Dr. Anushka Bogdanov is an internationally recognised, award-winning ESG, sustainability, governance, and risk specialist, academic, and Founder and Chairperson of Risk Insights, Africa’s pioneering AI-driven ESG data science company. With more than 35 years of experience spanning banking, capital markets, governance, sustainability, and financial services, she has played a catalytic role in advancing ESG innovation, sustainable finance, and responsible investment practices across Africa and emerging markets.
Under her leadership, Risk Insights developed ESG GPS™, Africa’s first AI-powered ESG ratings and ESG data platform for listed companies, together with A-Cubed™, an ESG and sustainability intelligence platform for privately held companies and supply chains. ESG GPS has become one of the continent’s most comprehensive ESG data ecosystems, standardising information across global frameworks and enabling exchanges, regulators, financial institutions, asset managers, and corporates to enhance sustainability disclosure, transparency, and investment decision-making. The platform has been instrumental in supporting African issuers and institutions on their transition toward Net Zero reporting, while strengthening signalling and legitimacy mechanisms through the institutionalisation of both voluntary and mandatory ESG reporting practices.
Risk Insights’ products and innovations have expanded across multiple African markets and stock exchanges, positioning the organisation at the forefront of ESG analytics and sustainable finance infrastructure on the continent. Most recently, under Dr. Bogdanov’s leadership, Risk Insights entered into a strategic partnership with the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) through its Green Exchange Window, developed in collaboration with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, to deepen and connect African capital markets using ESG GPS data and ratings to promote Inclusive and Impact Capital. This initiative seeks to accelerate access to impact capital, strengthen ESG transparency and disclosure standards, and support the decarbonisation and sustainable industrialisation of Africa through improved access to green finance and climate-related investment opportunities.
Risk Insights has received numerous international recognitions and awards, including the Environmental Finance Sustainable Investment Awards (2022 and 2023), Best ESG Data Provider Africa, recognition from the World Economic Forum for sustainability and agile business governance innovation, and awards from the Institute of Risk Management South Africa, among others.
Dr. Bogdanov has led strategic partnerships and collaborations with major institutions including PwC, the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Botswana Stock Exchange, Stock Exchange of Mauritius, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), London School of Economics and Political Science, INSEAD, Henley Business School, New York University, and numerous financial and academic institutions globally.
In 2020, Risk Insights was selected to join the World Economic Forum New Champions Community, and Dr. Bogdanov subsequently served on the WEF New Champions Advisory Board. In 2022, she helped establish South Africa’s first World Economic Forum New Champions Local Chapter, bringing together leaders from business, finance, and innovation to foster collaboration and sustainable development.
A recognised global thought leader, Dr. Bogdanov has spoken at prominent international platforms including the World Economic Forum, G20/B20 Energy Transition Task Force, African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) forums, and major ESG, climate, governance, and sustainability conferences worldwide. She has authored and contributed to numerous academic articles, research papers, policy publications, and textbook chapters focused on ESG, sustainable finance, climate risk, green banking, governance, and responsible investment.
Her doctoral research further strengthened the evidence base for ESG implementation through empirical analysis of ESG variables and market performance, contributing to both scholarship and the evolution of ESG GPS methodologies. In addition, she has lectured, supervised students, and contributed to the development of risk, banking, finance, and ESG curricula taught at leading universities across Africa.
Through her work, Dr. Bogdanov continues to champion data-driven, transparent, and inclusive approaches to sustainable finance, ensuring that technology, governance, and finance work in service of people, markets, and the planet.
