In the latest episode of The Professional Investment Podcast, Adam Gillett, head of sustainable investment at Railpen, and I discuss the results of Responsible Investor’s annual nature and investors survey.

Adam highlights three findings – that nature is important to a high proportion of investors, it’s of equal importance to investors in both the US and Europe and a significant number of investors believe they can make an impact.

We discussed Railpen’s approach to impact and stewardship talking about finding key themes every five years. Even a scheme with 350,000 members and assets under management of £34bn does not have the resource to pursue every issue so priorities must be set.

But there is little point in setting goals unless they can be integrated across different asset classes. Adam discussed how Railpen takes different approach according to the asset class and – in the case of equities – according to actively managed and quantitative portfolios.

While we both welcomed investors’ positive attitude to making impact, Adam underscored the importance of investors engaging with policy makers to create the right legislation for sustainability. That includes working with companies to encourage them to campaign.

This is a must-listen episode for anyone looking to understand how a large UK pension scheme thinks about sustainability, impact and stewardship and why this a fundamental investment principle.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Adam Gillett is the Head of Sustainable Investment and Co-Head of Sustainable Ownership at Railpen. He is responsible for leading Railpen’s approach to sustainable investment, particularly in relation to provision of ESG risk advice, and climate and nature risk management. This includes delivery against Railpen’s net zero commitment.

Railpen is responsible for the safekeeping and investment of around £34 billion in assets for the 350,000 members of the railways pension schemes, one of the UK's largest and longest established pension funds. Railpen’s purpose is to secure our members’ future. We believe that financial and sustainability outcomes are complementary and integral to protecting our members' interests over the long term.

Adam formerly worked at WTW for 10 years where he was latterly Global Head of Sustainable Investment, having started his career at KPMG. He is a CFA charterholder and a fully qualified accountant.

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ABOUT THE HOST:

Charlotte Moore is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Moore Squared Communications. She has spent almost two decades writing about how the UK’s largest investment organisations allocate their capital for a number of different specialist magazines including Professional Pensions, IPE and MandateWire. She started this podcast to increase understanding of how and why the UK’s £3 trillion pensions industry invests its members’ capital to provide the best possible retirement.

🔗 https://lotsmoore.co.uk/

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