The Standards Board for Alternative Investments (SBAI) has appointed Paula Volent, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of The Rockefeller University, to its Board of Trustees.
Mario Therrien, Chair of the SBAI, says: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Paula to our Board. She brings a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities in our industry and a wealth of experience and knowledge from the endowment perspective.”
Volent says: “The SBAI has a strong history of innovation, problem-solving and improving practices in the alternative investment industry. I am thrilled to be joining the SBAI Board and look forward to being a part of this important endeavour.”
Luke Ellis, Deputy Chair of the SBAI, says: “Paula is a business leader of the highest calibre. Her extensive experience managing large endowments will be an asset to our Board and stakeholders. Having a board with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences makes the SBAI strong and more successful.”
Volent is responsible for the oversight and management of Rockefeller’s USD2.5 billion endowment. Prior to joining Rockefeller in August 2021, Volent was the Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President at Bowdoin College for over two decades. Prior to Bowdoin, she began her investment career as a Senior Associate at the Yale University endowment under the leadership of David Swensen. Volent has a BA from the University of New Hampshire; a master’s degree in Art History from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University; a Certificate in Conservation from the Conservation Center at NYU, with a specialisation in the conservation of works of art on paper; and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.
The SBAI Board of Trustees which consists of 15 trustees, is responsible for leading the SBAI’s initiatives and furthering its to improve the alternative investment industry. Current initiatives that are shaping practices in the industry include working groups on responsible investment and a multitude of initiatives focusing on Culture & Diversity.
