion for sustainable food systems and the potential of regenerative agriculture to combat climate change. This dedication aligns seamlessly with Ecotone’s mission to champion positive investing, collaborating with companies that offer climate solutions, and leveraging capital to foster a sustainable future. Helani holds a Master of Agricultural Sciences from the University of Melbourne, specialising in food sustainability. Her professional journey began with an internship at SproutX, an agtech accelerator supported by Agriculture Victoria and LaunchVic. Following the internship, Helani was offered a permanent role as SproutX’s Program Officer, where she provided support in program operations and facilitated relationship building with farmers, founders and investors. Helani is a qualified yoga teacher, enjoys hiking and loves making coffee as a casual barista in her spare time.
We wish to acknowledge that prior to Europeans arriving this was a land cared for by Aboriginal people for thousands of generations. Every Australian story begins with their story. We acknowledge their care and love of this land and the wisdom of their elders both past and present.
We want Ecotone Partners to be an inclusive place to work and to contribute to an inclusive society where every person is treated with respect and dignity regardless of their skin colour, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender identity or physical ability. Living up to this commitment requires us to think carefully about how we work, how we hire, who we take on as a client, who we partner with and many other actions we take. Placing this statement here serves to provide our investors, founders and other stakeholders with a clear sense of our values.