Episodes
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With the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, companies are facing growing pressure to ensure their AI practices are ethical, transparent, and aligned with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
But what does responsible AI look like in practice, and how should investors approach this emerging frontier to manage risks and seize opportunities?
Joining us today to unpack these questions is Jessica Cairns, head of ESG and sustainability at Alphinity Investment Management.
The host of The Greener Way is Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
Alongside Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, Alphinity earlier this year released ‘Intersection of Responsible AI and ESG: A Framework for Investors Report’ with an actionable toolkit to help investors navigate the accelerating AI opportunity.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
Gold shines brighter than ever with a record-breaking 37 price highs this year solidifying it as a safe haven in uncertain times.
Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) produces 20% of the world’s gold but employs 80% of gold miners – an estimated 10-15 million people, often in low-income countries.
However, 30-35% of ASGM miners are children, and the sector is riddled with black market criminality – financing terrorism, war, and organised crime.
Today we take a closer look at human rights and ESG in the value chain, and the important work being done to pinpoint the problem and clean up gold’s act.
Terry Heymann, CFO and ESG Lead at the World Gold Council (WGC), joins host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
Some of the initiatives discussed in this episode include the industry-wide Consolidated Mining Standards Initiative and WGC’s Gold Bar Integrity database.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
Episodes manquant?
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Today we take a closer look at weapons and defence-related holdings.
We ask the question, what does responsible investing mean in the context of conflict?
To answer this question Estelle Parker, co-CEO at Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) joins guest host, Financial Standard senior journalist Karren Vergara on the podcast today.
In her reporting, Karren Vergara has found many of Australia's super funds have no qualms about investing in contraversial weapons manufacturers like BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Elbit.
This episode uncovers investment risks, how materiality thresholds impact decision-making, and the call from super members for greater transparency – and even divestment from – weapons and defence-related holdings.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
COP29, the 2024 UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, ran from November 11-22 in Azerbaijan.
The main decision was how to pay for poorer nations' climate financing - decarbonisation, adaptation, and resilience to climate impacts – which are hitting them hardest despite contributing the least.
The major win of the event was an eleventh-hour agreement on carbon markets, while some other negotiations failed the reach their goals, or reached an impasse.
Richie Merzian was on the ground in Baku during COP29. Richie, the CEO of Clean Energy Investor Group, joins host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Donald Trump’s election victory has far-reaching implications for the clean energy sector and climate finance as a whole.
Today, we jump in the time machine and take a look at the next four years under Trump, with our guest Lachlan Carey.
Lachlan is a Washington-based expert on clean energy investment and a non-resident fellow at the United States Studies Centre.
Opinions expressed are solely Lachlan Carey’s own and do not express the views or opinions of his employer.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
The next wave of sustainability investment professionals is poised to benefit from a new movement. The 24/7 clean energy approach could surpass 100% renewable energy status as the way to manage our escalating global energy use. Google and Microsoft have already adopted it but how does it work? Climate advocate Ian Lieblich breaks it down in this episode with guest podcast host Michelle Baltazar.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
It’s fair to stay that AI is officially here to stay – it’s everywhere, in our workplaces and even in our homes.
However, the datacentres used in AI churns through energy and leaving behind a hefty carbon footprint, especially when we consider scope 3 emissions.
Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Prabakar Shrinivasan, Director and Co-Lead of Artificial Intelligence at Synechron, the global consulting firm, to help us navigate the environmental impact of AI.
With a strong presence in the financial space, including some of Australia’s largest banks, Synechron brings insights on how companies can harness AI’s power sustainably without compromising performance.
The host of The Greener Way is Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
Many in the investment community believe that implementing net zero policies comes with high risk and is incompatible with active investing, but is this really true?
To discuss this, Guido Baltussen joins us on the podcast today.
Guido is Northern Trust Asset Management’s International Head of Quantitative Strategies.
He recently put out a paper on ‘carbon misconceptions’ and the impact of net zero commitments on equity portfolios.
This episode covers how investors can apply conventional portfolio construction techniques to achieve net zero targets, and how to achieve alignment with multiple sustainability objectives without taking significant active risk.
Guido joins host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
After 20 years of progress, we are now seeing rising inequality and poverty reaching levels not seen in a century, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In response, there’s been an uptick in demand for companies to report on social impact through the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI) – and along with it, an increase in misleading marketing through ‘social-washing’.
Of course, poverty is not the only critical UN sustainable development goal – there are actually 17 of them, of which many are interconnected.
To discuss, Read Taylor Price is the founder of Investors for Impact and director and managing partner at Alpencrest Capital.
Do investors play a role in driving meaningful change towards achievement of the UN SDGs, especially in an era of ‘socialwashing’?
Join host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability to find out more.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
With mandatory climate reporting coming into force in Australia, the corporate regulator ASIC is stepping up enforcement, targeting misleading and deceptive practices with serious consequences for non-compliance.
Today's episode is your guide to mastering climate reporting and avoiding greenwashing.
To explain we have special guest Kate O'Rourke, Commissioner at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
The host of The Greener Way is Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
As the green revolution sweeps the globe, professionals are searching for quality sustainable finance education to help them stay on top of the game in an ever-evolving ESG landscape.
This week we hear from Rob Langrick, chief product advocate of CFA Institute, a global professional organisation that provides investment education – including on sustainable finance.
Alongside the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, the non-profit offers the Certificate in ESG Investing, the Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing Certificate, and other professional development opportunities.
Whether you want to enter the industry or boost your career, make better investment choices or improve your own organisation’s ESG performance, this episode is for you.
The host of The Greener Way is Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
This is a podcast episode is brought to you by CFA Institute.
For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
This week, host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability, is joined by two expert guests from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) – Mark Rigotti, Managing Director and CEO, and Anna Gudkov, Policy Advisor.
The AICD is a member-based organisation helping improve corporate governance by providing courses, programs, and other professional development opportunities.
They recently published an updated guide for directors on the mandatory climate reporting laws in Australia.
In this episode, we delve into the evolving responsibilities of company directors in managing ESG risk, the growing influence of shareholder activism on climate action, and the critical role boards play in navigating these complex dynamics.
Tune in to learn how directors can stay ahead of the curve.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
This week we have Duncan Paterson, Director of Investor Practice at the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) on the show to discuss Australia’s mandatory climate reporting regime.
It’s undoubtedly a massive opportunity to open the door wider to green investment and reach net zero by 2050. However, investors face the unique challenge of understanding portfolio emissions, as well as growing concerns around exposure to greenwashing – and ‘greenhushing’ – risk.
How can we ensure that climate reporting goes beyond a mere compliance exercise and provides investors and stakeholders with genuinely useful and actionable information?
To unpack this topic and many more, the IGCC is holding its annual Climate Finance and Investment Summit, on 7-8 November at the Sofitel, Melbourne.
This unmissable event brings together leading investment experts, policymakers, academics, and industry associations dedicated to driving the transition towards a decarbonised economy.
The host of The Greener Way is Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
This podcast episode is brought to you by the IGCC.
For more information, visit igcc.org.au. To book your ticket and view the agenda for IGCC’s Annual Summit, visit the event website here.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
With ESG and sustainability roles in high demand, many professionals are eyeing a career change into this impactful sector.
In this episode, host Rose Mary Petrass speaks with Belinda White, who successfully transitioned from a communications background into the world of responsible investing and ESG.
She now works company-side at Telix Pharmaceuticals as Director of Investor Relations and ESG.
Belinda shares valuable advice on leveraging transferable skills, effective networking, common misconceptions, and facilitating better stakeholder relationships between investors and companies.
Whether you're considering a career change or simply want to understand the ESG landscape better, this episode is packed with insights.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
Australia recently gave employees the right to ignore their boss outside of ordinary work hours.
The law is meant to protect the health and wellbeing of workers and reduce stress and overwork, allowing for better work-life balance in a time when the world is more hyper-connected than ever before.
But what role does corporate culture and employee satisfaction play in financial performance, and will financiers actually consider the new law when making investment decisions?
Today, we are joined by Emma Pringle, Head of ESG and Portfolio Manager at Maple-Brown Abbott, a boutique firm with around $9 billion in assets under management.
Pringle will explain how investors and asset managers respond when workplaces are exposed as dysfunctional or 'toxic' - and what impact this has on business performance.
The host of The Greener Way is Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
Responsible investors are pushing back against so-called ‘Tea and Scones Stewardship’ and demanding meaningful company engagement.
Done right, stewardship can steer companies toward net zero; done wrong, it’s as unsatisfying as a lukewarm brew and a stale scone.
Today, we’re joined by Rachel Halpern, head of sustainability at JANA Investment Advisers, which advises on over $1.3 trillion in funds. She’ll discuss responsible stewardship strategies for achieving real impact.
Rachel is the head of sustainability at JANA Investment Advisers, an advisory firm with over $1.3tn funds under advice.
The host of The Greener Way is Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
When investors want to avoid specific activities in their portfolio – like tobacco, gambling, weapons, or adult entertainment – they turn to ESG screening.
But what happens behind the scenes when fund managers make these crucial decisions? Are all ESG funds created equal? And how can an investor be sure their money isn’t inadvertently supporting sectors they wish to avoid?
In this episode, we’re joined by Julia Leske, managing director and senior consultant in ESG strategy at ISS ESG.
Julia sheds light on how ESG professionals navigate the fine lines in screening and controversies – from vapes to toilet paper and beyond.
The host of The Greener Way is Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability.
ISS ESG is part of ISS STOXX, publisher of FS Sustainability.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
This episode outlines the climate and commercial case for sustainable buildings.
With buildings and building materials in hot demand, especially as the nation grapples with meeting its housing targets, momentum is growing on the sustainability side.
To discuss, host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability welcomes Davina Rooney
Davina is CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) – a group helping steer Australia’s built environment sector towards highly efficient, low carbon, healthier places that are future-focused and resilient.
The GBCA’s Climate Positive Roadmap advocates for all new buildings net zero by 2030 and existing buildings well before 2050.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
There are currently more than 400 nuclear power reactors in 32 countries, generating about a tenth of the world's electricity.
The Coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear power plants to replace Australia's ageing coal-fired power stations and to abandon the government's 2030 net zero target has been receiving plenty of attention.
Is this idea viable?
To discuss we have Jai Mirchandani, founder and portfolio manager at ELM Responsible Investments.
Jai sits down with host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability, to discuss the timeline, costs, and safety of nuclear power, as well as the geopolitical risks that are associated with this renewable energy source.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy -
No one should be left behind in the transition to a net zero economy – and behind the scenes, both private and public sectors are working hard to understand where funding needs to flow.
But putting aside nice-to-haves, will achieving a just transition have an impact on investor returns and reduce risk whether financial, reputational or systemic?
Amanda Cahill is the CEO of the Next Economy, which acts as a sort of intermediary between regional communities, government, investors and industry to accelerate the transition to a climate-safe, socially just and regenerative economy.
Amanda joins host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability to discuss.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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