ESG in 10

Advisers have noted a shift in client priorities, with rising cost-of-living concerns and economic volatility at the forefront. According to the latest RIAA survey report, 88% of Australians simply expect their super or other investments to be invested responsibly, showing ESG is no longer viewed as an ‘added extra' for clients. In this episode, Nathan Fradley, FChFP, Specialist Financial Adviser, joins Charlotte to explore the complexities of ESG investing from an adviser's perspective, unpacking key client ESG drivers, conflicting priorities, and the daily challenges advisers face. Learn more about Nathan by visiting his website- Financial Advice | Aged Care | Divorce | Estates | Nathan Fradley RIAA Report: https://responsibleinvestment.org/aus-consumer-research/

In this episode of ESG in 10, Charlotte O'Meara welcomes Joachim Klement, investment strategist and ESG specialist from Liberum, to delve into the critical impact of geopolitical risks on investment strategies. While recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have brought these risks to the forefront, their influence on global investment landscapes has been longstanding. Join us as we explore how investors can address these persistent challenges and seamlessly integrate them into their ESG frameworks. *NB. This episode was recorded at the RIAA Conference Australia.

In this episode of ESG in 10, we delve into the crucial intersection of AI and responsible investing. With the exponential growth of AI-driven businesses, investors are grappling with how to gauge the responsible use of this technology. Alphinity Investment Management, in collaboration with CSIRO's Data61 team, presents a groundbreaking framework aimed at guiding investors in assessing the ethical deployment of AI. Tune in as we explore key insights from their comprehensive research report, discuss engagement activities, and provide an overview of the investment framework, empowering investors to integrate responsible AI considerations into their investment strategies. Find out more about Alphinity's Responsible AI Framework for Investors 

By 2030, more than 60% of the world's population will live and eat in Asia. With the growing demand for sustainable food production, there are many challenges and opportunities with the changing demographics and demand for food in the region. In this episode, Charlotte is joined by Tai Lin, Managing Partner at Proterra Asia, to dissect the complexities of this evolving landscape, exploring the shifting demographics and evolving dietary habits driving the surge in food demand across Asia.

Did you know? According to a Walk Free Report, one in every 130 females globally is living in modern slavery. Women and girls account for nearly three-quarters (71%) of all victims. This stark reality sheds light on the disproportionate impact of modern slavery on women and girls, highlighting the urgent need for action. In this episode, we delve deep into this crucial topic with Melissa Stewart, founder of Stewardship Advisory and a member of the Alphinity Sustainable Fund Compliance Committee. Tune is as we discuss the impact of gender inequality on modern slavery prevalence and explore how investors can play a pivotal role in addressing this issue.

In this episode of ESG in 10, Charlotte O'Meara is joined by Gillian Jago, Senior Trader at Ardea Investment Management, to explore the dominance of Europe in sovereign green bond issuance amid a global slowdown. They delve into the drivers behind Europe's success, compare the global approaches to green policies, and provide insights into the outlook for green bond issuance in the remaining weeks of 2023. You can read the full paper by Ardea Investment Management here-Why Europe is the region leading sovereign green bond issuance and what we expect for the last three months of the year - Ardea Investment Management

In this episode, Charlotte is joined by Chris Whitcombe, Head of Global ABS, and Michael Cistulli, Analyst, at Challenger Investment Management, as they delve into the challenges and advancements of integrating ESG considerations in Asset Backed Securities (ABS). Together, they explore the global landscape of ESG integration and take a closer look at the CIM approach for evaluating ESG risks within ABS transactions.

In this episode, Charlotte is joined by Moana Nottage from Alphinity Investment Management to discuss her research into Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the importance of integrating AMR as a factor into the investment and stewardship process.   When used correctly, antimicrobials play a key role in treating human and animal health. Antibiotics in particular have saved millions of lives since the 1940s and have contributed significantly to the life expectancy we see today. But microorganisms are becoming more resistant to contemporary medicine. Without responsible antimicrobial use, disease prevention and research into alternatives, the systemic risk posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could be extremely disruptive.    Learn More: Antimicrobial Resistance: An emerging ESG consideration - Alphinity Antimicrobial resistance: Relevance to investors - Alphinity EU Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (europa.eu)

In this episode of ESG in 10, Charlotte is joined by Moana Nottage, Alphinity Investment Management, and Nana Li, Impax Asset Management, to share insights from the PRI in person conference held in Tokyo in October, and discuss the emerging themes that are the focus of investors globally.  

The world is experiencing an acute inflation shock, but one key question we must ask, is how this impacts the transition to a sustainable economy?  If we don't get the transition right, could it worsen future inflation hurdles? With a career spanning over 25 years in sustainability, Kirsteen Morrison, Portfolio Manager at Impax Asset Management, joins the podcast to share her insights on how the current inflationary environment will impact the transition to a sustainable economy and what the failure to act on climate change may mean for the inflationary environment in the future.

After many years of limited activity on green bonds in Australia, we have seen a number of developments in this space recently, with the announcement of the Australian Government issuing a green bond. This reflects the substantial increase in activity in green bond development globally. Joining the latest episode of the ESG in 10 podcast, is Tamar Hamlyn, portfolio manager at Ardea Investment Management, to take us through the developments in the green bond space in Australia and what this means for sovereign bond investors.

In this episode we hand over hosting duties to Tiffany Holland, Head of Partnerships at Cultiv8, as she sits down with Dan Winson founder at Zetifi, and James Niemeyer, a precision Ag. specialist who has adopted Zetifi's Technology, to discuss ESG considerations necessary for responsible and sustainable expansion.  

PART TWO   Join a special 2-part interview with Simon O'Connor, CEO of Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) as we take an exclusive look at the recent RI Australia Conference, the largest in-person and online event for sustainable business and responsible investment in the Southern Hemisphere. Whilst attending the conference, Agnieszka spoke to some key industry leaders who you will hear in these episodes. We thank them for sharing their views, and their contribution to the podcast.. Episode 1: 2:27 -Lucy Cooper, ESG Director, Crescent Capital Partners Episode 1: 2:51- Pablo Berrutti, Senior Investment Specialist, Stewart Investors; Co-founder and Managing Director, Altiorem Episode 2: 00:51-Rick Alexander, CEO, The Shareholder Commons Episode 2: 4:12 -Désirée Lucchese, Head of Ethics and Impact ,U Ethical Episode 2: 9:20 -Moana Nottage, ESG and Sustainability Analyst, Alphinity Investment Management   For links to articles and Toolkit's mentioned in these episodes please refer to the links below: REP 763 ASIC's recent greenwashing interventions: Report REP 763 ASIC's recent greenwashing interventions ASIC's Info Sheet 271: How to avoid greenwashing when offering or promoting sustainability-related products | ASIC RIAA Investor Toolkit on Human Rights and Armed Conflict:Investor-Toolkit-on-Human-Rights-and-Armed-Conflict.pdf (responsibleinvestment.org) More information on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament: What is the Indigenous voice to parliament, how would it work, and what happens next? | Indigenous voice to parliament | The Guardian Voice to Parliament - Reconciliation Australia

PART ONE   Join a special 2-part interview with Simon O'Connor, CEO of Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) as we take an exclusive look at the recent RI Australia Conference, the largest in-person and online event for sustainable business and responsible investment in the Southern Hemisphere. Whilst attending the conference, Agnieszka spoke to some key industry leaders who you will hear in these episodes. We thank them for sharing their views, and their contribution to the podcast.. Episode 1: 2:27 -Lucy Cooper, ESG Director, Crescent Capital Partners Episode 1: 2:51- Pablo Berrutti, Senior Investment Specialist, Stewart Investors; Co-founder and Managing Director, Altiorem Episode 2: 00:51-Rick Alexander, CEO, The Shareholder Commons Episode 2: 4:12 -Désirée Lucchese, Head of Ethics and Impact ,U Ethical Episode 2: 9:20 -Moana Nottage, ESG and Sustainability Analyst, Alphinity Investment Management   For links to articles and Toolkit's mentioned in these episodes please refer to the links below: REP 763 ASIC's recent greenwashing interventions: Report REP 763 ASIC's recent greenwashing interventions ASIC's Info Sheet 271: How to avoid greenwashing when offering or promoting sustainability-related products | ASIC RIAA Investor Toolkit on Human Rights and Armed Conflict:Investor-Toolkit-on-Human-Rights-and-Armed-Conflict.pdf (responsibleinvestment.org) More information on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament: What is the Indigenous voice to parliament, how would it work, and what happens next? | Indigenous voice to parliament | The Guardian Voice to Parliament - Reconciliation Australia

Merlon Capital Partners believe that the deep consideration of governance, social and environmental issues, together with active ownership, enhances investment, business, and community outcomes. A key differentiator for Merlon is their structured and innovative corporate engagement program, where Merlon actively engage with their current and future portfolio companies to achieve the best ESG outcomes. In this episode, we sit down with Rebecca El Khoury, ESG and Sustainability Manager at Merlon to explore Merlon's unique approach to corporate engagement and discuss an engagement case study based on the research they have recently completed on problem gambling.   You can view the research paper here and on their website www.merloncapital.com

Kirsty Mackay- Fisher, Senior Analyst at WaveStone Capital joins the podcast to discuss her latest ESG research investigating remuneration structures for company executives of the ASX200 and the ESG hurdles linked to those REM structures.    To hear more from WaveStone, visit their Insights Blog  on their website https://www.wavestonecapital.com.au/

Episode 4- Artificial Intelligence and Big Tech – What does this mean for responsible investors? Charlotte O' Meara is joined by Mary Manning and Jessica Cairns, Alphinity Investment Management. Alphinity Investment Management have incorporated artificial Intelligence (AI) into their ESG integration process for a number of years, developing their own responsible investment framework for AI. With the rise of AI technologies such as Chat GPT, AI is now receiving a lot of publicity, but what does that mean for responsible investing? This episode provides an overview of AI and how considerations of AI can be factored into the ESG integration process.   Hear more from Alphinity on the topic of Big Tech: Tech Talk January 2023: The most interesting things in Tech - Alphinity Is Google's LaMDA chatbot sentient? - Alphinity

Agriculture and Food Technology – how emerging technologies will reimagine the food and farming system. A conversation with Jonathon Quigley, Partner of Cultiv8 Funds Management. Cultiv8 Funds Management - Sustainably Focused Funds Group  

A special episode celebrating International Women's Day. Charlotte O'Meara, Senior ESG Specialist at Fidante, Interviews Dr Laura Ryan from Ardea Investment Management on the findings of her research about the role of gender promotion rates in the Australian Finance Industry. Sinéad Rafferty, Senior Investment specialist at Fidante, also joins the conversation outlining her experience as a senior woman in the funds management industry. Ardea Investment Management

Ian Simm, Founder and Chief Executive of Impax Asset Management, one of the world's leading investment managers dedicated to investing in the transition to a more sustainable economy joins todays episode to discuss biodiversity loss, deforestation and the natural world – how do these important risks and opportunities impact the investors? Impax Asset Management - Specialists in the Transition to a more Sustainable Economy (impaxam.com)