The definitions of 'impact' investing are increasingly varied and the source of much debate. Should the term be exclusively confined to primary markets? Or, is there a place for secondary markets to help channel capital towards companies that are essential to drive environmental and social change?

In this training session, J.P. Morgan Asset Management addressed the main components they think investors should consider to drive sustainable outcomes through their portfolios with a focus on public markets.

They discussed the spectrum of opportunities they see from social advancement to biodiversity and climate change solutions. While we may not be able to agree on an industry-wide definition of impact, this shouldn't prevent institutional capital from reaching the areas where it is most needed and the return opportunity the opportunity to make an investment return along the way.

Objective

Explore the ongoing dialogue around impact investing and discuss ways for investors to access the associated themes through public markets which often offer better liquidity and a growing opportunities.

Learning outcome

We then moved on to discuss the range of investable sustainable themes; address the challenges investors face, for example, data availability, impact measurement and additionality definitions; and the benefits of accessing sustainable outcomes in public markets.

Who was this event for?

This event was opened to asset owners such as pension fund trustees, in-house executives and independent advisers, professional trustees, government representatives and consultants.

Speaker biographies

Alexandra Melhuish, Vice President, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Alexandra Melhuish is a Strategist on the Sustainable Investment Team, and responsible for implementing the firm's sustainable investment strategy, solutions and product innovation in EMEA. In partnership with J.P. Morgan distribution and product teams, she leverages our extensive data and research capabilities, proprietary technology and ESG expertise to deliver sustainable solutions to our clients.

Prior to joining the firm in December 2021, she spent nine years at Wellington Management, most recently based in Hong Kong as a Product Specialist supporting a range of Emerging Markets equity investment teams.

Previously she was based in London where she held roles as a Product Specialist supporting equity and multi-asset investment teams and as a Relationship Analyst covering Consultant Relations.

Alexandra obtained a BA in Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) from the University of Bristol.

Katherine Magee, Investment Specialist, JP Morgan Asset Management

Katherine Magee is an Investment Specialist in the Solutions business. Based in London, she works with client advisors to position the firm's factor-based and thematic investment strategies with clients.

Katherine previously supported the EMEA CEO of Asset Management and before that, worked on the Institutional Advisory & Sales team at J.P. Morgan in New York.

Katherine graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Economics and is a CFA Charterholder.

Moderator

Charlotte O'Leary, Lead, Global Impact Forum, Pensions for Purpose

As CEO and an executive director of Pensions for Purpose, Charlotte oversees the running of the business, develops the growth and innovation strategy and looks for opportunities to build partnerships to achieve Pensions for Purpose's mission.

Charlotte is also a member of the Impact Investing Institute's Pensions Expert Panel, an ambassador for the Transparency Taskforce and a founder of 10 Billion World, an end-to-end sustainability project management business aimed at businesses and organisations setting net-zero and carbon reduction targets.

With over 15 years of experience in asset management, Charlotte started in fund analysis and progressed through to institutional business development. Charlotte has worked for some well-known institutions, including Jupiter, Pictet and Cambridge Associates.

Through her roles, Charlotte has built a knowledge and passion for sustainable investing. She has demonstrated this in co-authoring a paper with the Society for Pension Professionals on social impact investing and speaking on topics such as fee and service transparency at PLSA and Transparency Taskforce events. Charlotte played a critical role in developing the Impact Investing Institute's Impact Investing Principles for Pensions and led the launch of Pensions for Purpose's Global Impact Forum (formally the Impact Investing Adopters Forum).

Global Impact Forum

The Global Impact Forum is an industry-wide member forum hosted by Pensions for Purpose to facilitate meaningful industry discussions on how to embed social and environmental impacts at a strategic level, including in governance discussions, to encourage the flow of capital towards investments that have a positive impact.