Team

James Everett

James is a partner at Aquillian, and takes primary responsibility for Aquillian’s strategy across the sustainability space. As part of that role, he leads the firm's research and due diligence of investment opportunities.  

James is committed to the integration of economic and ecological sustainability, believing that green ideas have increased potential for scale and impact when they are directed toward practical solutions of business problems. He has been a student of sustainability for the past twenty years.

Before joining Aquillian, James was Conservation Finance Manager for the Pacific Forest Trust. Among other responsibilities, he conducted financial analysis of forestland acquisition opportunities and led marketing of carbon offsets generated from sustainable forest management. James also managed integrated conservation and development projects as a Natural Resource Management Specialist for the World Conservation Union in Iran.

Previously, James worked in commercial finance with GATX Capital, where he conducted financial analysis and due diligence on investments in rail, air, marine, distributed power generation, telecommunications, and natural resources; worked in timberland investment and management with Wagner Forest Management; led a research and demonstration center for sustainability and renewable energy; worked for a photovoltaic systems integrator on installation of some of the first grid-tied PV systems in the San Francisco Bay Area; co-led a university recycling program; and has run his own arboricultural consulting business.

He holds a Master of Forestry degree from Yale University and a BS in Environmental Policy and Management from Humboldt State University, and completed the UC Berkeley Venture Capital Executive Program. He holds FINRA series 7 and 66 licenses. He is an avid backpacker, gardener, and native plant enthusiast, and lives with his wife Aghaghia in San Rafael, CA.

 

Bill Tarr

Bill is a partner at Aquillian, and focuses on business development, deal sourcing, and strategic partnerships.

Since 2004, Bill has developed an extensive network comprised of both mission-oriented investors, as well as industry leaders in the areas Aquillian covers. These relationships facilitate Aquillian’s capital advisory work, and also enhance the firm’s deal flow and due diligence capabilities. Collectively, this network allows Aquillian’s capital advisory clients to access a highly targeted group of investors, while also providing Aquillian’s investor group an early look at the very best in sustainability-related investments.

Before founding Aquillian, Bill was a management consultant with Origo Global Business Partners. At Origo, Bill co-developed and launched the Social Enterprise Services business division, and managed a variety of sustainability oriented consulting projects for international foundations, corporations, and sustainable development think tanks. Prior to Origo, Bill was a program director for New Sector Alliance, an Accenture backed management consulting initiative. At New Sector, Bill sourced and managed a number of consulting projects serving Bay Area social and sustainable enterprises. Before working in management consulting, Bill was the business development and product marketing manager for Octopus Software, where he orchestrated a $200 Million acquisition opportunity by a top six software company.

Prior to pursuing his business endeavors, Bill spent a year abroad serving as a high school teacher and micro enterprise consultant in Ebeye, Republic of Marshall Islands. In his free time, Bill hikes, surfs, plays golf, and serves on the advisory board of Juma Ventures, a non-profit organization that mentors at-risk youth to build their own for-profit social enterprises. Bill received his BA in Political Science from Dartmouth College and holds FINRA series 7 and 66 licenses.

 

Devin Whatley

Devin Whatley is a partner at Aquillian, and leads deal structuring and negotiations, assists with the fund strategy, and is also responsible for much of the firm's financial and operations-focused due diligence.  Given his background, Devin is actively involved with the management and oversight of the Ecosystem Integrity Fund’s portfolio companies.

Devin has spent much of his career as a successful sustainability-focused entrepreneur, with significant experience in operations, sales, and finance.  Devin began his career in the film business, where he developed and honed his operations and cost-management skills as the producer of more than 50 large-budget commercials and music videos.  During this time he nurtured a growing fascination for environmental sustainability, and became a passionate student of green business.

Looking for a way to use his diverse skill set as a “triple-bottom-line” entrepreneur, in 2000 Devin launched a gourmet, organic home delivery and packaged food business that catered to the Hollywood elite.  From an initial $10,000 investment, Devin rapidly grew the firm, exiting it within three years to a larger natural food manufacturer in the region.  Subsequently, Devin was the general manager of a start-up organic winery that he grew to profitability, and also developed and ran a successful luxury yoga retreat business near Santa Barbara.

After a brief stint at his family’s award-winning mutual fund where he worked with the investment team and institutional sales group, Devin became a partner at Aquillian, and is responsible for much of the firm’s financial and operations-focused due diligence.  Devin is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and has an MBA from Wharton.  He graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA’s Honors Division where he was both an Alumni Scholar and Regents’ Scholar, earning a joint degree in Business and East Asian Studies.

 

Geoffrey Eisenberg

Geoffrey joined Aquillian in 2007. He focuses on due diligence and sector research, with particular focus on the areas of Green Chemistry, Land Remediation, Environmental Credits, Agriculture, and Transportation.

Prior to joining Aquillian, Geoff worked as a Senior Consulting Associate in the Boston office of Cambridge Associates, a global institutional investment consulting firm. While at Cambridge Associates he provided investment counsel to institutional, pension and ultra high net-worth clients. Geoff also conducted due diligence on Marketable, Hedge Fund, and Venture Capital/Private Equity investment managers; and helped clients build diversified and sophisticated portfolios in all asset classes. At Cambridge Associates, Geoff also initiated the firm’s most recent white paper on Cleantech investing for institutional clients, and conducted extensive research on the Cleantech industry, including company and Venture Capital/Private Equity fund analysis.

A native of New England, Geoff now lives in San Francisco. He is an avid backcountry skier and mountaineer, and has explored peaks around the world from the Canadian Rockies to the Alps. Geoff earned a BA from Bates College in Maine.

 

Robert Steiner

As an Advisor to Aquillian, Rob assists in identifying, evaluating, and monitoring clean technology investment opportunities within the traditional and alternative assets classes. With a specific sector focus on water, Rob connects Aquillian to a number of industry leaders within the water value chain and conducts due diligence in analysis of water technologies, business models and potential investment opportunities.

Prior to joining Aquillian, Rob served as the Executive Director for the WaterLeaders Foundation, a Bay area nonprofit that is dedicated to providing appropriate, sustainable safe water solutions to the developing world. Prior to his work in the private sector, Rob was an officer in the US Public Health Service and served within the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically within the Office of the Secretary, the Office of the Surgeon General and the Office of Global Health Affairs.

Rob holds a Masters degree in Public Health from George Washington University with a concentration in Global Health Policy and a BS from the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan.

Rob is currently the Founder and CEO of RS Advisors, a water-focused business and investment consultancy focused exclusively on alternative investment opportunities. He also serves on the Advisory Board of A Child’s Right, a global nonprofit providing safe drinking water solutions to orphanages and schools worldwide.

Although a proud native of Michigan, Rob now lives with his growing family in Coronado, CA.

 

Pratima Maharaj

Pratima manages Aquillian's financial, operational, and day-to-day business implementation. Pratima joined Aquillian Investments to more fully explore the opportunities presented by sustainable investment and clean technology.

Prior to Aquillian, Pratima worked at USinternetworking, an AT&T Company based in Milpitas, CA. There, she served as Executive Assistant and Office Manager for the VP of Sales and other high level directors throughout the company. She supported a team of 45 people, preparing reports and correspondence and carrying out general administrative functions. She previously worked at E*Trade Financial as a Financial Services Representative, providing customer service and problem solving skills to educate customers in a timely, efficient, and professional manner.

While Pratima hails from Fiji, she now lives in Millbrae, CA with her husband. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a Minor in Finance from Golden Gate University in Sacramento, CA.