Heidi Barends

Head of IBD Sustainable Finance
Absa

Biography

Heidi is heading up the sustainable finance team at Absa CIB, based in Johannesburg. Her team is leveraging the bank’s strength as a leading African financial institution to channel financing into solutions that support inclusive growth and environmental protection across the continent. Heidi has been working in banking since 2015, and has experience spanning retail and investment banking. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial engineering from the University of Pretoria and a Master’s degree in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge.

Speaker at these events:

Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa 2024

• Chairperson’s opening remarks

Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa 2023

• The first steps towards consolidation of ESG regulations in Africa; what are the market standards that need to be prioritised and adopted?

Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Africa 2022

• Green transition: What does the Energy Transition mean for Africa, and how are businesses (particularly those that are hydrocarbon-rich) incorporating ESG into their finances?

Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Africa 2020 - Virtual Conference

• Transition finance as a gateway to green: How can fossil fuel dependent economies start thinking about ESG? What are the first-steps?