We all have a role to play to embed sustainability in our businesses and society. In particular, the global financial services industry is in a unique position to drive and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. As climate and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns take center stage, they are hitting the bottom line and thus are increasingly a focus for the C-Suite.
The IIF and Deloitte tackled the topic of sustainability in the financial services industry by exploring an increasingly critical role – the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). The event featured an overview of the key findings from a new survey-based report, The Future of the Chief Sustainability Officer: Sense-Maker in Chief. This was followed by an expert panel discussion of key themes shaping the sustainability agenda across financial services firms.
During the online event, our expert panelists discussed:
- How financial institutions are mobilizing to address the ESG imperative
- Why some firms have CSOs and others do not
- What the CSO’s mandate is within a firm
- Which skill sets and leadership attributes are necessary to deliver on that mandate
- How CSOs contribute to the governance of their organization
Welcome and Introductions:
- Tim Adams, President and CEO, IIF
Presentation - The Future of the CSO: Sense-Maker in Chief
- Damian Hales, Partner, Deloitte
Panel Discussion:
- Andrew Bowley, Wholesale Governance Officer; Deputy Chair Wholesale Sustainability Forum, Nomura
- Greer Meisels, Chief of Staff, IIF (moderator)
- Lara de Mesa, Group Executive Vice-President, Head of Responsible Banking, Executive Chairman’s Office, Santander
- Vanessa Otto-Mentz, Partner, Risk Advisory Sustainability Services, Deloitte
- Val Smith, Chief Sustainability Officer and Managing Director, Citi