Tell us what attracted you to join the NWF?
The NWF offers unique opportunities where each of us can potentially shape the newly-established financial institution, which does not happen regularly in the market. It's also rewarding to work towards the same organisational mandates with like-minded colleagues with whom I share the same interest and values.
What does your role involve?
The Banking and Investments team originate and execute deals by actively engaging with market players – investors, developers, other banks and industry – to identify and evaluate opportunities. We work closely with other teams within the institution to shape the transaction and bring it to the financial close. Driven by the institutional mandate, the types of deals that we work on tend to be more nascent and complicated, constantly challenging to think “outside of the box”. As a manager, I support seniors in the deal team, while working closely with analysts and interns.
What is the NWF like to work for?
As the NWF sits between private and public sector, naturally the background of the colleagues working at the NWF is diverse, which makes working at the NWF unique and challenging sometimes, due to the different perspectives people make a judgement from. The transactions we work on also are quite unique, driven by our mandate to play a role where the commercial market itself cannot fill the financing needs. This makes working at the NWF challenging, constantly thinking “outside of the box”. I enjoy the challenge we face every day to play a role where commercial markets find it difficult to come in.
What were you doing before you joined the Fund, and how has your experience helped with the role you are now doing?
I built my banking experience back home, in Japan, where I worked as Associate Relationship Manager at BNP Paribas, supporting blue-chip Japanese companies mostly with their business plans to expand their footprint overseas, collaborating with colleagues based outside of Japan. More recently, I supported drafting a report on Climate Action and Resilience by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as an external consultant. Working in commercial finance and sustainability policy analysis built my foundational knowledge on financial products and the market, which I apply to my day-to-day role at the NWF.
What are your highlights/ proudest achievements since joining the NWF?
Seeing the progress of the projects the team has invested in is rewarding and exciting. This gives me a conviction and confidence that our work has facilitated the UK-wide transition journey to the greener and more sustainable economy. Over the two years since I joined the NWF, I had the opportunities to work on several transactions to financial close. I also enjoy nurturing relationships with the company, financial advisor and co-investors over time. At the time of financial close, I am always impressed by how much trust we managed to build over time, working through the complicated and sometimes stressful process.
What are you looking forward to next at the NWF?
Any new opportunity really excites me. I am excited to work with companies who have innovative ideas supported by the credible management team, to facilitate our UK-wide mandate.
What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for a role here?
The NWF is distinctive from other financial institutions you would imagine – the opportunities we evaluate, the companies we work with and the way we work internally and externally with government. You would enjoy working here if you like a continuous challenge.