Aqeela Samat
Senior Associate
Aqeela is an environmental economist with experience in sustainable, equitable commodity supply chains and nature-based solutions. At Terranomics, Aqeela has led and supported projects to leverage finance for conservation, develop bankable nature-based solutions, and advise organisations on sustainability policies and strategies. Her experience includes designing blended finance marine and terrestrial programmes, developing business models and business plans for bankable nature-based solutions, and conducting research to establish a framework for smallholder support schemes.
Before joining Terranomics, Aqeela served on the Market Transformation team at WWF-Singapore, where she led engagement to increase corporate sustainability action in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Her focus was on driving sustainable commodity supply chains in the region, with a specific focus on the palm oil, seafood and packaging sectors. Aqeela managed multistakeholder platforms, advised large multinationals and small and medium enterprises on sustainable procurement policies, and engaged extensively in sustainable certifications. She was also responsible for developing pilot projects such as a life-cycle analysis knowledge platform for packaging, a palm oil traceability mobile application, and a seafood procurement platform.
Aqeela holds an MSc in Environmental Economics and Environmental Management from the University of York where she was awarded a distinction. Her dissertation, conducted with the Stockholm Environment Institute, quantified the impact of the upcoming European Union’s due diligence policy on palm oil smallholder farmers in Indonesia.
