MI Finance

Melanie Schwartz is an associate director with Milken Institute Finance and has a background in African and emerging markets, strategic communications, and international development. Schwartz works within the Institute’s Inclusive Capitalism program and proudly supports the program’s various initiatives designed to progress diversity, equity, and inclusion in the financial sector.

Sarah Ortner is an associate director with Milken Institute Finance. She focuses on the Institute’s Excellence and Equity in Public Finance initiatives, with a portfolio that includes climate resilience, community infrastructure deployment, and emerging markets.

Théo Cohan is a director of innovative finance at the Milken Institute, focusing on communications and marketing strategies, and partnerships, and working with her team to develop and execute Financial Innovations Labs®.

Ashley Campany is an associate director on the Innovative Finance team at the Milken Institute. She is responsible for research, development, execution, and follow-up for the Institute’s Financial Innovations Labs.

Blair Smith is senior director at Milken Institute Finance, with more than 20 years of financial services and capital markets experience. He leads the Access to Capital and strategic innovative financing initiatives to enhance economic and social impact.

Yun Fu is an associate director on the Innovative Finance team at the Milken Institute. She contributes to the research, development, and execution of Financial Innovations Labs, which explores innovative financing models to address global social and economic challenges.

Glenn Yago is a senior fellow and founder of the Financial Innovations Labs at the Milken Institute and the senior director of the Milken Innovation Center and Blum Lab for Developing Economies at the Jerusalem Institute.

Michael S. Piwowar, PhD, is the executive vice president of Milken Institute Finance. Piwowar served as a commissioner at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from August 15, 2013, to July 6, 2018.

Ambassador Karen Kornbluh served as ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, sitting on the governing board of the economic multilateral institution in Paris, where she spearheaded the first global Internet Policymaking Principles, led the effort to expand the organization’s membership, and launched the OECD Gender Initiative. Kornbluh previously served as deputy chief of staff at the Treasury Department and director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Federal Communications Commission. She was policy director for Senator Barack Obama and the author of his 2008 platform.

Caitlin MacLean is a managing director on the innovative finance team at the Milken Institute. She oversees the research, development, execution, and follow-up of our Financial Innovations Labs, which promote financial solutions to overcome economic and social challenges.