Frank Taverner has more than 35 years of experience in development finance, diplomacy, banking and investment. Highlights of his career include being headhunted to serve as South Africa's financial attaché in Washington, D.C. during South Africa's transition to a democracy. On returning to South Africa he worked as an investment banker and was involved in a number of key transactions including the region's first toll road (Johannesburg to Maputo), privatization of Maputo port, water concessions, the establishment of a regional private equity fund for infrastructure and the Econet Cellular transaction in Zimbabwe. In 1998 Frank moved back to Washington DC to join the International Finance Corporation ("IFC"). At IFC he led a number of transactions in Africa, Latin America and South Asia before changing to senior management positions. Frank was a member of the team that established the IFC's first equity department later becoming the Director for that department with an equity portfolio of $12-15 billion. He later co headed IFC's Portfolio and Corporate Risk Department responsible for oversight of IFC's equity, debt and treasury portfolios. He was appointed to IFC's Corporate Investment Committee as well as those related to mobilizing private capital and supporting innovation.

Frank co-teaches a course on PPPs and Development Finance at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington D.C. Frank holds an MBA and BS in Town and Regional Planning from the University of the Witwatersrand and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.