Dean Hand

Research Director
Global Impact Investing Network

Dean Hand is the Research Director for the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). The GIIN is the global champion of impact investing, dedicated to increasing its scale and effectiveness around the world. Dean is responsible for developing and guiding the GIIN’s research agenda.

Dean joined the GIIN with 10 years of specific impact investing experience within emerging market asset management focusing on originating investment opportunities, development of catalytic blended finance tools, impact fund development and impact measurement strategies.

Prior to joining the GIIN, Dean formed part of the Impact Investing team within Ashburton Investments (part of the FirstRand group, one of the largest diversified financial institutions in South Africa and an 8 country footprint on the African continent with operations in the United Kingdom and India). Dean also led the workstream on what philanthropic foundations can do to leverage traditional capital as part of the work of the South African National Task Force on Impact Investing. Dean regularly teaches post-graduate finance students on elements of innovative financial solutions that drive impact results.

Dean holds a Masters in Philosophy (Inclusive Innovation) from the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business which was awarded with distinction. The focus of her dissertation was on impact investment strategies and blended finance structuring for philanthropic foundations. She is a Bertha Scholar –a merit-based award for her work in impact investing and innovative finance.