We are pleased to present a full calendar of thought-provoking webinars on a variety of timely topics. Join us for engaging discussions by selecting any of the following webinars you wish to attend. Details for each webinar can be viewed by clicking on the listing. To register, check the box and complete the registration form at the bottom of the page. Replays of previous webinars are available on-demand.
Title: ESG Investing at the Crossroads
Date: Thursday, September 29, 2022
Time: 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT
Duration: 1 hour
2022 has been a mixed year for ESG investing. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enhanced corporate ESG disclosure requirements and the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is a boon for climate-focused investors. The bill contains nearly $400 billion in incentives designed to speed the transition to a clean energy future and will help the U.S. achieve a 40% reduction in GHG emissions.
But ESG investing has also been thrust into an uncomfortable political spotlight this year. With backing from some high-profile ESG naysayers, several states are trying to limit their public pension funds from considering any ESG factors in their decision-making. Other states have blacklisted asset management firms they accuse of pursuing an ESG agenda.
So where does ESG investing go from here? And what role should ESG considerations play in a returns-focused investment portfolio?
Fiduciary Trust International CEO John Dowd will host a fireside chat with industry veteran and Global Head of Sustainability at Franklin Templeton Anne Simpson to explore these and other questions. Topics will include:
Anne Simpson
Global Head of Sustainability for Franklin Templeton
Anne Simpson is Global Head of Sustainability for Franklin Templeton, reporting to the President and CEO. In this newly created role, Ms. Simpson is responsible for driving the company's strategic direction on stewardship, sustainability and ESG investment strategy globally, while fostering best practices within the firm's autonomous specialist investment managers. She serves as the firm's primary spokesperson on matters related to sustainability and participates in industry engagement initiatives and advocacy activities with policy makers and regulators.
Ms. Simpson joined Franklin Templeton in 2022, bringing 35 years of sustainable investment and academic expertise as well as extensive experience in the international regulatory and policy arena. She is a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University appointed by the Chancellor and teaches at University of California, Berkeley Haas Business School as a Lecturer in Sustainable and Impact Finance. In addition, Ms. Simpson is an advisory council member for the Official Monetary Financial Institutions Forum, a board member at Ceres, serves on the Leadership Council for the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and on the steering committee of Climate Action 100+. She has previously served on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Investor Advisory Committee, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's Investor Advisory Group and the International Financial Reporting Standards Advisory Council.
John Dowd
Chief Executive Officer
John M. Dowd, Chief Executive Officer, is a member of the Board of Directors and chairs the Management and Operating Committees. He is also a member of Franklin Templeton’s Management and Executive Committees. John has more than 30 years of experience in the wealth management industry and is a frequent speaker on wealth management topics. Before joining Fiduciary Trust in 2016, John served as executive vice president and senior managing director for Wells Fargo Wealth Management, where he oversaw the Northeast region. Prior to the move to Wells Fargo in 2008, he spent almost twenty years at the Bank of New York in a variety of roles, including serving as their chief trust officer and head of wealth management. John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Guilford College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia University. He is on the advisory board of the UHNW Institute, and on the boards of the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Montclair Art Museum, and North Capital Investment Technology, Inc.