Video: The significance of ESG risks for institutional investors
Summary
Summary
IFM Investors’ chief purpose is to protect and grow the long term retirement savings of millions of superannuation and pension fund members and like-minded investors globally.
Our ability to deliver competitive returns is underpinned by a considered and responsible way of investing.
As long-term investors, we need to consider a range of factors that could put investor returns at risk – many of these relate to environmental, social and governance issues. In this video IFM Investors’ Chair Greg Combet talks about
those factors and how we take them into account in the way we select and manage our investments.
The Royal Commission has been really graphic evidence of the importance of proper governance in financial institutions – and if you don’t do it, it’ll wipe billions off your value.
Greg Combet, IFM Investors Chair
He discusses:
- Why ESG risks matter to the Board of IFM Investors
- How the Board’s concerns reflect those of the community
- The real investment risks associated with climate change and other ESG issues
- How we deal with ESG risks in our infrastructure portfolio
- Balancing decarbonisation with jobs and the economy
About the author
Chair
The Hon. Greg Combet AM
Joined in 2014; Deputy Chair from 2016; Chair since 1 January 2019
Greg joined the IFM Investors Board in 2014 following six years in the Australian Government in Cabinet and Ministerial roles. During this time, he was Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and Minister
for Defence Personnel, Science and Materiel. Prior to his service as a Member of Parliament, Greg was the leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. He has extensive experience and knowledge of Australian industry and the workings of Parliament
and government, has over 30 years of experience with industry superannuation, and has degrees in mining engineering, economics and a Diploma in Labour Relations and the Law. His skills encompass advocacy, strategy, policy-making, implementation of major
programs, industrial relations, negotiation and conflict resolution, superannuation investment and financial management. Greg is also Chair of Industry Super Australia; Chair of Industry Super Holdings; Chair of Invest Victoria Advisory Board; a senior
advisor to McKinsey & Co; and a senior advisor to Pollination Capital Partners. Greg also recently led an Australian Government superannuation delegation to Singapore and Indonesia and led the Federal election campaign review for the Australian Labor
Party. In 2020, Greg was appointed by the Prime Minister to the National Covid-19 Coordination Commission to assist the national response to the pandemic. He has previously been a director of ME Bank and AustralianSuper, and consults to governments and
corporations from time to time. He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006, and is co-author of The Fights of My Life. Greg is a member of the IFM Board People and Remuneration Committee, the Board Responsible Investment and Sustainability
Committee, and the Board Investment Committee.