08:00 - 09:30

08:00 - 11:00

09:30 - 10:45

4A: How to build resilient portfolios for the new climate normal: Adaptation, mitigation, and resilience

With increasing global temperatures, physical climate risks are having impacts across economic, social, and natural systems on a global scale and have the potential to impact the performance of portfolios exposed to those risks.

This session will focus on how investors can best manage physical climate risk using climate adaptation strategies and build resilience to these risks. The session will allow the speakers to share good practice on how best to integrate both climate adaptation and mitigation goals in investment strategy.

Vishal Bhavsar, Global Head of ESG, Multiples Alternate Asset Management Private Limited
Wren Laing, Investment Director, McConnell Foundation
Maria Nazarova-Doyle, Global Head of Sustainable Investment, IFM Investors
Faith Ward, Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Brunel Pension Partnership
Moderator: Ujala Qadir, Director of Strategy and Programs, Climate Bonds Initiative
 

4B: Critical Minerals: Achieving an environmentally and socially responsible mining industry

Critical minerals are essential to a low carbon economy. The International Energy Agency estimates that demand for the critical energy transition minerals will triple by 2030, and quadruple by 2040. This session will build on PRI’s work for the UN Secretary General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, to develop a set of global principles to safeguard environmental and social standards and embed justice in the energy transition.

The session aims to convey what's needed to incentivise long-term decision making in the mining industry and for mining to act as a catalyst for sustainable development. It focuses on the actions responsible investors can take, as well as what’s needed from wider stakeholders, such as companies and governments, to foster systems change.

Scott Maloney, Vice President, Environment , Teck Resources Limited
Sol Mamakwa, MPP for Kiiwetinoong, Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Adam Matthews, Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Church of England Pensions Board
Sarah Morris Lang, Manager Social Equality Initiatives, BMO Global Asset Management
Katie Wheatley, PRI

4C: Nature stewardship: ‘Spring’ and responsible political engagement

This session will discuss the need for responsible political engagements (RPE) by corporates in the development and implementation of nature policies. What does ‘responsible’ mean when companies or their associations are engaging policy makers? Why is it a problem for investors that some corporates are pursuing shortsighted agendas to delay or weaken government action? How has investor action on deforestation evolved to look at RPE? Why are investors interested in RPE to mitigate the material risks of nature loss? This session will discuss how collaborative stewardship initiatives such as Spring address these issues, in a panel discussion with civil society experts and investors from developed and emerging markets.

Greta Fearman, Investment Stewardship Lead, Cardano
Glenn Hurowitz, Founder and CEO, Mighty Earth
José Pugas, Partner and Head of ESG, JGP
Tim Steinweg, PRI
Charlotta Sydstrand, Head of ESG, AP7
Rebecca Vaughan, Director, Methodologies and Program Development, Influence Map
Moderator: Leslie Samuelrich, President, Green Century Funds

4D: Academic Network Conference: Green commitments

Join us as we discuss the papers below with their authors, alongside industry and academic discussants.

Paper 8: Environmental Disclosure Incentives and Externalities

Paper 9: The Net-Zero Ledger: Accountability and Regulation of Corporate Net-Zero Commitments

Paper 10: Filling the Governance Gap: Corporate Commitments and Environmental Externalities in the African Oil Sector

Monica Bae, Director, Investor Practice, Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC)
Samuel Chang, P.h.D. Candidate and Ernest R. Wish Research Fellow, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Nathan de Arriba-Sellier, Director of the Erasmus Platform for Sustainable Value Creation, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
Janet Gao, Associate Professor in Finance, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
Elvira Sojli, Associate Professor of Finance, University of New South Wales
Moderator: Yuxia Zou, Assistant Professor, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University

4E: What works? Identifying industry-led solutions to advance ESG literacy and capacity building

This highly interactive session will start by focusing on shared problems - identifying common difficulties with cross-organisational ESG literacy and the consequences this has for the prioritisations of ESG teams and the ultimate success of any organisational responsible investment policy or strategy.

In the second half of the session, we look at practical solutions: drawing on evidence and experience to help improve the design and delivery of training, education and capacity building efforts aimed at fostering much greater ESG and RI fluency across the global investment sector.

Navina Balasingam, General Manager, Capital Markets Malaysia
Herry Cho, Managing Director, Head of Sustainability and Sustainable Finance, SGX Group
Emily Lawrence, Director, Sustainable Investing, Client Engagement, North America, Northern Trust Asset Management
Derek Rozycki, Executive Director, Head of Responsible Investing, Mubadala Investment Company
Lamia Yous-Chouiten, Managing Director – Global Chief Sustainability Officer, Natixis Investment Management
Moderator: Anthony Roberts, Director, Investor Education, PRI

10:45 - 11:30

11:30 - 12:45

5A: The Road to COP16 and COP29: How can investors accelerate action on climate and biodiversity?

Focusing on the forthcoming acceleration of ambition and implementation of the global climate and nature agendas, the session will discuss the upcoming milestones of the UNFCCC and CBD. It will consider what role investors can play to contribute to ramping up implementation of the Paris Agreement and The Biodiversity Plan (formerly the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework).

This session will explore how investors can demonstrate credible action to drive a net zero, climate resilient and nature positive future. It will also look at how best to engage with policymakers on an enabling policy environment on issues such as ambition in NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions), the transition from fossil fuels, and the implementation of nature policies.

James Alexander, Chair of the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA), Chief Executive, UKSIF
Amy D'Eugenio, Sustainability Director, Responsibility Office, Federated Hermes Ltd.
Kyung-Ah Park, Head, ESG Investment Management, Managing Director, Sustainability, Temasek
Layalee Ramahi, Regional Lead, North America, UNEP Finance Initiative
Moderator: Nathan Fabian, Chief Sustainable Systems Officer, PRI

5B: Responsible political engagement: The importance of corporate lobbying in achieving sustainability goals

This session will highlight the critical role of responsible corporate political engagement i.e., corporate lobbying as a key driver in advancing responsible investment objectives. The panel will explore the impact of policy capture on sustainability issues, and how corporates can leverage their influence and expertise to advocate for improved regulations and policies. The panel will reflect on the importance of safeguards to ensure corporate political engagement is a force for good. Speakers will also share practical insights and tools to help investors better appraise the lobbying practices of investee companies.

Nancy Bélanger, Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada
Caroline Boin-Margerit, Advocacy Director - Global public affairs, Danone
Lydia Kuykendal, Director of Shareholder Advocacy, Mercy Investment Services
Moderator: Maria Lettini, Chief Executive Officer, US SIF

5C: Investor stewardship and Indigenous peoples

We’ve all seen what happens when companies pursue development projects that ignore Indigenous peoples and local communities – financial losses, project delays, reputational damage, and legal and regulatory risks can result. But what does it look like to get it right? And how can investors support positive Indigenous rightsholder engagement through stewardship?

Investors are embedding Indigenous peoples’ considerations into active ownership, for instance by seeking enhanced transparency on companies’ efforts to uphold Indigenous rights and engage with affected communities. Why and how can investors engage effectively with Indigenous peoples – and mitigate risk while building partnerships that benefit communities locally – through stewardship?

Merle Alexander KC, Principal, Miller Titerle + Company
Kim Farrant, General Manager Responsible Investment, HESTA
Elle Merete Omma, Head of EU Unit,  Saami Council
Moderator: Jamie Bonham, Head of Stewardship, NEI Investments

5D: Academic Network Conference: Investment decisions (Spotlighting the winners of the PRI Award for Outstanding Research)

Join us as we discuss the winning papers of the PRI Award for Outstanding Research with their authors, alongside industry and academic discussants.

Paper 11: Sustainable Investing: Evidence from the Field (Winner of the Best Paper Award)

Paper 12: Inattention to the Coming Storm? Rising Seas and Sovereign Credit Risk (Winner of the Best PhD Student Paper Award)

*Both papers discussed in this session are recipients of the PRI Award for Outstanding Research

Atreya Dey, PhD Candidate, University of Edinburgh Business School
Alexander Dyck, Professor of Finance, University of Toronto
Tom Gosling, Executive Fellow, Department of Finance, London Business School
Conor Kehoe, Chair, PRI
Moderator:  Ayako Yasuda, Professor, Maurice J. and Marcia G. Gallagher Chair in Finance, Graduate School of Management, University of California, Davis

For more, tune into the PRI Academic Network Live Studio session on Wednesday, 9 October 2024 from 15:40-16:05.

5E: Due diligence: The EU CSDDD and next generation of RI policy tools

While disclosure legislation is needed, it is not sufficient to address the drivers of sustainability risks to investment returns and the real economy. To achieve this, policy makers are looking at new policy tools such as human rights and environmental due diligence.

In this interactive session, attendees will learn and discuss what due diligence means, how it is implemented under the CSDDD and other laws worldwide, and how it can support investors’ risk and impact analysis and enable better investee engagement.

Panellists will answer questions around due diligence practice and legislation, showcasing it can be a proportionate and effective tool.

Lauren Compere, Managing Director/Head of Stewardship & Engagement, Boston Common Asset Management
Nikki Gwilliam-Beeharee, Investor Engagement Strategic Lead, World Benchmarking Alliance
Fernanda Hopenhaym Cabrera, Chairperson, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights
Kamil Zabielski, Head of Sustainable Investment, Storebrand AM
Moderator: Hazell Ransome, Policy Specialist, Disclosures & Due Diligence, PRI

5F: Infrastructure investment in emerging markets and vulnerable states

In this session we will help build knowledge and explore opportunities for supporting a just transition in emerging and vulnerable economies. In particular, we will showcase real-world examples of how institutional capital can support sustainable development through the lens of infrastructure investments. We will also consider how collaboration and partnership-building must play a critical role in supporting greater investment flows to states where capital is most needed.

Dr Hubert Danso, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Africa Investor
James Magor, Director, Actis
Fiona Reynolds, Chair of the Steering Committee, Finance for Peace
Manuel Rodríguez Arregui, CEO, AINDA
Moderator: Gavin Power, Chief, Sustainable Development and International Affairs, PIMCO

12:45 - 14:00

14:00 - 14:50

14:50 - 15:50

15:50 - 16:00

16:00 - 17:00