reNature Foundation welcomes two new board members: Julia Bolton as Chair and Rikesh J. Patel as Treasurer

The reNature Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Julia Bolton as Chair of the Board and Rikesh J. Patel as Treasurer, succeeding Jacqueline Smit and Chris van den Haak, who have concluded their terms after years of valuable service.

With these new appointments, reNature strengthens its leadership at a time when regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum globally as a critical solution to climate, biodiversity, and food system challenges.

Julia Bolton has over a decade of international experience in climate-smart and regenerative agriculture, strategy, and investment advisory. She is currently a Regenerative Agriculture and Agri-forestry Climate Investment Specialist at IFC, leading its global regenerative agriculture strategy. Previously, she worked with Rabobank Carbon Bank as a Regenerative Agriculture Expert and with IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative, helping shape and secure donor funding for the Farmfit program, which de-risks investments in smallholder farming. She has represented these organizations at international conferences, advocating for climate-resilient, farmer-focused solutions. Her appointment as Chair highlights reNature Foundation’s dedication to advancing regenerative food systems.

Rikesh Patel is an experienced investment and strategy expert with a broad leadership background in nature finance, investment fund creation, and fundraising for nature-positive businesses. Currently, he is Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Nature Finance Group at Conservation International, co-leading strategy and managing partnerships with asset managers, corporates, and governments to fund climate-smart and nature-positive projects. He previously held leadership roles at The Nature Conservancy’s NatureVest, Open Capital Advisors, and Santander Global Corporate Banking, with a strong record of structuring and raising capital for impactful investments in agriculture, energy, and conservation. Rikesh also serves on the Conservation Finance Alliance’s Incubator Global Selection Committee, mentoring early-stage initiatives. As Treasurer, he will leverage his financial expertise and global network to help reNature Foundation mobilize resources for regenerative agriculture and ecosystem restoration projects worldwide.

The Foundation expresses its profound gratitude to outgoing Board Members Jacqueline Smit (Chair) and Chris van den Haak for their dedication and guidance. Under their leadership, the reNature Foundation expanded its reach, strengthened its governance, and supported multiple initiatives that demonstrated the transformative potential of regenerative agriculture.

The new board members are joining Amanda Francisco and Marco de Boer.

The reNature Foundation is dedicated to scaling regenerative agriculture worldwide by providing smallholder farmers and local communities with the knowledge, tools, and networks to restore ecosystems, secure livelihoods, and build resilient food systems. Learn more at https://www.renature.co/renature-foundation.