What an incredible day!
The critics view...
🎉 #RAOEurope24 exceeded all expectations with insightful discussions, inspiring speakers, and fantastic networking.
Oliver Crowley, Partner, Pinsent Masons summed it up beautifully…..
We were lucky enough to host the Responsible Asset Owners Global Symposia (RAOGlobal.org) Europe 2024 event last week at Crown Place.
Having worn out a notepad or two (and several pints of coffee) to prep for the overview of the day, here are some of the key themes:
▪️ You cannot manage what you cannot measure - asset managers are being asked to collect more and more information. That information must be high-quality to allow management of risks.
▪️ Precision of language is key - expressions have different meanings within organisations, let alone across various rules and regs on sustainability. When setting goals or making disclosures, the meaning needs to be clear to make progress.
▪️ It’s all about the (right) numbers - numbers and metrics are often backward looking. This can hide current issues and the direction of travel.
▪️ Benefit horizon - businesses must have the courage to disclose when targets have not been met. In some cases, missing a short-term target may in fact have a more positive long-term impact.
▪️ Stewardship – there is a cross-Atlantic bifurcation on approaches to stewardship (expression of the day... for which I can’t/won’t take credit). Proposed changes to the stewardship code have generally not been well-received so please participate in the FRC consultation – 19 Feb 2025!
▪️ Putting a price on nature - there are a number of viable paths to allocating capital to nature. The pressure on allocation comes from investors, regulators, employees and, a distant last, customers.
#ResponsibleInvestment #RAOEurope24 #SustainableFinance
And just a few observations from other key speakers......
Gail Le Coz
Dep Chairman, Audit & Risk Management Committee
City of London Corporation
“This important panel agreed that investors need to look at real-world #impact alongside risk and #return, factoring in risks beyond financial, including both physical and geopolitical uncertainty.”
Caroline Escott
Senior Investment Manager
Railpen
“I was delighted to speak about downside risk protection at #RAOEurope24 alongside Sonja Laud (Schemmann), Jeremy De Pessemier, CFA and Thomas Sheedy. A great opportunity to contribute to a thought-provoking event that seems to go from strength to strength.”
Hayden Morgan
Partner
Pinsent Masons
In conversation with
Dan Grandage
abrdn
These two wizards took to the stage with their magic wand, casting a spell over the audience as they talked honestly & openly about the challenges they each face, as well as their clients with increasing demands of compliance versus growth ambitions.
Claire Lincoln
Global Head of Institutional Investor Relationships
World Gold Council
The exclusive Roundtable focussed on balancing risk v reward within portfolios in a new investment era & featured insights from Leaders across Pensions, Asset Managers & Advisors and discussed the need for a more predictable investment journey.
