ESG Integration Forum – US
Develop an integrated response to ESG expectations

Thursday, December 1, 2022 - Friday, December 2, 2022

In-person event: etc.venues 360 Madison Avenue, New York

ESG AT A CROSSROADS

The rise of the ‘anti-ESG’ movement is gaining momentum in certain circles of the capital markets. Meanwhile, there is increased emphasis on the role of companies in delivering a smooth and ‘just’ energy transition.

ESG appears to be at a crossroads, and understanding the changing expectations of stakeholders will be critical for listed companies in 2023.

To help IR, governance and sustainability teams at public companies understand expectations for ESG reporting and communications in today’s environment, Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine hosted the ESG Integration Forum – US 2022. View the agenda and speaker sections below to see what we discussed.


NIRI IRC® CREDENTIAL
Holders of the NIRI IRC® credential can earn up to 4 professional development units (PDUs) per day. IRC-credentialed speakers may also earn PDUs. More information is available at www.niri.org/certification.

2022 Agenda

  • 08:30 AM
    Registration and networking

  • 09:00 AM
    Welcome to the ESG Integration Forum – US

  • 09:30 AM
    Fire-side chat: High-level ESG priorities for 2023

    • Reflecting on the key ESG takeaways of this year’s proxy season
    • Turning ESG goals into strategies and policies into practice
    • Understanding the impact of the current regulatory and market environment on ESG priorities across the US

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary
    Sarah Bratton Hughes, head of ESG sustainable investing, American Century Investments

  • 10:00 AM
    Navigating new domestic and international regulations: What should you be doing now?

    • An update on the status of the SEC climate proposals and the impact they are likely to have on IR, governance and sustainability teams
    • Learn how to prepare from companies leading the way on transparent climate reporting
    • Preparing for future regulations: what are the SEC’s priorities for 2023, and how can companies think strategically for the year ahead?
    • How will changing regulations abroad (CSRD, EU Taxonomy and more) impact US companies?

    Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
    Chris Fenwick, head of ESG center of excellence, Onetrust
    John Miller, director of ESG and sustainability policy, Cowen
    Curtis Ravenel, founding member, FSB TCFD Secretariat

  • 10:45 AM
    Morning networking break

  • 11:15 AM
    Is the ESG backlash a significant challenge for public companies?

    As the ESG movement continues to gain momentum, so too does its counter-movement. In this session, our speakers will discuss the impact this trend is likely to have on IR and governance teams at public companies.

    Moderator: Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary
    Benjamin Martin, vice president of ESG, Solebury Strategic Communications
    Chad Reed, VP of strategic initiatives and ESG, Hannon Armstrong

  • 11:45 AM
    Defining, redefining and measuring material ESG issues

    • Identifying which ESG issues are most material to your business and how these are impacted by the current market environment
    • Continuously assessing the materiality of ESG issues as stakeholder demands evolve
    • Collecting and assessing robust and reliable data on these issues and implementing processes to help streamline data collection

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine & Corporate Secretary
    Frank Kelley, director of ESG, DFIN 
    Zach Rothberg, head of investor relations sales, AlphaSense
    Alison Sternberg, senior vice president of investor relations, fuboTV

  • 12:30 PM
    Lunch

  • 13:30 PM
    Sending the right message: Trends in ESG communicating and reporting

    • An update on the latest requirements for ESG related disclosures in the short, medium and long term
    • Ensuring ESG information is reported in a transparent, standardized and machine-ready way
    • Avoiding accusations of greenwashing and ensuring your statements stand up to third-party scrutiny
    • Ensuring your ESG messaging is consistent across your organization

    Moderator: Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine & Corporate Secretary
    Aaron Chew, VP of investor relations, Proterra
    Wesley Gee, chief sustainability officer, Works Design
    John Nunziati, investor relations partner, Q4 

  • 14:15 PM
    Taking a top-down approach to ESG: Getting senior management and the board on board

    • Discussing the best government structures and sub-committees to ensure effective ESG leadership
    • Securing team commitment for ESG goals and promoting cross-departmental working
    • Learn what investors are asking for when it comes to board composition

    Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
    Matthew Abenante, director of investor relations, Lightbridge Corporation
    Colin Etnire, head of ESG, Navex
    Jeffrey Taylor, VP, chief SEC counsel and secretary, American Water Works Company 

  • 15:00 PM
    Afternoon networking break

  • 15:15 PM
    Champagne roundtables: Exchange ideas with your peers in sector-specific discussions 

    How the roundtables work:

    • Choose any of the following topics – the power is in your hands!
    • Join the relevant roundtable and discuss with your peers
    • When the bell rings, move on to your next table and repeat!
    • Enjoy a glass of champagne or non-alcoholic beverage
    • At the end of the session, hear a roundup of lessons learned so you can apply these when you return to the office

    Roundtable topics include to be confirmed

  • 16:15 PM
    Closing remarks and networking drinks

  • 08:30 AM
    Registration and networking

  • 09:00 AM
    Welcome to day two

  • 09:10 AM
    Focusing on G: Taking a stand on sensitive political issues

    • Talking politics in 2023 and balancing different stakeholder perspectives  
    • Assessing the risks associated with taking a political stance  
    • Other emerging governance threats for investors in 2023: cyber-security, executive pay and geopolitical risk 

    Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
    Joshua Black, editor-in-chief, Insightia, a Diligent brand
    Alexandra Higgins, managing director, Okapi Partners 

  • 10:00 AM
    Taking a holistic approach to environmental governance

    • Bringing the conversation up to date on climate change: how are companies performing against their own targets?
    • Avoiding greenwashing: understand investors’ red flags when it comes to environmental messaging
    • Advancing the discussion around biodiversity issues and integrating nature into your decision making

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary
    Raechelle Munna, assistant general counsel, Entergy
    Jeffrey Taylor, vice president, chief SEC counsel and secretary, American Water

     

  • 10:45 AM
    Morning networking break

  • 11:15 AM
    Spotlight on ‘S’: Tackling and reporting social issues effectively

    • Learn which social issues are front of mind for investors as we approach 2023
    • Hear how other companies are improving employee engagement in the context of rising living costs and remote working
    • Assessing the benefits of racial equity and civil rights audits to drive progress on social issues

    Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
    Leahruth Jemilo, VP and head of ESG practice, Corbin advisors
    Sofia Martos, partner, ESG & Impact, Kirkland and Ellis
    Scott Powell, VP of investor relations, VolitionRx, and CFO, Volition America 

  • 12:00 PM
    The evolving role of ESG ratings agencies and how to improve your ESG score

    • Understand how ESG ratings agencies are changing and how to give yourself the best chance of achieving better scores in 2023
    • Responding to and prioritizing surveys given limited time and resources
    • How do investors integrate ESG ratings into their investment decisions?

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary
    Keri Mattox, chief communications and administrations officer, Zimmer Biomet
    Emmanuelle Palikuca, managing director and head of sustainability advisory, Alliance Advisors
    Ally Rodrigues, lead ESG advisor and senior specialist, Nasdaq

  • 12:45 PM
    Lunch

  • 14:00 PM
    Investor Q&A: How are shareholder needs changing with regards to ESG? 

    • Preparing for shareholder meetings in 2023: what ESG topics are investors focussing on?
    • Evaluating the benefits of ESG roadshows and how to execute them well
    • Understanding how shareholders integrate ESG ratings into their investment decisions
    • Engagement vs divestment: investor approaches to ESG in a bearish market

    Moderator: Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary
    Laura Kane, head of ESG research, Voya Investment Management
    Fionna Ross, sustainability investment specialist & head of the sustainability institute, Americas, abrdn

  • 14:45 PM
    Closing keynote perspective: Making ESG a strategic priority

    Moderator: Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine & Corporate Secretary
    Jennifer Motles, chief sustainability officer, PMI 

  • 15:15 PM
    Closing remarks and end of conference

  • 15:30 PM
    End of conference

2022: Speakers

To inquire about speaking opportunities, contact [email protected] or +44 20 8004 4818


What our attendees say

"The smaller panels made it flow really well, and also the mix of panelists in each discussion (issuer, investor, service provider), made for really interesting and different perspective. Also, very useful topics."

Anonymous

"The panelists and content were very good. I learned a lot from each session."

Cartica Management

"This conference was just the right mix of high-level and pragmatic implementation. It was a very good use of my time."

Columbia Banking System

"The guests and content are fantastic. Really appreciate all the work that goes into getting these sessions together. Thank you."

Nano One Materials

"The sessions were moderated very well with a quick pace. The panellists were well prepared and provided relevant insights."

Murphy Oil Corporation

"I have been to a lot of these events and I have found the conversations to be richer and more insightful than many of the bigger panels - probably due to good moderation and good panelists. I was also impressed by how seamless the virtual format was. "

Anonymous

"Truly brilliant. I've been to a couple of virtual conferences and your set-up, support, and panels are the best by far. "

MyLog IQ

"Highly relevant topics, knowledgeable panellists and highly informative."

Anonymous

Attendees

Our attendees are leading governance, IR and sustainability practitioners with an established track record and strategic role within their company. Below is a sample of some of our attendees:

Company Job title Company Job title
Farmland Partners CFO ViacomCBS ESG specialist
PotlatchDeltic CFO Hewlett Packard Enterprise ESG strategy and operations
Array Technologies CMO, head of ESG Bristol-Myers Squibb Global head, sustainability strategy & operations
United States Steel Corporate counsel Vistra IR and sustainability director
Nano One Materials Corporate secretary & director of sustainability The Water Council President & CEO
KEB Hana Bank Canada Corporate secretary and governance officer Duke Realty Senior corporate responsibility and brand manager
McDonalds Corporation Corporate VP and associate general counsel The Kroger Senior Director, ESG
Easterly Government Properties Director of Sustainability Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior director, investor relations
Micron Technology Director of sustainability MEG Energy Senior sustainability advisor
Unitil Director of sustainability & shared services Sprouts Farmers Market Sustainability manager
South Jersey Industries Director, ESG Capstone Mining SVP, risk, ESG and corporate secretary
Coeur Mining Director, ESG, Community & government relations Whitestone REIT Vice president, corporate communications
IAC Director, finance and IR Exterran Corp Vice president, finance
AMN Healthcare Services Director, investor relations & strategy The Estee Lauder Companies VP, global corporate citizenship & sustainability
Ideanomics Director, Sustainability Modern West Advisory VP, ESG & sustainable business practice
Murphy Oil Corporation Director, sustainability MetaBank VP, ESG and DEI
Adtalem Global Education Director, sustainability & government relations OGI VP, investor relations
DaVita ESG director Columbia Banking System VP, investor relations, ESG

 

Request full attendee list 

Become a partner

Why partner with us?

The ESG Integration Forum – US brings together some of the most influential people in the IR, governance and sustainability communities.

The event offers an effective approach to targeting clients when they are exploring how they can improve their ESG engagement and communication practice. Through our unrivalled knowledge of the subject matters and commitment to in-depth agenda research, our events are guaranteed to attract a qualified audience.

The unique buzz we create at our events makes them multi-faceted and highly interactive with great engagement in particular with decision-makers at listed companies. This allows our partners to have meaningful conversations with corporates who are deciding which parts of their ESG program to invest in, which service providers to engage and which consultants to retain. By partnering with us on an event, you can generate leads, showcase your thought leadership and position yourselves as the partner of choice.

We’d love to have a chat with you about how you can get in front of a truly engaged and motivated audience at the ESG Integration Forum – US. Get in touch with Ian Richman or call on +1 212 430 6895.

Partners

Sign up to access the replay

To access the replay, please fill in the form below and we’ll send through the login instructions.

If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Wilson at [email protected] or +44 208 004 5339

Contact us

Privacy Policy

IR Media Group Ltd, the owner of IR Magazine, Corporate Secretary and IRspace, respect the privacy of every person who visits, registers with or subscribes to our websites and online publications, and is committed to ensuring a safe online experience. This privacy statement applies to all IR Media Group’s websites as listed under the heading ‘Sites’ and outlines the information IR Media Group may collect and how we may use that information. It also explains what we do with information about you when you register to attend one of our events.
To view our privacy policy in full, please click here.