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