North America’s #1 event for sustainability in private markets
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 9th annual Responsible Investment Forum: New York 2025, where we explored the alpha in sustainability.
With over 400 institutional investors, fund managers, and industry leaders in attendance, including Blue Earth Capital, Generation Investment Management, HarbourVest Partners, Oregon State Treasury, Triton Partners, Wafra, and more – it was a powerful gathering of expertise and collaboration.
We look forward to seeing you in 2026 for the 10th anniversary of the Responsible Investment Forum: New York!
2025 speakers included:
2025 Key Themes included: Showing the alpha in sustainability
- How US and global managers and investors are approaching decarbonization and net-zero
- The next frontier: to what extent addressing biodiversity can drive returns?
- How are sustainability professionals and their teams evolving and growing their influence within funds?
- Why and how sustainability drives returns in private markets
- Portfolio company perspectives on how sustainability can help grow their business
- Global LP perspectives on sustainable investing in North America
What can you expect at the event?
Exceptional event content
Learn from 100+ industry experts and gain insight into decarbonization, biodiversity, sustainability returns, portfolio company perspectives, sustainable investing in North America and much more.
Unparalleled Networking
Connect with industry participants in all aspects of responsible investment. Network in-person at interactive working sessions, networking breaks, an evening drinks reception, and invite-only breakfasts.
Top attending investors
Join leading institutional & private investors looking to discuss current challenges and opportunities. Attendees from 2024 included Australian Super, Omers, PGIM, QIC, Swiss RE, United Church Funds and many more.
Interested in sponsoring Responsible Investment Forum?
Shake hands with prominent global institutional investors, fund managers, consultants, and highly recognised associations to build effective ESG strategies focused on value creation and ROI.
3 global opportunities to:
• Raise your visibility as a figurehead in a crowded ESG market and align your brand with PEI’s global and diverse event portfolio.
• Differentiate your brand and stand out from your competitors by collaborating as a thought leader across leading global ESG events in private equity, infrastructure, and private debt.
• Raise your reputation as an expert in ESG amongst existing and future clients.
• Get ahead of ESG and impact fund regulations and be the go to provider in industry developments setting you apart from your competitors.
Get in touch with us today and let us put your company at the forefront of the industry.
Apply for a complimentary institutional investor pass
A limited number of complimentary passes are available for eligible allocators and institutional investors to join the event.
To qualify for a complimentary pass, you must meet the eligibility criteria in representing a pension fund, insurance company, sovereign wealth fund, private wealth manager, foundation, endowment, family office or corporate investment division.
Register your interest here and a member of our team will follow up with you to secure your pass.
Testimonials
This was probably the most useful room I have been in all year.
I made valuable connections with likeminded professionals who I can stay in touch with to continue to bounce ideas off one another to progress ESG efforts at my…
It enhanced my confidence with respect to investing within responsible investing guidelines and that I can achieve both profitable growth and responsible invest…
Venue and hotel
Connect with global investors focused on the future of the market
Position your business with an authoritative content-led event portfolio focused on ESG and responsible investing and be recognized as a go-to solution provider for senior private markets professionals and institutional investors.
- Shake hands with prominent fund managers, global institutional investors, and highly recognised associations to discuss your effective ESG strategies focused on value creation and ROI.
- Stand tall from your competitors by showcasing your company’s ESG and sustainability solutions and your industry expertise with thought leadership opportunities on the event program.
- Discover brand opportunities to position your services and solutions to a global ESG community.
For more information on available sponsorship opportunities please fill in the enquiry form. Contact Tyler Mitchell at tyler.m@pei.group or call +1 646 795 3279
2025 Sponsors included:
The Responsible Investment Forum: New York will return in Spring 2026.
For more information, please contact Charles Gould.
charles.g@pei.group | +44 (0)203 879 3893
Explore the 2025 agenda
View agenda page
Agenda
Day 1 - Tuesday 4th
Registration & Breakfast
07:15 - 08:15
Registration & Breakfast
Workshop
07:45 - 08:30
Value Creation Workshop in Association with the PRI
Aditya Vikram
Aditya Vikram, Head of Private Equity, UNPRI
Welcoming remarks
08:30 - 08:40
Introduction from PEI and PRI
Aditya Vikram,
Bruce Simpson
08:40 - 09:10
Keynote Interview: the future of sustainability in a rapidly changing political and economic environment in North America and globally
Greg Hershman,
Lindsey Walton,
Dan Mistler
Greg Hershman, Head of US Policy, UN PRI
Lindsey Walton, Director of Americas, UN PRI
in conversation with
Dan Mistler, Partner, Global Head of ESG Advisory and Analytics, ACA Group
Plenary sessions
09:10 - 09:45
Sustainability and private markets in a changing world
Jennifer Wilson,
Avantika Saisekar,
Eimear Palmer,
Samantha Hill ,
Japen Hollist
- Quantifying the value of sustainability: practical frameworks to measure and articulate the benefits of sustainability work on value
- Communicating sustainability effectively to resonate with LPs across diverse regions and regulatory landscapes.
- Navigating heightened sustainability demands: strategies for mid-market managers to address increasing regulatory and LP expectations efficiently.
- Real-world examples of driving impactful sustainability outcomes throughout the deal lifecycle.
Moderator:
Jennifer Wilson, Re:Co
Panelists:
Avantika Saisekar, Managing Director of Sustainable Investing, Wafra Inc
Eimear Palmer, Partner, Global Head of Sustainability, Pantheon
Samantha Hill, Head of Sustainability Integration, CPPIB
Japen Hollist, Head of Sustainability, Customer Advisory, SAP North America
09:45 - 10:20
How US & global managers & investors are approaching decarbonization and net-zero
Marc Lino,
Thomas Carlier,
Natasha Buckley,
Michael Cappucci,
Tang Zongzhong
- Implementing best practices in portfolio decarbonization: to what extent can decarbonization be part of wider value creation plans?
- Balancing short-term returns with long-term net-zero goals
- Harmonizing Industry Standards and Initiatives including NZIF, PMDR & icI
- How some investors are requiring a net-zero plan from GPs and is this cross-portfolio at or at the fund
Moderator:
Marc Lino, Senior Partner, Global ESG Leader for Private Equity, Bain & Company
Panelists:
Thomas Carlier, VP – Sustainability, InvestIndustrial
Natasha Buckley, Principal, ESG, HarbourVest Partners
Michael Cappucci, Managing Director – Compliance and Sustainable Investing, Harvard Management Company
Tang Zongzhong, Head of Sustainability, Private Capital Asia, EQT
10:20 - 11:00
EDCI Annual Update: Leveraging EDCI insights for value creation
Ben Morley,
Maaike van der Schoot,
Dan Jacobs,
Carrie Braddock,
Billy Cotter
- Presenting the latest discoveries from the EDCI and a deep dive into the data
- Understanding how LPs utilize the data in practice: navigating uniform metric standards while prioritizing materiality in benchmarking
- How incorporating EDCI is streamlining compliance efforts
- Analysis of findings from the newly introduced net-zero metric and the path towards decarbonization
- Three years in: how are GPs and LPs making use of the data collected to help in value creation?
Moderator:
Ben Morley, Partner and Associate Director, BCG
Panelists:
Maaike Van der Schoot, Principal, Head of Responsible Investment, Alpinvest
Dan Jacobs, Principal, CD&R
Carrie Braddock, Managing Director and Head of ESG & Impact, Silverlake
Billy Cotter, Head of ESG and Solution Specialists, Dasseti
Break
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee & networking
Plenary sessions
11:30 - 12:10
The next frontier: to what extent can addressing biodiversity drive returns?
Lis Castillo Nelis,
Will Relle,
Suzanne Tavill,
Yovanka Bylander,
Nick Dilks
- How to assess biodiversity risks and opportunities in the diligence process
- Putting a financial value on biodiversity work: is this realistic?
- The interaction between climate and nature: to what extent can biodiversity be used to reduce climate risk?
- Examples from funds who are using biodiversity to drive value
Moderator:
Lis Nelis, PhD, Principal, Ecology and Biodiversity, Ramboll
Panelists:
Will Relle, Director, ESG, HarbourVest
Suzanne Tavill, Partner & Head of Responsible Investment, Stepstone
Yovanka Bylander, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Americas, Holtara
Nick Dilks, Managing Partner, Ecosystem Investment Partners
12:10 - 12:45
Why and how sustainability drives value in private markets
Aditya Vikram,
Michael Eisenberg,
Angela Jhanji,
Abdulla Zaid,
Adinah Shackleton,
Mackenzie Drutowski
- Why so many GPs still struggle to approach sustainability as a strategic value driver: how to overcome this
- How are some funds spotting value creation opportunities during due diligence?
- The importance of adding sustainability to a value creation playbook
- Case studies from those who have increased returns for their funds
Moderator:
Aditya Vikram, Head of Private Equity, UNPRI
Panelists:
Michael Eisenberg, Partner, ESG & Impact Value Creation Lead Private Markets, ERM
Angela Jhanji, Managing Director, EQT Partners
Abdulla Zaid, Vice President, MSCI Research
Adinah Shackleton, Head of Sustainability, Permira
Mackenzie Drutowski, Partner, ESG & Impact, Kirkland & Ellis
12:50 - 13:20
Portfolio company perspectives on how sustainability can help grow their business- CHATHAM HOUSE RULES
Barrett Lawson,
Steve Hatfield,
Sam Alden,
Andrea Croslyn
-
- How are portfolio companies measuring the ROI of sustainability efforts and translating these metrics into tangible business outcomes?
- How do portcos navigate potential trade-offs between short-term financial performance and long-term sustainable growth?
- What are the success stories or case studies where sustainability has directly contributed to business expansion and market penetration?
- Learnings from positive working relationships with their GP owners
Moderator:
Barrett Lawson, Director – North America, Anthesis
Panelists:
Steve Hatfield, Co-Head, Global Sustainability, Carlyle
Sam Alden, Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, Sense
Andrea Croslyn, EVP, Business Process & Sustainability, Bakelite Synthetics
Lunch
13:20 - 14:15
Lunch
Track A: Value Creation
14:15 - 14:55
Driving and demonstrating returns from sustainable value creation in investments
Deike Diers,
Tensie Whelan,
Dalia Rahman,
Evelina Olago,
Nicolas Monnier
- To what extent are we at a stage where funds can tell a story of value added?
- Emphasizing the importance of engaging investment teams in sustainability throughout the investment
- Ensuring sustainability initiatives are well-resourced and supported at a senior level within portfolio companies
Moderator:
Deike Diers, Partner, Sustainability for Private Equity and Financial Investors, Bain & Company
Panelists:
Tensie Whelan, Distinguished Professor of Practice, NYU Stern School of Business
Dalia Rahman, Head of Climate & Portfolio Sustainability, Apax
Evelina Olago, Managing Director, Client & Strategy, Just Climate
Nicolas Monnier, Senior Managing Director – Global Private Equity, SAP
Deike Diers
Partner, Sustainability for Private Equity and Financial Investors, Bain & Company
Read bio
14:55 - 15:35
Sustainability during exits in a tough environment
Ashim Paun,
Annie Longsworth,
Jeannie Cho,
Karishma Ahuja,
Allegra Day
- To what extent are sustainability teams involved in exit preparation?
- Preparing for exit: how can sustainability teams make a company more attractive to a future buyer?
- ESG considerations when exiting via IPO vs. a sale to another PE buyer
Moderator:
Ashim Paun, Head of Sustainable Investing, Triton Partners
Panelists:
Annie Longsworth, Partner, ERM
Jeannie Cho, Director, Sustainable Investing, KKR
Karishma Ahuja, ESG Manager, Madison Dearborn Partners
Allegra Day,Managing Director and Head of Sustainability, Cinven
15:35 - 16:15
Human Capital Management as a value lever PE
Bruce Simpson,
Keith Warren,
Jim Scarfone,
Laura McMullen
- Why human capital is now the number one lever in value creation
- Defining company culture and aligning it with sustainability and value creation plans
- To what extent should sustainability heads work with in-house human capital operating partners
Moderator:
Bruce Simpson, Partner, AgeTech Capital
Panelists:
Keith Warren, Senior Strategic Talent Advisor, LS Power
Tina Linger, Head of Human Resources, GI Partners
Jim Scarfone, Chief Human Resources Officer, Operating Partner, MidOcean Partners
Laura McMullen, Head of Portfolio Sustainability – Private Equity, Five Arrows Principal Investments
Track B: Impact & Transition
14:15 - 14:55
The state of the impact & transition market in North America
Tim Mohin,
Vikram Agrawal,
Letitia Ferrier Webster,
Abrielle Rosenthal
- Is there a trade-off between delivering impact and returns?
- How significant has the ESG backlash been on the impact market?
- How are corporates’ net-zero efforts driving opportunities in the impact market in terms of exits and allocations?
Moderator:
Tim Mohin, Partner & Director, BCG
Panelists:
Vikram Agrawal, Co-Founder & CEO, American Resilience Partners
Letitia Ferrier Webster, Head of Sustainability, GSAM, Alternatives
Abrielle Rosenthal, Managing Director and Chief Sustainability Officer, TowerBrook Capital Partners
14:55 - 15:35
LP panel: asset owner perspectives on allocating to impact funds
Chris Janiec,
Roraj Pradhananga,
Charles Buck,
Philip Larrieu,
Amanda Feldman
- Is the collective pool of impact-orientated capital likely to grow in the coming 5 years in North America?
- What investment themes resonate most with asset owners?
- How has the sentiment for investments in climate-oriented strategies evolved?
Moderator:
Chris Janiec, Americas Editor – Agri Investor, PEI
Panelists:
Roraj Pradhananga, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Veris Wealth Partners
Charles Buck, President and CEO, United Church Funds
Philip Larrieu, Investment Officer Stewardship, Oregon Treasury
Amanda Feldman, Managing Director & Head of Impact Engagement, Sonen Capital
15:35 - 16:15
Impact, climate & transition investing: fundraising in a competitive space
Chris Cote,
Christina Anzel,
Fabio Ranghino,
Sandra Kartt,
Chris Gorell Barnes
- Standing out in a crowded market: strategies to differentiate your fund amidst an influx of new entrants
- Demonstrating tangible value creation: effectively showcasing the real-world impact and financial returns of portfolio companies to investors.
- Strategic Focus: Weighing the benefits and trade-offs of adopting a single-focus versus a broader impact strategy
Moderator:
Chris Cote, Executive Director, MSCI Research
Panelists:
Christina Anzel, Director, Client Team, Generation Investment Management
Fabio Ranghino, Partner, Head of Sustainability & Strategy, Ambienta
Sandra Osborne Kartt, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, ImpactAssets Capital Partners
Chris Gorell Barnes, CEO, Ocean14 Capital
Track C: Regulation & Frameworks (Chatham House Rules)
14:15 - 14:55
SEC and local regulations in the U.S.
Eric Scheriff,
Robert Esposito,
Joshua Lichtenstein,
Andrew Brenner
- Is there a value creation opportunity in latest SEC regulation?
- Who is responsible for implementation? How much are ESG teams working with compliance professionals?
- Looking specifically at new laws in California and elsewhere
Moderator:
Eric Scheriff, Senior Managing Director, Capstone
Panelists:
Robert Esposito, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, ESG, Apollo Global Management
Joshua Lichtenstein, Partner, Ropes & Gray
Andrew Brenner, Director of Investment Management Integration, IFRS Foundation
14:55 - 15:35
SFDR and U.S. managers: tips for global funds
Alena Solonina,
Christina Bortz,
Jyoti Aggarwala,
Nicole Balarezo Urteaga
- To what extent are EU investors making demands of U.S. funds due to SFDR?
- Outlining some of the possible costs and challenges associated with this increased compliance burden
- Is there an opportunity to gain a competitive edge by meeting requirements?
Moderator:
Alena Solonina, Partner & Co-Founder, CurvePoint Capital
Panelists:
Christina Bortz, Deputy General Counsel, ESG, TPG Angelo Gordon
Jyoti Aggarwala, Principal, Private Capital Raise
Nicole Balarezo, Associate – ESG & Sustainability Advisory, Holtara
15:35 - 16:15
Interoperability of different sustainability initiatives and frameworks
Mary Beth Houlihan,
Chris Brannan,
Marion Hayes,
Brett Juliano,
Caitlin Pentifallo
- To what extent are fragmented reporting standards impacting sustainability professionals?
- Challenges and opportunities in scaling ESG Initiatives across global portfolios
- Leveraging technology to bridge gaps in sustainability reporting
Moderator:
Mary-Beth Houlihan, ESG & Impact Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
Panelists:
Chris Brannan, Assistant General Counsel & ESG Officer, Pritzker Private Capital
Marion Hayes, Senior Managing Director, Head of Responsible Investing, Arsenal Capital Partners
Brett Juliano, Head of Sustainability, THL Partners
Dr. Caitlin Pentifallo, Head of Metrics and Regulation, Novata
Marion Hayes
Senior Managing Director, Head of Responsible Investing, Arsenal Capital Partners
Read bio
Track D: Circular Economy/Private Debt/Governance
14:15 - 14:55
Investing in the circular economy
Imani Hamilton,
Benjamin Hogan,
Sharo Atmeh,
Radhika Mehrotra,
Priyanka Shome
- Defining the circular economy and where are investment opportunities?
- How big is the opportunity from these investments?
- How does circularity drive decarbonization and achieve net zero objectives?
Moderator:
Imani Hamilton, Circular Economy + Resource Management Practice Lead, Americas, Ramboll
Panelists:
Benjamin Hogan, Director / Private Equity, Blue Earth Capital
Sharo Atmeh, co-founder and COO, Montauk Climate
Radhika Mehrotra, Associate Director, Capital Markets, CDP
Priyanka Shone, Vice President – ESG, One Rock Capital Partners
14:55 - 15:35
Can you Responsibly Invest in Dual-Use Technologies?
Johannes Lenhard,
Susan Winterberg,
Peter Dunbar
- Exploring the drivers behind the growth of dual-use innovation
- Identifying key opportunities in private markets: is the focus on VC and Growth?
- Practical tips for investing responsibly in this evolving sector
Moderator:
Johannes Lenhard, Co-founder & Co-Director, VentureESG
Panelists:
Susan Winterberg, Fellow – Dual Use, VentureESG
Peter Dunbar, Principal – Responsible Investment, StepStone Group
15:35 - 16:15
How sustainability is continuing to evolve in private debt
Adam Davies,
Brittany Agostino,
Jeffrey Cohen,
Claire Hedley,
Greer Howard-Tabah,
Chandini Jain
- To what extent are lenders and sponsors engaging on sustainability efforts?
- What tools can private credit investors use to understand where their portfolio stands in terms of decarbonisation status and climate risk?
- Sustainability linked loans: The importance of setting borrowers useful and sector-specific KPIs
Moderator:
Adam Davies, Vice President, Private Credit, Malk Partners
Panelists:
Brittany Agostino, Principal, ESG – US Credit Lead, Ares Management
Jeffrey Cohen, Managing Director, Head of ESG & Sustainability, Oak Hill Advisors
Claire Hedley, Head of ESG, 17Capital
Greer Howard-Tabah, Vice President, Oaktree Capital
Chandini Jain, Founder & CEO, Auquan
Break
16:15 - 16:45
Coffee & networking
Working group series A: This working session will be open to all - interactive roundtable discussion with designated facilitators. Service providers should not join sessions led by their direct competitors but can join other sessions.
16:45 - 17:45
Working Group A: Measuring biodiversity for selecting investments, monitoring progress, and showing a return on investment
Lis Castillo Nelis
In this workshop, Dr. Lis Castillo Nelis will describe several different methods for measuring biodiversity and will provide an activity for breakout groups. The methods for measuring biodiversity differ based on what type of business is involved, how its value chain is structured, and what types of questions investors are asking. The workshop activity will provide either a case study to focus a discussion of which biodiversity measurement method to pick, or will give participants the opportunity to present their own biodiversity case study for group discussion.
Lis Nelis, Principal, Ecology and Biodiversity, Ramboll
16:45 - 17:45
Working group B: Supporting your portfolio on CSRD compliance
Many portfolio companies are facing a new ESG reporting challenge with the CSRD, whether they themselves are in scope, or selling to companies in scope. These companies often lean on their investors for guidance and support.
During this CSRD-focused working group hosted by KEY ESG, you will learn about the different challenges arising from CSRD requirements and how they can be addressed to build repeatable, scalable and auditable reporting processes across your portfolio of investments.
Anne-Marie Schoonbeek, Founder & COO, KeyESG
Heleen van Poecke, Founder & CEO, KeyESG
16:45 - 17:45
Working group C: Turning carbon reporting into a value creation opportunity
Saleh ElHattab,
Brooke Guven,
Pamela Kauppila
- Share best practices about how to efficiently collect sustainability data across your portfolio and report to key regulatory standards.
- Hear how peers are turning reporting and regulatory requirements into a blueprint for cost-effective decarbonization and energy efficiency initiatives.
- Exchange real-world case studies for effectively communicating how sustainability programs drive value internally and externally.
Saleh ElHattab, CEO & Founder, Gravity
Brooke Guven, Head of ESG, Cerberus
Pamela Kauppila, Director, ESG Engagement, New Mountain Capital
16:45 - 17:45
Working group D: Actionable Insights in the Blink of an AI
Megan Murday,
Billy Cotter
AI-driven tools are revolutionizing how to think about and utilize ESG data, moving us beyond tedious tracking and towards enhanced decision-making. From GHG emissions calculations to benchmarking and automated analysis, we’ll explore how investors can harness these advancements for material value creation.
Megan Murday, Head of ESG Strategy, North America, Dasseti
Billy Cotter, Head of ESG and Solution Specialists, Dasseti
16:45 - 17:45
Working group E: Climate risk analysis in alternative portfolios
Kaja Pergar
Technical deep-dive into portfolio-wide climate risk analysis and application to unique alt asset classes
Kaja Pergar, Climate Strategy Lead, Blue Owl
End of day one
17:45 - 19:00
Close of conference followed by cocktails
Agenda
Day 2 - Wednesday 5th
Breakfast
08:00 - 09:00
Invitation only LP and GP Breakfast briefings
Genie Cesar-Fabian,
Julia Lamorelle,
Ryan Werffeli
LP Only Think Tank Breakfast in Partnership with ILPA and Malk Partners
Join fellow LPs for breakfast and peer-to-peer discussion around the challenges and opportunity sets LPs are facing pertaining to sustainable investing heading into 2025. Discussion will take place under Chatham House rule.
This is a closed-door session for LPs only, no service providers.
Co-facilitator: Genie Cesar-Fabrian, General Counsel, ILPA
Co-facilitator: Julia Lamorelle, Senior Vice President of GP Advisory, Malk Partners
Co-facilitator: Ryan Werffeli, Chief Operating Officer, Malk Partners
08:00 - 09:00
GPs Breakfast Roundtable hosted by EY: Infusing ESG into operations and investing
Chase Jordan,
Winna Brown
To maximize financial returns, ESG must evolve into a fully integrated practice that permeates all operations from LP fundraising to exit planning.
Chase Jordan, Global Private Equity ESG Leader, EY
Winna Brown, Partner, Private Equity, EY
08:30 - 09:30
General Breakfast
Opening Remarks
09:05 - 09:10
Opening remarks
Bruce Simpson
Bruce Simpson, Partner, AgeTech Capital
09:05 - 09:10
Opening remarks
Michael Littenberg
Michael Littenberg, Partner, Ropes & Gray
Michael Littenberg
Partner, Global Head of ESG, CSR and Business and Human Rights Practice, Ropes & Gray
Read bio
Plenary
09:10 - 09:50
AI in private markets: navigating ethical challenges and unlocking opportunities
Emily Chien,
Matthew Alcock,
Kim Erle,
Luke Wilcox
-
What does Generative AI (genAI) disruption mean for private markets?
-
Where does GenAI add value for private markets and firms?
-
What benefits are real world applications delivering for us?
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What risks / learnings are emerging?
-
How do you see portfolio companies using AI and GenAI in particular to improve their businesses?
Moderator:
Emily A. Chien, Fellow, Harvard University
Panelists:
Matthew Alcock, Associate, ESG, Coller Capital
Kim Leinwand Erle, Managing Director & Global Head of ESG, HIG
Luke Wilcox, Partner, Head of Ethos ESG, ACA Group
09:10 - 09:50
Why human rights risks in the supply chain is rising up the agenda of US PE funds
Michael Littenberg,
Colin Etnire,
Lazaro Tiant,
Lindsay Gibson
- Identifying and mitigating human rights risks in portfolio companies’ supply chains
- Navigating challenges in companies with global supply chains
- Learn from experienced funds on conducting effective human rights assessments of their portfolios
Moderator:
Michael Littenberg, Partner, Ropes & Gray
Panelists:
Colin Etnire, Head of Sustainability, North America, BC Partners
Lazaro Tiant, Thematic Research, Schroders
Lindsay Gibson, Vice President, Permira
09:50 - 10:30
Managing increasing climate transition litigation risk
Ulysses Smith ,
Shannon Selden,
Kaitlyn Posa
- What sectors are being targeted and who is bringing the cases?
- Which if any of these claims are succeeding, which aren’t, and why? What are the defences?
- How can the PE community work to mitigate these risks, and how else is the PE community impacted by these developments?
- How is the landscape shifting following U.S. elections; how does the anti-ESG movement impact these developments?
Moderator:
Ulysses Smith, ESG Senior Advisor, Debevoise & Plimpton
Panelists:
Shannon Selden, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton
Kaitlyn Posa, Principal, Product Counsel (Sustainable Investing), KKR
09:50 - 10:30
Developing portfolio decarbonization plans to decrease emissions whilst enhancing value creation
Carmela Mondino Borromeo,
Saleh ElHattab,
Madelyn Tutewiler,
Jennifer Flood,
Sanaz Raczynski
- Engaging with portfolio companies to accelerate energy efficiency
- Best ways of transforming carbon reporting into actionable blueprints for decarbonization
- Highlighting decarbonization strategies for investments with a focus on technology and analytics
- Case studies where funds have used these strategies on their investments to drive returns
Moderator:
Carmela Mondino Borromeo, Independent ESG Specialist
Panelists:
Saleh ElHattab, CEO & Founder, Gravity
Madelyn Tutewiler, ESG Director, MiddleGround Capital
Jennifer Flood, Head of Sustainability (North America), Investindustrial
Sanaz Racynski, Head of Sustainability, Kohlberg
Break
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee & networking
Plenary sessions
11:00 - 11:30
Fireside chat: APG’s evolving approach to climate and impact
Ryan Werffeli ,
Madeleine Gee,
Michael Dymond
- What transition plans are expected from GPs?
- Should net-zero goals be set at the fund level or across the portfolio?
- How do APG’s sustainable and deal teams collaborate?
- What is APG looking for in the sustainability teams of its partner funds
- How do we engage with the broader industry to advance market practice?
- What is the role of ESG and impact in our investment process, and how has it evolved?
Moderator:
Ryan Werffeli, Chief Operating Officer, Malk Partners
Panelists:
Madeleine Gee, Portfolio Manager, APG Asset Management
Michael Dymond, Senior Portfolio Manager, Private Equity, APG Asset Management
11:30 - 12:15
Global LP perspectives on sustainable investing in North America
Eric Bloom,
Ryan Malloy,
Karin Bouwmeester ,
Jonathan Hirschtritt,
Janay Anderson
- To what extent are allocations being impacted by sustainability?
- What impact is SFDR having on relationships between European investors and U.S. based managers?
- Which U.S. sustainable investment strategies are most attractive to LPs?
- What are some best practices for U.S. funds seeking to attract investment from European and Asian LPs?
Moderator:
Eric Bloom, Re:Co
Panelists:
Ryan Malloy, Research Analyst, Sustainable Investing, Fiduciary Trust International
Karin Bouwmeester, ESG Lead Private Equity, PGGM Investments
Jonathan Hirschtritt, Managing Director Sustainability, GCM Grosvenor
Janay Anderson, Vice President, Operational Due Dilligence, Aksia
12:15 - 12:40
Next-Gen ESG Analysis: How AI is Redefining Controversy Detection
Sylvain Forté
Discover how AI is transforming ESG analysis, enabling private equity firms to identify, manage, and mitigate controversies while driving value creation.
- AI in Action: Learn how firms leverage AI for real-time portfolio monitoring and due diligence, identifying controversies and reducing reputational and financial risks.
- Emerging Use Cases: Explore innovative applications of AI, from regulatory compliance to supplier risk analysis.
- Advancing ESG Insights: Discover how advances in AI are streamlining ESG analysis, making controversy detection more scalable, actionable, and precise.
Sylvain Forté, Co-founder and CEO, SESAMm
12:40 - 13:00
ESG Value Creation Case Study Sessions
Rhiannon Davies,
Serena Shi
2 short presentations on how ESG initiatives or technologies can be used to drive returns within PE investments within different areas of sustainability. The audience will have the chance to quiz the presenters after their presentations. During the lunchbreak presenters will be available for further questions over informal roundtables
Rhiannon Davies, Founder and Managing Partner, Sandpiper VC
Serena Shi, Vice President, The Lightsmith Group
13:00 - 13:20
Voluntary Carbon Market Guidance for Private Markets
Egle Sakalauskaite,
Ayub Ansari
The audience will have the chance to quiz the presenters after their presentation. During the lunchbreak presenters will be available for further questions over informal roundtables.
Egle Sakalauskaite, Head of Responsible Investing, Bregal Investments
Ayub Ansari, Principal Consultant, Anthesis
Lunch
13:20 - 14:15
Lunch
Close of conference
14:15 - 14:15
Close of conference
Pre-Event Resources
Network with the North American responsible investment industry
Join 450+ sustainable investment professionals on March 4-5 in New York, for two days of learning, networking and collaboration. Connect with institutional investors, fund managers, specialist responsible investment professionals, impact managers, and the wider ESG community.
The Responsible Investment Forum is a must-attend event for those with an interest in ESG in private markets.
Two days of networking and connections
Meet leading global investors
Network with active investors in responsible investment and advance your sustainability strategy during a program designed to foster connectivity and learning.
Build meaningful connections
Across a range of interactive workshops, drinks receptions, invite-only breakfasts, working groups and more.
Connect ahead of the event
Take advantage of the event app to find out who you can meet and book in key meetings in advance to ensure you get the most out of your time.
Testimonials from attendees
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 gr…
Global warming, air pollution, and energy insecurity are three of the greatest problems facing humanity. The Responsible Investment Forum is a powerful global p…
It’s great to see PEI bring together a diverse and growing group of investment professionals interested and active in responsible and sustainable investment. Th…
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
Gallery
Connect with and benchmark against your investor peers. Take part in roundtable discussions, think-tanks and investor-focussed sessions to explore private market opportunities so you can come away with strategies to generate the highest returns.
Institutional Investors at the Responsible Investment Forum: New York 2026
The Responsible Investment Forum: New York provides a leading platform for leading institutional investors and allocators investing in impact in private markets to gather.
A limited number of complimentary passes are available for Responsible Investment investors and institutional investors to the event. Check out the benefits of joining the conference, who among your peers attends and find out how to apply for a complimentary pass for you or your team below.
Network with your peers
Enrich your network, build lasting relationships and exchange valuable perspectives with your investor peers.
Meet with leading funds
Connect and arrange meetings with key fund managers in the market looking to secure new fundraising to advance their ESG portfolio and strategies.
Explore opportunities
Hear from an expert speaker line-up to discover new investment opportunities as we discuss the key themes and trends impacting sustainable investments.
Apply for a complimentary Institutional Investor pass
A limited number of complimentary passes are available for Responsible Investment Forum LPs, allocators and institutional investors to join the event.
Complimentary investor passes are limited to foundations, endowments, trusts, insurance companies, single family offices, sovereign wealth funds and pension funds who are actively making fund commitments and do not engage in third-party fundraising activities or collect fees for advisory/consulting services.
Apply for a pass and a member of our team will follow up with you to secure your pass.
The Responsible Investment Forum: New York will return in Spring 2026.
For more information, please contact Charles Gould.
charles.g@pei.group | +44 (0)203 879 3893
2025 Speakers included:
Michael Cappucci
Managing Director - Compliance and Sustainable Investing, Harvard Management Company
Michael Littenberg
Partner, Global Head of ESG, CSR and Business and Human Rights Practice, Ropes & Gray
