Mary Umanah is the Lead Advisor, Governance, Policy and Institutional Development at The Climate Periscope. She is a Corporate Governance Professional and Legal Consultant who operates at the intersection of law, governance, and sustainability. She advises individuals and organisations (particularly startup, nonprofits, development institutions, and impact-driven ventures) on building compliant, accountable, and future-ready systems that enable sustainable growth and measurable impact.

With over 12 years of cross-sector experience spanning legal consulting, governance advisory, policy drafting and review, academic research, NGO structuring, and emerging technology governance, she brings a strong background in nonprofit management, with proven expertise in team leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement. She supports organisations in translating vision into structure – designing the legal, governance, and institutional frameworks required to operate credibly, scale responsibly, and deliver long-term value.

Mary provides strategic oversight across planning, programme development, and organisational execution, ensuring that initiatives are well-structured, impact-driven, and aligned with mission and sustainability objectives. Guided by a deep commitment to social impact, she leverages governance, policy, and stakeholder engagement expertise to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance outreach, and drive measurable outcomes.

Her work is increasingly aligned with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles, advising organisations on governance systems, policy frameworks, and institutional structures that promote transparency, accountability, social impact, and long-term sustainability. She works closely with founders, executives, boards, and nonprofit leaders to build resilient organisations that are both compliant and purpose-driven.