Andrew Siwo
Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
Private Equity
International
International
Responsible Investment Forum: New York 2022
2 - 3 March 2022,
Convene 117 West 46th Street, New York
Effectively integrating ESG to create sustainable value
The Responsible Investment Forum returns for its sixth year to bring together the most sophisticated institutional investors, fund managers, consultants and highly recognized associations to discuss why, when, and how your firm should be implementing an effective ESG strategy.
ESG issues are at the heart of all PEI’s editorial coverage, with our reporters consistently following and scrutinizing the ways in which managers in the US are adopting responsible investment practices and what LPs are looking for as they consider investing in private equity. PEI, partnering with the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), continues to prove itself as a thought-leader in this area, and is at the forefront of covering the growth of ESG in North American private equity.
Topics include:
- LP expectations on ESG
- Impact Investing for the future
- Regulatory considerations
- Identifying a “greenwasher”
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- The infrastructure market
- Tax planning
- Climate solutions
Co-Host:
Leading the way in responsible investment practices
Connect with
investors
Understand how LPs are benchmarking corporate governance and how it impacts the manager selection process.
Hear from corporate
governance leaders
Learn how to manage and monitor an ESG policy that aligns with your primary responsibility of delivering returns to investors.
Join the
discussion
Get involved in a community dedicated to creating more sustainable value, brought together over the past seven years by PEI and UN PRI.
Featured speaker
Opening keynote speaker:
Tricia Winton
Global Head of ESG
Bain Capital
2022 speakers
Testimonials
“I really enjoyed the conference. It was very encouraging to hear how GP’s are integrating ESG not only in their portfolios but in their firms as we…
“Global warming, air pollution, and energy insecurity are three of the greatest problems facing humanity. The Responsible Investment Forum is a powerful g…
“It’s great to see PEI bring together a diverse and growing group of investment professionals interested and active in responsible and sustainable investment. T…
“I really enjoyed the conference. It was very encouraging to hear how GP’s are integrating ESG not only in their portfolios but in their firms as well. It was great to learn about their best practices as well as lessons learned. The breakout sessions and panels were very informative. The conference provided good networking opportunities as well.”
“Global warming, air pollution, and energy insecurity are three of the greatest problems facing humanity. The Responsible Investment Forum is a powerful global platform for like minded ESG investors to transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all”
“It’s great to see PEI bring together a diverse and growing group of investment professionals interested and active in responsible and sustainable investment. The format of 1:1 interactions, break out and plenary sessions was useful to share general market perspectives and engage in detail to share experience and deepen understanding of the many and varied ESG issues facing our industry today”
View agenda page
Agenda
Day 1 - Wednesday 2nd
Welcome registration and opening remarks
07:30 - 08:00
Registration and welcome breakfast
08:00 - 08:10
PEI welcome
Erin Wolfe
Erin Wolfe, Senior Conference Producer, PEI Media
08:10 - 08:30
Chairman’s opening remarks
Peter Dunbar
Join our Responsible Investment Co-Host’s, The Principles for Responsible Investment as they kick off the day with an overview of the current ESG themes, progress, and future developments in the ESG & PE space.
Chairperson:
Peter Dunbar, Private Equity Senior Specialist, PRI
Plenary sessions
08:30 - 09:00
Opening keynote
09:00 - 09:30
LP fireside perspective
09:30 - 10:15
Building a better ESG strategy
Michael Cappucci,
Michael Kashani ,
Kristina Matthews,
Andrew Siwo
- Investors on a range of questions relating to their expectations from managers on ESG frameworks, data, culture, DEI, and other matters.
- Top questions during fundraising such as understanding a firm’s ability to identify and manage material ESG-related risk and use ESG factors to create value.
Panelists:
Michael Cappucci, Senior Vice President, Compliance and Sustainable Investing, Harvard Management Company
Michael Kashani, Head of ESG Credit, Apollo Global Management
Kristina Matthews, Managing Director, Head of Investor Relations & ESG, Brightwood Capital Advisors
Andrew Siwo, Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
Michael Cappucci
Managing Director - Compliance and Sustainable Investing, Harvard Management Company
Read bio
Kristina Matthews
Managing Director, Head of Investor Relations & ESG, Brightwood Capital Advisors
Read bio
Andrew Siwo
Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
Read bio
10:15 - 10:30
SASB standards update
Networking break
10:30 - 11:00
Networking break
Plenary mid-day sessions
11:00 - 11:45
Impact investing for the future
Emanuel Citron,
Nancy Pfund,
Jackie Rantanen,
Jennifer Signori
- The shift in millennial focus on Impact initiatives and why this sector is becoming increasingly in demand
- How impact investments are driving returns
- Companies mitigate risks to their finances to build sustainable portfolios.
Panelists:
Emanuel Citron, Managing Partner, Volery Capital Partners
Nancy Pfund, Founder and Managing Partner, DBL Partners
Jackie Rantanen, Managing Director, Hamilton Lane
Jennifer Signori, Managing Director, Private Equity, ESG and Impact Investing, Neuberger Berman
11:45 - 12:30
Understanding the pendulum: regulation for ESG compliance considerations
Suzanne Tavill,
Marianne Voss
- ESG as a fiduciary duty
- EU SFDR and how it impacts US GPs? Are the policy aims being achieved? (ideas)
- SEC thinking about something similar – mandatory climate risk disclosure for corporates?
- Other related regs in the US? E.g. California Supply Chain Transparency Act? How do these affect due diligence/monitoring, etc?
Panelists:
Suzanne Tavill, Partner, Head of Responsible Investing, StepStone Group
Marianne Voss, Chief ESG and Impact Officer, Webster Equity Partners
12:30 - 13:15
Falsifying credentials – how to identify a greenwasher
Eugenie M. Cesar-Fabian,
Colin Etnire,
Anibal Montes
In an age where we are making so many strides towards ESG practices, it can be tough to rectify the small percentage of managers that may be behind in their ESG promises. In this session, our industry experts offer insight to investors on how best to identify these managers through understanding language, looking for jumps in data, and clarifying the small details.
Panelists:
Eugenie Cesar-Fabian, Partner & Head of ESG & Sustainability, Palladium Equity Partners
Colin Etnire, Head of ESG, BC Partners
Anibal Montes, Head of ESG, WM Partners
13:15 - 13:30
Science Based Targets
Networking lunch
13:30 - 14:30
Afternoon networking lunch
Breakout afternoon session
14:30 - 15:15
TRACK A | ESG linked debt
14:30 - 15:15
TRACK B | DEI
Backing diverse businesses (ie. PE Investment strategies built around finding diverse-owned businesses): who’s doing it and how are they performing?
14:30 - 15:15
TRACK C | Building 2022: A look at tomorrow’s infrastructure market
Sam Lissner
- A policy update on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework
- The current state of the infrastructure market and detail the significant trends affecting the asset class and what to expect coming up in 2022.
Panelists:
Sam Lissner, Principal, Ridgewood Infrastructure
15:15 - 16:00
TRACK A | Sustainability-linked loans at the portfolio level.
Adam Heltzer
How widespread have these become? What are the challenges and opportunities?
Panelists:
Adam Heltzer, Head of ESG, Ares Management
15:15 - 16:00
TRACK B | DEI data
Lindsay Rosenstein
What do LPs want and what are GPs providing?
Panelists:
Lindsay Rosenstein, Vice President, Crestview Partners
15:15 - 16:00
TRACK C | Ag - Capturing Natural Capital: An Asset Class for Change
- Attaching a monetary value to naturally occurring benefits such as carbon capture, water quality, clean air, and biodiversity.
- Rewards action to limit adverse effects of greenhouse gases and helps attract further investors.
Networking break
16:00 - 16:30
Networking afternoon break
Plenary closing sessions
16:30 - 17:00
A case study
17:00 - 17:40
Closing keynote address
Mona Sutphen ,
Jordan Stutts
End of day one
17:40 - 18:00
LAVCA awards
18:00 - 19:00
Cocktail reception
Agenda
Day 2 - Thursday 3rd
Welcome remarks & LPs, GPs, think tanks
08:00 - 08:30
LP think tank breakfast (Invitation Only)
08:00 - 08:30
GP think tank breakfast (Invitation Only)
08:00 - 09:00
Registration & welcome breakfast
Plenary opening remarks & sessions
09:00 - 09:10
Chairperson welcome
Peter Dunbar
Chairperson:
Peter Dunbar, Private Equity Senior Specialist, PRI
09:10 - 09:40
Opening keynote address
Tricia Winton
Panelists:
Tricia Winton, Global Head of ESG, Bain Capital
09:40 - 10:25
The next frontier: tying incentives to ESG metrics
Peter Dunbar,
Brett Hickey,
Justin Kulla
- GP’s need to meet certain thresholds to receive carried interest, so how are ESG metrics playing a factor in their overall fund returns? What are the profit incentives?
- For LPs, how do they incentivize GPs to invest along ESG principles?
- Is carried interest the only incentive option for firms moving forward? Will we see other vehicles?
- How to incentivize and reward portfolio company employees under PE ownership – those below C-Suite who typically do very well out of ESOP’s?
Moderator:
Peter Dunbar, Private Equity Senior Specialist, PRI
Panelists:
Brett Hickey, Founder & CEO, Star Mountain Capital
Justin Kulla, Partner of Impact Investing and Head of ESG, TZP Group
10:25 - 11:15
Science based targets
Providing companies with a scientific pathway to future-proof growth by specifying how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Networking break
11:15 - 11:45
Morning networking break
Morning breakout series
11:45 - 12:30
Playing fair in tax planning: avoiding the easy loopholes
- The debate around a jurisdiction’s effective tax rate; base erosion and profit-sharing standards; and the approach of investment partners.
- Tax planning as key focus as part of an approach to building good governance within a portfolio
11:45 - 12:30
Climate change
- Managers are finding opportunities in funding solution-based technologies.
- Climate solutions and related technologies are high-growth sectors of the economy that can provide opportunities for endowments to make equity investments that seek returns associated with their goals.
Panelists:
Neda Jafar, Partner, Kimmeridge
Catherine Lien, Vice President & Head of ESG, North America, GEF Capital Partners
11:45 - 12:30
Real Estate & The Push for Affordable Housing
Ada Arevalo,
Inna Khidekel,
Antonio Marquez
- Given the extreme shortage of affordable housing, there is an opportunity for positive impacts in this sector that could show significant returns.
- Many occupants of current affordable housing programs tend to be long-term tenants which provides solid cash flow.
- Low supply combined with huge demand creates a real estate investment portfolio that has a high net operating income and produces a solid return on investment.
Panelists:
Ada Arevalo, Founder & CEO, iimpact
Inna Khidekel, Partner, Client Solutions Group, Bridge Investment Group
Antonio Marquez, Principal and Managing Partner, Comunidad Partners
Plenary afternoon sessions
12:30 - 13:15
Data convergence: building a framework for the future
Leela Ramnath,
Maaike van der Schoot
- Creating a culture around reporting and data and using aggregated data as a benchmark for other firms
- Strides were taken by the ESG Data Convergence Project
- Preparing for SEC examinations and ensuring accurate data is presented
- Investors requiring more consistent reporting of ESG metrics
- The evolution of non-profit and for-profit companies working tandem to find data-sharing initiatives
- Databases of aggregated benchmark data
Panelists:
Leela Ramnath, Senior Vice President, Head of ESG, Warburg Pincus
Maaike van der Schoot, Responsible Investment Officer, Alpinvest Partners
13:15 - 14:00
Plotting net zero and your portfolio
Peter Fox-Penner,
William Orum
- Mounting pressure for both GPs & LPs to understand their carbon footprints and plot sustainable paths to carbon neutrality. How are different organizations handling it?
- How do investors handle potential contradicting segments of businesses that are pushing to go carbon neutral, but may still have a foot in areas such as coal emissions?
- How do we determine what constitutes a nets zero-emission portfolio?
Panelists:
Peter Fox-Penner, Chief Impact Officer, Energy Impact Partners
William Orum, Partner, Capricorn Investment Group
14:00 - 14:00
Networking lunch and conclusion of conference
2022 Sponsors
The Responsible Investment Forum New York offers a unique opportunity for organizations to raise their profile by meeting with the largest gathering of investors, fund managers and organizations shaping the future of ESG in private equity.
For exclusive sponsorship packages,
contact Tyler Mitchell at tyler.m@peimedia.com or call +1 646 795 3279.
Pre-Event Resources
Interested in speaking at the 2022 Forum?
Please contact Erin Wolfe at erin.w@peimedia.com or +1 646 973 3816.
Ada Arevalo
Founder and CEO, iimpact capital
Ada Arevalo is the Founder and CEO of iimpact capital, a purpose-driven, women- and minority-owned investment platform focused on affordable, sustainable and equitable housing and community investments. As the leader of the organization, she directs… Read full bio
Michael Cappucci
Managing Director - Compliance and Sustainable Investing, Harvard Management Company
Michael Cappucci is a Managing Director for Compliance and Sustainable Investing at Harvard Management Company (HMC). He joined HMC in 2012. Michael helps to manage HMC’s sustainable investment program, where he focuses on integrating ESG factors in… Read full bio
Eugenie M. Cesar-Fabian
Partner, Head of ESG & Sustainability, Palladium Equity Partners, LLC
Ms. Cesar-Fabian joined Palladium in 2011. She serves as Head of ESG & Sustainability and is a Partner of the Firm. Previously, Ms. Cesar-Fabian served as Palladium’s first General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to that, she served a… Read full bio
Emanuel Citron
Managing Partner, Volery Capital Partners
Emanuel Citron is a Managing Partner at Volery. He serves on five of Volery’s firm committees, including as co-chair of the Investment Committee, and a member of the firm’s Operations, Finance, Valuation, and Compliance Committees. Previously, he was… Read full bio
Peter Dunbar
Private Equity Senior Specialist, PRI
Peter Dunbar is a Private Equity Senior Specialist within the PRI’s Investment Practices team. Peter has 20 years experience in the asset management industry, and before joining PRI, was a Senior Manager in the private markets team of Capital Group f… Read full bio
Colin Etnire
Head of ESG, BC Partners
BC Partners is a leading international investment firm with over €52 billion of assets under management in private equity, private credit and real estate. Established in 1986, BC Partners has played an active role in developing the European buy-out m… Read full bio
Peter Fox-Penner
Chief Impact Officer, Energy Impact Partners
Peter Fox-Penner is Partner and the Chief Impact Officer of Energy Impact Partners. In this capacity he directs all ESG and impact measurement and reporting, works with EIP’s portfolio companies to improve their ESG performance, and collaborates with… Read full bio
Adam Heltzer
Head of ESG, Ares Management
Mr. Heltzer is a Managing Director and the Global Head of ESG in the Ares Strategy and Relationship Management Group, reporting to Ares' President and CEO, where he leads the Firm's environmental, social and governance efforts. Prior to joining Ares… Read full bio
Brett Hickey
Founder and CEO, Star Mountain Capital
Brett Hickey is the Founder and CEO of Star Mountain Capital, LLC, a $1+ billion AUM specialized U.S. lower middle-market investment firm. Star Mountain employs a data-driven approach to provide value-added debt and equity capital to established smal… Read full bio
Michael Kashani
Head of ESG Credit, Apollo Global Management
Michael Kashani joined Apollo Global Management as the Head of ESG Credit in October 2021. Michael is responsible for supporting ESG integration across the Credit business as well as further incorporating ESG into Apollo’s lending and investments pro… Read full bio
Justin Kulla
Partner of Impact Investing and Head of ESG, TZP Group
Justin Kulla joined TZP Group as a Partner of Impact Investing and Head of ESG in May 2020. Mr. Kulla began his career at Credit Suisse where he was an engineer working in New York, London and Zurich, and at Google where he worked in business develop… Read full bio
Inna Khidekel
Partner, Capital Markets, Bridge Investment Group
Inna Khidekel is a Senior Managing Director in the Client Solutions Group at Bridge Investment Group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She is responsible for business and product development across Bridge’s global institutional client b… 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
Antonio Marquez
Principal and Managing Partner, Comunidad Partners
Antonio Marquez serves as Principal and Managing Partner of Comunidad Partners. He is chairman of the firm’s Investment Committee. He is responsible for strategic planning, culture building and capital raising. Antonio founded Comunidad Partners in h… Read full bio
Kristina Matthews
Managing Director, Head of Investor Relations & ESG, Brightwood Capital Advisors
Kristina Matthews is a Managing Director at Brightwood Capital Advisors where she primarily focuses on business development and fundraising strategy. Her engagement commenced in February 2014 in a Consulting role which led to Ms. Matthews joining Bri… Read full bio
Anibal Montes
Head of ESG, WM Partners
Aníbal is the Head of ESG at WM Partners, a health and wellness-focused private equity firm based in Aventura, FL. In his role, Aníbal formalized WM Partners’ ESG policy and oversees ESG integration at the firm and portfolio company levels. Previousl… Read full bio
William Orum
Partner, Capricorn Investment Group
William Orum is a Partner and member of the Investment Committee of Capricorn Investment Group. He joined the Firm in 2004 and has been based in its New York office since 2008. William has primary responsibility for leading marketable investments, po… Read full bio
Nancy Pfund
Founder and Managing Partner, DBL Partners
As a pioneer and leading player in impact investing, DBL has helped to reveal the power of venture capital to promote social change and environmental improvement. Nancy writes and speaks frequently on the field of impact investing. She sponsors or si… Read full bio
Leela Ramnath
Senior Vice President, Head of ESG, Warburg Pincus
Leela Ramnath is a Senior Vice President, Head of ESG at Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm, where she focuses on environmental, social, and governance issues at the firm and portfolio companies. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, she led imp… Read full bio
Jackie Rantanen
Managing Director, Co-Head of Impact, Hamilton Lane
Jackie is a Managing Director and the Head of Product Solutions at Hamilton Lane, where she is responsible for aligning our specialized fund's offerings to meet client objectives and needs. Jackie is also Co-Head of Hamilton Lane’s Impact Fund and se… Read full bio
Lindsay Rosenstein
Vice President and Head of ESG, Crestview Partners
Lindsay Rosenstein is a Vice President at Crestview Partners, a value-oriented private equity firm based in NY. Lindsay originally joined Crestview as an Associate and rejoined as a Vice President after receiving an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at… Read full bio
Jennifer Signori
Senior Vice President, ESG and Impact Investing, Neuberger Berman
Jennifer Signori, Senior Vice President, joined the firm in 2017. Jennifer is on the ESG and Impact Investing team, responsible for integrating environmental, social, and governance considerations across the investment platform and leading the develo… Read full bio
Andrew Siwo
Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
Andrew Siwo is the Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions for New York State Common Retirement Fund. He is charged with providing leadership and oversight of sustainable investment efforts across the Fund’s $220 billion portfolio.… Read full bio
Jordan Stutts
Senior Writer, Private Markets, PEI
Jordan Stutts is a senior reporter at Infrastructure Investor based in New York. Since 2015, Jordan has covered trends in the funding and financing of infrastructure assets around the world. His stories range from the simple power-purchase agreement… Read full bio
Mona Sutphen
Partner & Head of Investment Strategies, Vistria
Mona Sutphen is a Partner and Head of Investment Strategies at the Vistria Group. Prior to joining Vistria, Ms. Sutphen was a Partner at Macro Advisory Partners, where she led the firm’s US practice advising the firm’s global corporate and capital ma… Read full bio
Suzanne Tavill
Partner, Head of Responsible Investing, StepStone Group
Ms. Tavill is the global head of responsible investing, which encompasses ESG and Impact across all asset classes and investment strategies. She is also a member of the private equity team. Prior to StepStone, Ms. Tavill was responsible for AMP Capit… Read full bio
Maaike van der Schoot
Head of Responsible Investment, AlpInvest Partners
Maaike van der Schoot is AlpInvest Partner’s Head of Responsible Investment and oversees the development and implementation of the firm’s Responsible Investment policy since 2008. She joined AlpInvest Partners in 2002. Prior to her current role, she… Read full bio
Marianne Voss
Chief ESG Officer, Webster Equity Partners
Marianne joined Webster in 2021 and serves as the Chief ESG Officer. In this role, Marianne is responsible for evolving Webster’s ESG program to meet company, investor, and stakeholder expectations, and to aid management in risk mitigation and in cre… Read full bio
Tricia Winton
Global Head of ESG, Bain Capital
Patricia (“Tricia”) Winton is Global Head of ESG at Bain Capital, one of the world's leading multi-asset alternative investment firms with approximately $105 billion in assets under management. She leads development and execution of Bain Capital’s ES… Read full bio