The final webinar in a series of on-line panel discussions hosted during "ESG Week: Challenges and Opportunities in the Mining Sector", we hear from investors and key advisers how awareness and understanding of ESG risks in the minerals exploration and mining industry is increasing among the investment community. We discuss what responsible investors are looking for, their role at developing ESG programs as a critical component of company strategies and business planning, and how long term investment goals are shaping the new horizons.
Chair:
David Trenchard, David Trenchard Consulting, Founder & CEO
David is a consultant on corporate governance, shareholder engagement, activist investment and capital markets with a variety of advisory and non-executive roles
He was formerly Vice Chairman of Knight Vinke, at the time one of Europe’s best known activist investment firms, where he was actively involved in leading the engagement with some of Europe’s largest companies.
He is a Member of Council at the Institute of Directors and sits on the IoD’s Corporate Governance Policy Committee, as well as its Audit and Risk Committee. As a consultant, David advises investment companies on corporate governance, stewardship and engagement as well as shareholder activism. He is also a private company Non-Executive Director.
Prior to joining Knight Vinke in 2009, Mr. Trenchard was a Senior Consultant at Tulchan Communications (one of London’s leading capital markets communications advisory firms).
He had previously spent 25 years in investment banking – mostly at Morgan Stanley – where he held various senior posts in equity sales and investment banking in Europe, North America and Asia. Latterly at Morgan Stanley he was a London-based Managing Director in Equity Capital Markets and Head of Corporate Broking.
Mr. Trenchard graduated from Cambridge University, with a degree in Economics.
Speakers:
Yulia Chekunaeva, EN+ Group, Director, Capital Markets
Yulia Chekunaeva is Director for Capital Markets and Strategic Initiatives of En+ Group. She is responsible for capital markets, investor relations, non-financial reporting, international strategic partnerships, stakeholder management and sustainability activities, including business Sustainability and Climate change strategy in the context of the UN SDGs and WEF Mission Possible project for Aluminium. Yulia joined the Company in September 2016 and successfully led the execution team to completing En+ Group’s IPO on the London Stock Exchange in November 2017.
Before joining the Group, Yulia was Executive Director of Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research. Prior to Goldman Sachs, she was Head of Metals and Mining Corporate lending at Sberbank CIB – Largest Corporate Clients department.
She holds an MSc from Warwick Business School (University of Warwick) in Economics and Finance. She completed her undergraduate studies at International College of Economics and Finance, which allowed her to graduate with two degrees: a BSc in Economics with honours from State University – Higher School of Economics, and a BSc in Banking and Finance from The London School of Economics and Political Sciences.
Aidan Davy, ICMM, Chief Operating Officer and Director, Environment Programme
Aidan joined ICMM in June 2007. As COO, he is responsible for strategy development and implementation, collaboration across ICMM’s programme areas and integrating communications into all ICMM’s work. He leads work-programme planning, the allocation of staff resources and staff development. He also leads ICMM's work on the role of mining and metals in society. Prior to assuming the role of COO in 2015, Aidan led ICMM's work on social and economic development, investor engagement, sustainability reporting and independent assurance.
Aidan has 29 years of cross-sectoral experience on sustainable development issues, working with a range of private, multi-lateral and not-for-profit organisations, including the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation in Washington DC. For almost 20 years, his primary focus has been on social responsibility and accountability issues, with a strong emphasis on the extractive industries.
For the first decade of his career, Aidan primarily worked on environmental issues, in an international consulting company, a multinational manufacturing company and at the World Bank.
Aidan has an Honours BSc in Environmental Sciences and Technology from the National University of Ireland.
Adam Matthews, Church of England Pensions Board, Director of Ethics & Engagement, Co-Chair, Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI)
Adam is the Director of Ethics and Engagement for the Church of England Pensions Board, as well as Co-Chair of the Transition Pathway Initiative and a Board Member of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, (IIGCC). He is also the co-lead, on behalf of CA100+, for engagement with Royal Dutch Shell that led to the 2018 joint statement on climate targets agreed between Shell and institutional investors.
Following the Brumadinho Tailings Dam disaster, Adam is co – lead of the Mining and Tailings Safety Initiative with John Howchin, from the Swedish Ethics Council. He also represents the Principles for Responsible Investment as a co – convenor of the Global Tailings Review.
Adam founded and now Co-Chairs the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) an asset owner-led and asset manager-supported global initiative which assess companies’ preparedness for the transition to the low carbon economy (and publishes this through the London School of Economics). Adam is also the lead for the Church of England on the Mining and Faith Reflections Initiative (MFRI) a forum that convenes dialogue between mining company CEO’s and Church leaders.
Adam also serves as a member of the Royal College of Physicians Investment Advisory Board and on the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) Stewardship Advisory Group.
Eric Rasmussen, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Director Natural Resources
Mr. Rasmussen joined the EBRD in 1995 at the EBRD London HQ and dealt with energy efficiency in district heating and industrial companies in the former Soviet Union (FSU). He was based in Russia from 1997 to 2013. He was appointed Deputy Country Director for Russia in 2003 and promoted in 2006 to Director of Industry, Commerce and Agribusiness in Russia in with responsibility for the industrial sector (including among other oil field service and energy equipment manufacturing, chemicals, metallurgy, mining, forestry, automotive, retail, agribusiness, telecom and equity funds). Eric Rasmussen was appointed Director Natural Resources 15 April 2013 and is now based at the EBRD HQ in London.
Namrata Thapar, IFC, Global Head of Mining
Namrata Thapar is Global Head of Mining for IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. Ms. Thapar leads IFC’s investment team responsible for supporting the mining sector and developing IFC’s mining business with a focus on sustainability and development impact across the emerging markets. IFC’s financing includes investments in equity, mezzanine and senior debt. She joined IFC in 1999 and has managed investments in mining transactions globally with clients ranging from major diversified companies to juniors through equity, project and corporate financings. She is based in Washington D.C.