Best practice in sustainability to improve investment strategy
The ESG & Sustainability Forum, part of the Infrastructure Investor Network Global Summit, brought together 200+ delegates from across the globe to discuss the ever-important topic of what the future looks like in the route to net-zero.
Key themes:
- The increased pressure on ESG from investors, regulators and the public
- Achieving net-zero for infrastructure
- Regulation and ESG: are current tools fit for purpose?
- Making biodiversity relevant for investment strategy
Advance your fundraising
Connect with a global audience of investors with an interest in sustainability and showcase your ESG credentials. Benefit from focused networking with the right people.
Gain peer-to-peer insights
Learn about fund managers’ challenges on their approach to climate, achieving net-zero for the asset class and so much more.
Save time building your network
Set up pre-event meetings and continue the conversation after the Summit with your membership to the Infrastructure Investor Network. Gain access to 2,000+ investors and managers globally.
Part of the Global Summit
The ESG & Sustainability Forum is part of the industry leading Infrastructure Investor Network Global Summit. The Global Summit took place across four days and included six forums. From emerging markets to infrastructure debt, the Summit is always your best opportunity to connect with the world’s investors, learn from inspirational speakers and stay at the forefront of the infrastructure market.
Six specialist forums
Empowering growth on the frontline of infrastructure’s emerging economies
Best practice in sustainability to improve investment strategy
Driving global connectivity through investing in innovation
The private infrastructure industry’s annual general meeting
Resilience and returns: unlocking infrastructure debt’s potential in a volatile market
Investing in energy: price, security, and the transition to net zero
Are you an institutional investor?
New for 2023, the Investor Council is a space for investors to come together and share peer-to-peer insights, learn from leading investors and more.
Position your brand at the centre of the infrastructure community
Strengthen your market credibility, put your brand in front of your key target markets and meet your investment and business goals. Sponsorship gives you:
- VIP access
- Thought-leadership opportunities
- High-profile branding
- And much more …
For more information on available sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alexander Jakes at alexander.j@peimedia.com or call +44(0)20 3862 7498
Position your brand at the centre of the infrastructure community
Strengthen your market credibility, put your brand in front of your key target markets and meet your investment and business goals. Sponsorship gives you:
- VIP access
- Thought-leadership opportunities
- High-profile branding
- And much more …
For more information on available sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alexander Jakes at alexander.j@peimedia.com or call +44(0)20 3862 7498
For more information or if you are interested in speaking at the ESG & Sustainability Forum, please contact Charles Gould.
charles.g@peimedia.com | +44 (0)203 879 3893
View agenda page
Agenda
Infrastructure Investor ESG & Sustainability Forum 2023 - Monday 20th
ESG & Sustainability Forum 2023
09:10 - 09:15
Introduction from Infrastructure Investor
09:15 - 09:30
Welcome from the chair
Jemima Atkins
09:30 - 10:15
How to deal with the increased challenges facing ESG
Jemima Atkins,
Simon Whistler,
Karolina Attspodina,
Fabian Gröene,
Michael Hoverman
- Investor commitments and tighter scrutiny on ESG
- How the regulatory agenda is pivoting to enforcement practices
- Dealing with the backlash against ESG
- What can the GP community do to eliminate greenwashing practices in the industry?
Moderator: Jemima Atkins, Investment Professional, Pioneer Point Partners
10:15 - 11:00
Practical roadmap for achieving net zero in infrastructure
Catharina Dyvik,
Teresa O’Flynn,
Ryan Bisch,
Cameron Talbot-Stern,
Christophe Dossarps,
Shami Nissan
- Reflections on COP and what it means for investors
- Decarbonisation pathways for the asset class and integration into the investment thesis
- What frameworks exist to help managers achieve net-zero? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
- How will net zero be funded and what impact will that have on investors’ returns?
Moderator: Catharina Dyvik, Director, Sustainable Finance, SystemIQ
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee & networking with Emerging Markets and Digital Infrastructure attendees
ESG & Sustainability Forum 2023
11:30 - 12:15
Regulation & ESG: are current regulations fit for purpose?
Dr. Jasna Zwitter-Tehovnik,
Dr. Silva Deželan,
Vittorio Lacagnina,
Annette Bannister,
Paul Allard,
Mary Nicholson
- Is regulation driving performance, or is it a distraction?
- Comparing Europe with North America: how should global managers approach different regulatory regimes?
- How does the EU’s decision to include gas and nuclear in the taxonomy affect the status of article 8 & 9 funds, both practically and reputationally?
- What is the difference between article 8 vs 9 for managers?
Moderator: Jasna Zwitter-Tehovnik, Partner, DLA Piper
12:15 - 13:00
Moving beyond data to add tangible value throughout the investment process
Joss Blamire,
Sam Lissner,
Lucinda Hearth,
Gwen Colin,
François Bergere,
Ben Alves Walters
- Are we too obsessed with ESG data? Does it really drive value? How could it be improved?
- To what extent is ESG data being used during due diligence?
- Will the International Sustainability Standards Board lead to ESG data being treated like financial data? Will that make sustainability teams more compliance focused rather than adding value?
- Using case studies to demonstrate value to management teams
Moderator: Joss Blamire, Infrastructure Director, GRESB
François Bergere
Executive Director, LTIIA (Long-term Infrastructure Investors Association)
Read bio
13:00 - 14:00
Networking lunch with Emerging Market and Digital Infrastructure attendees
ESG & Sustainability Forum 2023
14:00 - 14:40
Is greenwashing prevalent across infrastructure?
Huw Williams,
Afolabi Oliver,
Ulla Agesen,
Sabine Chalopin,
Sarah Miller
- Defining greenwashing for the asset class: why is it not always easy to agree on what constitutes greenwashing?
- How can investors spot greenwashing from managers?
- To what extent can data and analytics be used to show you are not greenwashing?
- Is there a risk of accusations of greenwashing because of a lack of data from some assets? How to address this
Moderator: Huw Williams, Head of Infrastructure Relations, Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
14:40 - 15:00
Meridiam and Infrastructure Investor Fireside Chat
Zak Bentley,
Thierry Deau
15:00 - 15:30
Coffee & networking with Emerging Markets and Digital Infrastructure attendees
ESG & Sustainability Forum 2023
15:30 - 16:05
Making biodiversity relevant for investment strategy
Mark Moseley,
Irina Frolova,
Marie-Laure Mazaud,
Melisa Simic,
Alistair Purdie
- Using biodiversity data to enhance decision making during the diligence process
- How are fund managers assessing regulation such as the TNFD framework and Article 29?
- Measuring positive and negative biodiversity impacts
- Where and how can managers use natural capital solutions?
16:05 - 16:35
Investor and Manager Scenario Session: Deal or No Deal
Anders Klinkby,
Sophie Durham,
Anna Baumbach
The session will highlight the increased role of ESG in due diligence. A fund manager and an institutional investor will discuss a hypothetical investment opportunity with ESG issues. They will ask the questions they would ask in a real investment situation with specific infrastructure assets and reflect on the ESG risk of the investment. The audience will then be given the opportunity to quiz the presenters on their decisions and decide whether they would themselves invest.
Facilitator: Anders Klinkby, Managing Director, Position Green Advisory
16:35 - 17:10
Measuring climate risks for all infrastructure assets in your portfolio in one fell swoop: meet infraGreenMetrics
Frederic Blanc-Brude
- Asset-level carbon emissions for tens of thousands of assets
- Physical risk metrics with a 30-meter resolution
- NGFS Scenario climate risk metrics: how much would you lose in a disorderly transition
Presenter: Frederic Blanc-Brude, Director , EDHECinfra
17:10 - 17:15
Closing comments from the chair
Jemima Atkins
17:20 - 17:50
Keynote fireside chat: Putting ESG & sustainability at the heart of your real asset investment approach in 2023 and beyond
Bruno Alves,
Isabelle Scemama
- Executing cutting-edge sustainability methods across a global alternatives business unit
- How infrastructure and real estate are increasingly intersecting and how this is defining your ESG approach
- Reality bites? How can infrastructure funds counter present-day challenges like inflation, valuation volatility, soaring costs and other factors, whilst staying the distance on their ESG journey?
Moderator: Bruno Alves, Senior Editor, Infrastructure Investor
17:50 - 19:00
Members' welcome drinks reception in the Listo Lounge
Afolabi Oliver
Director, Operational Due Diligence - ESG Officer, Aksia
Afolabi Oliver Afolabi is a Director on the Operational Due Diligence team and has over 13 years of industry experience. His responsibilities include performing operational due diligence on European alternative investments, as well as performing ad-h… Read full bio
Ulla Agesen
Head of Infrastructure, Nordic Investment Opportunities
Ulla joined NIO in 2022 to set up a dedicated infrastructure solution to investors. Ulla has 20+ years of experience from the industry, throughout her career focusing on evaluating GPs/asset managers across liquid and illiquid markets. Most recently,… Read full bio
Paul Allard
Co-founder & CEO, impak
Entirely devoted to accelerating systemic change towards the impact economy, Paul Allard is a serial entrepreneur, sustainable finance engineer, impact innovator, and prominent voice in the Impact Revolution movement. He is the Co-founder and CEO of… Read full bio
Bruno Alves
Senior Editor, Infrastructure Investor
Bruno Alves is the Senior Editor of award-winning publication Infrastructure Investor. Bruno has been a journalist for nearly 20 years and first joined Infrastructure Investor in December 2009, where he quickly rose to become Associate Editor and a l… Read full bio
Jemima Atkins
Investment Professional, Pioneer Point Partners
Jemima Atkins is an investment professional at Pioneer Point Partners, based in London, where she makes investments in European infrastructure assets in the energy transition and environment sectors. Pioneer only invests in sustainable infrastructure… Read full bio
Karolina Attspodina
Co-Founder & CEO, WeDoSolar GmbH
Founded a company in the field of renewable energy which focuses on smart balcony solar. Background in Sales & Marketing of tech products and its Internationalisation to new markets. Has a mission to reduce CO2 emissions in Europe so that we can… Read full bio
Annette Bannister
Managing Director, MetLife Investment Management
Annette Bannister is a Managing Director and Head of European Infrastructure and Project Finance for MetLife Investment Management (“MIM”). Annette is responsible for overseeing the origination and execution of new infrastructure debt transactions in… Read full bio
Anna Baumbach
Partner, Palladio Partners
Anna Baumbach is a Partner at Palladio Partners. She has over 20 years of industry experience in asset management. Prior to joining Palladio Partners, she was a member of the investment team of a German consulting firm Feri. In this position, she adv… Read full bio
Zak Bentley
Americas Editor, Infrastructure Investor
Zak Bentley is Americas editor at Infrastructure Investor, based in New York. Zak joined Infrastructure Investor in London in 2016 from Centaur where he was a reporter at their Clean Energy Pipeline title. He now leads Infrastructure Investor’s cover… Read full bio
François Bergere
Executive Director, LTIIA (Long-term Infrastructure Investors Association)
François BERGERE, joined the Long-Term Infrastructure Investors Association as Executive Director in September 2018. He has a long and diversified professional experience in the fields of public management, project and infrastructure finance, having… Read full bio
Ryan Bisch
Managing Director, Private Markets - Ontario Power Generation
Ryan Bisch joined Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in 2015. As Managing Director - Private Markets, Ryan focuses on the portfolio management of the private markets portfolios for the $16 billion OPG Pension Fund and the $26 billion Ontario Nuclear Fund… Read full bio
Joss Blamire
Director of Infrastructure, GRESB
Joss Blamire is the Director of Infrastructure at GRESB. GRESB’s mission is to assess and benchmark the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and other related performance, including for infrastructure assets, providing standardised and validate… Read full bio
Frederic Blanc-Brude
Director, EDHECinfra
Frederic Blanc-Brude is the Director of EDHECinfra - leading index, analytics and research provider specialised in the provision of unlisted infrastructure equity and debt market indices and custom benchmarks. He holds a PhD in Finance (King’s Colleg… Read full bio
Sabine Chalopin
Head of ESG, Denham Capital
Sabine Chalopin is Head of ESG at Denham Sustainable Infrastructure and is responsible for overseeing ESG management for both equity and credit investments in OECD and non-OECD markets. She brings 16 years of power and renewables experience to the fi… Read full bio
Gwen Colin
Head of ESG, Vauban Infrastructure Partners
Gwen Colin is the ESG Director of Vauban Infrastructure Partners, in charge of overseeing the ESG methodology evolution and its alignment with Vauban IP long term strategy. Gwen was previously a consultant for PE/Infra funds looking to develop their… Read full bio
Thierry Deau
Founder and CEO, Meridiam
Thierry Deau Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Meridiam Thierry Déau founded Meridiam in 2005 with the belief that the alignment of interests between the public and private sector can provide critical solutions to the collective needs of communiti… Read full bio
Dr. Silva Deželan
Head of Impact & ESG, Forbion
Dr. Silva Dezelan is Forbion’s Head of Impact & ESG, responsible for its impact and ESG initiatives, strategy and further implementation. Prior to joining Forbion, Silva worked as ESG Director at Stafford Capital Partners, private markets and rea… Read full bio
Christophe Dossarps
Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation
Since 2014, as CEO of the Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation (SIF), Christophe Dossarps has conducted the development and implementation of SOURCE in collaboration with the relevant partners and stakeholders involved in the process – multilateral… Read full bio
Sophie Durham
Head of ESG, Igneo Infrastructure Partners
Sophie Durham is a Managing Director of Igneo Infrastructure Partners based in London. She is the Head of ESG. Prior to joining the team in 2021, she worked at listed oil and gas company Kosmos Energy, where she was responsible for climate change and… Read full bio
Catharina Dyvik
Director Sustainable Finance, SYSTEMIQ
Catharina is leading sustainable finance work at Systemiq working on projects with commercial and development finance actors seeking to mobilise large scale capital for the transition to a low-carbon and nature positive economy. Catharina joined Syst… Read full bio
Irina Frolova
Independent non-executive director & former Head of Infrastructure, PGGM
Irina Frolova brings over 20 years of international experience in investment management and corporate finance. For the past 8 years she helped to build the EUR 14 bln flagship direct open-ended private equity infrastructure fund at PGGM, most recentl… Read full bio
Fabian Gröene
Partner, EQT
Fabian Gröene is a founding Partner of EQT’s long-term Active Core Infrastructure Fund based in Munich. Before taking up his current role in 2021, he built and led EQT’s Infrastructure team across the Asia-Pacific region after starting in EQT‘s Priva… Read full bio
Lucinda Hearth
Head of ESG, Infrastructure, DWS
Lucinda is Head of ESG for DWS Infrastructure. Lucinda has overall responsibility for developing DWS Infrastructure’s ESG strategy, including the consideration of ESG throughout the investment process and ongoing management of portfolio companies, an… Read full bio
Mike Hoverman
Principal, Head of Global Partners, CIM Group
Michael Hoverman is a Principal and Head of the Global Partners Group, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Michael oversees the Global Partners group at CIM, which is responsible for building strong relationships withCIM’s institutional partners and… Read full bio
Anders Klinkby
Managing Director, Position Green Advisory
Anders Klinkby is Managing Director at Position Green. He is a trusted advisor for leading asset owners and asset managers within infrastructure, private equity and venture. Before joining Position Green Anders was co-founder and CEO at Klinkby Enge,… Read full bio
Vittorio Lacagnina
Partner, Apollo Global Management
Vittorio Lacagnina is a Partner in the Institutional Client & Product Solutions group at Apollo where he leads capital formation for Infrastructure. Prior to joining Apollo in 2022, Vittorio was Managing Director & Head of Business Developmen… Read full bio
Sam Lissner
Principal, Ridgewood Infrastructure
Sam Lissner leads Ridgewood Infrastructure’s ESG and sustainability initiatives related to the firm’s investments in water, power, energy and other infrastructure. Prior to joining Ridgewood in 2013, he focused on investments in distributed renewable… Read full bio
Mary Nicholson
Head of Responsible Investment, Macquarie Asset Management
Mary is the Head of Responsible Investment for Macquarie Asset Management (MAM). Supported by a global team of experienced sustainability professionals, Mary sets and guides implementation of best practice sustainability integration and measurement a… Read full bio
Marie-Laure Mazaud
Chief Executive Officer, STOA Infra Energy
Background: Marie-Laure has extensive experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, project financing and governance. Previously Executive Director in charge of the transport sector at the CDC, she has also held the positions of Director… Read full bio
Sarah Miller
Senior Vice President, Manager Research, Redington
Sarah works as a Senior Vice President in the Manager Research Team where she has a primary focus on private market strategies and specialises in impact investing. Sarah also leads on Inclusion and Diversity within fund research as well as chairing R… Read full bio
Mark Moseley
Principal, Moseley Infrastructure Advisory Services
Following his career at the World Bank and the Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub), and after more than 40 years as an international infrastructure specialist, Mark Moseley established, in August 2019, Moseley Infrastructure Advisory Services (MMM Inf… Read full bio
Shami Nissan
Partner, Head of Sustainability, Actis
Shami leads Actis’ approach to responsible and impact investment, working closely with investment colleagues and company management to assess and manage ESG issues, helping to build world-class businesses and to deliver societal benefits. Before join… Read full bio
Teresa O’Flynn
Partner, Co-Head Ara Infrastructure, Ara Partners
Ara Infrastructure pursues industrial decarbonization investments in the middle market across Europe and North America. Prior to Ara, Teresa held several senior roles at BlackRock including being a founder of BlackRock’s Global Renewable Power Infras… Read full bio
Alistair Purdie
Sustainable Agriculture Analyst, BloombergNEF
Alistair is a sustainability analyst at BloombergNEF, where he specialises in nature and biodiversity. His work to date has focused on sustainability frameworks and standards, with specific expertise on the nascent TNFD recommendations and how corpor… Read full bio
Isabelle Scemama
Global Head of AXA IM Alts, Member of AXA IM Management Board, Member of the Board of Directors of EPRA
Isabelle Scemama is Global Head of AXA IM Alts. Isabelle oversees AXA IM’s €184bn alternative business unit, AXA IM Alts, which employs over 800 people located in 17 offices, serving the needs of more than 500 clients globally. AXA IM Alts is a globa… Read full bio
Melisa Simic
Senior Director, ESG Integration Private Infrastructure, Nuveen
Melisa is responsible for leading the environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration strategy across private infrastructure by working closely with investment teams, to build capacity on material ESG issues and develop proprietary frameworks… Read full bio
Cameron Talbot-Stern
Senior Responsible Investment & ESG Manager - Infrastructure, APG Asset Management
Cameron leads the ESG integration for APGs ~€25bn Private Markets Infrastructure Portfolio. He has 14 years’ experience working across infrastructure and real estate with a focus on energy/sustainability, project/corporate governance and strategy. Hi… Read full bio
Ben Alves Walters
Senior Investment Director, Pension Practice, Cambridge Associates
Ben Walters, Senior Investment Director, European Pension Practice Ben is a Senior Investment Director within the European Pensions Practice based in Cambridge Associates’ London office. Ben’s primary role is to help build and manage bespoke global p… Read full bio
Simon Whistler
Head of Real Assets, Principles for Responsible Investment
Simon joined the PRI in 2018 and leads the organisation’s work on real assets. He works with real assets investors to support their understanding and implementation of responsible investment, including on issues such as climate change, human rights,… Read full bio
Huw Williams
Head Investor Relations, BEIS
Huw Williams heads Investor and Financial Stakeholder relations at BEIS (the UK Department for Energy and Business) and has been in the role for four years. His current major focus is on the finance for new nuclear in the UK, but he covers the range… Read full bio
Dr. Jasna Zwitter-Tehovnik
Partner, DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Jasna Zwitter-Tehovnik is a Finance & Projects and M&A practitioner, qualified in Austria, England and Wales, New York and Slovenia. Her practice covers the entire financial services and infrastructure sector as well as a broad range of addit… Read full bio