Dr. Sarah Burns

CEO & Founder at Nia Impact

Presenter

Dr. Sarah Burns completed her PhD at the University of Oxford as a 2016 Rhodes Scholar, focusing on ethical and sustainable private sector development in frontier and fragile markets. Her research, which spanned Liberia and Sierra Leone, explored the roles of FDI and local SMEs in these contexts. Through collaboration with entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and aid organizations, she developed insights into innovative financial tools, investment for peacebuilding, gender equality, and leadership development for entrepreneurs.

Since 2018, Sarah has worked with BII contributing to their financial inclusion and market-shaping programs. She has also collaborated with the World Bank on projects in Liberia and the Maghreb region and UNCDF projects in DRC on deforestation. In the private sector, Sarah has developed a just energy strategy for a natural gas and geothermal company in Kenya and has advised critical mineral mines on environmental best practices and community engagement.

Since 2021, Sarah has focused on African private sector projects, particularly in energy and ESG strategies. She works across 19 African countries, collaborating on community engagement and maximizing local economic impact. Sarah’s expertise lies in advancing sustainable development and creating positive change through strategic partnerships and research.