Investible welcomes Christine Amour-Levar to our Singapore-based Funds Board

As we build stronger foundations in Southeast Asia, we’re championed by experienced operators who are backing the visionaries advancing humanity not only in the region, but worldwide.

We're thrilled to introduce one of these champions as our new Funds Board Member, Christine Amour-Levar. Based in Singapore, Christine is providing strategic support to Investible and its portfolio in Asia and beyond.

Christine is an adventurer and pioneering businesswoman with decades of experience working alongside some of the world’s most trusted brands. Recently, Christine has focused in on her passions of female empowerment and environmental conservation, founding two award-winning non-profit organisations and serving on the board of several purpose-led organisations.

Read on to learn more about Christine.

Firstly, tell us about your journey to date

Of French, Swiss and Filipino descent, I grew up between, Manila, Paris and Tokyo. I started my professional journey at Nike in the US, working for them across the world, which eventually took me to Singapore, where I continued to build my international career as a marketing & communications specialist and social entrepreneur focused on Women’s Rights and Sustainability.

I set up Women on a Mission (WOAM) in 2012 and HER Planet Earth in 2017, two not-for-profit organisations that take all-female teams on pioneering expeditions as a way to support worthy causes. HER Planet Earth's primary objective is to raise awareness and funds for underprivileged women affected by climate change, while WOAM aims to empower women who have been subjected to violence and abuse.

Today I run my own consultancy business helping clients to define their purpose and develop their marketing, communications, CSR and sustainability strategies. More recently, I led Marketing & Communications at Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of Singapore's Sovereign Wealth Fund, Temasek Holdings. I am also a Board Member and Advisor to several purpose-led organisations in the Social Impact and Sustainability spaces - with a particular focus on impact investing and cellular agriculture.

I connected with Investible via my husband, who introduced me to Ian Macdonald and Rod Bristow. We got chatting and realised we had great synergy, especially around the climate tech angle. Subsequently, I was absolutely thrilled to be invited to join the board and support the launch of the new climate tech fund in Singapore.

What excites you about joining Investible?

A convergence of tailwinds and current market conditions make this an unparalleled time for climate technology. Climate tech investment is soaring, and currently there are still very few climate tech only focused funds in the Asia Pacific region.

What Investible is doing in this space is pioneering, and aligns with my desire to push for progress on the sustainability front. It’s also very much in line with the personal commitment I set at the World Economic Forum in Davos this past May 2022, to rally our collective energies to help fund and scale up sustainable and game-changing innovations and solutions to tackle the critical challenge of our time, Climate Change.

What do you love most about the startup ecosystem?

I really enjoy the innovative and collaborative spirit, and the desire to keep learning. I feel I can truly be myself in this kind of environment, where people are not afraid to take risks and try new things.

Through events and activities, the startup ecosystem also enhances the chances of meeting brilliant entrepreneurs, potential investors, as well as suppliers and partners. Startups are all about finding solutions to our society’s problems and it’s inspiring to be connected to visionary entrepreneurs and to find ways to support them through my network and experience.

What's your personal philosophy?

I’ve just written a book that encapsulate my philosophy on life, and on leadership  in particular, it’s called Wild Wisdom, Life Lessons from Leading Teams to some of the Most Inhospitable Places in the World.

For me, Wild Wisdom is the knowledge, self-awareness, and perspective you gain from spending time exploring the natural world and from having a full spectrum of life experiences. Wild Wisdom allows you to understand yourself better, makes you a more courageous and compassionate leader, and sheds light on the relationship between Nature and humans.

Without a doubt, one of the most important lessons from this unusual journey has been that true leadership is about empowering and advancing others. It is not about wielding power or being in charge. It is about lifting others up and helping them progress. I’ve come to realise that good leaders inspire their team, their tribe, their pack – whatever you want to call it – to be a part of something bigger than themselves, something more meaningful and ultimately, more fulfilling.

Put simply, leadership helps people grow closer to who they are meant to be. And our ability as leaders is not measured by how much we have achieved in life, but by how well we advance the lives of others along the way.

What's something new you've learned recently?

During the pandemic I learned how to edit videos and use Canva for presentations  – and now I’m addicted!

Something about you that might surprise people?

I’m a mother of four, my sport of choice is football (soccer), I have travelled to over 75 countries from the Arctic to the Antarctic and, in June 2022, I set a world record as part of the largest all-female rope team to summit a 4,000m peak - we were 82 women on the summit of Breithorn in Switzerland.

You can connect with Christine on LinkedIn here and learn more about her through her website.

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