All times are listed in BST. Please note the agenda is subject to change.
9:10am Panel one | Tackling the latest ESG trends - net zero, biodiversity, human rights
This panel will explore how managers are navigating the frontier of ESG investing and tackling new areas of concern. It will explore how firms are dealing with net zero commitments in terms of investment allocation and engagement. It will also explore how firms are moving beyond a focus on climate, offering a perspective on how to address issues such as biodiversity and human rights in the context of a broader responsible investment framework.
10:30am Breakout sessions part one
Current trends in investor reporting to the public market space
We will use anecdotal experience from building a custom ESG Reporting Solution for one of the world’s largest alternatives managers to outline the challenges facing us as providers, our clients as managers, and the end users of this data (both investors and regulators).
We will use our personal experience building this client solution as the common thread that stitches together the three core challenges and how others can overcome them.
ESG: What the SEC's latest regulatory changes signal for US/EU/UK managers
- Evolution of the SEC’s position on ESG from 2019 - present
- Update on recent enforcement activities and what it means for fund managers
- Overview of SEC’s new ESG disclosure regulation
- Similarities/differences between US/EU/UK disclosure requirements
- Case Study: How the current SEC proposals may affect Article 8 Product disclosures
- Disclosure differences/challenges
- PRI reporting considerations
- Investor expectations and pressures
11:20am Preparing for SFDR Level 2
This discussion will focus on the practicalities of compliance SFDR Level 2 from 1 January 2023:, including completing the Article 8 and 9 pre-contractual annexes, the strategic importance of key disclosures for fund distribution, issues for UK and other non-EU delegates and compliance with the principal adverse impact regime.
11:45am Panel two | Investor conversations - from due diligence to reporting
This panel will bring together investment managers and investors to consider how the dialogue around responsible investment is evolving. It will look at the due diligence process and topics that carry most weight for investor decision-making, product design considerations (including how to navigate regulatory standards), and reporting expectations.
1:30pm Panel three | Articulating a credible responsible investment framework
This panel will bring together investment managers to shine a light on how they have gone about designing and enhancing a responsible investment framework. It will consider how firms have developed their internal expertise through training and hiring. It will look at how firms assess external standards and programmes and weigh their potential benefits and costs. It will also look at the importance of firm-level commitments, including in the context of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
2:15pm Panel four | ESG and private credit
This panel will look at investor expectations of private fund managers, current market trends and key industry initiatives to address data challenges.
3:00pm Breakout sessions part two (repeated from the morning sessions)
Why ESG data isn't your problem
Private market players are concerned about the lack of ESG data at the asset level. However, while there are intrinsic data transparency challenges due to the nature of the industry, there are solutions available to help inform your decision-making. This session will explore an alternative approach to overcoming the ESG data challenge at the asset level, measuring risk exposure and impact potential, and bridging the ESG transparency gaps in the alternatives assets industry. With the right solution, private markets have an opportunity to lead on sustainability.
Speakers:
- Jaclyn Bouchard, EVP, Head of ESG Solutions & Corporate Responsibility, Preqin
- Soojin Kim, AVP ESG Research, Preqin
Current trends in investor reporting to the public market space
We will use anecdotal experience from building a custom ESG Reporting Solution for one of the world’s largest alternatives managers to outline the challenges facing us as providers, our clients as managers, and the end users of this data (both investors and regulators).
We will use our personal experience building this client solution as the common thread that stitches together the three core challenges and how others can overcome them.
Speakers:
- William Bryant, Head of Advisory, North Peak Advisory
- Daniel Johnson, Senior Vice President, SS&C Fund Services
- Jacqueline Swanepoel, Director, Regulatory Services, SS&C Fund Services
ESG: What the SEC's latest regulatory changes signal for US/EU/UK managers
- Evolution of the SEC’s position on ESG from 2019 - present
- Update on recent enforcement activities and what it means for fund managers
- Overview of SEC’s new ESG disclosure regulation
- Similarities/differences between US/EU/UK disclosure requirements
- Case Study: How the current SEC proposals may affect Article 8 Product disclosures
- Disclosure differences/challenges
- PRI reporting considerations
- Investor expectations and pressures
Speaker:
- Trysha Daskam, Managing Director, Head of ESG Strategy, Silver Regulatory Associates
3:50pm FCA climate reporting rules: What firms need to know
This session will provide an overview of the FCA requirements for mandatory TCFD reporting for asset managers, the key implementation challenges firms are facing and the practical steps firms can take to ensure their reporting is in line with the expectations of regulators and other stakeholders.