Mark Ingram

Mark Ingram is a seasoned professional with over two decades of expertise in conceiving and executing inclusive agribusiness value chain projects. Renowned for his commitment to positive transformation in the agricultural sector, Mark specializes in harnessing the power of private sector partnerships to lift communities out of poverty.

Mark draws from rich experience across senior leadership roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors related to global agricultural trade and diplomacy. He started his career as Trading Manager for Kanematsu Corporation, the largest Japanese trading house, and New Zealand agribusiness trader Anthony Marquet Ltd.

His tenure as Trade Commissioner & Consul General for the New Zealand Government leveraged his skills at forging crucial diplomatic and trade relationships. As the Founding CEO of Business for Development (2007–2018), he pioneered the design and implementation of inclusive value chain development projects across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific for corporations, governments, and development agencies.

Serving as Chief Impact Officer at Brightlight Group (2019–2023), an impact investment management firm, he steered $750M of impact investment funds and blended finance targeted at improving the lives of people within First Nations communities in Australia and New Zealand.

Mark's international portfolio includes collaborations with Cotton On Group, Coca-Cola Amatil, PepsiCo, Kellogg's, Diageo, Olam, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Asian Development Bank (ADB), UNDP, and DFAT. He holds a double major in philosophy and education from the University of Auckland and is a Fellow of the AVPN Gender Lens Investing Fellowship.