🌍 Responsible Investing in 2025
Why RAOEurope25 Matters More Than Ever
Newsletter – Special Edition for RAOEurope25 on Oct 21st, in association with Bank of America
A Decisive Moment for Finance and Society
2025 has become a defining year for responsible investment. From climate action to social justice, from biodiversity preservation to the future of global capital markets, the financial industry stands at a crossroads. The stakes have never been higher.
On October 21st, RAOEurope25 will bring together some of the most influential voices in responsible investing to answer the hard questions, challenge old assumptions, and shape a financial system that truly works for people and the planet.
But make no mistake: this is not “just another conference.” It is an urgent call to action. And it is happening at a time when the world can’t afford to wait.
The Global Landscape: Key Developments in Responsible Investing
1. Nature-Positive Finance Comes of Age
2024 ended with a historic push toward nature-positive commitments, following on from COP16 negotiations. The momentum has carried into 2025, with asset owners and asset managers under unprecedented pressure to align portfolios with biodiversity and deforestation-free goals.
Yet the gap between ambition and implementation is stark. Satellite data reveals deforestation in the Amazon remains at crisis levels, while biodiversity loss continues at alarming rates in Southeast Asia and Africa. Investors face a reckoning: will nature-positive finance move beyond glossy pledges to verifiable action?
This is precisely why RAOEurope25 puts Nature-Positive Finance front and centre. Leaders Jane Wadia, David Craig, Menka Baja, Eli Kreiger and Clara Barby will challenge the industry to create investable solutions that don’t just mitigate harm but actively restore ecosystems.
2. Impact Investing: The Measurement Dilemma
Impact investing has grown into a $1.2 trillion market globally, yet critics argue its measurement frameworks are inconsistent, fragmented, and often self-reported. Calls for robust impact standards have intensified, particularly from policymakers in the EU and the US.
2025 could mark the year impact measurement moves from voluntary guidelines to regulated requirements. That’s why the discussion at RAOEurope25 is so urgent:
Mike Weston will explore how to move from outputs to outcomes.
Frances Deakin shares here insights about the real impact of place-based investing in communities across the UK
Ioannis Ioannou asks what if the most valuable assets inside today’s companies are the ones markets don’t even recognise?
Gail Le Coz believes the UK has the resources to lead — but action is urgent.
Jamie Broderick galvanises the debate on whether current approaches to impact verification are strong enough.
Investors want confidence that their money is delivering more than financial return. The question is: can the industry deliver that confidence before regulators step in?
3. The “S” Factor: Social Equity and the Just Transition
For years, the “S” in ESG has been the overlooked sibling. But global events have changed that. Rising inequality, the impact of AI on jobs, and the realities of the energy transition are forcing investors to confront the human dimension of capital.
2025 has already seen a surge in shareholder pressure on social issues—from forced labour supply chains to living wages. The “just transition” is no longer an academic concept; it is a boardroom imperative.
At RAOEurope25, Amanda Latham, Paul Chandler & Many Kirby will discuss:
How to integrate human capital into investment decision-making.
Why social equity is critical for sustainable growth.
What a genuine just transition looks like in practice.
The relevance? Clear: investors cannot afford to miss the “S” any longer.
See the full agenda & speakers here
Why RAOEurope25 Is Different
Many conferences promise change. RAOEurope25 delivers it through:
Cross-Sector Expertise – Bringing together investors, academics, and practitioners who are shaping the agenda.
Hard Conversations – Tackling greenwashing, measurement failures, and the uncomfortable truths about finance’s role in global crises.
Solutions-Focus – Moving beyond rhetoric to practical strategies that leaders can take back to their organisations.
The speaker list itself is testament to the event’s credibility and ambition, including the following important thought leaders:
Jane Wadia
Clara Barby
Menka Bajaj
David Craig
Eli Krieger
Jamie Broderick
Mike Weston
Frances Deakin
Ioannis Ioannou
Gail Le Coz
Mandy Kirby
Amanda Latham
Paul Chandler
…see the full speaker list here
A Call to Leaders: Why You Can’t Afford to Miss RAOEurope25
The window for action is closing. Every year of delay compounds the risks — from stranded assets to irreversible biodiversity loss. The leaders who will succeed are those who face these realities head-on.
RAOEurope25 is not for the complacent. It is for those ready to challenge, disrupt, and lead.
Here’s why you need to secure your ticket now:
Ideas become seats quickly: With such a high-calibre line-up, spaces are limited. Waiting means missing out.
Networking that matters: This is not a room for passive listeners. It’s a gathering of people who will shape the next decade of responsible investing.
Reputation and influence: Being absent from this conversation will speak volumes to your stakeholders.
Closing Message: The Time Is Now
Finance has never had more power to shape the future — nor more responsibility. The developments of 2025 make one thing clear: responsible investing is no longer optional, it is essential.
On October 21st at RAOEurope25, the leaders driving this agenda will be in the room. The only question is: will you?
👉 Book your ticket today. Places are filling fast, and this is one event you cannot afford to miss.
#RAOEurope25 #ResponsibleFinance #ImpactInvesting #NaturePositive #JustTransition
