Managing Director, Chief Decarbonization Officer
Irina Markina is Managing Director, Chief Decarbonization Officer at Ara Partners. Irina oversees the firm’s sustainability strategy, ESG programs, and integration across portfolio companies and assets.
Prior to joining Ara, Irina was a Corporate Sustainability Manager at Baker Hughes, a $33 billion energy technology company, where she was instrumental in building out Baker Hughes’ sustainability team and operationalizing its net zero strategy and ESG operating model. Irina designed and oversaw ESG diligence process in M&A transactions, and managed investment-grade data governance framework and sustainability disclosures across the global business. Prior to Baker Hughes, Irina served as the Senior Energy Advisor at the European Union Delegation to the United States, where she provided technical guidance and directed the European Commission’s cooperation on energy, climate, and GHG emissions reduction strategies with U.S. government agencies. Prior to joining the EU Delegation in Washington D.C., Irina served at the European Parliament based in Brussels, Belgium, where she advised lawmakers on the Future of Science and Technology Panel, and managed legislation on decarbonization.
Irina is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center where she speaks and has published on transatlantic decarbonization issues. Irina completed executive education at Wharton in corporate finance and Harvard on sustainable business strategy. She holds a Master of Science degree in Public Policy from Lund University, Sweden. In her spare time Irina enjoys road cycling, skiing, and mentoring students in sustainability and international affairs.