The ESG Summit
31 May 2022 – Croke Park, Dublin
9:00
Welcome from the morning Chair
Jonathan Healy
Broadcaster
9:10
OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
Understanding the latest trends in climate action and reporting
The climate trends and implications for companies. How climate reporting is changing and what you can do to prepare for increased disclosures on your carbon emissions. Plus, how the outcomes of the COP26 conference will impact sustainable investing and requirements of public companies.
Mairead McGuinness
European Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and capital markets union
Governance of ESG risks
9:30
The corporate director’s guide to ESG
For many, the term ESG conjures notions of investors chasing feel-good stories of sustainability, diversity and ethics. But given the heightened interests from various stakeholders, corporate directors know ESG is much more. Far from being just window dressing, making organisations appear socially responsible to the outside world, our speaker discusses what are the real risks at play when it comes to ESG issues. Plus, what are the opportunities to be seized?
Fiona Gaskin
Partner and ESG Leader for Assurance and Reporting, PwC Ireland
9:45
PANEL DISCUSSION:
The role of the board in addressing ESG risk
ESG. What kind of questions should directors ask when it comes to risk, ESG and policies? Our panel explores the approaches that companies can take in Board composition, recruitment, management and education to ensure they are set up to provide effective governance of ESG risks to their companies.
Dermot Costello
Managing Director Galetech Energy Services Australia
Laura Heuston
Director & Co-Founder, SustainabilityWorks
Michael Patten
Chief Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and Corporate Affairs Officer, Glanbia plc
Maura Quinn, CDir
Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Ireland
10:20
In conversation with… a CFO
ESG is an increasing area of focus for CFOs. In this session we hear how one CFO is thinkingn about ESG, what trends they are looking out for this year, their role when responding to investor expectations and how to prepare for the changes to reporting.
Michael Rice
CFO, Glenveagh Properties PLC
10:35
Morning break
Balancing profit and responsibility
11:10
PANEL DISCUSSION:
How companies can act to future-proof their business: What are the concrete steps organisations can take to address ESG issues?
- Why is ESG an important issue and is it important for all organisations?
- What are the key elements to implementing a successful ESG policy?
- Can ESG enhance corporate financial performance? What’s the evidence?
- How to create the blueprint for a commercially successful transition that ensures your whole business, and value chain, is aligned with a 1.5C pathway
- Ensuring that investments are made in the areas that scale impact and bring new innovations to market
- Responsible innovation: Harnessing emerging tech to meet ESG credentials
- How to avoid greenwashing as a sustainable brand and turn promises into both short and long-term actions
- Ensure that key stakeholders trust and understand your ambition
Lizzie Jones
Group Sustainability Director, Savills plc
John Reynolds
Chairman of Cairn Homes plc
Caoimhe Donnelly
Chief Sustainability Officer, CIE
John Curran
Principal, Blue Planet Consulting
ESG investors
11:45
How has Russia’s invasion of Ukraine impacted on ESG investing?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced investors to rethink their approach towards ESG criteria and exclusions. Our speaker, an international expert on sustainable finance, assesses the likely impact on ESG investing in the aftermath of the Russian invasion.
Sasja Beslik
Managing Director & Head of Sustainable Finance Development, Bank J. Safra Sarasin Ltd, Zurich
12:10
PANEL DISCUSSION:
How to find “best fit” investors and learn about the criteria they are now using to make investment decisions
Across the world investors are taking a company’s ESG performance and commitments into account when making investment decisions. In this session, our panel will discuss how the new ESG regulatory environment will drive change within investors and what criteria are investors now using to make investment decisions
Robbie McGrath
Head of Sustainability D/Res Properties
Carolina Angarita-Cala
Sustainability and Responsible Investing Manager, Cantor Fitzgerald
Paul Price
Founder of Haven Green Capital Partners; Chair of IAIM; former Global Head of Sales and Distribution, Morgan Stanley Investment Management and former CEO, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Ireland
Eoin Fahy
Head of Responsible Investing, KBI Global Investors
12:45
Lunch break
1:50
Welcome back from the Chair
Jonathan Healy
Broadcaster
1:55
PANEL DISCUSSION:
ESG and sustainable finance
What is sustainable finance and how is it changing the world? What obstacles need to be overcome to channel capital flows toward sustainable business practices?
Daryl Byrne
CEO, Euronext Dublin
Marc Coleman
Founder, Octavian Research
Dawn Slevin
MD, ELS Europe, Member EU Sustainable Finance TEG & EFRAG Task Force on reporting of non-financial risks & opportunities
SFDR – CSRD – NFRD: What’s it all about?
2:30
ESG and real estate – the importance of “true performance” and the role of digitalisation
Eoin Leonard
CEO and founder, i3PT Certification
2:50
PANEL DISCUSSION:
How ESG regulation is driving business transformation
Our panel will discuss the challenges that firms are grappling with in light of the evolving ESG regulatory landscape and how this is driving business transformation.
- The new EU regulations – SFRD, CSRD, NFRD: Deciphering the alphabet soup of sustainability disclosures
- Responsible innovation: Harnessing emerging tech to meet ESG credentials
- Learn what the legally binding EU Taxonomy and disclosure obligations mean for corporates.
- Clarifying the new regulations: How will they work in practice?
- Assess your level of preparedness: Are you ready for ESG regulatory reporting and disclosure deadlines?
Paul Davis
CEO, Davis Events Agency
Brian O’Kennedy
Managing Director, Clearstream Solutions
Yvonne Holmes
Chief Sustainability Officer, AIB and Chair, Sustainable Finance Skillnet
Nicola Woods
Chief Transformation Officer, An Post
3:25
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Walking the talk: How to tell your ESG story
Companies who can successfully communicate their ESG story to the right investors can benefit from increased attention, access to funds and reduced costs of capital. Our closing discussion explores how companies can get maximum benefit from the ESG performance by ensuring they get the right information in front of the right investors in a way that is easily understood.
Chris Collins
Country President Ireland, Schneider Electric
Conall Bolger
Chief Executive Officer, Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA)
Tomás Sercovich
CEO, Business in the Community
Aedín O’Leary
Investment & ESG consultant, co-founder Green Team Network