Malaysia

Gaithiri Siva is Director of the Buen Vivir Fund, where she, together with the team at Thousand Currents, design forms of investment that support grassroots economic initiatives to build wealth, community power and well-being. They invest in grassroots organizations around the world who are doing some of the most innovative work today in envisioning and building a new economy. She has over 15 years of progressive leadership experience in investments, management consulting, risk advisory, and operations. She played a key role in the North America expansion and diversification of a $40B Malaysian strategic investment fund into the technology sector, where she partnered with teams across North America and Asia to execute on critical strategic investment decisions. In previous roles, Gaithiri has consulted for the UN in Indonesia, Laos, and Myanmar, predominantly to improve reach and efficacy of spending. She led large teams under difficult conditions in these remote areas of Asia for the oversight of disaster-relief fund management and micro-financing for women. As a Malaysian of Indian origin, Gaithiri is familiar with ethnic discrimination and is very keen on closing the inequality gap, especially amongst minorities. She has a Bachelor of Accounting (Honors) degree and a CPA. An avid reader, she also enjoys the beach, baking, kickboxing, and film photography. These days, however, she spends all her free time chasing after her 2-year-old daughter.