Linda Zeilina--Cross

Linda Zeilina-Cross is a leading sustainable finance strategist who specialises in shaping global investment frameworks and ESG standardisation. As Founder and CEO of the International Sustainable Finance Centre, she advises the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance on taxonomy optimisation and serves as a 2023 Obama Europe Leader, Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and advisory board member to sustainable investment forums across Europe. Through her sessions, audiences gain actionable strategies for embedding sustainability into financial operations, understanding climate-related regulation, and driving transformational change that delivers measurable environmental and commercial impact.

When Linda Zeilina-Cross founded the International Sustainable Finance Centre, she created more than a think tank: she established a hub where sustainability strategy, ESG standardisation, and climate investment converge to reshape how financial institutions operate across borders. Her work has positioned ISFC as a trusted voice in guiding policymakers, asset managers, pension funds, and investment firms through the complexities of integrating environmental and social priorities into financial decision-making. Named a 2023 Obama Europe Leader in recognition of her transformational approach to climate finance, Linda has consistently demonstrated that sustainable investment frameworks can deliver both measurable environmental outcomes and commercial value. Her influence extends across Europe through advisory roles with the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance, where she provides strategic counsel on optimising the EU Taxonomy and strengthening the continent's broader sustainable finance architecture.

Linda's professional credibility stems from years of applied expertise working at the intersection of policy, finance, and climate action. As a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in London, she contributes to interdisciplinary dialogue on systemic change, whilst her work with the Agora Energiewende Council for Europe and advisory board positions with the Romanian Sustainable Investment and Finance Association and the Czech Sustainable Investing Forum reflect her commitment to shaping investment practices across diverse markets. Her collaboration with the Florence School of Banking and Finance on climate-related prudential supervision and green bonds underscores her technical depth in regulatory frameworks. Previously, as Director at Re-Define, a London consultancy, Linda advised major financial sector players across Europe and the United States on climate finance integration, honing her ability to translate sustainability principles into operational reality. She also serves as a non-executive director at Pedal Me, a London logistics start-up, where she champions sustainable business practices in the entrepreneurial space. Her academic foundation, built through degrees from the University of Glasgow, McGill University, and the London School of Economics, supports her rigorous, evidence-based approach.

Through her speaking engagements, Linda equips audiences with practical tools to navigate the evolving landscape of sustainable finance regulation and investment. She demystifies complex frameworks like the EU Taxonomy, helping organisations understand how to embed sustainability into their operations without sacrificing financial performance. Attendees leave her sessions with actionable strategies for climate risk assessment, ESG integration, and stakeholder engagement, alongside clarity on emerging regulatory requirements. Whether addressing senior executives, policymakers, or investment professionals, Linda's insights enable organisations to move beyond compliance towards genuine transformational change, creating lasting impact that benefits both their bottom line and the broader environmental goals shaping the future of global finance.