CONFERENCE DETAILS

SPS Virtual: ESG & Impact Investment Strategies for Pension Funds

May 11, 2021

Purpose

This conference will explore a range of sustainable/Impactful/ESG compliant investment options, both public and private, looking at how these can be integrated into pension funds’ investment management processes. We will seek to incorporate discussion of practical issues such as regulation, governance, transparency, fees and manager selection as well as progress towards benchmarking and measuring the effectiveness and financial performance of sustainable strategies.

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Programme

The conference will take place across the day and will be made up of four sessions.

09:30

Session 1: Clean Energy Investing

Moderator:

Ian Gamon

Investment Partner

Lane Clark & Peacock LLP

Jennifer Boscardin-Ching

Client Portfolio Manager, Thematic Equities

Pictet Asset Management

Investing in the energy transition

As momentum continues to build to tackle climate change, governments worldwide, including the US, UK, EU, China and Japan, are planning huge programmes to tackle both the climate emergency and air pollution, supporting the transition from fossil fuels to zero-carbon alternatives. This will spur unprecedented investments into the clean energy industry.

Ben Kelly

Senior Thematic Analyst, Responsible Investment

Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Hydrogen: significant opportunity or hot air?

80% of final energy demand is currently fuel dependent rather than electrical. In order to satisfy the increasing number of 2050 net zero targets a solution is needed to decarbonise areas of the economy which have so far been illusive to electrification. Hydrogen could be the solution. This presentation will explore the merits of hydrogen as a green solution to deliver 2050 net zero targets focusing on the likely demand profile, benefits, areas of application and potential hurdles. Ultimately we will determine whether this is a viable solution or if indeed hydrogen is just hot air.

10.20

10.40

Break and networking

Session 2: SDGs and Investing for Social Value

Moderator:

Nick Spencer

Advisor

Gordian Advice

Mara Schneider

Senior Associate SRI

Quoniam Asset Management

Incorporating UN Sustainable Development Goals into investment decisions

What are the UN SDGs and what role do they play for asset managers
How can SDG’s be measured/quantified?
What are the characteristics of an SDG portfolio compared to a non-SDG portfolio

Abigail Dean

Global Head of Strategic Insights

Nuveen Real Estate

Focussing on the 'S' in ESG - using Impact Investing strategies to deliver social value

Responsible investment in the built environment can address social inequality and it is essential that the social value of real estate is better understood. Creating impactful investments within commercial real estate considers the balance between environmental, societal and financial rewards. While there are numerous frameworks around the approach and measurement of social impact, the concept is not as well developed as environmental impact. This presentation discusses the social impact of real estate and the key role real estate owners can play in contributing to social inclusion.

11.30

Break and networking (to approximately 12.00)

14.10

Session 3: Impact Investing

Moderator:

Phil Edwards

Founder

Ricardo Research

Sandra Carlisle

Senior Responsible Investment Specialist

HSBC Asset Management

Ben O'Donnell

Head of Agriculture Investments

HSBC Pollination Climate Asset Management

Natural Capital – delivering returns with impact

Positioned at the junction between regulation to combat climate change, biodiversity loss and the mega trends driving the investment decisions of tomorrow, natural capital is emerging as an asset class which can’t be ignored as part of a well-diversified portfolio. The services that nature provides are increasingly well understood, while remaining significantly under-valued. We’ll discuss the investment opportunity that reversing the depletion of nature and the services it provides, while producing resources that a growing and increasingly conscious population demands, can deliver for an ESG and impact conscious investment portfolio.

Laurence Taylor

Portfolio Specialist, Equities

Investing for Impact in an Era of Disruption

We live in an era of rapid change and technological disruption that has reshaped the investment landscape and defied traditional wisdom over the past decade. With the COVID crisis now accelerating the sustainability agenda for society, governments and investors, what role will technology play in addressing global pressure points and how can investors align their portfolios with positive environmental and social impact as it evolves.

T. Rowe Price

15.00

Break and networking

15.20

Session 4: UKCGFI Initiative & Case Study

Moderator:

Pete Smith

Principal and Senior Investment Consultant

Barnett Waddingham

Iain Clacher

Professor of Pensions & Finance and Director of the Centre for Financial Technology and Innovation

Leeds University Business School

Introducing the UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment

In this session Iain will introduce the newly established CGFI and set out the ambition and scope for the centre as well as speaking about the pensions and asset management flagship which he is leading on

Aaron Pinnock

Impact Investment Analyst

Church Commissioner for England

Pension Fund Perspective

16:00

Close and Networking (to approximately 16.20)

Cost

The conference is by invitation only for pension funds and other institutional investors. If you are not already receiving an invitation please contact us. A limited number of Complimentary invitations are usually available to genuine pension fund representatives (executives and trustees) and other approved institutional investors. Furthermore, SPS always reserves the right of admission (free or paid) and our decision is final.