Patrick Nussbaumer

Head of Environment - UBS Optimus Foundation

Patrick Nussbaumer leads the Climate and Environment program at the UBS Optimus Foundation.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across academia, the private sector, and international organizations, Patrick focuses on developing and scaling solutions to address climate change, environmental challenges and supporting local communities. In his role, he works to co-create impactful programs, mobilize expertise and resources, and deploy innovative finance instruments that maximize impact.

Since joining UBS in 2024, Patrick has brought deep expertise in private sector development and impact finance, particularly in frontier markets. Prior to UBS, he held senior positions at the United Nations, where he designed and implemented flagship interventions to accelerate mission-driven companies and advance sustainable development goals.

To support clients and the broader community with thought leadership, Patrick has authored and co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to publications on climate action, impact finance, and innovation.

Patrick holds an engineering degree and a PhD in environmental sciences. He is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and his career reflects a commitment to leveraging partnerships and innovation to drive systemic change for people and planet. He has lived, worked, studied, and volunteered in multiple countries across four continents, and visited many more in the Global South to backstop interventions and engage with local stakeholders.