Leadership
Daniel Preston is the President and Founder of Watershed Finance LLC. He is considered by his peers as a preeminent global thought leader and foundational figure in the field of blended finance. Daniel is widely known for his experience and expertise in structured finance, financial instrument innovation and development, and private sector engagement for sustainable development. He currently serves as a Clinical Professor and Director at the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, the #2 ranked school of public affairs in the United States. In addition, he holds an appointment as an Expert Fellow at the African Center for Economic Transformation, the leading think tank on the African continent. Professor Preston's academic foundation spans development studies, international affairs, and business administration at the School of Economics and Management at the University of Lisbon, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Trusted Advisor / Scholar / Educator
Daniel Preston has been a trusted advisor to leading global organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Economic Forum, and Center for Global Development as well as sovereign governments and development finance institutions. This has involved authoring high-impact reports and policy briefs, teaching workshops for government officials and development practitioners, conducting research, providing senior-level consultations, developing instruments and strategies for sovereign countries, and delivering thought leadership as a featured speaker and panelist.
Professor Preston is a scholar in development finance and publishes in peer reviewed outlets. His most recent works include:
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The Long Rise of Private Finance in Development and the Implications for Policymakers. Journal of Developing Societies.
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Policy approaches to increase external investment by US pension funds in African countries. Global Policy.
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Want to Increase US Pension Fund Investment in Africa? Focus on the Actors Influencing the Asset Allocation Levers. Journal of Developing Societies.
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Obstacles to US Pension Fund Investment in Africa. Centre for African and Development Studies.
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Professor Preston is widely regarded by students, faculty, and administrators as an elite educator earning several awards for outstanding instruction and the highest possible rating for teaching excellence in performance reviews. He also serves the university as a leader in curriculum development, international institutional partnerships, honors programming, strategic planning, academic program leadership, and overseas education.
Investment Banker / Consultant
Prior to his faculty appointment, Daniel was a Vice President at Citigroup in the investment banking division specializing in economic advisory, debt management, and capital raising for sovereign governments in Europe, Africa, and Asia and securitization programs for corporations primarily in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Japan. Earlier, he worked as a management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, Information Resources, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on strategic issues for Fortune 500 companies, technology start-ups, and the U.S. government.