Meet the Team: Ana María Martínez

We are proud to be part of the growing Deetken Impact team, and are excited to introduce this diverse and talented group of investment professionals. We regularly feature our colleagues in these interview-style profiles so you can get to know them better!

Meet Ana María Martínez, an Environmental and Social (E&S) Analyst with Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy. In this role, she is responsible for the technical, environmental analysis and due diligence of new deal initiatives. She also supervises the E&S performance of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects during construction and operation, and conducts monitoring and evaluation for portfolio investments in alignment with the framework of the SDGs and the Operating Principles of Impact Management.

Ana has ample experience executing and supervising Environmental & Social Management Systems in renewable energy projects and infrastructure in accordance with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, and the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS). 

Prior to joining Deetken, Ana María worked as an Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Officer during the construction stage for Agua Fría, a 50 MW PV in Nacaome, Honduras. She also worked as an Environmental Supervisor during the construction of the Alma Mater Building at the National Autonomous University of Honduras and was the EHS coordinator for Mixto Listo Honduras. Ana Maria started her career as an Environmental Officer during the first stage of the Cerro de Hula Wind Farm with 102 MW, the first wind farm in the country. 

Ana María has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and a Master’s degree in Total Quality Management from the Catholic University of Honduras. A native Honduran, Ana María is based in Tegucigalpa and speaks Spanish and English.

How did you end up in this position at Deetken Impact, and what is your favorite part of the work you do? 

I started working for Deetken as a consultant as a part of the technical advisory team since the launch of the Caribbean Basin Sustainable Energy Fund (CABEF), and the Honduras Renewable Energy Financing Facility (HREFF) in 2016, now collectively known as Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy (DISE) Funds I and II. Having been involved in the investment processes since inception, I have witnessed how the energy sector has evolved in the region regarding technology, impact measurement, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects. It has been a time of much learning, and I am grateful for the opportunities I have had.

My favorite part of work is that I never get bored; there is always a new project to study, a new technology, new impact trends, or a local context that represents new work challenges. Also, working with people from different countries and cultures is a great opportunity to keep learning. Most of all, I love my career and the work I do, so I greatly enjoy it.

Tell us about some of the community engagement initiatives undertaken by Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy investees; how they came to be, and your role in the projects.

(DISE) invests in projects that generate positive impacts at the community level as well as within companies. Community engagement projects generally emerge in two different ways: through initiatives proposed by developers, or by our team identifying opportunities for technical assistance. During the investment stage of previous funds, we implement technical assistance projects focused on the environment, risk management, gender, and knowledge dissemination, among others.

We have had companies invest in education at the local level, and they become important players in capacity building and economic development. For instance, one of our clients developed the local drinking water supply system, positively impacting the health of community members. All of these initiatives are born to create a  positive impact, and my role is to identify the initiatives the sponsor is developing, communicate them to our team internally, and provide monitoring and follow-up services. In some cases, I also provide support by being a contact between the different actors involved in the initiatives. Above all, intentionality is essential to generate positive impacts.

With both the engineering and energy fields being traditionally male-dominated, what has your experience as a woman working in this industry, and how has it changed over the last 15 years? 

As in everything, I have had positive and negative experiences being a woman in a generally male-dominated work environment. In the beginning, it was particularly difficult; I was often the only woman working in the field, and I experienced inequality and gender bias at work. I had to learn to deal with these things and not let them deter me from achieving my professional goals.

I have also had really positive experiences, including working with colleagues who share their knowledge and provide support to grow and thrive in this career.Along the way, I have always found people who go the extra mile.

Significant changes have occurred in recent years, and it is common to see more women in engineering and energy. We are proud that the DISE team is gender-balanced.  But, there is still a long way to go. As with community engagement projects, intentionality in offering dedicated, safe, workspaces in the engineering and energy sectors is important. We recently saw an interesting example from one of our clients building a solar project in the Caribbean, in which the entire construction team from the top management down, implemented important policies for hiring women and to date has increased the participation of women in its workforce to 22%. 

Ana María with her husband and daughter on her first birthday.

Get to know more about the Deetken Impact Team by checking out the other features in our Meet the Team series!