25 September 2019
Financing the action needed to meet climate & sustainability targets
AIM
The World’s First Dedicated Green and Impact Bond Fund Management Company AIM focuses solely on Fixed Income and Cash investments which generate positive environmental and social externalities. AIM’s approach is a fusion of mainstream portfolio management and sustainability, without compromising either. Our approach is new in the market place, drawing upon the experience of a team of leading experts in investment and sustainability, providing positive solutions to global challenges.
Amundi Pioneer
Amundi Pioneer is the U.S. business of Amundi, Europe’s largest asset manager and among the world’s ten largest asset managers.*
Amundi Pioneer was formed in July 2017 when Amundi acquired Pioneer Investments, and includes the operations of Amundi Pioneer Asset Management USA, Inc., based in Boston and Durham, NC. Boston is one of Amundi’s six main global investment hubs and offers a broad range of fixed-income, equity, and multi-asset investment solutions in close partnership with wealth management firms, distribution platforms, and institutional investors across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Our long history of proprietary research, robust risk management, disciplined investment processes, and strong client relationships have made Amundi Pioneer an investment adviser of choice among leading institutional and individual investors worldwide.
Amundi Pioneer had approximately $87 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2018.
* Source IPE “Top 400 asset managers” published in June 2018 and based on AUM as of end December 2017.
Domini
Domini Impact Investments LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser that specializes exclusively in responsible investing. We serve individual and institutional investors who wish tocreate positive social and environmental outcomes while seeking competitive financial returns.
Domini manages three mutual funds: the Domini Impact Equity Fund (large-cap domesticequity), the Domini International Impact Equity Fund (large to mid-cap international equity), and the Domini Impact Bond Fund (U.S. intermediate term fixed income).
Domini is responsiblefor the development and application of each fund’s social and environmental standards. In addition, we engage with companies in our equity fund portfolios to pursue ESG goals.
Ecosphere+
Ecosphere+ is a new venture founded by the award winning Althelia Climate Fund with the founding mission of building markets that value carbon and incentivise sustainable business models.
Ecosphere + seeks to partner with businesses, consumers and investors who want to deliver concrete actions towards a climate resilient economy by connecting them with assets from projects and programmes that are critical to delivery of the <2oC carbon budget through preserving the valuable carbon stored in tropical forests and other critical landscapes.
The Ecosphere + portfolio includes projects that deliver a range of environmental and societal benefits as well as valuable physical commodities including deforestation-free agricultural produce such as coffee and cocoa created through sustainable agroforestry systems.
State Street Global Advisors
For four decades, State Street Global Advisors has served the world’s governments, institutions and financial advisors. With a rigorous, risk-aware approach built on research, analysis and market-tested experience, we build from a breadth of active and index strategies to create cost-effective solutions. As stewards, we help portfolio companies see that what is fair for people and sustainable for the planet can deliver long-term performance. And, as pioneers in index, ETF, and ESG investing, we are always inventing new ways to invest. As a result, we have become the world’s third largest asset manager with nearly US $2.72 trillion* under our care.
*This figure is presented as of June 30, 2018 and includes approximately $53 billion of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.
S&P Dow Jones Indices
Trucost is part of S&P Dow Jones Indices. A leader in carbon and environmental data and risk analysis, Trucost assesses risks relating to climate change, natural resource constraints, and broader environmental, social, and governance factors. Companies and financial institutions use Trucost intelligence to understand their ESG exposure to these factors, inform resilience and identify transformative solutions for a more sustainable global economy.
S&P Global’s commitment to environmental analysis and product innovation allows us to deliver essential ESG investment-related information to the global marketplace. For more information, visit www.trucost.com.
About S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®.
More assets are invested in products based on our indices than based on any other provider in the world. With over 1,000,000 indices and more than 120 years of experience constructing innovative and transparent solutions, S&P Dow Jones Indices defines the way investors measure and trade the markets.
S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence.
Natixis
Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of our multi-affiliate model, we apply Active Thinking℠ to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets.
Natixis ranks among the world’s largest asset management firms.
MSCI
MSCI ESG Research products and services are provided by MSCI ESG Research LLC, and are designed to provide in-depth research, ratings and analysis of environmental, social and governance-related business practices to companies worldwide. ESG ratings, data and analysis from MSCI ESG Research LLC. are also used in the construction of the MSCI ESG Indexes.
MSCI ESG Research LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and a subsidiary of MSCI Inc.
Global Green Growth Institute
GGGI, championing green growth and climate resilience The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization established in 2012, at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Founded to support and promote the mainstreaming of green growth, GGGI programs and projects target economic growth that is climate resilient, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
GGGI works across four priority areas considered to be essential to transforming national economies, including sustainable energy, water and sanitation, sustainable landscapes and green cities.
GGGI envisions a resilient world achieved through strong, inclusive and sustainable green growth, and is dedicated to supporting the transition of GGGI Member and partner countries toward a green growth model. In pursuit of these goals, GGGI works with Least Developed Countries and emerging economies to design and deliver programs and services that demonstrate new pathways to pro-poor, sustainable economic growth.
Based in Seoul, Republic of Korea, GGGI to operations in 28 countries to provide technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and help build a pipeline of bankable green investment projects. Follow-us: Twitter (@gggi_hq) Facebook (@GGGIHQ)
Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings is a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary and research. Dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, Fitch Ratings offers global perspectives shaped by strong local market experience and credit market expertise. The additional context, perspective and insights we provide help investors to make important credit judgments with confidence.
Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries.
Fitch Group is comprised of: Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit ratings and research; Fitch Solutions, a leading provider of credit market data, analytical tools and risk services; BMI Research, an independent provider of country risk and industry analysis specializing in emerging and frontier markets; and Fitch Learning, a preeminent training and professional development firm. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by Hearst.
EDF
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is one of the world’s largest environmental nonprofit organizations, with more than two million members and a staff of over 700 scientists, economists, policy experts, and other professionals around the world.
EDF finds practical and lasting solutions grounded in science and economics to the most serious environmental problems. Working with businesses, scientists and academics, EDF is taking a leading role in minimizing the environmental and health risks associated with the global development of oil and natural gas.
The Largest Finance Forum During Climate Week NYC 
Sustainable investing is growing rapidly in North America, but huge amounts of capital are still needed to meet global climate and sustainability goals. Driving increasing levels of climate and sustainable finance is one of the biggest global challenges of our era.
Want to play your part in financing a sustainable and net zero-carbon future? Here is the place to do it!
The annual Sustainable Investment Forum North America – held in partnership with the UNEP Finance Initiative – will return for its 4th edition on September 25, 2019 during Climate Week NYC and will welcome over 350 attendees; including asset owners and managers, banks, development institutions, policymakers, think tanks and NGOs looking to drive the sustainability agenda, making it the premier meeting space during Climate Week NYC for the sustainable finance community.
What to expect in 2019
Key Themes
ESG integration
How are investors considering ESG in their decision making?
Themed investing
Financing green and sustainable infrastructure
Implementation
Examples of sustainable investment strategies
Climate-aligned investing
Stress-testing portfolios and taking action
Responsible banking
What are banks doing to advance the sustainability agenda?
Asset class overview
How far have fixed income, PE, real estate and infrastructure advanced in ESG?
2019 Speakers
Alex Bernhardt
Principal, US Head of Responsible Investment
Alex Bernhardt, Principal and Head of Responsible Investment (RI) for Mercer in the US, is a noted expert in catastrophe, weather and financial risk management with a track record of leading large, complex and innovative multinational projects. In his role as US RI leader Alex works with institutional investors of all types and sizes to address a variety of evolving sustainability challenges in their portfolios with a focus on climate change.
This work includes the facilitation of strategic governance exercises with investor boards focused on supporting ESG integration into investment policies, processes and portfolios. He is also responsible for driving innovation in environmental and social investment risk and opportunity assessment and (co)leads a variety of strategic research projects with internal and external stakeholders.
Andrew Steel
Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainable Finance
Andrew has over 30 years of experience as a global risk and finance specialist and was recently appointed to lead a new cross sector global team to develop and expand Fitch’s analysis of ESG and sustainable finance. Andrew is responsible for developing Fitch’s sustainable finance strategy, both within the ratings business and across the broader Fitch group, by determining investor and banker needs, and driving the development of new teams to provide products and services for this rapidly growing area. Initially the sustainable finance team is based in London, New York and Beijing, but will expand in size, scope and location dependent on identified constituent needs.
Andrew has held several senior management roles within Fitch over the last 14 years. In Europe from 2004 to 2010 he ran the energy, utilities, project finance and regulated transportation analytical groups. From 2010 to 2017 he was based in Singapore and led the development of Fitch’s Asia Pacific Corporate Ratings Group. Then on his return to Europe in 2017 he was regional head of Fitch’s EMEA Corporate Ratings Group, and also successfully ran a global executive project to transform and improve Fitch’s overseas office network.
From 2000 to 2004, Andrew was head of ABN Amro’s structured industry finance, power and utilities group for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He also previously worked for Edison Capital Europe as a private equity investment director in infrastructure, for the energy company PowerGen plc (now EON) as a senior project finance manager, and in the banking sector as a mezzanine, leveraged buy-out and cross-border M&A lender and advisor.
From 2006-2010 Andrew actively assisted the United Nation’s Economic Council for Europe advising on energy and risk issues, and was a member of the UNECE Ad Hoc Group of Experts on Sustainable Energy Developments. Andrew speaks regularly at conferences and forums on a wide range of risk based issues. He is currently a trustee of the Great Ormand Street Hospital based children’s charity CLEFT.
Andrew graduated with a BSc Hons in Psychology from Bristol University in 1989, and has a postgraduate diploma from INSEAD business school (CGEM 2016).
Chris Phillips
Director, Institutional Relations and Public Affairs
Chris Phillips is Director of Institutional Relations and Public Affairs at the Washington
State Investment Board (WSIB). He oversees the WSIB’s client relations, corporate
governance, government and media relations, performance reporting and web/digital
communications. He joined the WSIB in 2015 and has more than 20 years of experience
in communications aspects of investments and financial services. Chris is a member the
WSIB’s Executive Management Team and advisor to its Investment Committee.
Prior to joining the WSIB, Chris worked for 13 years at Russell Investments in both
Tacoma and Seattle. He led the company’s public relations team, contributed to brand
development and later was named to head a global thought leadership program for
content marketing. During 2006-2012, he worked as Managing Director of Marketing at
Threshold Group, a start-up family wealth management office founded by George F.
Russell, Jr. He and wife owned Phillips Communications, a home-based marketing firm,
and early in his career he worked eight years as a newspaper editor and reporter at
community newspapers in Oregon and Washington.
Chris is past president of the Pierce County Library Foundation, past board member of the
Public Relations Society of America – Seattle, and recently served on advisory boards for
the Gig Harbor YMCA, The University of Washington School of Arts and Science, and the
Prison-Pet Partnership Program.
He has a master’s degree in journalism from University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree
in English from Hobart College. He earned Series 7 certification for investment securities
and Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America.
Kim Thomassin
Executive Vice-President, Legal Affairs and Secretariat
Kim Thomassin has been Executive Vice-President, Legal Affairs and Secretariat since January 30, 2017. She manages the Legal Affairs, Corporate Secretariat and Compliance and Responsible Investment teams. Her mandate specifically involves managing CDPQ’s legal and regulatory activities, including the implementation of legal and governance structures
for all investment transactions. Her team also plays a central role in supporting CDPQ in its globalization strategy. She is a member of the Executive Committee, in addition to being a member of the Boards of Ivanhoé Cambridge, the institution’s global real estate subsidiary, and Cirque du Soleil. She is one of four members of an expert panel on sustainable finance set up by the federal government to engage with Canadian business experts.
Before joining CDPQ, Ms. Thomassin was National Client Leader and Managing Partner for the Québec Region at McCarthy Tétrault. As a member of the Leadership Team, she contributed to the firm’s regional and national management while strengthening its national presence. In her 17 years at the firm, she held various important positions and specialized in project finance and acquisition transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors. She has been involved in several transactions related to large-scale Canadian and international projects. She has also represented public institutions and developers in connection with public-private partnerships.
Ms. Thomassin received a B.C.L./LL. B. from Université Laval and a minor in psychology at McGill University. She also studied at the University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Law. Ms. Thomassin is a member of the Québec Bar.
Ms. Thomassin sits on the Boards of Directors of Centraide of Greater Montréal and the Foundation of Greater Montréal. In 2016, she received the Quebec National Assembly Medal in recognition of her dedication to initiatives supporting women. Her leadership has received additional recognition, including the Christine Tourigny Award of Merit, the Lawyer Emeritus distinction from the Barreau du Québec and Lexpert’s Zenith Award recognizing her as a leading lawyer. In 2012, the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) recognized her as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
Lauren Smart
Managing Director, Global Head of Financial Institutions Business
Lauren is Managing Director, Global Head of Financial Institutions Business at Trucost, part of S&P Dow Jones Indices. Trucost assesses and prices risks relating to climate change, natural resource constraints and broader ESG factors, enabling companies and financial institutions to understand exposure to ESG factors, inform resilience and identify the transformative solutions of tomorrow.
Lauren is an expert in sustainable finance and, over the last decade, has advised leading fund managers, pension funds, banks and DFIs globally on how to integrate climate change and natural capital analysis into their investment decision making.
Prior to joining Trucost, Lauren was a Senior Investment Associate in Global Equity Research at Putnam Investments specialising in Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Aerospace & Defence. She was also a consultant at DFID (UK Department for International Development), working on the Millennium Development Goals for Girls’ Education.
Lauren holds a BA (Hons) and MA from Cambridge University in Archaeology and Anthropology and an MSc in Anthropology and International Development from the London School of Economics. She is also a regular speaker and respected commentator on environmental finance issues.
Vonda Brunsting
Program Manager, Initiative for Responsible Investment
Vonda is the Program Manager for The Just Transition Project. Before joining the IRI, she was the Director of the Capital Stewardship Program at Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which was created to engage the capital markets and financial institutions in innovative ways. Prior to her time with SEIU, Vonda worked as a community organiser in Chicago, New York, and Boston with the Industrial Areas Foundation. In addition, she co-founded the Trustee Leadership Forum for Retirement Security here at the IRI. She earned her B.A. from Calvin College and A.M. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
Attendees
Influential Speakers
Sponsors & Partners