Fiona Reynolds - Fr. CEO of United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment

Climate Finance Podcast

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Fiona Reynolds was the CEO of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI) from 2013 to 2021.

The UN PRI was created in 2006 to promote the incorporation of ESG Factors (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) into investment decision-making. It currently has 4900+ signatories (Asset Owners and Investment Management Firms) representing $120+ Trillion in AUM (Assets Under Management) in over 80 countries.
Prior to UN PRI, Fiona Reynolds was the CEO of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, a non-profit organization representing Australia’s $1.6 trillion profit-to-member superannuation industry. She previously studied Public Policy at Deakin University.
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Topics discussed:

• Fiona’s career progression from the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees to the UN PRI.

• Origins and Early Days of UN PRI as an organization.

• Creation of the Six Principles and Growth in Signatories.

• Evolution in Responsible Investment and ESG Integration.

• Fiona’s Leadership Challenges and Collective Accomplishments at UN PRI.

• Role of Public Policy in ESG: Inevitable Policy Response (IPR).

• Case Studies on ESG:

  • Proxy Battle between Engine No. 1 and Exxon Mobil.

  • Brumadinho Disaster with Brazilian Mining Giant, Vale.

  • Rio Tinto blasting 46,000-year old Aboriginal Site.

• UN PRI Initiatives on Climate Change (E of ESG):

  • Montreal Carbon Pledge in 2014 (Measure & Disclose Carbon Footprint of Investment Portfolio).

  • Climate Action 100+ (Shareholder Engagement during Proxy Season).

• Focus on S of ESG: Human Rights Issues such as Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

• Special Focus on the Role/Importance of Women in ESG Progression (for International Women’s Day on March 8th)

• Notable Female Advocates on ESG:

  • Louise Davidson, CEO of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors.

  • Sharan Burrow, Former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Congress.

  • Sagarika Chatterjee, Leader of GFANZ (Glasgow Finance Alliance on Net Zero).

  • Maria Lettini, CEO of FAIRR Initiative and US SIF: Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment.

• Fiona Reynolds’ Current Advisory Engagement Portfolio:

  • Advisory Roles at Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, Affirmative Investment Management (Fixed Income), and UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute.

  • Chair of UN Global Compact Network Australia and Qualitas Group (Real Estate Investing).

  • Director Roles at the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute and Frontier Advisors (Institutional Investor Advisor).

• Advice to future generations on meaningful careers in ESG and Sustainable Finance.

Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The interview took place on 8th March 2023.