Private Equity
International
International
Responsible Investment Forum New York 2020
4 - 5 March 2020,
Convene 730 Third Ave
Effectively integrating ESG to create sustainable value
The Responsible Investment Forum returns to New York for its fourth year to bring together the most sophisticated LPs, GPs and associations to discuss why, when, and how your firm should be implementing an effective ESG strategy.
ESG issues are at the heart of all PEI’s editorial coverage, with our reporters consistently following and scrutinizing the ways in which managers in the US are adopting responsible investment practices and what LPs are looking for as they consider investing in private equity. PEI, partnering with the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), continues to prove itself as a thought-leader in this area, and is at the forefront of covering the growth of ESG in North American private equity.
Discussion topics:
- Bridging the LP-GP divide on ESG
- ESG reporting and metrics for success
- Focusing on diversity at the fund level and portfolio level
- Placing climate risk at the top of your agenda
- Human capital as a driving force for value
- ESG and the American Frontier
- The ESG and impact investing dynamic
- Engaging the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a strategic assessment tool
- Value creation with ESG
- LP expectations and focus in ESG due diligence
In light of the recent Coronavirus outbreak, we are monitoring developments closely with the latest guidance from local and national authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) as it relates to travel to, and participation in, our events. At this time, Responsible Investment Forum will run as scheduled with precautions taken to ensure our guests’ health and safety. At this time there are no travel restrictions to any destinations in the US. PEI Media’s usual terms and conditions will apply in the event of any change to our intended plans.
Bringing together the LPs, GPs and associations leading the way in responsible investment practices
Connect with
investors
Understand how LPs are benchmarking corporate governance and how it impacts the manager selection process.
Hear from corporate
governance leaders
Learn how to manage and monitor an ESG policy that aligns with your primary responsibility of delivering returns to investors.
Join the
discussion
Get involved in a community dedicated to creating more sustainable value, brought together over the past seven years by PEI and UN PRI.
Keynote speakers
Brochure now available for download!
Download the brochure to view:
– Speaker lineup
– Agenda highlights
– Past LP attendees
and more!
A sample of who you could meet
2019 Attendees included:
What our attendees say
ATL Partners
Christopher Romano
The Responsible Investment Forum New York is a must-attend event for those interested in sustainability, which should be all private equity investors
Intentional Endowments Network
Georges Dyer
PEI’s Responsible Investment Forum brought together an impressive collection of the world’s leading thinkers and practitioners on considering ESG fa…
Clayton Dubilier & Rice
Daniel Jacobs
If you are serious about integrating ESG into your investment strategy, you should attend this conference.
2020 Agenda
View agenda page
Agenda
Day 1- March 4th - Wednesday 4th
Breakfast & registration
07:45 - 09:00
LP think tank breakfast (invitation-only)
Andrew Malk,
Matt Schey
Facilitators:
Andrew Malk, Managing Partner, Malk Partners
Matt Schey, Director, Strategic Projects, Institutional Limited Partners Association ( ILPA)
08:00 - 09:00
Registration and welcome breakfast
Opening remarks
09:05 - 09:10
PEI welcome
Seth Kerker, Director Events – Americas, PEI
09:10 - 09:15
Chairperson's opening remarks
Chris Fowle
Chris Fowle, Head of Americas, PRI
General session
09:15 - 09:45
Keynote fireside chat: a real conversation about diversity
Robert L. Greene,
Jordan Stutts
Robert L Greene, President & CEO, National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC)
Interviewed By: Jordan Stutts, Senior Writer, Private Markets, PEI
09:45 - 10:30
LP roundtable
Elizabeth Seeger,
Michael Cappucci,
David Russell ,
Andrew Siwo
- Is PE under threat and how do we think about its role and social impact and the economy? How does ESG play a role?
- Fiduciary duties
- Do LPs have control over the capital?
- Flow of information between LPs and GPs
- How to evaluate managers
- Assessments and performance
Moderator:
Elizabeth Seeger, Director, Sustainable Investing, KKR
Panelists:
Michael T. Cappucci, Senior Vice President, Compliance and Sustainable Investing, Harvard Management Company, Inc.
David Russell, Head of Responsible Investment, USS Investment Management Ltd
Andrew Siwo, Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
10:30 - 10:45
Networking break
10:45 - 11:30
Impact investing
Ryan Miller ,
Chris Cozzone,
Megan Starr
- Raising capital for impact: what assets owners are looking for and fund managers can provide
- Aligning on industry standards (Impact Management Project, IFC Operating Principles for Impact Management, IRIS+ Metrics)
- Clash between negative and positive impacts for multi-billion dollar managers
Moderator:
Ryan Miller, Partner, Malk Partners
Panelist:
Chris Cozzone, Principal, Sustainability lead, Bain Capital
Megan Starr, Principal and Head of Impact, The Carlyle Group
11:30 - 12:15
ESG data
Don Reed,
Dr. Philipp Aeby ,
Adam Black,
Jeff Cohen,
Abrielle Rosenthal
- How well is that data output performing in comparison to peers
- Are we able to benchmark fund manager performance?
- Can we marry performance data with ESG performance data? Are we able to communicate the info to LPs
- How to drive meaningful data
Moderator
Don Reed, Executive Director, Anthesis Group
Panelists:
Dr. Philipp Aeby, CEO and Board Member, RepRisk
Adam Black, Head of ESG & Sustainability, Coller Capital
Jeff Cohen, Institutional Product Strategist, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
Abrielle Rosenthal, Managing Director, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer, TowerBrook
12:15 - 12:45
Keynote spotlight discussion
Alison Fenton-Willock,
Isobel Markham
Networking lunch
12:45 - 13:50
Networking lunch
Plenary session
13:50 - 14:35
Impact Investing: How to participate in this emerging investing opportunity
Dan Mistler,
Justin Kulla,
Tony Jace,
Adam Reinmann,
Jennifer Signori
- LP, GP, and company perspectives on having a fund, committing capital, and managing investments related to impact
- Understanding how to effectively measure and manage impact
Moderator:
Dan Mistler, ESG Specialist, Bridge House Advisors
Panelists:
Justin Kulla, Founder &Managing Partner, Consequential Capital
Tony Jace, CEO, CPI
Adam Reinmann, Managing Director, CEO of Wendel North America, Wendel
Jennifer Signori, Senior Vice President, ESG and Impact Investing, Neuberger Berman
Breakout sessions
14:35 - 15:20
Track A | Responsible investing for real estate investors: developing underserved areas
Carl Spevacek,
Ada Arevalo,
Lisa Davis,
Inna Khidekel,
Anna Murray
- Affordable Housing
- Achieving impact in low income communities
- Fragmented sustainability standards
- Sustainability Metrics: Translation and impact on property investment and management
- Climate Resiliency
Moderator:
Carl Spevacek, Manager, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Services, RPS Group
Panelists:
Ada Arevalo, Chief Impact Officer, Alliant Strategic Investments
Lisa Davis, Executive Director and Portfolio Manager, Impact Investing, PGIM Real Estate
Inna Khidekel, Partner, Capital Markets, Bridge Investment Group
Anna Murray, Principal, Sustainable Investing, BentallGreenOak
Anna Murray
Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainable Investing, Total Fund Management, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Read bio
14:35 - 15:20
Track B | ESG in private debt and responsible lending
Mike Hinkley,
Greg Bowes,
Brian Good,
Candice Richards
- Applying an ESG strategy across different debt instruments
- Conducting ESG diligence in credit with limited access to information, balancing rigor and flexibility for large portfolios
- ESG-focused CLOs: market opportunities and additional scrutiny
Moderator:
Mike Hinkley, Vice President, Malk Partners
Panelists:
Greg Bowes, Co-Founder and Managing Principal, Albright Capital
Brian Good, Senior Managing Director, Chief Product Strategist, First Eagle Alternative Credit
Candice Richards, Compliance Officer, MidOcean Partners
Brian Good
Senior Managing Director, Chief Product Strategist, First Eagle Alternative Credit
Read bio
14:35 - 15:20
Track C | Benchmarking infrastructure for ESG performance
John Hodges,
Caroline Abramo,
Nick Cleary,
Michael Underhill
- Responsible Investment Strategies in Infrastructure
- ESG and the long-term ownership of infrastructure assets
- Developing a process to integrate ESG in investment decisions
- Formulating an ESG policy and integrating it into the due diligence process
- ESG issues over the investment’s lifespan
- Supply Chain ESG Risks
Moderator:
John Hodges, Managing Director, Infrastructure and Finance, BSR
Panelists:
Caroline Abramo, CIO and Founder, Pana Group
Nick Cleary, Partner, Vantage Infrastructure
Michael D. Underhill, Chief Investment Officer, Capital Innovations, LLC
Afternoon sessions
15:20 - 15:30
Networking break
15:30 - 16:25
ESG programs: from policy to integration
Alan Kao,
Lee Coker,
Sophie Flak,
Bryn Gostin,
Jeff Pentland,
Leela Ramnath
The principles that guide a firm’s ESG program are documented in the ESG policy. Many firms also use the ESG policy to describe the scope, governance structure, and management system of the ESG program. The purpose of this session is to share insights on taking an ESG program from policy to integration.
- How detailed should an ESG policy be?
- How do you use your policy to drive ESG integration across your investments?
- What challenges did you face in integrating ESG considerations across the firm?
Moderator:
Alan Kao, Global Service Line Leader – Compliance, Strategy & Transaction Services, Ramboll
Panelists:
Lee Coker, ESG Officer, Oak Hill Capital Funds
Sophie Flak, CSR and Digital Director, Eurazeo
Bryn Gostin, Senior Director, Head of Product Development & Strategy, Capital Dynamics
Jeff Pentland, Managing Director, Northleaf Capital Partners
Leela Ramnath, Director of ESG, Warburg Pincus
16:25 - 16:40
2020 LAVCA Awards Presentation
Cate Ambrose
Presenter
Cate Ambrose, Board Member, LAVCA
- Environmental Responsibility Award
- Environmental Responsibility Honorable Mention
- Social Responsibility Award
- Latin American Private Equity Award
16:40 - 17:10
Closing keynote address
Ken Mehlman,
Isobel Markham
Ken Mehlman, Partner, Global Head of Public Affairs & Co-Head, KKR Global Impact
Interviewed by: Isobel Markham, Senior Editor, Private Equity Group, Americas, PEI
17:10 - 17:15
Chairman's closing remarks
Chris Fowle
Chris Fowle, Head of Americas, PRI
17:15 - 18:15
Cocktail reception
Agenda
Day 2- March 5th - Thursday 5th
General session
07:45 - 09:00
Women’s networking breakfast (invitation-only)
Stephanie Campbell
- How does investing with a gender lens impact our social and economic future?
- How to recruit, cultivate, and retain diverse talent in PE
Facilitator:
Stephanie Campbell, General Partner, The Artemis Fund
08:00 - 09:00
Registration and breakfast
09:05 - 09:10
Chairwoman’s welcome
Christine Pishko
Christine Pishko, US Relationship Manager, Global Signatory Relations and Outreach, PRI, PRI
09:10 - 09:40
Keynote spotlight discussion
Suzanne Tavill,
Carol Jeppesen
09:40 - 10:25
Corporate governance and board diversity
Tim Clare,
Stephanie Campbell ,
Frances Higgins,
Jemma Wolfe
- Diversity at the investment professional and portfolio board level
- How should board members be focused on ESG and what does that mean?
Moderator:
Tim Clare, Director, UK, Anthesis Group
Panelist:
Stephanie Campbell, General Partner, The Artemis Fund
Frances Higgins, General Partner, WCAS
Jemma Wolfe, Head of Launch With GS, Goldman Sachs
Jemma Wolfe
Global Head of Commercial Strategy, Alternatives Capital Formation, Goldman Sachs
Read bio
10:25 - 10:45
Networking break
Morning breakout series
10:50 - 11:35
Track A: Responsible agriculture investment strategies
Chris Janiec,
Tom Amis,
Adam Fless,
Sanaz Raczynski
Defining and advancing responsible agricultural investments
Moderator:
Chris Janiec, Senior Editor, Agri Investor
Panelists:
Tom Amis, Head of the EQ Controlled Environment Team, Equilibrium
Adam Fless, Managing Director, Portfolio Excellence, Paine Schwartz Partners
Sanaz Raczynski, Managing Director, Head of Sustainability, Nuveen
10:50 - 11:35
Track B: ESG challenges in healthcare
Ashley E. Armstrong,
Stephen Bianca,
Matt Jameson,
Scott Li,
Jay Rose
Moderator:
Ashley E. Armstrong, Sustainability Consultant, Bridge House Advisors
Panelists:
Stephen Bianca, Director of Compliance, Alpine Investors
Matt Jameson, CFA, Managing Director, BlueMountain Capital Management
Scott Li, Managing Director, CRG
Jay Rose, Managing Partner, Amulet Capital Partners
General session
11:40 - 12:25
An emerging mandate: ESG reporting
Sarah Corrigan,
Matthew Hershenson,
Viviana Occhionorelli,
Jon Samuels,
Humberto Suarez
- An overview of the ESG reporting landscape
- Considerations for public disclosure vs. private communications to LPs
- How external stakeholders evaluate your reporting
- Best practices for gaining value from the reporting process
Moderator:
Sarah Corrigan, Principal Consultant, ERM
Panelists:
Matthew Hershenson, Head of Investor Relations, Paine Schwartz Partners
Viviana Occhionorelli, ESG Director, Astorg
Jon Samuels, Partner, The Vistria Group
Humberto Suarez, Controller, Lafise Investment Management
12:25 - 13:10
Climate change
Susan R. Kemball-Cook, Ph.D,
Michael Hall ,
Jay L. Koh,
Emily S. Kreps,
Brooks Preston
- Preparing climate-related financial disclosures and/or evaluating climate risks as part of pre-acquisition due diligence
- Assessment of transition and physical climate risks to align with various reporting frameworks (CDP, TCFD)
Moderator:
Susan R. Kemball-Cook, PhD, Principal, Ramboll
Panelist:
Michael Hall, Sustainability Manager, Development Partners International (DPI)
Jay L. Koh, Managing Director, The Lightsmith Group
Emily Kreps, Global Director, Investor Initiatives, CDP
Brooks Preston, Division Director, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Asset’s (MIRA)
13:10 - 13:15
Chairwoman’s closing remarks
Christine Pishko
Christine Pishko, US Relationship Manager, Global Signatory Relations and Outreach, PRI, PRI
13:15 - 14:00
Networking lunch
2020 Speakers
Interested in speaking at the Forum?
Please contact Zakira Ralling at zakira.r@peimedia.com or +1 646 545 3321.
Michael Cappucci
Managing Director - Compliance and Sustainable Investing, Harvard Management Company
Anna Murray
Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainable Investing, Total Fund Management, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Abrielle Rosenthal
Managing Director, Chief Compliance Officer and co-Chief Human Resources Officer, TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P.
Matt Schey
Senior Director, Sustainable Investing and Strategic Projects, Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA)
Andrew Siwo
Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
2020 Sponsors
The Responsible Investment Forum New York offers a unique opportunity for organizations to raise their profile by meeting with the largest gathering of investors, fund managers and organizations shaping the future of ESG in private equity.
For exclusive sponsorship packages, contact Tyler Mitchell at tyler.m@peimedia.com or call +1 646 795 3279.
Venue & hotel accommodations
Convene
730 Third Ave
New York, NY 10017
Our group room block reservation at the Benjamin Hotel has ended. To book hotel accommodations at the prevailing rate visit here.