Lesley Bearman Lahm

Lesley Bearman Lahm is the Representative in the North American Representative Office, ADB.

In this role, Lesley mobilizes financing and support for ADB’s developing member countries; shares development knowledge and experience; establishes and deepens partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit organizations in North America; and raises public awareness of ADB with key stakeholders in Canada and the United States.

Lesley previously led strategy and policy development coordination for key strategic and institutional considerations relating to non-sovereign operations, public-private partnerships, and SOE engagement. She also led ADB’s participation in G20 activities and chaired the Blended Finance Committee. 

Lesley joined ADB in 2002 and first served in the Office of the General Counsel as Senior Counsel, supporting sovereign and non-sovereign operations. She then moved to the Office of the Vice President as Senior Advisor, where she advised on a range of strategic, policy, operational, and administrative issues. From 2009–2011, she was responsible for financial sector operations as Principal Financial Sector Specialist in ADB’s India Resident Mission.  

While on special leave from 2011–2014, Lesley practiced corporate law in Bucharest, Romania, advising on renewable energy projects in Eastern Europe. Prior to joining ADB, Lesley was a senior associate at Shearman & Sterling in Hong Kong, where she specialized in project and structured finance, restructurings, and general corporate practice.  

Lesley earned a JD cum laude in 1993 from Tulane University, School of Law, and a BA in East Asian Studies magna cum laude in 1988 from Columbia University, Barnard College in New York.