Christian Novak joined ISID last November as a Professor of Practice. He possesses combined experience in investment banking and economic and social development, having worked for renowned international banks and for a leading regional development financial institution. As Managing Partner of FMA - Frontier Markets Advisors, Christian鈥檚 consulting services have included projects in the spaces of financial inclusion, development finance, and impact investing, with focus on microfinance (namely reaching uniquely underserved communities, like women, smallholder farmers, displaced and refugee populations), SME finance, sustainable agriculture, and innovative investment structures. His core clients have included development financial institutions and agencies, NGOs focused on development, and investment funds. FMA is a proud member of CAFIID - The Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development.
Christian played a fundamental role in the creation of the first leading microfinance institution in Argentina, and he co-founded two foundations respectively aimed at fostering education and basic infrastructure. As an early player in the 鈥渋mpact investing鈥� space, Christian鈥檚 innovative approach resulted in being involved in transactions that were awarded by recognized organizations, including Ashoka (鈥淢ost Creative Ideas of the Year鈥�) and the Financial Times (鈥淪ustainable Deal of the Year鈥�). Expanding on Christian鈥檚 past leadership, Christian co-founded an 鈥渋mpact investing鈥� team within an investment bank, and he was a member of the Senior Management Team of a regional development financial institution during its relaunching/restructuring process.
Christian has a multi-lens view of development financing, gained through his experience as having co-started development organizations on the ground, covering all developing regions both in relation to development and mainstream investments, and having worked with the private sector, public sector, and NGOs. Christian has proactively shared his knowledge and views through his leadership roles, public papers, training programs, presentations, and webinars, including: 鈥淢icrofinance - On the Road to Capital Markets鈥� (paper), 鈥淐apital Structuring and Equity Valuation of Microfinance Institutions鈥� (training program), 鈥淟ow Income Entrepreneurs and their Access to Financing in Canada, Especially in the Province of Quebec/City of Montreal鈥� (paper), 鈥淪ocial Impact Bonds - Benefits and Promises鈥� (paper), 鈥淪ocial Impact Bonds: Beyond the Hype鈥� (webinar), 鈥淔inancial Literacy Toolbox for Sustainable Agricultural Organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa鈥� (training program), 鈥淚n Preparation to the Process to Finance your Company - a Guidance to SMEs鈥� (training program, MOOC).
He graduated as a Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Argentina. Christian is proficient in English, Spanish and French, with basic level of Portuguese.
