Conference Session Descriptions
In this session we will explore how social impact investment seeks to generate social impact alongside financial return. These investments often bring together capital and expertise from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to achieve a social objective. Speaker bios are now available- Dr. Nzinga Broussard, Senior Director, Sorenson Impact Center; Jane Bieneman, Senior Advisor, Tideline; and Jonathan Tower, Founder and Managing Partner, Arctaris.
Research from the OECD and the WEF in recent years has shown that a significant level of global economic activity is reliant on ecosystem services provided by nature. Other research on nature has clearly shown the level of degradation over recent decades across our natural capital base, highlighting risks to business and global growth, and more importantly, biodiversity on our planet including the health of humans. In December of 2022 the world came together in Montreal at COP 15, the UN Biodiversity Conference, to create a framework to guide action combating and reversing nature loss. Investors, corporations, and other stakeholders have come together to create the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, or TNFD, which will release a final framework in September.
Our opening session will bring experts together to help frame the interactions between nature and economic activity, define the key terms investors should know, and will dig into the emerging measurement and disclosure standards like the TNFD. Speaker bios are now available- Gabriel Thoumi, CFA, FRM, CEO of Responsible Alpha, Gillian Mollod, Vice President, ESG Research, MSCI, Gillian Mollod, Vice President, ESG Research, MSCI, and Hugh Bromley, Sustainable Agriculture Research Manager, Bloomberg.
Natural Capital Part II - Corporate & Investor Perspectives and Early Action
As global engagement and action on nature loss builds, corporations and investors must come up the curve. Unlike climate, which is global and measured through metrics tied to greenhouse gas emissions, natural capital risks and solutions are often hyper-local and require specialized knowledge and information to assess impacts. Research and data is not lacking, but is often not in investor-friendly form. Stakeholders are currently working through some exposure to nature-based reporting in various European reporting requirements, though will have to significantly expand capabilities under TNFD guidelines.
Our second session on natural capital will dig deeply into TNFD with a panel of experts representing corporations, investors, and standards setters. Our goal will be to unpack early actions both corporations and investors are taking to measure and manage nature-related risk and opportunity. Speakers bios now available- Megan Reilly Cayten, Climate Asset Management and Carrie Houtman, Global Sustainability Director-Climate, Dow, Inc.
This morning Michael Trotsky speaks about DEI and Cultural for MassPRIM, and in this session we will build on that and hear from a panel of different perspectives about how the CFA Institute’s DEI Code could lead to better investor outcomes and build a more inclusive investment industry. Sarah Maynard, the Global of DEI at the CFA Institute, will share how this principles-based DEI Code was developed, what’s its principle framework and implementation guidelines, and how it has been evolving forward. Other panelists from various types of the DEI Code signatory firms will also share their company’s approach to the DEI practice and how the DEI Code helped advance their DEI effort within the organization and the Boston investment industry community at large. Speaker bios now available- Keon Holmes, CFA; Sarah Maynard, ASIP; Carol Geremia; David Chang, CFA and Maliz Beams.
Our speakers will discuss the key aspects of the Electric Vehicle (EV) integration from both environmental and investment perspectives. This session will provide an overview of the auto sector along with the major supply chain factors influencing the industry including metals, mining and battery procurement processes and the implications for consumers and investors. Speaker bios are now available- Pedro Palandrani, Director of Research, GlobalX ETFs, William Thompson, Director, Senior Analyst, Sustainable & Thematic Research, and Patrick Kent, Portfolio Manager, Newton Investment Management (bio coming soon!)
Carbon has become a liquid and investable asset class that now trades approximately US$1 billion per day across physical carbon, futures, and options. Carbon has exhibited attractive historical returns and a low correlation with other asset classes, making it potentially attractive within a diversified portfolio. During this session we will explore various current and emerging opportunities within this asset class. Speaker bios now available- Evan Deutsch, Head of Corporate Solution (North America), Viridios Capital; Barbara Kates Garnick, Professor of Practice, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University; Michael Stzelecki, CFA, Managing Director, Business Development, Senior Timberland Portfolio Manager, Manulife Investment Management; and Allen Worth, Carbon Markets Analyst, Quantix Commodities.