Profile
Danae Roman

Danae Roman

PhD Researcher
Spoken languages
Spanish, English, French, Portuguese

PHD
 

PhD Thesis Title: Maintaining Legitimacy: Sustainability Indicators and Organizational Practices in Impact Investment Projects.

PhD Supervisor: Kristen McNeill

The research explores the role of sustainable indicators, such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics, in legitimizing the mobilization and allocation of capital within impact investments in Switzerland. These indicators are not static; they are constantly modified, negotiated and adapted by experts to mitigate risks, ensure the funding of preferred projects, and avoid both greenwashing practices and financial losses. By analyzing the interplay between the desires of the investors and the realities on the ground, the research investigates the narratives, concepts, and practices that are created around these indicators to achieve sustainability goals, financial interests, and social or environmental outcomes, and sustain legitimacy of the projects. It also considers how these indicators simultaneously reshape relationships and organizational practices between investors, investees and intermediary organizations, reinforcing their central role in the governance of sustainable finance.
 

PROFILE
 

Young professional with experience analyzing the impact of policies and projects—or their absence—on the human rights, living conditions, and access to opportunities of vulnerable groups, including women, informal urban settlers, and Indigenous Peoples. My work spans research institutions, the private sector, and multilateral organizations, combining field-based research in high-risk environments with policy engagement at the UN level.
 

Selected publications and Works