Events

Columbia University Sustainable Finance Seminars

SIRI leads the monthly (online and in-person) Columbia University Sustainable Finance Seminar. The working group sessions will focus on the identified pathways to consensus (including but not limited to system-level investing, fiduciary duty, and intergenerational equity) to drive forward the rewiring of the source code of capitalism and foster ecosystem-building. By doing so, SIRI provides an important institutional platform that brings together and fosters dialogue among a variety of key players from the public and private sectors, policy, and academia. 

Following each seminar, a report summarizing the key insights and discussion points will be drafted and shared with participants. These reports will also be posted on this webpage accessible to companies, investors, and educators around the world.

Please join us for these monthly discussions and participate in the Columbia University Sustainable Finance Seminars.

Co-Chairs: Caroline Flammer and Bob Massie

The Future of Multicapitalism and Integrated Reporting

The debate over shareholder primacy – which was intensively advanced in the late 20^th in both theory and practice as the essence of corporate purpose – has been faced with broader and deeper challenges. At the turn of our recent century, more and more people were urging greater recognition of the necessity of many forms of capital – not just financial but also human, intellectual, natural and others – as key to long-term value creation for both the corporation and society. At the same time, voices around the world were calling for a greater role on governance of the stakeholder groups associated with those capitals. 

With the creation of the International Integrated Reporting Commission in 2019 and declarations by groups like the Business Roundtable in 2019 that “each of our stakeholders is essential [and] … we commit to deliver value to all of them, for the future success of our companies, our communities and our country” it seemed a decade ago that a fundamental shift was about to take place. Then the momentum slowed and now we are facing a backlash that may be only temporary … or permanent.

Our three presenters have played a leading role in this debate since its inception, and they will be offering their strategic assessments of the current debate and their predictions about what we are likely to see in the years ahead.

Speakers:

George Dallas, Head of Content, European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

ECGI is a global academic-led network that promotes leading edge academic research and scholarship relating to corporate governance. George is also Training and Education Advisor at the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), where he serves as a member of its training faculty. 

From 2014-2022 George served as Policy Director at ICGN, where he coordinated ICGN’s governance polices and committees, on behalf of members whose assets under management total over US $70 trillion. Previously, George served as Director of Corporate Governance at F&C Investments in London, where he led F&C’s global policies relating to corporate governance, including proxy voting and engagement matters. Prior to joining F&C George was a Managing Director at Standard & Poor’s, where he served as region head of Standard & Poor’s European credit rating operations, head of its London office, global head of emerging markets and as global practice leader of S&P’s governance services unit. 

George is published widely in the fields of finance, corporate governance and responsible investment, including the books Governance, Stewardship and Sustainability (Routledge, 2022) and Governance and Risk (McGraw-Hill, 2004).

Jonathan Labrey, Chief Connectivity and Integrated Reporting Officer, IFRS Foundation

Jonathan is leading the organization’s influencing strategy with policymakers and regulators. He has over 17 years of experience working in public policy, corporate governance and regulation in the accountancy and corporate reporting fields.

Jonathan was responsible for global policy and strategy at the IIRC from 2012-2021. During this time, he developed a particular expertise in Asian markets, having worked across the region while living in Singapore. He has developed a deep understanding of capital market and corporate governance issues, working closely with businesses, investors, regulators and accountancy professional bodies.

Earlier in his career, Jonathan led the public affairs and policy team at the ICAEW from 2004-10. From 2010-2012 he was head of communications at the UK’s Financial Reporting Council. 

Leigh Roberts, CEO of the Integrated Reporting Institute (South Africa) and Chair of its technical Working Group

Leigh Roberts is one of the world’s leading integrated reporting specialists, having been a project director with the South Africa Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and a key contributor to the field since its inception in South Africa. She is one of the founders of the Integrated Reporting Committee (IRC) of South Africa.

Leigh was originally part of the technical team that developed the Integrated Reporting Framework (the International Integrated Reporting Council’s International <IR> Framework released in 2013, and as a member of the Framework Board worked on its update in 2021). 

Leigh has also co-authored two landmark books with Professor and former Constitutional Court Justice Mervyn King – Integrate: Doing Business in the 21st Century (Juta) and The Healthy Company (Juta 2021) – and they are currently working on updating The Healthy Company. She has also served as the host of BusinessDay, a major business program on South African television; run board and executive training workshops in South Africa and internationally; and served as a judge CGISA IR Awards in the Top 40 Listed Companies category.