Laura Merlini is a senior finance executive. Her professional path has been focused on promoting financial literacy and fostering sound governance practices. In her role as Managing Director for EMEA at the CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) Association, she has developed a deep knowledge of the European alternative investments industry. During her previous role at Credit Suisse (previously Fortis Prime Fund Solutions) in Milan, Madrid and Geneva, Laura advised on the areas of fund set-up, administration, banking and custody.
Since her CAIA Charter Certification in 2007, she has been an active CAIA promoter and member-volunteer, not only as the co-founder of the CAIA Iberia Chapter (based in Madrid) in 2008, but also as the leading person of the CAIA Switzerland Chapter in Geneva since 2010. Additionally, she chaired the 100 Women in Finance Educational Committee in Geneva.
Laura earned a BA in Business Administration at Bocconi University in Milan, received the CEMS MIM (Community of European Management Schools) MSc in International Management in 2002 and is a member of the Inaugural Class (2014) of the Executive Master in Positive Psychology, Leadership and Strategy from IE in Madrid. In 2015, she became a Certified Investment Fund Director accredited by the CIFD Institute in Ireland and, currently, is a member of the UN PRI HF Advisory Committee as well as a NED at Agave Advisors, an independent wealth manager firm based in Geneva.