Speakers

Bastian Buck, Chief Standards Officer at Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Since 2013 leading the GRI Standards Division that develops the GRI Standards, the leading global sustainability reporting standards. Proven expertise in global multi-stakeholder consensus seeking processes and track record in outreach and stakeholder engagement on sustainability reporting in more than 50 countries. Member of GRI’s Management Board.

Thomas Hohne-Sparborth is Head of Sustainability Research and heads up a team of analysts focused on the research around the transition to a Circular, Lean, Inclusive and Clean (CLIC) economy.

He joined LOIM in 2019 as one of the first members of Lombard Odier’s newly-established Sustainability Research team. He now leads a research team that comprises geospatial analysts, economists and data scientists and provides thematic research into sustainability challenges, ranging from climate change to nature-related risks, the circular economy and social inequality. He designed and led the development of Lombard Odier’s proprietary Temperature Alignment methodology, intended to evaluate the alignment of companies and portfolios to the climate transition, which has been recognised as one of the leading metrics in the market. He has also designed the decarbonisation process that lies at the heart of our strategies focused on the transition to Net Zero.

He joined Lombard Odier from Roskill Consulting Group, a minerals and metals consultancy firm, in the position of Director of Economics & Analytics, where he led the forward-looking analysis of commodity markets, including the outlook for emerging technologies in energy storage and electric vehicles. In previous roles, Thomas worked for the International Organization for Migration and the non-governmental sector, along with earlier time spent at the Dutch Ministry of Interior and the US Senate. He holds a Master of Arts degree from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and completed his doctoral degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Emmanuel Faber was appointed as the inaugural Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board in December 2021, effective 1 January 2022. He is well-known for his passion for sustainability and his leadership positions at multi-national food products company Danone for the past 20 years. He joined the company in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer, Strategy, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2014, as well as Chair of the Board from 2017 until 2021. He became a partner at Astanor Ventures in October 2021. Faber has lived and held senior leadership positions in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. He has founded and chaired several international organisations and initiatives, including the One Planet Business for Biodiversity coalition and the G7 Business for Inclusive Growth coalition―co-chaired with the OECD Secretary General. He initiated Danone Communities, a social business initiative providing funding to bring nutrition and water access for vulnerable communities, as well as the Livelihoods Venture, which provides funding for ecosystem restoration and the development of sustainable farming in emerging economies. Prior to joining Danone, he held roles as Chief Financial Officer and later Managing Director at Legris Industries. He also has experience from investment banking at Baring Brothers and as a consultant at Bain & Company. He holds a Master’s degree in business administration from HEC Paris, France.

Livio is the Executive Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College, Lead of the Sustainable Development Strategy of Imperial College Business School and teaches Venture Capital and Sustainability. He is the co-founder of GOLDEN for Impact Foundation and CEO of GOLDEN for Impact Benefit Corporation.

He has over 25 years of international experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact, venture and corporate venture capital, strategy and investment banking. Previously he held managerial positions in international financial institutions in Europe. In Intesa Sanpaolo, second largest bank in Eurozone, he served as Global Director Corporate Innovation, CEO of Neva Finventures (corporate venture capital), Head of Venture Capital, Head of Strategy and Marketing of Corporate & Investment Banking. Livio has been Managing Director of the Research & Entrepreneurship Foundation and a steering board member of Masters in Innovation and Engineering (SSSA Pisa).

He has published books and articles on entrepreneurship, sustainability strategy, environmental impact, strategic planning and risk management. He has served as advisor and investor in a wide range of start-ups. Livio holds a degree in Economics & Business Administration, MSc in Macroeconomics and executive education in Social Entrepreneurship as well as Exponential Technologies at Singularity University.

Professor in Practice – Sustainable Finance Chair, Just Transition Finance Lab, London School of Economics & Political Science ,LSE’s Grantham Research Institute and has 30 years’ experience in climate and sustainability issues. At the Institute, he leads the sustainable finance research theme, focusing on mobilising investment for net zero and nature recovery through a just transition, as well as the role of central banks and supervisors in sustainable development. He is co-founder of the Financing the Just Transition Alliance and chair of the International Network for Sustainable Finance Policy Insights, Research and Exchange (INSPIRE).

Before joining LSE, Nick was co-director of UN Environment’s Inquiry into a Sustainable Finance System from 2014-2018. As part of this, Nick established the Sustainable Insurance Forum of regulators and the Financial Centres for Sustainability network. Prior to working with the UN, he was Head of the Climate Change Centre of Excellence at HSBC (2007-2014) and head of Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) funds at Henderson Global Investors (2000-2007). Nick has also worked at the International Institute for Environment and Development, the European Commission and the Business Council for Sustainable Development. He is a co-founder of Carbon Tracker and Planet Tracker.

Nick speaks regularly on sustainable finance topics (including long presentations as well as chairing events). As well as speaking at many LSE events, Nick’s engagements during 2022 have included Aviva Investors, the Bank of England, Building Bridges (Geneva), Environmental Finance, the Central Bank of Chile, the Institute for International Finance, OMFIF and Schroders. Nick is also author of The Corporation that Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational, and also gives illustrated talks on the global legacy of the East India Company.

Omar is Head of Sales Europe at SESAMm, a leader in ESG controversy detection and monitoring using AI. With over ​9​ years of experience in finance, he helps asset managers and investors integrate alternative data into their investment and risk processes. Passionate about finance, technology, and sustainability, Omar has been with SESAMm for 7 years, driving ESG innovation across Europe.

Patrice Cochelin, based in the Paris office, heads up Analytical Governance for our Sustainable Finance practice and co-chairs the Global Environmental and Sustainability Focus Team (GEFT) for S&P Global Ratings. He oversees the quality of Second Party Opinions (SPOs) for Green, Social, Sustainability, and Sustainability-linked financing, and of Climate Transition Assessments (CTAs). At GEFT, he helps coordinate S&P Global ratings approach to sustainability research, environmental impact analysis, the Sustainability Insights publication planning, approval, and review across divisions and practices.

From 2015 to Jan. 2021, Patrice was the Analytical Manager for the Sovereign and International Public Finance team covering the UK & Ireland, the Netherlands, France & French-speaking Belgium, Switzerland and Africa, and Southern Europe. From 2018 Patrice led S&P Global Ratings’ ESG approach for Sovereigns, Supranationals and International Public Finance globally and contributed to the development of S&P Global ratings’ ESG Evaluation methodology.

Between 2011 and 2014, Patrice headed the Telecommunications and Technology ratings team in the EMEA region, and jointly coordinated global Telecom ratings.

Patrice joined S&P Global Ratings in 2001, covered Consumer, Retail, & Services businesses, and became during 2004-2010 a senior analyst in the Telecom, Media and Technology team, jointly coordinating Technology ratings globally from 2005.

Before S&P Global Ratings, Patrice worked for six years at Société Générale, of which four as a Credit Analyst with roles on Asia-Pacific Corporates, and Corporate Acquisitions and LBO financing in the US & Europe.

Patrice graduated from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce of Bordeaux in 1995 and earned the CFA’s ESG Investing Certificate in 2022.

Pietro brings over two decades of leadership in responsible business practices, corporate transparency, and sustainable finance policy, with a focus on climate action, human rights, and sustainable development. As Chief Policy and Projects Officer at CDP, Pietro ensures policy is at the heart of organizational strategy, building impactful partnerships and leading transformative projects that shape the future of ESG and climate disclosure. His work has been instrumental in establishing the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and aligning CDP’s disclosure system with the IFRS Climate Standards (S2), advancing global harmonization in corporate reporting.

Prior to CDP, Pietro held key positions at the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), where he played a crucial role in embedding corporate sustainability into regulatory frameworks and guiding jurisdictional policies such as EU non-financial disclosure regimes. His contributions extended to global initiatives, including the Rio+20 Conference and the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Pietro is also a principal architect in mobilizing businesses for sustainable development, co-authoring the SDG Compass under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General and spearheading a pioneering partnership between GRI and the UN Global Compact to support corporate SDG reporting.

Pietro graduated from LUISS University in Rome with a degree in International Law and has an MA in Management and Governance of Non-Profit Organizations and an MA in Management and Economy of the Environment and Energy

Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE

Chris Skidmore is a former UK Energy Minister who signed the United Kingdom’s net zero by 2050 commitment into law, becoming the first G7 country to do so. In January 2024, in protest at the UK government’s decision to promote new oil and gas licences, he resigned his seat as a Member of Parliament in principle against the decision.

A member of the British Parliament between 2010 and 2024, Chris served in several UK government departments including the Treasury, the Cabinet Office, the Department of Business, Energy, Innovation and Skills, the Department for Education and the Department of Health between 2016 and 2020. In 2019, he was promoted to become an attending Member of Cabinet under Prime Minister Theresa May and was made a Privy Councillor. During his time as Energy Minister he both signed the UK net zero commitment into law and secured the UK Presidency of COP26, held in Glasgow two years later.

Sagarika is Director, Climate Finance for the UN Climate Change High-level Champions. The Champions catalyse climate action and a bridge to parties to the Paris Agreement. There are 13,000 non-state actors in their network including financial institutions, businesses and cities. In 2025, the Champions’ finance topics include: the Baku-Belem Roadmap, nature, adaptation, insurance for sector transition, and ventures in developing countries.

Sagarika serves on the on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Climate and Nature Governance and on the advisory board of the Imperial College Business School Centre for Climate Finance and Investment.

Sagarika was PRI’s first Director of Climate Change and the Environment, having helped found the UN-convened Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance. Sagarika helped establish GFANZ with the COP26 Private Finance Hub. Sagarika has worked for over ten years at F&C Asset Management, as an investment committee member for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and a trustee at Earthwatch. Sagarika started her career in a commercial role for a European retailer.

Sagarika has an MSc in Development Studies from University of London, a post-graduate diploma in Management Studies from the University of Oxford and a BA in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Sagarika is bilingual in English and Bengali

Udo Riese is the Global Head of Sustainable Investing at Allianz Investment Management (AIM) SE, based in Munich. AIM SE represents the asset owner responsibilities of Allianz SE’s 800bn proprietary asset portfolio.  Udo was instrumental in defining and integrating Allianz SE’s  sustainability approach into the steering of all asset classes in its global portfolio and shaping Allianz’ investment strategy on climate change.

Udo joined the Allianz Group in 2003, first at Allianz Lebensversicherungs AG in Stuttgart, where he was an expert advisor on derivatives and risk topics before moving to AIM SE in 2007, heading the global risk and monitoring team.

Udo graduated with a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Tübingen. Preceding his private sector career in finance, Udo was a university lecturer and published researcher in pure mathematics.

Udo serves on the board of IIGCC, chairs the board of OS Climate and co-leads the MRV track of the UN convened Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance.