Advisory Board of Directors
Berit Nielsen Legrand
Founder and President of TAF - The Animal Fund
Born in Denmark in 1962, married and has two children. Led by her love for nature and animals, facing the ongoing destructive evolution of our natural environment including the deterioration of our ocean and its marine life, made Berit start TAF in 2015. Berit's background in the financial sector and in the coaching & fitness industry which has equipped her with the knowledge and abilities to find creative solutions and deal with environmental issues. Integrity, honesty, and respect are what drive Berit to strive toward the ultimate conservation of the ocean and its marine life. Her priority has always been to understand the person behind in order to make the best decisions and her view is that it's essential to understand humans actions and thoughts in order to achieve any successful accomplishment in any subject ! Berit’s aim is to make people realize in a honest and respectful way that we all urgently have to work together for a healthy and sustainable future!
Louis Legrand
Vice-president at TAF - The Animal Fund
Belgian, born on July 22nd, 1966, married and 2 children. Macro-economist and Financial Analyst, 30 years of experience in Private Banking and Wealth Management. Independent and business leader since 2006. Lover of nature and always had a lot of contact with animals. Outdoor sports (horse riding, mountain biking, running, water skiing and snow skiing). Convinced of the importance of fauna and flora for mankind. Unconditional practitioner of alternative medicine and Buddhist philosophy. Volunteer member of TAF since 2015.
Isabelle Juillard Thompsen, CFA
Advisor at TAF - The Animal Fund
Isabelle Juillard Thompsen, currently the CEO of Hvitsten AS, an Alternative Investment Fund Manager specializing in sustainable infrastructure investments, brings extensive international experience in finance and investments (France, USA, Norway). With 11 years in alternative investments and 12 years in environment-related strategies, she held key roles at organizations like DNB Asset Management, Norges Bank Investment Management, Gjensidigestiftelsen, Storebrand Alternative Investments, Klaveness, and Genesee Investments (USA). Isabelle, a CFA charterholder, holds an MSC in Management (France) and an MBA with a specialization in Finance (USA). She has held board positions at CFA Society Norway and Katapult Foundation, promoting global impact investing. Isabelle is also a guest lecturer on sustainable investments at NHH Norwegian School of Economics and BI Norwegian Business School, and previously served on the advisory board of CDP Water during her tenure at Norges Bank Investment Management.
Melanie Brooks
Advisor at TAF - The Animal Fund
Melanie Brooks, a seasoned sustainability professional with 15 years of experience in the finance industry across Norway, the US, and France, currently serves as a Portfolio Manager at Fondsfinans Fornybar Energi. Inspired by her upbringing in a family of environmentalists, including her father, an endangered species fish biologist, and her mother, a natural resources conservationist, Melanie is dedicated to making a positive impact on global challenges. Her background includes roles such as Head of ESG Risk Monitoring at the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, and she actively engages in supporting sustainability-focused private companies. Melanie holds an Authorized Portfolio Manager designation in Norway, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Financial Strategy from the University of Oxford, an M.Sc. in Global Development Studies from NMBU in Norway, and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico.
Marianne My Hansen
Advisor at TAF - The Animal Fund
Marianne My Hansen, a Danish individual born in 1966, currently resides in Sweden. She is a freelance TV production manager with over 25 years of experience in TV and event production. Marianne is not only skilled in finance, negotiation, networking, and event management but is also an avid animal activist. Her passion lies in advocating for the rights of voiceless beings, embodying a commitment to justice.
Angelo Legrand
Advisor at TAF - The Animal Fund
Born in Luxembourg and raised in the South of France, Angelo is a Danish-Belgian sustainability entrepreneur currently based in Copenhagen. He's got a passion for sustainability and driving business and organizations as forces for the planet. Equipped with an academic background in sustainability, Angelo is currently working as a sustainability entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of R4 Clothing, a sustainable clothing brand aiming to educate the world on the value of sustainable fashion. He also works at Goodwings, a sustainable travel management system aiming to decarbonize business travel. Angelo has also joined TAF with the aim of contributing to the protection of the ocean and its marine life.
Marko Cavka
Advisor at TAF - The Animal Fund
Brand / Graphic Design, Mobile Design, UI / Visual Design. Helping companies and organisations be more memorable with design & branding, especially if they are about making the world better, happier, sustainable and plant-based!