This week we speak to Victoria Sant, investment committee member at the National Trust.
We discuss
The need to know what you own
Putting investment beliefs and charitable missions into practice
Mixing emotive issues with risk and return
Getting deep alignment with the managers of your assets
Some of the challenges Victoria’s seen overtime
Tips for making effective decisions: who owns what?
The sea change in focus on ESG and stewardship
Stewardship as a competitive asset management advantage
Bigger focus on targeted impact outcomes, aligning to SDGs and looking in more detail at real assets
Role of private vs public markets for primary market impact
The existence of many different initiatives and organisations – which one should you support?
Relevant links referenced in the conversation
Notes on the National Trust’s mission
The UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Transition Pathway initiative
Science Based Targets Initiative
Climate Action 100+
What’s one thing you would like listeners to take away from this?
Recognising the power that investing in the financial markets has to influence change, as a client. As a shareholder you have the power to influence change in the direction of your values. This can shift away from shareholder primacy toward a more long-term sustainable shareholder model.
The most underappreciated thing in investing
The flexibility that endowments have, the ability to take bold decisions as well as the ability to take more and different types of risk.
Recommendations
Talking Responsibly Podcast – (and our episode we did with David Hickey)
The Authority Gap
Mary’s recommendation: Desert Island Discs with Hilary McGrady (Director General of the National Trust)