Everything you need to know about ESG

As society continues to progress in making socially conscious decisions, attention has increasingly become directed towards improving Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance standards and rightfully so. The investment industry is no exception. As ESG considerations continue to gain traction, the desire to do the right thing while doing the profitable thing has become more of a reality than it ever was. The CFA Institute has recognized the need to support these valuable societal developments and is now proud to offer a Certificate in ESG Investing. The Institute has also developed ESG Disclosure Standards for Investment Products to help guide institutions and industry professionals.

Join us as Lauren McAdams and Chris Fidler of the CFA Institute introduce us to the new Certificate and Disclosure Standards. Following their presentations, Chris will be hosting a panel discussion about recent developments, the future of the ESG investing space, and why it should matter to you. Our panel will feature Meredith Block, Vice President and ESG Research Analyst at PIMCO, Sarita Gosrani, Director of ESG Advisory at bfinance, Vishal Hindocha, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainability Strategy at MFS Investment Management, and Aaron White, Vice President of Sustainable Investments at CIBC Asset Management.

Guest Speaker Biographies:

Lauren McAdams

Director, Society Relations

CFA Institute

Lauren is the Director, Society Relations, for the Americas region at CFA Institute. In this role, she supports the partnership between CFA Institute and CFA member societies, providing consultative services related to governance, business & strategic planning, and coordinating CFA Institute activities within the region. Lauren earned her BA in American Government from the University of Virginia, and received the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Lauren is currently pursuing an MBA from Villanova University.

Chris Fidler

Senior Director, Global Industry Standards

CFA Institute

Chris is a Senior Director in the Global Industry Standards team at CFA Institute. He leads the promotion of CFA Institute industry codes and standards globally and helps to identify areas where new standards are needed. Prior to joining CFA Institute, Chris was a management consultant at Thought Logic Consulting, LLC, and served in a number of management roles at Capital One Financial Corporation. Mr. Fidler holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from the Darden School of Business at University of Virginia.

Meredith Block

Vice President and ESG Research Analyst

PIMCO

Meredith is a vice president and ESG research analyst in the PIMCO Newport Beach office. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2021, she served as senior vice president and senior ESG engagement and research analyst at Rockefeller Capital Management in New York City, where she deepened the ESG integration process and led shareholder engagement efforts. She previously served as the director of programs for Africa and Asia at the Blacksmith Institute, and she has worked with national governments, the private sector, community stakeholders, and multilateral institutions to reduce the environmental and human health impacts of industry and mining in over a dozen countries. She has 16 years of experience working on environmental and human rights issues. Meredith has six years of investment experience and holds an MPA in environmental science and policy from Columbia University. She has also received an undergraduate degree from New York University.

Sarita Gosrani

Director, ESG Advisory

bfinance

Sarita Gosrani leads bfinance’s new ESG advisory unit and has more than a decade of experience in financial services, pensions and investments.Sarita was formerly Head of ESG Research at XPS Pensions Group where she led the firm’s approach to responsible investing and ESG research alongside supporting UK Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution pension schemes with the integration of ESG and climate change considerations into their investment strategies. Sarita holds a Bachelors degree with a double major in Economics and Human Geography from the University of Toronto.

Vishal Hindocha, CFA

Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainability Strategy

MFS Investment Management UK Office

Vishal is senior managing director, global head of sustainability strategy for MFS Investment Management� (MFS�). In this role, he works with international clients and regulators to develop solutions and provide insights on global investment trends and best practices. He is focused on ensuring that sustainability is integrated across investment, client, and corporate pillars. Vishal joined MFS in 2016 as a director on the Client Relations and Consultant Relations teams for five years before assuming his current position. He previously served as a senior investment consultant and team leader at Willis Towers Watson for over nine years.

Vishal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from University College London. He holds CFA Society UK’s Certificate in ESG Investing and is a member of the Enterprise Advisor Network. He also holds the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s Certificate in Sustainable Business.

Aaron White

Vice President, Sustainable Investments

CIBC Asset Management

Aaron White is a member of the Institutional Asset Management team at CIBC. He focuses on sustainable investing and enhancing the firm’s ESG capabilities, including policy development and implementation and client communication. He also manages and creates effective sustainable investment solutions for clients, prospects, and consultants.

Prior to his current role, Mr. White held the roles of Associate Client Portfolio Manager and Director of Regional Sales with CIBC Asset Management. He consulted with financial advisors to develop investor asset allocations and optimize portfolio construction. He began his career as a Managed Solutions and Sales Support Specialist at CI Investments. Mr. White hold a B.Ed. degree from McGill University and the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation.