OUR TEAM

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Maryann Fernandez brings more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of wealth management, philanthropy, and social change. Her career spans both the private and public sectors, where she has built a reputation for creating thoughtful opportunities for exploration, learning, and engagement among families, advisors, and institutions. Known for her ability to build trusted relationships, streamline complex initiatives, and solve problems creatively, her work has advanced the missions of families and organizations while contributing meaningfully to broader social impact.

As a Philanthropic Advisor, Maryann helps clients imagine—and act on—the positive change they can bring about in their communities and the wider world. She aligns values, interests, and strategy to ensure philanthropic efforts are not only generous, but intentional and effective. Her work often includes the design of customized learning experiences, from local Impact Excursions to national and international Learning Journeys. She is particularly skilled at navigating the nuanced dynamics within families and organizations, as well as with external partners, to develop strategies that are both practical and deeply attuned to relationships.

A defining chapter of her career includes a year with the Nobel Peace Prize–winning UN World Food Programme, in its Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. There, she focused on diversifying funding streams and cultivating new relationships with key regional institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, ASEAN, APEC, and other multilateral development banks. She also pursued collaborative efforts with UN sister agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Earlier in her career, Maryann served as Vice President of Family Education Services/Senior Marketing Representative at Harris Private Bank. In this role, she led the strategy and development of educational programming focused on wealth management opportunities and challenges. Working closely with Harris Bank’s parent company, Bank of Montreal, she also spearheaded one of the private bank’s first cross-border initiatives, introducing educational wealth management events to the Canadian private banking market.

Maryann is also Co-Founder/Executive Producer of the award-winning Shaking the Tree Interactive Productions, a content company that uses professional theater and film to catalyze meaningful conversations among successful families and their advisors around wealth, purpose, and legacy. Its clients include leading wealth management firms, industry associations, philanthropic networks, and private families. In 2018, the firm was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Wealth Management Thought Leadership award by Family Wealth Report.

Professional designations: Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®), Impact Philanthropy Advisor, 21/64 Certified Advisor, Certified Fora Travel Advisor.