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Brendan Baker (Vice President, ESG Climate Specialist at MSCI Inc)

Brendan Baker

Vice President, ESG Climate Specialist at MSCI Inc

With a background in climate change and sustainability, and a deep knowledge of MSCI's climate solutions, Brendan is part of MSCI's ESG client coverage business, supporting APAC clients with their climate change strategies and challenges, e.g. TCFD reporting and scenario analysis. Previously at MSCI he worked as an ESG Researcher, supporting MSCI’s ESG, sustainable impact, and climate change research solutions.

He has 10+ years’ experience spanning the areas of climate change, mining and minerals, and chemicals, with a strong aptitude for climate risk analysis, ESG research, strategy development, and project management. Before MSCI, Brendan worked for CDP’s investor team in London (previously the Carbon Disclosure Project), and with Alcoa World Alumina in Western Australia as a research scientist.

Helena Fung (Head of Sustainable Investment, Asia Pacific at FTSE Russell)

Helena Fung

Head of Sustainable Investment, Asia Pacific at FTSE Russell

As Head of Sustainable Investment, Asia Pacific, Helena is responsible for FTSE Russell’s Sustainable Investment indexes, and data services across the Asia Pacific region. A core part of her role is client engagement on a comprehensive range of products and data to support them in reaching their investment decisions. Working with research and leadership teams, she has a responsibility for developing FTSE Russell’s Asia Pacific Sustainable Investment product strategy and expansion.
Helena relocated to Hong Kong in 2014 from London - a key hub for ESG investments, where she worked for the responsible investment arm of Hermes Investment Management as global head of client relations, enabling pension funds and asset managers to integrate sustainability criteria into passive and active portfolios. Before joining FTSE Russell, Helena worked for a family office in Asia where her responsibilities as an investment specialist included ESG integration, equity analysis and philanthropy. She has been working as an expert in ESG and Sustainable Investment since 2008, including providing advisory research on stewardship implementation for pension funds and family office clients, drafting responsible investment policies and integrating sustainability policies into both active and passive portfolios.

Julia Leske (Head of ESG, Australia and New Zealand at ISS Australia Pty Ltd)

Julia Leske

Head of ESG, Australia and New Zealand at ISS Australia Pty Ltd

Having worked in ESG since 2007, Julia has a great understanding of company sustainability assessments and reporting frameworks. She has been involved in the collation and construction of sustainability indices and has contributed to a range of thematic reports on corporate ESG challenges. Through working with a broad range of investors to incorporate ESG criteria into their investment processes, and participation in multi‐stakeholder groups and investor collaborations, Julia also has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement. Julia has a Master in Environmental Management and Development from the Australian National University, and a combined Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration/European Studies and Sustainable Development from the Universities of Münster (Germany) and Twente (Netherlands).

Michael Salvatico (Head of Asia Pacific ESG Business Development at Trucost - part of S&P Global)

Michael Salvatico

Head of Asia Pacific ESG Business Development at Trucost - part of S&P Global

Michael Salvatico leads environmental, social and governance (ESG) business development in Asia Pacific for Trucost, based in Sydney. He works with investors and companies to consult on industry trends, assess their ESG performance and advise on the integration of tools that help manage ESG exposures and opportunities.

Prior to joining Trucost, Michael was an Executive Director at MSCI Inc. and oversaw the company’s ESG Research in Australia and New Zealand. His career experience involves working in portfolio analytics, quantitative investment analysis and ESG research. Before MSCI Inc., he was part of the highly rated research team at Bank of America - Merrill Lynch where he was head of Emerging Markets quantitative analysis.

Michael was a cofounder in the Climakind initiative to reduce global carbon emissions by promoting a price on carbon and a thought leader in solutions to the rising levels of global carbon emissions.

Michael received a Master of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia, and a Bachelor of Commerce with Merit from the University of New South Wales.

Martin Vezér (Manager of Thematic Research at Sustainalytics, a Morningstar Company)

Martin Vezér

Manager of Thematic Research at Sustainalytics, a Morningstar Company

Martin manages thematic research projects and generates reports that aim to position Sustainalytics as a thought leader in the responsible investment industry. He has published on a wide range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics, from investment exposure to carbon transition risks and renewable energy to the cultural compatibility of companies involved in mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Sustainalytics in 2016, Martin was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the network for Sustainable Climate Risk Management at Pennsylvania State University. Martin earned his PhD in Philosophy of Science from the University of Western Ontario, his MSc in Philosophy of the Social Sciences from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and his BA (hons) from York University.