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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.

Suk Yun Chun (Associate Vice President, ESG Specialist APAC at ISS ESG)

Suk Yun Chun

Associate Vice President, ESG Specialist APAC at ISS ESG

Suk Yun leverages her background in research and knowledge to support ISS ESG APAC clients in navigating through ESG strategy development and challenges. Prior to joining ISS ESG in 2021, she worked as Senior Strategy Manager at an ESG data provider in South Korea where she oversaw research including developing research methodology for corporate ESG assessment using AI. Suk Yun is an experienced researcher, having worked on various gender policy and human rights issues at international and governmental thinktanks. Suk Yun holds Master in Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London and Bachelor in Social Sciences from the University of Sydney.

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.

Estelle Parker (Executive Manager at Responsible Investment Association Australasia)

Estelle Parker

Executive Manager at Responsible Investment Association Australasia

Estelle Parker leads RIAA’s research, certification, policy, standards and working group programs. She brings 20 years’ experience leading strategic initiatives as a diplomat, policy analyst, stakeholder manager and strategic planner with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Estelle has served, inter alia, as Acting Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador to Mexico, Central America and Cuba; Deputy State Director (Victoria); Policy Adviser to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands; and as Director overseeing the development and management of bilateral relationships.

Estelle also worked for five years at the University of Melbourne, where she lectured in the Master of Public Policy and Management and Master of International Relations. She is currently Chair of the Board at Wild at Heart Community Arts, which helps people who experience disability, mental illness and disadvantage to tell their stories through art and music making.

Michael Salvatico (Head of Asia, Pacific, Middle East & Africa ESG Solutions at S&P Global Sustainable1)

Michael Salvatico

Head of Asia, Pacific, Middle East & Africa ESG Solutions at S&P Global Sustainable1

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 Vezer (Associate Director, Thematic Research Team of Sustainalytics, a Morningstar Company)

Martin Vezer

Associate Director, Thematic Research Team of Sustainalytics, a Morningstar Company

Martin leads Sustainalytics’ thematic research team, focused on publishing reports on a range of ESG topics, from carbon transition risks and renewable energy to the ESG 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.