Practical Actions for asset owners
EVENT OVERVIEW
During our 4-part “Rethinking” Series on Climate Change in 2024, 180 delegates debated in detail how pension schemes are confronting the real risk of climate change and investing more effectively and profitably in the energy transition. Our Nature & Biodiversity Challenge event late last year addressed similar issues from a natural capital perspective.
Most investors are now persuaded that climate and nature risks and opportunities are of a piece and should be treated accordingly. The great majority of pension funds have well-developed climate and nature strategies.
The Masterclass will examine how genuinely fit for purpose these are in light of the actual (and worsening) physical risks, the changing regulatory environment and severe political resistance to progress.
In common with all SGPE Masterclasses, the event will be highly interactive, with free and frank exchanges of views, and participants are encouraged to engage and contribute proactively throughout.
EVENT INFO
ACCESS
This event will be held online on Zoom Virtual Conferencing.
Attendance to the event is FREE for pension funds, employers, government representatives.
There is a modest fee for asset managers and consultants. You can contact us if you have any queries.
CPD
This event qualifies for 3 hours and 15 minutes of CPD credit. You can request CPD credit for the event when you register.
AGENDA
13:10 - 13:30
Meet & Greet
Networking Activity | Foyer
Devil’s Advocates Panel
Our Devil’s Advocates will be on duty for the course of the afternoon.
They will pose stimulating questions to any of the masterclass speakers when invited to do so by the Moderator in each session.
They will provide an end of day summary of the main learning and action points from the conference.
13:30 - 13:50
Welcome & Introduction
Opening Remarks
Programme Director:
Stephen Glover
Founder & Director, SG Pensions Enterprise
13:50 - 14:30
Headwinds of change - Portfolio Resilience in a hostile world
Panel Discussion
Francois Barker
Senior Pensions Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
Rahil Ram
Head of Investment Strategy, NatWest Cushon
Villemijn Verdegaal
Co-CEO, TREX
Sponsored by NatWest Cushon
As the prospect of a 2.5°C world grows, this panel explores how pension funds can build portfolio resilience amid rising climate, nature, and geopolitical risks — challenging conventional scenario analysis, examining fiduciary duty, and debating what it will take to thrive beyond the 1.5°C era.
14:30 - 14:55
Climate & Nature Risks and opportunities in the new environment
Presentation
Ana Harris
Head of Sustainability & Climate Indexes, MSCI
This session examines how accelerating climate and nature risks, shifting energy demands, and geopolitical change are redefining portfolio construction — highlighting practical strategies to manage dispersion, integrate transition themes, and capture new sources of alpha in the evolving investment landscape.
Sponsored by BlackRock
Sponsored by MSCI
14:55 - 15:20
The Insurer's View of the World
Presentation
This session explores how insurers are adapting to the growing complexity of climate and nature-related risks, reshaping risk transfer and asset valuation—and what pension funds can learn from the sector’s evolving models for pricing, scenario analysis, and long-term resilience.
15:20 - 15:45
Coffee & Networking Break
Networking Activity
15:45 - 16:10
The Rising Importance of Place-Based Investing
Presentation
This session explores how climate and nature risks are driving the rise of place-based investing — highlighting opportunities in natural flood management, regenerative agriculture, and ecosystem restoration, and examining how such strategies align with policy shifts like the Mansion House Accord and growing expectations for pension fund impact.
16:10 - 16:50
The New Future Outlook - Action Points & Practical Takeaways
Panel Discussion
Mark Hill
Climate & Sustainability Lead, The Pensions Regulator
Nick Hough-Robbins
Chief Executive Officer, NatureAlpha
This closing panel session distils key insights from the conference into practical actions for investors, exploring how stewardship, asset allocation, and fiduciary duty must evolve to manage climate and nature risks, capture opportunities, and deliver measurable real-world impact.
16:50 - 17:00
Devil’s Advocates Summary
The Devil’s Advocates will give their summary of the main debating points, conclusions and action points from the Masterclass.
17:00 - 17:10
Final Thoughts & Close
Closing Remarks
The Chair will conclude the afternoon’s proceedings and reflect on the various opinions discussed throughout the event.
Sponsors
Click on images for more information
Access
Access the Masterclass on Zoom
This event is a Virtual Masterclass, held online via Zoom Video Conferencing software.
Following successful registration, delegates will receive access details to the Zoom event via email at a date closer to the event.
You can download the Zoom client via Zoom’s website here.