ESG 2.0: long-term value creation in the investment chain: The evolving relationship between asset owners and their asset managers

ESG 2.0 2015

08:15 - 09:00	Registration & Networking Breakfast
09:00 - 09:50	Plenary 1: Time for managers to get real and fully commit to ESG integration - Xander Den Uyl, Trustee, ABP - Marcel Jeucken, Managing Director Responsible Investment, PGGM - Antti Savilaakso, European Head of ESG Research, MSCI Moderated by Rob Lake, Principal, Rob Lake Advisors Asset owners are making new demands of their asset managers - 78% consider ESG as one of the top 5 issues when choosing an asset manager; 24% place it as a top three priority. Yet asset owners are frustrated by the lack of commitment of their managers to ESG issues.
09:50 - 10:40	Plenary 2: Call it collaboration or call it alignment... - Leanne Clements, Responsible Investment Officer, West Midlands Pension Fund - Faith Ward, Member, National LGPS Frameworks - Ulrika Hasselgren, Managing Director and Head of Sustainable and Responsible Investment, ISS-Ethix Moderated by Mike Clark, Director, Responsible Investment, Russell Investments Asset owners are increasingly working together to engage with their asset managers.Two out of three asset owners expect to work more closely with their peers to collaborate on engagement with asset managers. And they expect their peers to be more influential than any other group of stakeholders when it comes to manager selection.
10:40 - 11:20	Morning Refreshment Break
11:20 - 12:10	Plenary 3: Asset owners as long-term partners, not clients - Mark Mansley, Chief Investment Officer, Environment Agency Pension Fund - Marta Jankovic, Senior Sustainability and Governance Specialist, APG Asset Management - Paul Udall, Portfolio Manager, Temporis Capital Moderated by Rory Sullivan, Senior Research Fellow, University of Leeds; Senior Strategic Advisor, ISS-Ethix Asset Owners are demanding greater access to investment staff and a clearer view of what's under the bonnet of investment products. They want to know exactly how their managers are integrating ESG. It's easy to claim that its being done, but owners want to understand exactly how is being done. Can asset managers work in partnership with their institutional clients? What does partnership look like in the eyes of asset owners?
12:10 - 13:00	Plenary 4: It's still about performance! - Nadine Viel Lamare, Head of Sustainable Value Creation, AP1 - Gert van de Paal, SRI Specialist, Rabobank Moderated by Mike Tyrrell, Editor, SRI Connect The asset owners we surveyed emphasised risk and return over reputation and ethics. They want their managers to switch focus to long-term risks and opportunities. This issue is perhaps expressed most starkly when it comes to fossil fuel divestment. Just one respondent cited pressure from activist groups. The vast majority are concerned about investment risk.
13:00 - 14:00	Networking Lunch
14:00 - 16:10	Deep Dive Workshops See details below
16:10 - 17:00	Plenary 5: Future Trends - Janice Turner, Founding Co-Chair, Association of Member Nominated Trustees (AMNT) - Divyesh Hindocha, Senior Consultant, Mercer - Simon Jones, Member, Resource and Environment Board, Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Moderated by Will Martindale, Head of Policy, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) What could standard indicators for ESG integration (portfolio risks and opportunities) look like? How could they work in the current asset management set up? ESG transmission mechanisms. How to integrate ESG risk measures when underwriting? Is fiduciary duty a legitimate barrier to investors integrating ESG?
17:00 - 18:30	Networking Drinks ESG 2.0 Networking Drinks Sponsored by:

Deep Dive Workshops: Examining how ESG criteria are specifically being introduced, measured and reported in each of the following asset classes:

Workshop A: Public Equity & Corporate Debt

14:00 - 14:50	Public Equity Presentation followed by Q&A Edmond Schaff, Head of Fund Selection, Cedrus Asset Management Antoine Briant, Chief Executive Officer, amLeague Moderated by Anuschka Hilke, Senior Analyst, 2° Investing Initiative Cedrus Asset Management and amLeague will discuss their project with ERAFP, the 100% socially responsible investor, which will test whether asset managers can run a portfolio of international equities with a low carbon footprint.
14:50 - 15:20	Refreshment Break
15:20 - 16:10	Corporate Debt Presentation followed by Q&A Laura Nishikawa, Executive Director and Head of Fixed Income ESG Research, MSCI Bob Walker, Vice President Ethical Funds & ESG Services, NEI Investments Moderated by Archie Beeching, Senior Manager, Fixed Income, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) ESG integration in the bond manager search process and research insights on ESG in corporate debt investing.

Workshop B: Private Equity*

14:00 - 14:50	Private Equity Presentation followed by Q&A Faith Ward, Chief Responsible Investment and Risk Officer, Environment Agency Pension Fund Emilie Goodall, Director of Projects, Impact+, Bridges Ventures Moderated by Rory Sullivan, Senior Research Fellow, University of Leeds; Senior Strategic Advisor, ISS-Ethix The Environment Agency Pension Fund and Bridges Ventures’ perspective on why responsible investment is important in private equity, as well as an overview of the PRI work on guidance to help standardise LP due diligence.
14:50 - 15:20	Refreshment Break
15:20 - 16:10	Private Equity Panel discussion followed by Q&A Beth Houghton, Investment Director, Palatine Private Equity Ellen de Kreij, Director, Apax Partners Moderated by Penelope Latorre, Head of Policy, Technical Director, Waterman Group; Member, Responsible Investment Advisory Group, BVCA Palatine and Apax will discuss their approach to ESG integration and highlight their award winning ESG frameworks.

Workshop C: Infrastructure & Real Estate*

14:00 - 14:50	Infrastructure Presentation followed by Q&A Ritu Kumar, Director, Environment and Social Responsibility, CDC Group Duncan Hale, Investment Consultant, Towers Watson Deirdre Cooper, Portfolio Manager and Head of Sustainability, Ecofin Moderated by Kathy Ryan, Founder, Global Green Investments Considering what is best practice when reviewing opportunities and monitoring investments. This session will cover direct and listed equity investments with an additional focus on renewable energy and low carbon investments.
14:50 - 15:20	Refreshment Break
15:20 - 16:10	Real Estate Presentation followed by Q&A Mathieu Elshout, Director, Private Real Estate Group, PGGM Jenny Pidgeon, Head of Sustainability, TH Real Estate Moderated by Hugh Wheelan, Managing Director, Responsible Investor Insights on how PGGM has implemented ESG in real estate investing, including using GRESB and the recent GeoPhy partnership, alongside TH Real Estate who will also highlight some of the ESG demands that their clients are now putting forward.

*The Private Equity, Infrastructure and Real Estate sessions have limited space. We advise booking and reserving as soon as possible to secure your place on these sessions.