Climate Policy Initiative has appointed a new Chief Financial Officer Danielle Knight. Ms. Knight will lead our global team of financial professionals responsible for financial and accounting functions across all our programs. She also joins CPI’s Executive Leadership Team driving organizational strategy and planning to support our growth and objectives.

Ms. Knight has more than a decade of NGO financial leadership experience, spanning climate change research, international development and community-driven conservation. Prior to joining CPI, Ms. Knight was the Director of Finance and Administration at the Coral Reef Alliance where she increased financial sustainability and organizational scalability in support of global adaptation research and local conservation programs in Indonesia, Fiji and Mesoamerica. Previously, Ms. Knight was the Director of Finance and Operations at Earth Innovation Institute, an NGO advancing scientific research and policy analysis on land-use change and low-emissions rural development with offices in Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Peru. Ms. Knight holds a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts.

“We are excited to have Danielle on board. She has demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and leadership on financial accountability in her past roles,” said Dr. Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director at Climate Policy Initiative. “We are confident in her depth of experience to support CPI’s next phase of growth.”

Ms. Knight takes over leadership of CPI’s finance team from David Pitson, CPI’s Director of Finance since 2016, who is entering retirement, but remains for a period of two months to ensure a smooth transition.