SWISS PENSIONS CONFERENCE 2020 ZURICH WEBINAR
A common topic of conversations in recent months has been whether the COVID-19 crisis has served to dampen or amplify the focus on ESG investing?
For GSAM the answer is the latter, as its investment teams are seeing some evidence that businesses with industry-leading ESG practices may be more resilient. Healthy balance sheets coupled with strong historical performance on material ESG factors may have built financial and operational cushions that helped them weather this unexpected risk event. In addition, continued pressure on carbon-intensive industries continues to highlight the importance of keeping on top of carbon risk in portfolio construction.
During this webinar our experts will reflect on how the opportunity set for ESG investing is more important than ever for active investors.
To register and buy tickets, members and guests must set up and login with a CFA Institute Id#.
CFA Society Switzerland members can record PL credit for their participation using the online tracking tool (CFA Institute login required).
Speakers
Niamh Whooley
Executive Director, Head of ESG Research, Fixed Income; Niamh Whooley works across global GSAM Fixed Income in a role centered on the understanding of how sustainability intersects with fundamentals. In this role, Niamh works with investment teams covering IG, HY, EMD and Sovereigns to drive better identification of material ESG and sustainability-related issues across our coverage universe. She also organizes the communication of these analyses and conclusions on our research and investment systems as part of GSAM’s wider digitization initiatives, as well as helping to foster improved engagement by coverage analysts on ESG-related themes such as climate change. Niamh has a deep background in ESG investing, having worked in related roles since 2005. She joined GSAM from PIMCO where, as Head of the ESG Desk, she served on their ESG Executive Leadership Committee. Prior to that role, she was a Director of ESG for Cross-Asset Research at Societe Generale, which followed four years as investment team lead on ESG at another US Asset Manager. She has participated in several industry-wide initiatives related to ESG, including the UN Principles for Responsible Investment’s SDG Advisory Committee and Bondholder Engagement Working Group. Niamh received her Bachelor of Arts from University College Cork and her MBA from University College Dublin.
Luke Barrs, CFA
Managing Director, Head of Fundamental Equity Client Portfolio Management in EMEA; Luke is head of Fundamental Equity Client Portfolio Management in EMEA for Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM). He coordinates the strategy, business expansion and client communication efforts for the Fundamental Equity business across the region. Luke is also a senior client portfolio manager, advising GSAM’s clients on their strategic asset allocation and equity investment decision-making process, particularly related to gaining appropriate access to emerging markets and other long-term secular growth themes. He helps lead Fundamental Equity’s thematic, impact-oriented and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investment efforts, including co-leading the launch of Fundamental Equity’s initial offerings in the space. Luke joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst in 2009 and was named managing director in 2019. Luke earned a first-class BA (Hons) in Economics and Management from Exeter College, University of Oxford in 2008 and was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2013.
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