2022 AIF Institute ESG and Sustainable Investing Symposium
December 8 | New York City | Offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP | 1 Vanderbilt Avenue, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10017
In-Person and Streaming Live Globally
On behalf of the AIF Institute, we invite you to join us for the 2nd Annual AIF Institute ESG and Sustainable Investing Symposium on December 8th at One Vanderbilt in New York City.
The 2022 AIF Institute ESG and Sustainable Investing Symposium will bring together global thought leaders in the ESG space, including members of AIF Centers of Excellence Faculty Board. The comprehensive agenda features:
- Academic Primers on Sustainable Investing Research
- Senior Investors’ Portfolio Discussion
- Environmental Deep Dive: Investing in American Independence and Clean Energy
- Social Deep Dive: Integration of Social Values into the Investment Process while Maintaining Fiduciary Responsibility
- Governance Deep Dive: State of the State in Corporate Governance
- Center for Financial Innovation Crossover Panel: ESG Data and the Path Forward
Agenda at a Glance
Thursday, December 8
8:00–8:45 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45–9:00 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
- Brant Maller, CEO, AIF Global and the AIF Institute
- Melissa Waller, President, AIF Global and the AIF Institute
9:00–9:20 a.m.
Academic Keynote Address: The Origins and Efficacy of ESG Investing
Ken Pucker, Senior Lecturer, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
9:20–10:15 a.m.
Investors’ Panel: Delivering Your Organization’s Responsible Investment Objectives
Moderator:
Bhavika Vyas, Managing Director, Private Equity, StepStone Group
Panelists:
- Amber Fairbanks, Co-Portfolio Manager, Mirova Global Sustainability Equity Strategy, Mirova
- Andrew Palmer, CIO, Maryland State Retirement Agency
- Meredith Wright, Director, Sustainable Investing, Equitable Life
- Lauren Sercu, CIO, Sorenson Impact Foundation
- Ken Pucker, Senior Lecturer, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
10:15–10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Deep Dive into Environmental: Investing in American Independence and Clean Energy
Moderator:
Nathalie Wallace, Global Head of Sustainable Investing, Natixis Investment Managers
Panelists:
- Andrew Siwo, Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
- Patrick Mullen, Director, Arctaris Impact Investors
- Cara Williams, Global Head of ESG and Sustainability, Wealth Management and Multinational Client Lead for Wealth, Mercer
11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Interactive Luncheon: Academic Primer and Breakout Group Discussions: How Does ESG Create Value?
Academic Presenter:
Gregory Brown, Ph.D., Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Scholar of Finance and Executive Director, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School
Discussion Moderator:
- Marianne Dwight, Director of Institutional Investor Services, Strategic Insight Group and Fellow, AIF Institute
Breakout Group Discussion Leaders:
- Michael Elio, Partner, StepStone Group
- Sheryl Schwartz, CIO, ALTI
- Cara Williams, Global Head of ESG and Sustainability, Wealth Management and Multinational Client Lead for Wealth, Mercer
12:45–1:00 p.m.
Sneak Preview on Governance with Aeisha Mastagni
Aeisha Mastagni, Portfolio Manager, California State Teachers’ Retirement System and Co-Chair, Council of Institutional Investors (CII)
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Deep Dive on Social Factors: The Integration of Social Values and Fiduciary Responsibility
Moderator:
Meredith Jones, Managing Director and ESG Practice Leader, E&Y
Panelists:
- Tracy Harris, Partner, Siris
- Bhatki Mirchandani, Managing Director, Responsible Investing, Trinity Wall Street
- Priya Parrish, CIO, Impact Engine
- F. Daniel Siciliano, Fellow (CodeX), Stanford Law School; Co-Founder, Stanford’s Rock Center for Corporate Governance
2:00–2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15–2:45 p.m.
Keynote Fireside Chat: Sustainability Policy Spotlight
Brad Lander, Comptroller, City of New York
Tobias Read, Treasurer, Oregon State
Interviewed by:
- Melissa Waller, President, AIF Global and AIF Institute
2:45–3:00 p.m.
Break
3:00–4:00 p.m.
Deep Dive in Governance: State of the State in Corporate Governance: 2022 Year in Review
Introduction Primer:
- Robert K. Massie IV, Advisor, Global Reporting Initiative
Moderator:
Imogen Rose-Smith, Program Director, AIF Institute
Panelists:
- Sara Murphy, Chief Strategy Officer, The Shareholder Commons
- Amy Borrus, Executive Director, Council of Institutional Investors (CII)
Follow-up Primer:
- Gitanjali M. Swamy, Ph.D., Senior Legislative and Policy Advisor, Office of Senator Hinds, Massachusetts State Senate
4:00–4:15 p.m.
Break
4:15–5:15 p.m.
Center of Financial Innovation and Center of ESG Sustainability Crossover Panel: ESG Data and the Path Forward
Center of Financial Innovation Introduction by:
- John D’Agostino, Fellow, AIF Institute and Senior Advisor, Coinbase
Moderator:
Michael Elio, Partner, StepStone Group
Panelists:
- Michael Kashani, Head of ESG Credit, Apollo Global Management
- Michael Weinberg, formerly APG, Columbia Adjunct Professor, Investor, CMT Portfolio Advisors
- Sharmila Kassam, Head of Asset Owner Solutions, Nasdaq
- Ian Monroe, President and CIO, Etho Capital and Lecturer, Stanford University
- Gitanjali M. Swamy, Ph.D., Senior Legislative and Policy Advisor, Office of Senator Hinds, Massachusetts State Senate
5:15–6:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Reception
2022 AIF Institute ESG and Sustainable Investing Symposium Confirmed Participants List
The investors and consultants below have confirmed their desire to participate (subject to any required internal approvals and final schedules)
400 Capital Management
Emir Boydag, Portfolio Manager
AAAIM
Jim Park, CEO
Actis
Maureen O’Toole, Head of Americas Investor Development
AIF Global
*Ferdinand Seibert, Fellow
Albourne Partners
*Julianna Scionti, ESG Associate Analyst
Alti Financial
Sheryl Schwartz, CIO
Amtrust
Laura Gilbert, VP
Antares Capital
Amit Bafna, Managing Director, Asset Management
Apollo Global Management
Scott McMurtry, Managing Director
Michael Kashani, Head of ESG Credit
Arctaris Impact Investors
Patrick Mullen, Director
Aristotle Capital
Keri Hepburn, Senior VP
Axonic Capital
Melissa Parvis, Head of Investor Relations
Balyasny Asset Management
Dane Fraser, Managing Director
Katie Whitson, Associate
Barings
Emily Cowper, Senior Associate, Sustainability & ESG
Bridge House Advisors
Tom Goodrum, CFA, ESG Business Advisor
CalSTRS
Aeisha Mastagni, Portfolio Manager
Cerberus Capital Management
Brooke Guven, Head of ESG & Sustainability, Managing Director
CMERS
*David Walters, Senior Pension Investment Analyst
CMT Portfolio Advisors
Michael Weinberg, Consultant
Dai-ichi Life
HIROMI MIYATA, VP
E&Y
Meredith Jones, Managing Director and ESG Practice Leader
Equitable
Meredith Wright, Director, Sustainable Investing
GCM Grosvenor
Sean Conroy, Managing Director
Jonathan Hirschtritt, Managing Director, Sustainability
GE Capital – North American Life & Health
*Halie Gates, Investment Analyst
Impact Engine
Priya Parrish, CIO
Invesco
Igor Vishnevetsky, Managing Director
LACERA
Scott Zdrazil, Principal Investment Officer
Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS)
*Clark Hoover, Investment Officer – Private Markets
Maryland State Retirement Agency
*Dominique Cherry, Senior Governance Manager
Andrew Palmer, CIO
Massachusetts State Senate
Gitanjali Swamy, Senior Legislative & Policy Advisor
Meketa Investment Group
*Sarah Bernstein, Head of Sustainability
Mercer
Cara Williams, Global Head of ESG and Sustainability
Mercer Investments LLC
*Doug Moore, Partner & Investment Director
Mirova
Amber Fairbanks, Co-Portfolio Manager, Mirova Global Sustainability Equity Strategy
Natixis Investment Managers
Patrick Lee, VP, Institutional Distribution
Nick Nurcanyan, Investment Consultant
Nathalie Wallace, Global Head Sustainable Investment
New York City
Brad Lander, Comptroller
New York State Common Retirement Fund
Andrew Siwo, Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions
Nippon Life Global Investors Americas Inc.
*Mihoko Oyama, Senior Director
Office of the New York City Comptroller Bureau of Asset Management
Alison Hirsh, Assistant Comptroller for Pensions
Oregon State
Tobias Read, Treasurer
Oregon State Treasury
*Jeremy Knowles, Investment Analyst
*Faith Sedberry, Investment Officer
Peninsula House LLC
*John Tsui, Managing Principal
PGIM Real Estate
Andrea Kaufman, Executive Director
Siris
Tracy Harris, Partner
Sorenson Impact Foundation
Lauren Sercu, Chief Investment Officer
StepStone Group
Michael Elio, Partner & Investment Director
Bhavikas Vyas, Managing Director, Private Equity
Strategic Insight Group
Marianne Dwight, Director of Institutional Investor Services
The Shareholder Commons
Rick Alexander, CEO
Transverse Insurance Group
*Mark Hong, CIO
Trinity Wall Street
Bhakti Mirchandani, Managing Director, Responsible Investing
Tufts University
Ken Pucker, Senior Lecturer
United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
Terezie Hesounova Trivell, Director of Private Markets
Kenza Himmi, Associate Investment Officer
Natalie Hong, Portfolio Manager / Investment Officer
University of California (UC) Investments
Albert Lee, Investment Director
University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School
Gregory Brown, Professor
Vibrant Capital Partners
Charlotte Fan, VP
YWCA Retirement Fund
Sondra Vitols, Board of Trustee Member
*Virtual attendee. All others attending in person.