Our Founder

ABOUT Founder

From Family Farm to Global Agribusiness Leadership

At Mariia Capital, our foundation is built on decades of hands-on agricultural experience and global investment leadership. Behind it all is our Founder, whose journey from a family farm in the UK to shaping global strategies for agribusiness investment, natural capital, and sustainable food production reflects both depth of knowledge and breadth of reach.

our story

The Journey

Early Roots

I grew up on a mixed family farm in the UK, where my education began not in classrooms, but in fields and barns. From milking cows and caring for sheep to operating and maintaining cropping machinery for grains, oilseeds, potatoes, sugar beet, and irrigated vegetables, I gained a front-row education in the realities of food production and the value of natural resources. In the traditional way, my father taught me farming.

Academic Foundation

This practical upbringing was strengthened with academic training, graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture. Combining science with experience gave me the tools to move into leadership roles across the sector and laid the foundation for my future work in international agribusiness.

Leadership in the UK

I was privileged at a young age to manage a Country Estate owned by the Churchill and Digby families, eminent members of the British aristocracy, an experience that taught me the art of preserving history and tradition with the need for modern efficiency in agricultural operations and property stewardship.

Central and Eastern Europe

The next 20 year chapter took me across Central and Eastern Europe working for groups of private investors, ultra-high net worth individuals and hedge funds. On behalf of various investors, I acquired, restructured to sustainable profitability, and divested large scale ex-state farms and agricultural cooperatives across eight countries from the Czech Republic through to Russia and down to Azerbaijan. Along the way, I learned two new languages, allowing me to build trust with local operators while navigating complex political, cultural and fast-moving economic environments.

Middle Eastern Investment

Later, I moved to Saudi Arabia to support the Sovereign Wealth Fund-owned Food Security Company. My role was to help develop a global production, trading, and logistics portfolio — a responsibility that grew more urgent during the COVID-19 lockdowns, where food security became a matter of global stability.

Global Experience

My work has since taken me to all four corners of the world — from Canada to China, Argentina to New Zealand — and many (green shaded) countries in between. These experiences not only broadened my perspective but gave me deep insight into how different economies and cultures approach agribusiness investment, natural capital management, food and wine production, and sustainability.

Strategic Leadership

I have also had the privilege of supporting leading blue-chip consultants in developing global strategies for sustainable food production investment. This work has reinforced the importance of balancing profitability with environmental and social responsibility — ensuring returns for investors while protecting the future of agriculture and rural communities.

Our Approach

Philosophy & Skills

Throughout this journey, I’ve developed a unique ability to communicate across worlds: as comfortable in a Central European tractor cab with a local operator as I am in discussions with government officials and leaders of global institutions.

This rare blend of operational insight and strategic influence underpins Mariia Capital’s approach: pragmatic, sustainable, and globally informed.

Our Foundation

Mariia Capital’s Foundation

Mariia Capital exists because of these decades of experience. Each decision, each strategy, and each partnership is guided by a deep understanding of both the practical realities of agriculture and the broader dynamics of agribusiness, natural capital, rural real estate, and sustainable food systems.

This foundation allows us to create opportunities that deliver profitability, sustainability, and long-term value for investors in food, wine, and agriculture across Australasia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

Explore More

For those wishing to dive deeper, a full professional CV is available on request.

“From the farmyards of my childhood to the boardrooms of global institutions, my mission has remained constant: to help secure the future of food while creating meaningful opportunities for those who invest in it.”