Responsible Business 2022

This session explores the core considerations influencing corporate leadership and governance structures and the emerging risks and opportunities for decision-makers. 

• What will constitute a ‘responsible’ business within the next 5-10 years? 
• How are leading organizations rethinking the meaning of “human capital” and what meaningful shifts are we seeing in linking organizational and employee purpose amid the social reckoning of the last year?  
• What trends are driving the evolving expectations for governance and corporate leadership? To what extent are we seeing a shift towards improved diversity, integrity, trust and traceability?
• What are the most effective strategies for realigning institutional governance and incentives with environmental and societal value?

Speakers
Chris Ettery, Director, Corporate Sustainability, Dell 
Dame DeAnne Julius, Advisor, Boards of Rock Creek Global and the International Business and Diplomatic Exchange
Bill Schaninger, Senior Partner, Philadelphia, McKinsey & Company 
Cecilia Weckstrom, Senior Global Director, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, The Lego Group 
 
Chair 
Bernice Lee, Research Director, Futures; Hoffmann Distinguished Fellow for Sustainability; Chair, Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator Advisory Board

This session examines the role of regulators, corporates and the finance sector in aligning the financial system with projects and companies that embed social and environmental commitments into their business models and activities.  

• What obstacles still need to be overcome to channel capital flows toward sustainable business practices and impactful investments?
• What has ESG in investment meant so far in practice, and what should the market be preparing for in the face of evolving stakeholder expectations and regulatory demands?
• Does the financial sector have a leading role to play in incentivising change and driving the sustainable finance agenda? Where is the scope for greater international coordination between key actors? 
• What steps are being taken to align the time horizon of investors and corporates with critical movement on social and environmental issues and where are the opportunities for innovative financing models?  
• What are the impacts of recent developments such as EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and the Taxonomy Regulation and how are expectations changing in relation to accounting for ESG related risk and opportunity as a result?  

Speakers 
Marcel Haag, Director, FISMA B, European Commission 
Marianne Harper Gow, Director, Corporate Governance and Sustainability, Baillie Gifford 
James Lockhart Smith, VP, Markets, Verisk Maplecroft 
Antje Schneeweiß, Rapporteur, Technical subgroup on social taxonomy, Platform of sustainable finance, European Commission 
Gareth Thomas, Director, Good Corporation 

Chair
Silvia Pavoni, Editor, Sustainable Views; Associate editor, The Banker

This session assesses the implications of more rigorous ESG disclosure and measurement with a focus on the standardization of standard setters, framework providers and metrics.  

• How will the move towards standardization and consolidation within the ESG disclosure system benefit and impact on companies and investors moving forward? What does a global baseline for disclosure applicable across regions look like in practice?  
• Does the creation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) go far enough? 
• To what extent are the latest sustainability reporting proposals and labelling requirements at a UK, EU, and global level fit for purpose? Does data still present a challenge?  
• What more needs to be done to ensure capital allocations are being directed to where investment is most pertinent?  
• Where has progress been made in terms of the management and measurement of outcomes based on reporting and how can we overcome the challenges of measuring intangibles?  

Speakers
James Alexander, Chief Executive Officer, UKSIF 
Lois Guthrie, Special Advisor, IFRS Foundation 
Marie-Josée Privyk, Chief ESG Innovation Officer, Novisto 
Sacha Sadan, ESG Director, Financial Conduct Authority
Eric Usher, Head, UNEP Finance Initiative 

Chair
Bennett Freeman, Associate Fellow, Chatham House; former Senior VP, Calvert Investments 

This session examines how human rights interests, combating modern slavery and supporting civil society are weighed on corporate, investment and policy agendas and assesses the risks and opportunities in delivering sustainable impact. 

• How do businesses deliver social value and what are the emerging issues and considerations?
• Is a growing leadership role on tackling the climate crisis matched by an equal drive towards positive social impact?
• Who leads the drive towards the sustainable management of human capital and what constitutes a robust human rights monitoring system? 
• What does the European Due Diligence Act signal to the international community and will companies and the financial sector be willing to comply by 2023?  
• What additional ‘S’ issues should businesses and investors be preparing for moving forward?

Speakers
Dr Harpreet Kaur, Business and Human Rights Specialist, UNDP Asia and the PacifiC
Dame Sara Thornton, The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, UK Government 
Steve Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Marks & Spencer 

Chair
Harriet Moynihan, Acting Director, International Law Programme, Chatham House