About
The EMPEA Team

Cate Ambrose

Chief Executive Officer, Member, EMPEA Board of Directors
Cate Ambrose is CEO and Board Member of EMPEA, the global industry association for private capital in emerging markets. Members include 300+ fund managers, institutional investors, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions, and industry advisors who manage more
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Holly Radel

Managing Director
Holly Radel is a Managing Director for Institutional Relations & Membership at EMPEA, including managing the organization’s operations, strategic direction and growth initiatives. In this role, Holly handles including directing EMPEA's investor relations activities and develop its global community of
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Jeff Schlapinski

Managing Director
Jeff Schlapinski is the Managing Director of Research at EMPEA, where he leads a team producing industry data, analysis and in-depth reporting on private equity, private credit, infrastructure and real assets investing in emerging economies. In addition to providing bi-annual
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Julie Ruvolo

Managing Director
Julie Ruvolo is Managing Director of Venture Capital at EMPEA. In this role, she manages venture investor relationships globally, runs venture/tech-related programs, facilitates early stage investor meetings, and oversees tech reports for investors. She is a regular presenter and speaker
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Caitlin Mitchell

Managing Director
Caitlin Mitchell is Managing Director of Marketing & Communications for EMPEA. In this role, she is responsible for working with the organization’s executive team to design and implement the organizational calendar. She also leads the marketing and communications team to
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Belgica De Los Santos

Director
Belgica De Los Santos is Director of Finance & Operations for EMPEA. In this role she is responsible for the organization’s financial, accounting, and operational functions, including member billing, audits, and budgeting.
Belgica also heads up Finance & Operations for the
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Kaela Kennedy

Director
Kaela Kennedy is Director of Events for EMPEA where is responsible for the planning and execution of member conferences and programs.
Kaela is also is the Director of Events for the Association for Private Capital Investment in Latin America (LAVCA) where
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Olivia Drouhaut

Senior Manager
Olivia Drouhaut is the Manager of Programs & Business Development at EMPEA, where she is responsible for organizing and coordinating conferences, trainings and web seminars within EMPEA’s programs portfolio, including the IFC/EMPEA Global Private Equity Conference, the Private Equity in
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Megan Smith

Senior Manager
Megan Smith is a Senior Manager of Programs & Business Development at EMPEA, where she is responsible for organizing and programming conferences, trainings, and webinars, including the IFC/EMPEA Global Private Equity Conference, the Sustainable Investing in Emerging Markets Summit, and
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Paulina Portilla

Manager
Paulina Portilla serves as Manager of Membership at EMPEA where she coordinates onboarding, maintenance, and engagement for both current and prospective EMPEA members. Paulina is also the Manager of Membership for LAVCA,
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Sabrina Katz

Manager
Sabrina is a Manager at EMPEA, where she covers the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, as well as the wider emerging market Impact Investing and ESG space. Sabrina graduated from the London School of Economics and Columbia University’s Dual
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Anissa Eleuterio

Manager
Anissa Eleuterio is a Marketing & Communications Manager at EMPEA, where she delivers detailed and comprehensive marketing and communication plans across a variety of platforms. Prior to joining EMPEA, Anissa managed a video production department and an editorial team for
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Dina Kavaleuski

Sr. Analyst of Finance & Operations
Dina Kavaleuski is the Sr. Analyst of Finance & Operations for EMPEA. In this role, she is responsible for the management of the organization's financial, accounting, and operational functions, which include member billing, company audits, and annual budgeting.
Prior to joining
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Alan Williams

Senior Associate
Alan Williams is a Senior Marketing Associate at EMPEA. He is responsible for supporting the Marketing & Communications department in addressing the global marketing and communications needs of the organization. As a Senior Associate he assists with the development and
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Katherine Stepanian

Senior Research Analyst
Katherine Stepanian is a Senior Research Analyst at EMPEA, where she covers China, as well as Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). She obtained her B.A. from George Washington University, majoring in International Economics with
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Catherine O’Connor

Analyst
Catherine O'Connor is a Research Analyst at EMPEA, where she covers China. She earned her master's degree in International Economics and Political Economy from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and completed a certificate in Chinese and American Studies
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Alex Fichter

Analyst
Alex Fichter is a Research Analyst at EMPEA, where he covers private capital in Emerging Asia and contributes to EMPEA’s industry data collection and report generation. Alex previously worked as a Research Analyst with an investment advisory firm in China
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Sanan Hajiyev

Executive Assistant
Sanan serves as Executive Assistant to EMPEA CEO, Cate Ambrose, and as Office Manager in New York, where he supports the EMPEA and LAVCA team across a variety of functions including research, sustainability, and operations.
Sanan is a graduate of Union
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Steven Okun

CEO, Singapore-based APAC Advisors
Steven Okun, EMPEA’s ASEAN Representative, is Founder and CEO of Singapore-based APAC Advisors, a public affairs consultancy working with clients on ESG, sustainability and stakeholder engagement. Steve has lived and worked in Asia since 2003, most recently for EMPEA member
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Renuka Ramnath | Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Multiples Alternate Asset Management Private Limited

Brian Lim | Partner and Head of Asia and Emerging Markets, Pantheon Ventures

David Rubenstein | Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman, The Carlyle Group

Dr. Andrew Kuper | Founder and CEO, LeapFrog Investments

Torbjorn Caesar | Senior Partner, Actis

Drew Guff | Managing Director & Founding Partner, Siguler Guff & Company