Sustainable Investment Forum Europe 2024

Eric Usher currently heads the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, UNEP FI, a global partnership bringing together the UN with 230 banks, insurers and asset managers working to develop the sustainable finance and responsible investment agendas. Eric oversees governance, strategy and day-to-day management of UNEP FI’s work programme and global network development. Over the years UNEP FI has established some of the most important sustainability oriented frameworks within the finance industry, including the Principles for Responsible Investment (2006), the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (2012) and work now underway on the establishment of Principles for Responsible Banking. Since joining in 2015, Mr. Usher has focused on accelerating the deep integration of sustainability risks into financial practice, including addressing climate change, natural capital loss and human rights abuses, as well as building out the frameworks for positive impact finance needed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Eric sits on several industry bodies including as UN representative on the Board of the Principles for Responsible Investment, as a member of the Evaluation Council of the French sovereign green bond, as Director for the impact fund REPP Africa and founder of the Seed Capital Assistance Facility.

Prior to leading UNEP FI, Mr. Usher has over twenty years of experience in the low carbon sectors, spanning technology commercialisation in Canada, solar rural electrification in Morocco and financial sector development across emerging markets. During 2011, Mr. Usher worked on the establishment of the Green Climate Fund and led efforts to create its Private Sector Facility. Eric has been an editor of the Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment report published annually with Bloomberg and was lead author for finance of the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources. Before joining the UN, Eric was General Manager of a solar rural electrification company based in Morocco.

Jennifer Wu is the Global Head of Sustainable Investing responsible for leading the firm-wide strategic efforts in building a global sustainable investing platform across ESG and climate change research, client solutions and engagement, investment stewardship and ESG integration, and innovative investment strategies. She is a member of the JPM Asset Management Operating Committee and chairs the Sustainable Investing Oversight Committee.

Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Jennifer led the development of BlackRock’s Sustainable Investing strategy and was responsible for creating and managing climate transition investment solutions and ESG analytics, after serving as BlackRock’s Head of Corporate Strategy & Development for Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2014, Jennifer worked for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the energy sector of the Central and West Asia Department and was responsible for project finance across power infrastructures and country-level energy sector reforms. Before ADB she served as Managing Director in the Strategic Development Group of CLSA Limited responsible for acquisitions and strategic partnerships in Asia-Pacific and Europe. Jennifer started her career in venture capital and private equity focusing on technology and renewable energy as a research analyst and subsequently a portfolio manager.

Jennifer received her Master of Science in Economics from the University of Edinburgh in the UK as a Chevening Scholar and her Bachelor of Science in Finance from the National Cheng-Chi University in Taiwan. She enjoys trail running and has completed 5 marathons and multiple long-distance mountain races.

Jim Skea was elected IPCC Chair for the Seventh Assessment cycle in July 2023. He was Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III for the 6^th Assessment Cycle. From 2009 to 2023, Jim Skea was Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London. He has research interests in energy, climate change and technological innovation. He was Research Director of the UK Energy Research Centre 2004-12 and Director of the Policy Studies Institute 1998-2004. He was a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change from 2008 until 2018, and Chair of Scotland’s Just Transition Commission from 2018 to 2023.

Mathilde Dufour has been Director of Sustainability Research within Mirova since January 2022. Previously, she was Head of Sustainability Research – listed assets since July 2020, in charge of coordinating ESG and thematic research activities for Mirova and its clients. Mathilde joined the group in 2009. From 2013 until July 2020, she was co-Head of Mirova’s Sustainability Research. Having participated in the creation of the company, she has actively participated in the development of a unique sustainability research methodology for Mirova and impact measurement tools. Mathilde Dufour began her career in 2007 at EthiFinance, a French CSR (Corporate Social Responsiblity) rating agency specialized in small and mid-cap companies. Mathilde Dufour holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Sciences Po Bordeaux.