Investor case studies

[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]
This session looked at case studies of investors who have integrated sustainability practices into their investment decision making and portfolio construction, their outlook for the next five to 10 years, and what they think ESG 2.0 will look like in their portfolios.[vc_quotes layout=”accordion” quotes=”%5B%7B%22name%22%3A%22Lucy%20Thomas%22%2C%22job_role%22%3A%22Head%20of%20investment%20stewardship%2C%20TCorp%20(Australia)%22%2C%22content%22%3A%22Lucy%20Thomas%20leads%20NSW%20Treasury%20Corporation%E2%80%99s%20stewardship%20activities.%20In%20her%20role%20she%20has%20joint%20accountability%20with%20the%20investment%20leadership%20team%20for%20the%20design%20and%20implementation%20of%20a%20new%20total%20portfolio%20approach%20to%20investment%20and%20stewardship%20philosophy%20and%20process.%20TCorp%20is%20committed%20to%20be%20an%20effective%20steward%20of%20the%20%2490%20billion%20of%20assets%20entrusted%20to%20TCorp%20on%20behalf%20of%20the%20people%20of%20NSW.%5CnShe%20is%20responsible%20for%20establishing%20and%20managing%20best-practice%20stewardship%20at%20TCorp%20and%20uses%20a%20five%20pillar%20framework%20to%20embed%20stewardship%20across%20the%20organisation.%20These%20pillars%20include%20ESG%20integration%2C%20proxy%20voting%2C%20engagement%2C%20collaboration%20and%20disclosure.%20She%20ensures%20consistency%20of%20approach%20and%20transparency%20to%20stakeholders%20including%20government%2C%20clients%2C%20TCorp%20board%20and%20global%20industry%20peers.%20%5CnShe%20was%20previously%20global%20head%20of%20sustainable%20investment%20at%20Willis%20Towers%20Watson.%20Her%20career%20spans%20diverse%20global%20investment%20roles%20with%20over%2015%20years%E2%80%99%20industry%20experience.%20Her%20background%20includes%20equity%20research%20at%20Morgan%20Stanley%20in%20London%3B%20a%20boutique%20real%20estate%20manager%20in%20Europe%3B%20and%20a%20Sydney%20based%20market%20neutral%20hedge%20fund.%5CnShe%20is%20a%20CFA%20charterholder%20and%20holds%20a%20BA%20(Hons)%20in%20management%20science%20from%20Dublin%20University%20(Trinity%20College).%22%2C%22image%22%3A%2233580%22%2C%22linkedin%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Flucy-thomas-b194b855%2F%3ForiginalSubdomain%3Dau%22%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22Andrew%20Siwo%22%2C%22job_role%22%3A%22Director%20of%20sustainable%20investments%20and%20climate%20solutions%2C%20New%20York%20State%20Common%20Retirement%20Fund%20(United%20States)%22%2C%22content%22%3A%22Andrew%20Siwo%20is%20the%20director%20of%20sustainable%20investments%20and%20climate%20solutions%20(SICS)%20at%20the%20New%20York%20State%20Common%20Retirement%20Fund%20and%20reports%20to%20the%20chief%20investment%20officer.%20He%20is%20charged%20with%20providing%20leadership%20and%20oversight%20on%20sustainable%20investment%20efforts%20across%20the%20Fund%E2%80%99s%20%24220%20billion%20portfolio%20and%20is%20the%20portfolio%20manager%20for%20the%20fund%E2%80%99s%20%2420%20billion%20commitment%20to%20SICS.%20Previously%2C%20Siwo%20was%20an%20investment%20director%20and%20served%20as%20the%20head%20of%20mission-related%20investments%20(MRIs)%20at%20Colonial%20Consulting%2C%20an%20investment%20consultancy%20to%20over%20150%20leading%20foundations%20and%20endowments%20with%20an%20aggregate%20of%20%2440%20billion%20in%20assets.%5CnAt%20Colonial%20Consulting%2C%20Siwo%20led%20the%20creation%20of%20client%20portfolios%20targeting%20MRIs%2C%20developed%20the%20firm%E2%80%99s%20MRI%20(SRI%2C%20ESG%2C%20impact)%20framework%20as%20well%20led%20sourcing%2C%20investment%20research%2C%20and%20due%20diligence%20across%20asset%20classes%20for%20related%20investment%20strategies.%5CnPrior%20to%20joining%20Colonial%20Consulting%2C%20Siwo%20was%20a%20manager%20at%20the%20Global%20Impact%20Investing%20Networking%20(GIIN).%20In%20his%20capacity%20there%2C%20he%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20operation%2C%20sourcing%2C%20and%20development%20of%20ImpactBase%2C%20the%20largest%20platform%20of%20impact%20investment%20funds%20globally%2C%20which%20he%20grew%20by%20%2410%20billion%20and%20validated%20over%20100%20impact%20funds.%20He%20also%20educated%20and%20fostered%20institutional%20investors%20seeking%20exposure%20to%20socially%2Fenvironmentally%20responsible%20investment%20portfolios.%5CnPrior%20to%20joining%20the%20GIIN%2C%20Siwo%20spent%20five%20years%20in%20the%20investment%20banking%20division%20at%20JP%20Morgan-most%20recently%20in%20the%20Global%20Special%20Opportunities%20Group%2C%20a%20%243%20billion%20proprietary%20portfolio%20of%20principal%20investments%20in%20private%20equity%2C%20debt%2C%20mezzanine%2C%20infrastructure%2C%20and%20real%20estate.%20He%20also%20held%20roles%20on%20the%20rates%20desk%20executing%20fixed-income%20financing%20transactions%20as%20well%20as%20the%20Securitized%20Products%20Group%20valuing%20collateralized%20mortgage%20obligations.%5CnBefore%20JP%20Morgan%2C%20Siwo%20was%20a%20member%20of%20the%20Corporate%20Finance%20and%20Real%20Estate%20Strategy%20Group%20at%20Victoria’s%20Secret%20leading%20project%20finance%20initiatives.%20He%20began%20his%20career%20at%20E*Trade%20Financial%2C%20managing%20a%20team%20of%20investment%20representatives%20serving%20active%20traders%20and%20high%20net-worth%20investors.%20His%20investment%20articles%20have%20been%20printed%20in%20various%20industry%20publications.%20Siwo%20completed%20an%20MPA%20in%20Finance%20and%20Fiscal%20Policy%20at%20Cornell%20University%20and%20holds%20a%20BA%20in%20Accounting%20from%20Morehouse%20College.%20He%20has%20held%20FINRA%20Series%207%2C%2063%2C%20and%2024%20licenses.%20Siwo%20was%20selected%20into%20the%202020%20Class%20of%20Crain%E2%80%99s%20New%20York%20Business%20%E2%80%9C40%20under%2040.%E2%80%9D%22%2C%22image%22%3A%2233581%22%2C%22linkedin%22%3A%22%22%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22Dewi%20Dylander%22%2C%22job_role%22%3A%22Deputy%20executive%20director%2C%20PKA%3B%20former%20head%20of%20department%2C%20Danish%20Ministry%20of%20Climate%20(Denmark)%22%2C%22content%22%3A%22As%20PKA%E2%80%99s%20deputy%20executive%20director%20Dewi%20Dylander%20is%20head%20of%20sustainable%20investments%20and%20the%20investment%20secretariat%20where%20she%20works%20with%20integrating%20ESG%20in%20investments%2C%20exercising%20active%20ownership%20and%20optimizing%20the%20business%20through%20sustainable%20investments.%20She%20is%20responsible%20for%20climate%20related%20issues%20and%20implementing%20the%20UN%20SDG’s.%20In%20addition%2C%20she%20is%20ensuring%20long-term%20value%20creation%20through%20an%20increased%20focus%20on%20implementing%20ESG%20factors%20as%20core%20elements%20in%20the%20investment%20strategy%2C%20policies%20and%20guidelines.%5CnWith%20a%20practicing%20certificate%20and%20%2B20%20years’%20business%20experience%20%E2%80%93%20including%20on%20executive%20level%20%E2%80%93%20I%20have%20a%20strong%20professional%20foundation%20with%20broad%20financial%2C%20legal%20and%20international%20experience%20from%20both%20the%20public%20and%20private%20sectors.%20She%20has%20worked%20at%20ATP%2C%20and%20was%20well%20as%20stints%20in%20government%20including%20chief%20negotiator%20and%20head%20of%20department%20for%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Energy%2C%20Utilities%20and%20Climate%20in%20Denmark%2C%20where%20she%20was%20Denmark%E2%80%99s%20chief%20negotiator%20for%20international%20climate%20negotiations%20with%20the%20EU%20and%20UN.%20She%20has%20a%20Masters%20Degree%20in%20Law%20from%20the%20University%20of%20Copenhagen.%5Cn%22%2C%22image%22%3A%2233582%22%2C%22linkedin%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fdewi-dylander-755b7935%2F%3ForiginalSubdomain%3Ddk%22%7D%5D” title=”Speaker” el_class=””][vc_quotes layout=”accordion” quotes=”%5B%7B%22name%22%3A%22Amanda%20White%22%2C%22job_role%22%3A%22Director%2C%20institutional%20content%2C%20Conexus%20Financial%20(Australia)%22%2C%22content%22%3A%22White%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20content%20across%20all%20Conexus%20Financial%E2%80%99s%20institutional%20media%20and%20events.%20She%20is%20responsible%20for%20directing%20the%20bi-annual%20Fiduciary%20Investors%20Symposium%20which%20challenges%20global%20investors%20on%20investment%20best%20practice%20and%20aims%20to%20place%20the%20responsibilities%20of%20investors%20in%20wider%20societal%2C%20and%20political%20contexts%2C%20as%20well%20as%20promote%20the%20long-term%20stability%20of%20markets%20and%20sustainable%20retirement%20incomes.%20She%20is%20the%20editor%20of%20conexust1f.flywheelstaging.com%2C%20the%20online%20news%20and%20analysis%20site%20for%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20largest%20institutional%20investors.%20White%20has%20been%20an%20investment%20journalist%20for%20more%20than%2020%20years%20and%20has%20edited%20industry%20journals%20including%20Investment%20%26%20Technology%2C%20Investor%20Weekly%20and%20MasterFunds%20Quarterly.%20She%20was%20previously%20editorial%20director%20of%20InvestorInfo%20and%20has%20worked%20as%20a%20freelance%20journalist%20for%20the%20Australian%20Financial%20Review%2C%20CFO%2C%20Asset%20and%20Asia%20Asset%20Management.%20She%20has%20a%20Bachelor%20of%20Economics%20from%20Sydney%20University%20and%20a%20Master%20of%20Arts%20in%20Journalism%20from%20the%20University%20of%20Technology%2C%20Sydney.%20She%20was%20previously%20a%20columnist%20for%20the%20Canadian%20publication%2C%20Corporate%20Knights%2C%20which%20is%20distributed%20by%20the%20Globe%20and%20Mail%20and%20The%20Washington%20Post.%20White%20is%20currently%20a%20fellow%20in%20the%20Finance%20Leaders%20Fellowship%20at%20the%20Aspen%20Institute.%20The%20two-year%20program%20consists%20of%2022%20fellows%20and%20seeks%20to%20develop%20the%20next%20generation%20of%20responsible%2C%20community-spirited%20leaders%20in%20the%20global%20finance%20industry.%22%2C%22image%22%3A%2233531%22%2C%22linkedin%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Famanda-white-101a7515%2F%3ForiginalSubdomain%3Dau%22%7D%5D” title=”Moderator” el_class=””][vc_empty_space height=”10px”]

Key takeaways

Lucy
  • We think about allocating risk, not capital. We take a whole portfolio view.
  • We assess ESG risks and benefits. Can we mitigate risks or take advantage of benefits?
  • Before we invest, we think about whether we can add value by active engagement and stewardship over the long-term.
  • It is important for sustainability to be integral to every cog of the investment wheel.
  • We ask our asset manager managers to follow the CFA’s code of ethics and report on their compliance to it, which gives us an insight into the culture.
  • We should continue to ask ourselves what our portfolio impacts, not just what our portfolio returns.
 Andrew
  • The fund focuses on 9 of the 17 SDGs.
  • For sustainable investing 2.0, asset managers will need to identify the source of alpha.
  • In future, there will be a close examination of claims made versus claims achieved.
  • There is currently problematic inconsistency in rating agency assessments in the ESG space.
Dewi
  • A few years back, we set a target to invest 10 per cent in climate actions.
  • We wish to invest at least US$8bn in climate initiatives by 2030.
  • We have an ESG tilt to our equities portfolio.
  • The lack of data and lack of comparability is an ongoing issue.
  • Investment in the S and G is expected to continue in the current global circumstances.

Sponsored Content

Leave a Comment

China ESG risk: the next unknown

China ESG risk: the next unknown

One of the most important, upcoming challenges at CalSTRS is how the fund should evaluate Chinese investments from a human capital and environmental standpoint, says Chris Ailman, chief investment officer at the giant pension fund.

Sort content by

Working flexibly give investors an edge

Schroders’ new flexible working policy has been making the headlines. Their CIO explains why it is integral to providing superior investment performance.

Sustainability and the corporate world

In this article, Schroders focus on six key areas that point to a changing role of the corporate sector in society in the face of “inescapable truths”

Sizing the impact investing market

It is essential that the growth in impact investing is scale with integrity. The first step in that is to determine the current scale of the impact investing market and examine what that may mean for future growth and development.

Covid-19 and relationship with nature

In this series of articles, Federated Hermes will explore the links between infectious diseases, environmental issues and social sustainability, alongside the role of investors and companies. In part one, Sonya Likhtman looks at how the destruction of ecosystems can increase the risk of pandemics.

Prosperity and preservation

Federated Hermes discusses how the exogeneous shock of the coronavirus pandemic has confirmed the importance of sustainability.

Can we adapt to the new climate normal?

Climate change will test our ability to avoid mortal danger more than ever before. Humanity’s ability to adapt, something we have excelled at, must again come to the fore.

Previous