Benchmarking for Success in Sustainable Returns

Co-hosted by the Predistribution Initiative (PDI) and Responsible Asset

Allocator Initiative (RAAI)

Thursday, December 2
11AM - 12PM EST | 8AM - 9AM PST | 4PM - 5PM GMT


Join RAAI And PDI For a Two-Part Roundtable Discussion on
the Future of Responsible Investing

In conjunction with the official release of key findings from the (third biannual) 2021 Responsible Asset Allocator Initiative (RAAI) Index and Leader List, the Predistribution Initiative is pleased to co-host a roundtable on the role of financial benchmarking in driving asset owners’ progress toward sustainable investing.

Implementing ESG in the portfolio to achieve responsible investing goals, alongside appropriate risk-adjusted returns, has increasingly become a complex process that requires thought leadership, buy-in from stakeholders and staff, and time. A key area for consideration for asset allocators is the application and customization of financial benchmarks, and whether they are fit for purpose in enhancing sustainable, long-term risk-adjusted returns. This session will address key benchmark-related issues such as what kind of risks asset owners should reflect in their benchmarks, how well traditional benchmarks measure externalities in past as well as future returns, and how benchmarks can be upgraded to make returns more sustainable and less vulnerable to ESG-related shocks. Attendees will participate actively in Q&A and general discussion. This program is expected to be the launch of further activity that the Predistribution Initiative plans to facilitate on adjusting benchmarking practices.

The session will commence at 11am ET / 8am PT / 4pm GMT. Interested participants may also choose to attend the first portion of the program, commencing at 10am ET / 7am PT / 3pm GMT to learn about key findings of the 2021 RAAI Index and Leader List, which measures the responsible investing practices of the world’s largest investors, public pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds. For the 2021 index, the RAAI reviewed 634 asset allocators in 98 countries, rated, and ranked 251 firms (total AUM of $26 trillion) from 61 nations, and analysed over 10,000 data points, scoring each asset owner on 30 criteria. In this part of the programming, we’ll hear from Scott Kalb, Director of RAAI. Mr. Kalb will discuss key findings and trends from the 2021 RAAI Index report and will review the responsible investing framework developed by the RAAI, including scorecards for individual asset allocators, regions, and groups. Mr. Kalb will also discuss the Leaders List, the top 30 scoring asset owners in the index, and the 20 Finalists, which together provide a benchmark of excellence on responsible investing.

Moderators and Co-hosts:
Scott Kalb, Director, Responsible Asset Allocator Initiative; Chairman, Sovereign Investor Institute; Former CIO and Deputy CEO, KIC
Delilah Rothenberg, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Predistribution Initiative
Paul O’Brien, Trustee and Member of the Investment Committee, Wyoming Retirement System; former Deputy CIO, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

Speakers:
Sarah Bratton Hughes, Global Head of Sustainability Solutions, Schroders
Mona Naqvi, Global Head of ESG Capital Markets Strategy, S&P Global | Sustainble1
Rob Zochowski, Program Director Multi-Faculty Impact Investing and Sustainability Special Projects, Harvard Business School | Impact Weighted Accounts
Andrew King, Co-author, “Heroic Accounting” and Allen Questrom Professor, Boston University