TEAM
Gul Rukh Rahman -
Director
Gul Rukh is the founding director of Empower Families for Innovative Philanthropy (ERFIP) Foundation. Her past experiences include working with the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations on launching some of their global flagship programs on education, entrepreneurship, and inter-community relations. Gul ventured into philanthropy after working in the silicon valley for a number of years; wanting to combine her skill set, passions and values to bring about change.
Specialising in inter-sectionally of geo-politics, lack of development and rise of insurgencies, she has worked in conflict zones, previously. She has advised French Ministry of Defence on targeted problems to address issues of diversity, integration and intra-community dialogue.
She brings extensive experience in program development and management, strategy and policy making and advises private foundations and philanthropists.
Presently, she is a guest lecturer at the University of Geneva on regional philanthropies. She has co-authored a number of case studies on global south philanthropists in partnership with University of Pennsylvania, USA. Trained as a software engineer, Gul holds a graduate degrees in computer science and international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA.
Gaspard Verdier - Advisor
Gaspard founded Simandef in 2009, working for foundations, impact investors, philanthropists, social enterprises and funds. In particular, he advises leading philanthropies and families in France and Europe on mission and impact investing. Recent references include the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations, Fondation Caritas France, Fondation Daniel & Nina Carasso, Fondation de France, Fondation Ensemble and the French Foundations Center.
Gaspard lectures on financing social innovation at Institut Catholique de Paris, Sciences-Po and HEC Paris, where he also coordinated the school’s pilot social incubation project in La Courneuve (North of Paris). He is a member of the French Advisory Board to the Social Impact Investment task force established by the G8 (now the GSG) led by Sir Ronald Cohen and contributed to the French report:
“Innover financièrement pour innover socialement”.
Gaspard sits on the board of SFCO-Maison Gradis, a long-standing family business converting its financial portfolio to impact investing. He is also a member of the Comité d’Orientation Stratégique of Fondation Pierre Bellon. Gaspard worked previously in investment banking for Goldman Sachs in London and Société Générale in Paris, with a focus on Africa. He took also part in the creation of a bank in Mozambique.
Gaspard is a graduate of Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) and the London School of Economics (LSE).
He resides in Paris with his wife and three children.
Gaspard lectures on financing social innovation at Institut Catholique de Paris, Sciences-Po and HEC Paris, where he also coordinated the school’s pilot social incubation project in La Courneuve (North of Paris). He is a member of the French Advisory Board to the Social Impact Investment task force established by the G8 (now the GSG) led by Sir Ronald Cohen and contributed to the French report:
“Innover financièrement pour innover socialement”.
Gaspard sits on the board of SFCO-Maison Gradis, a long-standing family business converting its financial portfolio to impact investing. He is also a member of the Comité d’Orientation Stratégique of Fondation Pierre Bellon. Gaspard worked previously in investment banking for Goldman Sachs in London and Société Générale in Paris, with a focus on Africa. He took also part in the creation of a bank in Mozambique.
Gaspard is a graduate of Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) and the London School of Economics (LSE).
He resides in Paris with his wife and three children.