Graham Cook, CIO of the Environment Agency Pension Fund, part of the Brunel Pension Partnership pool, was joined by Simon Males of private markets impact manager Tikehau Capital in a 'fireside chat' to talk about his Fund's climate policy, how objectives at EAPF are set and how the portfolio is managed. Graham discussed what he believes makes a good impact strategy.
This was followed by a roundtable discussion with an opportunity for delegates to ask questions, share their experiences and comment on any challenges they are facing.
Objective
As one of the UK's foremost asset owners on climate action and impact investing, recognised as a global leader in responsible investment, Graham Cook, CIO of the Environment Agency Pension Fund, shares how they think about climate risks, how this informs their investment strategy and what actions have been undertaken to invest responsibly, manage the portfolio to protect Pension Fund members and employers, ensuring good governance.
Outcome
Attendees learnt about the investment approach of EAPF, one of the UK's leading asset owners on matters of sustainability and impact investment.
Who was this event for?
Anyone involved in the governance of assets and pension funds such as trustees of corporate defined benefit plans, trustees of corporate defined contribution plans; master trusts; LGPS pensions managers and committee members, and in-house pension teams. Please note that this was an asset-owner only event, it was not suitable for asset managers or consultants, other than our forum sponsor, Tikehau Capital.
Forum sponsor
Speaker biographies
Graham Cook, CIO, Environment Agency Pension Fund
Graham has more than 25 years industry experience in the UK, Europe and Australia, primarily helping asset owners efficiently implement their investment strategy.
He is currently Chief Investment Officer of the Environment Agency Pension Fund, where he is responsible for overseeing the investment management arrangements of the £4.8bn portfolio, and for ensuring that EAPF remains a global leader in investing to address the challenges of Climate Change. Prior to joining EAPF, he helped establish, and led, the London based Portfolio Solutions team at Macquarie Group, where he focused on LGPS pooling.
Graham is a board member of IIGCC and former vice chair of CFA UK where he recently chaired the Sustainability Steering Committee, and remains a long standing member of the Exams and Education Committee.
Graham is also a member of the Responsible Investment Advisory Group to the LGPS Scheme Advisory Board.
Graham has qualified as chartered Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He graduated from Coventry University with a B.A. (Hons) in Financial Economics and from Durham University with an MSc in Corporate and International Finance.
Simon Males, Executive Director and Head of UK Institutional Business, Tikehau Capital
Simon is Executive Director and Head of UK Institutional Business at Tikehau Capital, the €35.5bn global alternative asset management group. Simon has over three decades' experience working within the UK institutional market, including leadership roles at global asset management firms such as Legal & General Investment Management, PGIM, Pictet Asset Management and F&C (BMO).
Simon is a member of the Board of AIMSE Europe and has previously been a member of its Advisory Council since 2013. He is also a serving Trustee and Board Director of two UK Charities (North London Hospice and The Pemberton-Barnes Trust) and has previously served as a Trustee of a £130m UK Defined Benefit corporate pension plan.
Simon holds an MBA from London Metropolitan University and several Professional Qualifications, including the IMC.
The Impact Investing Adopters Forum
The Impact Investing Adopters Forum is a member forum of pension funds, investment consultants and fiduciary managers at the forefront of sustainable finance. Adopters have committed to the Impact Investing Institute’s Impact Investing Principles – and advancing the impact investing agenda. The Forum is run by Pensions for Purpose in partnership with the Impact Investing Institute to advance the principles, share best practice and encourage more pension funds to invest with a positive social and environmental impact.
To join the Impact Investing Adopters Forum please email Charlotte O’Leary.
Pensions for Purpose
Pensions for Purpose exists as a bridge between asset managers, pension funds and their professional advisers, to encourage the flow of capital towards impact investment. Our aim is to empower pension funds to seek positive impact opportunities and mitigate negative impact risks. For more information please email Charlotte O'Leary.