Navigating net zero: Ensuring transparency and avoiding greenwashing Dr Rod Carr•Liam Mason•Estelle Parker•Valeria Dinershteyn CFA
Terms such as ‘net zero’, ‘Paris-aligned’, ‘low carbon’, ‘green energy’, ‘green transportation’, ‘decarbonisation solutions’ and ‘fossil fuel-free’ are flooding the investment landscape. Do consumers and retail investors understand and trust these claims?
RIAA’s research shows that climate change is a significant factor in consumers’ ethical investment decision-making, and investment product providers are increasingly seeking to meet this demand through products that make climate-related claims. Are these products backing up their claims? Listen to a panel of experts discuss topics covering:
- How funds can credibly aim for meaningful climate action while meeting expectations on greenwashing
- What funds are doing to deliver on their climate-related claims
- Insight into RIAA’s Certification Program’s expectations for climate-related claims
Dr Rod Carr
Professional Director, Director ASB & Founding Chair of New Zealand's Climate Change Commission
Liam Mason
Executive Director, Evaluation & Oversight and General Counsel of FMA
Estelle Parker
Co-CEO of RIAA
Valeria Dinershteyn CFA
Director of Sustainable Investing Client Engagement at Northern Trust Asset Management
Aligning value with values: Standards across borders Helen Skinner•Greg Liddell•Pablo Berrutti•Shalini Samuel
Regulatory developments that aim to support a shift in capital towards more sustainable practices are proceeding at pace as taxonomies, product labelling regimes and disclosures regulations are implemented. But what are we trying to achieve? How much do these align, and what happens when they don't? With surging demand for transparency and accountability of financial products that align capital with a sustainable economy, environment and society, this session is ideal for investors navigating the fast-moving landscape of evolving mandatory and voluntary standards in sustainable finance, and financial advisers keen to learn more.
Helen Skinner
Head of Responsible Investment | Investment Management at ANZ New Zealand Investment Limited
Greg Liddell
Director Responsible Investments of BetaShares Holdings Pty Limited
Pablo Berrutti
Senior Director, Portfolio Specialist of Stewart Investors
Shalini Samuel
Head of Certification at RIAA
Morning Tea
Climate change: From risk to opportunity Hon Dr Megan Woods•Estelle Parker•Alastair Rhodes•Sarah Minhinnick
As the first country in the world to introduce mandatory climate disclosures, New Zealand was ahead of the global curve in seeking to ensure that the effects of climate change are routinely considered in business, investment, lending and insurance underwriting decisions. Acknowledging the risk and compliance lens that industry has been navigating, this session looks outward to the opportunities presented for investors by climate change.
Join this session to explore the evolving policy landscape, which is shaping the future of business and investment decisions; opportunities for investors to invest in climate mitigation and adaptation; and how NZ can position itself to take advantage of opportunities, and make sure it is not left behind in the race to decarbonise and capture green capital.
Hon Dr Megan Woods
Labour Spokesperson for Climate Change, Energy, Resources, Associate Finance - MP for Wigram
Estelle Parker
Co-CEO of RIAA
Alastair Rhodes
CEO of BayTrust
Sarah Minhinnick
Chief Executive at New Zealand Green Investment Finance
Leading sustainability change: A view from the C-suite Katie Beith•Grant Webster•Jolie Hodson•Simon Mackenzie
Leading large organisations towards more sustainable outcomes requires a complete transformation: strategy, systems, culture and mindset all need to shift. But how do you bridge the gap between ambition and execution?
Join us for a session featuring CEOs from iconic companies. They'll share their firsthand experiences overcoming challenges and harnessing opportunities that a more sustainable company brings. The discussion will delve into:
- Balancing quick wins and long-term goals - Mainstreaming sustainability into the business - Ensuring growth while navigating change - Engaging with investors to drive ESG outcomes and long-term returns
Katie Beith
Head of ESG at Forsyth Barr Investment Management
Grant Webster
Chief Executive Officer at Tourism Holdings Limited
Jolie Hodson
CEO of Spark
Simon Mackenzie
Group Chief Executive at Vector
Lunch
Making sense of nature: Insights from RIAA's Nature Working Group Guy Williams•Dr Daniel Hikuroa•Chitra Hepburn•Greg Munford
Join an expert panel as we break down all the talk about ‘nature positive’, ‘nature-related’ and ‘biodiversity risks and opportunities’ in finance. This session will delve into nature-related risks and opportunities, the race towards ‘net zero and nature positive’ and how nature-related financial disclosures will help investors make better decisions and deliver long-term outcomes for people, planet and value. During this session, we will launch the RIAA Nature Investor Toolkit which focuses on understanding nature-related risks and opportunities and supporting investors to assess, engage, and take action.
Guy Williams
Co-Chair of RIAA's Nature Working Group and Executive Director at Pollination Group
Dr Daniel Hikuroa
Associate Professor at University of Auckland
Chitra Hepburn
Managing Director, Head of APAC ESG and Climate, Head of South & Southeast Asia at MSCI
Greg Munford
Senior Investment Strategist - Sustainable Investment at NZ Super Fund
What does leading practice stewardship really look like? Paul Chandler•Rebekah Swan•Shayne Walker
With ‘corporate engagement and shareholder action’ recently crowned as NZ’s most used responsible investment strategy, this session will be a conversation with some of our engagement leaders to better understand what this looks like, the potential, and the challenges. What is effective engagement? How do you prioritise resourcing across growing sustainability demands? What does this mean for companies? And can engagement tackle systemic risks? This panel will discuss these questions, along with global developments in investor engagement, to provide insights into how investors can effectively tackle risks and manage long term value. RIAA is proud to co-host the Stewardship Code Aotearoa New Zealand with the Centre for Sustainable Finance.
Paul Chandler
Director of Stewardship at PRI
Rebekah Swan
RI Specialist at Fisher Funds Management Limited
Shayne Walker
Governance Committee Member of Aotearoa New Zealand Stewardship Code and Managing Partner at Māori Growth Partners
Afternoon Tea
New Zealand real estate: Building a sustainable future Shane Solly•Sarah Beale•Andy Eakin•Lisa Hinde•Peter Mence
The real estate industry plays a critical role in shaping our environment and communities, and investors are increasingly aware of their influence on the impact of real estate assets. Join us for a dynamic session featuring New Zealand's leading real estate companies. Gain insights on what the real estate industry is doing to improve ESG outcomes and discover how these leaders are:
- Integrating ESG considerations into their strategies - Tackling the challenge of reducing carbon emissions in new builds and regenerations - Establishing strong governance and strategies
Shane Solly
Director - Portfolio Manager of Harbour Asset Managemement
Sarah Beale
Head of Sustainability at Property for Industry
Andy Eakin
Chief Financial Officer at Goodman Property Trust
Lisa Hinde
Head of Sustainability at Precinct Properties
Peter Mence
Chief Executive Officer at Argosy Property
Keynote by Hon Simon Watts, Minister of Climate Change and Minister of Revenue: Sustainable finance and climate action Hon Simon Watts•Dean Hegarty
Hear directly from the Minister for Climate Change his vision of the economic opportunities that NZ's energy transition brings, what the role of finance should be in achieving net zero carbon emissions and the Government's plans to support sustainable finance going forward. A Q&A session will follow his keynote address.
Hon Simon Watts
Minister of Climate Change and Revenue
Dean Hegarty
Co-CEO of RIAA
Conference closing address & Karakia Arti Prasad
Arti Prasad
Partner, Sustainable Investments at Mercer and RIAA Board Member
Networking drinks and canapés in the foyer • Proudly supported by S&P Global
Opportunities in impact investment: investing into people, planet and profit Alex Dallas•Tan Huynh•Bill Murphy•Roy Thompson
RIAA’s research shows Aotearoa’s impact investing sector increased to $11 billion in 2022, up from $8 billion the previous year. Impact investors and practitioners are at the forefront of investing into innovative business and financial models that contribute to solving some of the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges - generating positive impact such as climate solutions, housing affordability, and social equity, alongside a financial return.
Get updated on the latest developments and opportunities in the impact investing market. Leading impact investment practitioners will share practical insights and hard-earned lessons working on the frontline of impact investment including:
-Current and emerging sector themes of impact investments. -Impact assessment, measurement and management of portfolio. -Co-investment models and scaling funds.
Alex Dallas
Investment Principal at Soul Capital
Tan Huynh
Manager at Impact Investing Network
Bill Murphy
Executive Director of Purpose Capital Impact Fund
Roy Thompson
Co-Founder and Managing Director of New Ground Capital
Morning tea
Getting the facts Carey Church•Mark Holtom•Vanessa Stevens•Ross Piper
The importance of knowing your client cannot be understated, but what is the best way to ascertain your clients' ESG preferences? In this session, we examine some of the approaches used by financial advisers to ensure you are capturing the right information. We will explore the pros and cons of each approach so that you can reflect on your own process, refine your approach, or confidently implement a new process that works for you and your clients.
Carey Church
Financial Planner at Moneyworks NZ Ltd
Mark Holtom
Director and Financial Planner of Ethical Investing NZ
Vanessa Stevens
Senior Sustainability Analyst at Craigs Investment Partners
Ross Piper
Chair of RIAA Board and Chief Executive Superannuation at Australian Ethical Investment Limited
Kiwisaver ethical investing Hamish McNicol•Diana Papadopoulos•Dr Rodger Spiller
KiwiSaver is now over $100bn and a significant wealth generator for clients. How has the KiwiSaver market embraced responsible investment and are the options currently available meeting the needs of advice clients? In this session we will explore the challenges advisers face in aligning KiwiSaver to a client's values, and what opportunities are available.
Hamish McNicol
Co-editor at NBR
Diana Papadopoulos
CCO at Booster Financial Services
Dr Rodger Spiller
Founder, Managing Director and Financial Advisor of Money Matters (NZ) Ltd
Lunch
Awakening the giant: Supporting Māori entrepreneurship for sustainable growth Te Pūoho Katene•June McCabe•Leighton Evans•Jo Kelly
The potential of the multi-billion-dollar Māori economy has been likened to a sleeping giant. For countless generations, the Māori spirit of entrepreneurship has fostered a dynamic economy that is growing at an estimated 5% per year and is currently worth an estimated $50 billion. There are many opportunities for those who share a long-term investment outlook and genuine commitment to sustainability. But there is much to be learned about collaborating effectively with Māori as co-investors and partners. This session will explore how investors can better foster and support Māori business, entrepreneurship and investment partnerships.
Te Pūoho Katene
Chief Executive at Tapuwae Roa
June McCabe
Executive Director of Sustainable Prosperity
Leighton Evans
Chief Executive at Rātā Foundation
Jo Kelly
Chief Executive at Toitū Tahua: Centre for Sustainable Finance
Addressing modern slavery risks: Insights from RIAA's Human Rights Working Group Kate Turner•Rachel Tinkler•Rebecca Kingi•Gary Shaw
Modern slavery is a pervasive issue that exists within operations and supply chains worldwide, even as reporting mechanisms proliferate. This session will explore real world case studies on how investors can identify modern slavery in supply chains and map modern slavery risks in portfolios, as well as what investors can do to reduce instances of modern slavery in their portfolio of companies. This session leverages the expertise of RIAA’s Human Rights Working Group, equipping investors with tools to identify red flags and develop actionable strategies for tackling modern slavery.
Kate Turner
Global Head of Responsible Investment at First Sentier Investors and Chair of Investors Against Slavery and Trafficking APAC
Rachel Tinkler
Co-Chair of RIAA's Aotearoa Collaborative Working Group and Head of Responsible Investment at Mint Asset Management
Rebecca Kingi
ESG Initiatives Lead at ANZ
Gary Shaw
Modern Slavery Specialist at Gary Shaw Consultancy
Afternoon tea
Workshop: Getting started in responsible investment for advisers Carey Church•Nayanisha Samarakoon
If you are new to responsible or ethical advice, this is the session for you. Cut through the industry jargon to understand the fundamentals of responsible investment advice that considers your clients environmental, social and governance preferences. With key takeaways and next steps, this session will gear up new advisers for their responsible investment journey and deepen their relationship with clients.
Carey Church
Financial Planner at Moneyworks NZ Ltd
Nayanisha Samarakoon
Head of Policy & Advocacy at RIAA
Morning tea
Workshop: Making climate claims in product labelling: a practical guide Daniel Aguet•Chris Douglas•Anson Chan•Lily Richards
Feeling unsure about climate-related claims in your financial products? In this practical workshop, you will learn what is involved in meeting the requirements of RIAA’s Certification Program in relation to climate-related claims. We’ll also answer your most pressing questions including:
- Do all phrases and terms need to be defined? - What information is required when describing fossil fuels exclusions? - What about minority investments of portfolio constituents? - How should products advertise climate-related performance of the portfolio in periodic reporting? - What information is required when describing emissions indicators, calculations and estimates? - Do the photos we use on our website matter?
Daniel Aguet
Index Director & Deputy CEO of Scientific Beta
Chris Douglas
Principal and Co-Owner at My Fiduciary
Anson Chan
Senior Responsible Investment Analyst at RIAA
Lily Richards
Creative Director of Pathfinder Asset Management
Lunch
Sustainability Classifications for Financial Advisers – raising client value Shalini Samuel•Peter Lee
Explore the difference between certifications and classification while accelerating your knowledge to effectively communicate sustainability to your clients. Discover how their preferences align with accessible products and demystify the concepts of Responsible, Sustainable, and Sustainable Plus. This session offers valuable insights for advisers, providing a practical tool to differentiate between funds, irrespective of the research provider. Explore the accessibility and significance of Sustainability Classifications, addressing pertinent questions: Is 'Sustainable Plus' a better fit for your clients? Delve into the nuances of exclusions versus inclusions, stewardship, and other critical areas, evolving your ability to answer client queries effectively.
Shalini Samuel
Head of Certification at RIAA
Peter Lee
Principal at Ethical Investing NZ Ltd
Afternoon tea
Workshop: Putting stewardship into practice Alec Tang•Jackson Rowland•Jorge Waayman•Alice Jones
Join this active learning workshop with experts in the field, as we delve into how investors can use their influence and steer investee companies on critical environmental, social and corporate governance issues, with a focus on the Stewardship Code Aotearoa New Zealand. What does application of the Stewardship Code actually entail? How have others undertaken this journey? And what do you need to do to ready your own organisation to apply the code and become a signatory? As the co-host of the Stewardship Code Aotearoa New Zealand, RIAA is proud to present this workshop in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Finance.
Alec Tang
Partner - Sustainable Value at KPMG New Zealand
Jackson Rowland
Director of Aotearoa New Zealand Stewardship Code
Jorge Waayman
Manager, ESG Research at Harbour Asset Management
Alice Jones
ESG Analyst at Devon Funds Management
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