31 March 2022

• 8.45AM - 9.30AM
  Registration, refreshments, networking and time to visit exhibition
• 9.30AM - 9.35AM
  Chairs welcome
  Tristan Blythe, editor, Charity Finance
• 9.35AM - 10.05AM
  Opening Address - The ESG Imperative for Charities - looking beyond investment

  The global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the accelerating climate crisis have changed the fabric of society, and caused many organisations to reevaluate how they operate. There are increasing pressures on charities to demonstrate that they are making a positive impact on society and are not doing any harm to others in the pursuit of their charitable objectives. 
  This session will delve beyond the application of ESG factors in investment to explore:
  - How the rise of ESG factors in the commercial sector will become increasingly relevant to modern charities;
  - The potential opportunities and benefits for charities of engaging in ESG;
  - The risks of not engaging; and
  - Practical suggestions to start board conversations and implement changes.

  Louise Thomson, head of policy (NFP), Chartered Governance Institute 
   

• 10.10AM - 10.50AM
  1A. Using shareholder power to influence change and push for progress

  This session will highlight some of the ways your charity can go further than sustainability, and how your organisation can invest with impact. As sustainable investment continues to evolve we are helping an increasing number of charities maximise the impact of their investments.

  • Examining how large charities can make a positive societal impact with their investments
  • Making the most of your charity’s assets
  • Collaborating with other investors to raise the market standard on ESG issues
  • Increasing transparency to encourage companies to improve their ESG scores
  • Increasing board accountability

  Kate Rogers, co-head of charities, Cazenove Capital 
   

• 10.10AM - 10.50AM
  1B. Taking action to close the sector’s pay gap and why it matters

  Research conducted by the Living Wage Foundation indicates that one-fifth of third sector workers earn below the real living wage. There is also evidence of continued pay segregation, with women, racialised groups and people with disabilities being more likely to experience low pay in the
  sector. After more than a year of pandemic fighting, the third sector has some time to think about how it rebuilds through and beyond Covid-19. This session will explore the importance of providing workers with a real Living Wage in order for charities to continue to provide essential services yearround and attract new people into the sector.
  Katherine Chapman, director, Living Wage Foundation

• 10.50AM - 11.10AM
  Morning coffee, networking and time to visit exhibition
• 11.10AM - 11.50AM
  2A. Starting from scratch - how to set your own ESG strategy and start reporting

  Putting sustainable and responsible practices at the heart of the organisation is fast becoming a pivotal requirement. Scrutiny of charities is intensifying from supporters, funders and other stakeholders, and is not going away. By having an integrated and long term environmental, social and governance strategy, charities can take an important step in shaping what they stand for and - critically - how others see them. This session will draw on applied experience from the rise of ESG in the corporate sector to explore how charities might begin to shape an effective strategy, looking in particular at the practicalities of reporting in each of these areas and drawing upon charity sector research conducted by RSM.

  Nick Sladden, partner, head of charities, and Carys Tetlaw, senior consultant, RSM UK
   

• 11.10AM - 11.50AM
  2B. 50 Shades of Green: Transitioning to a more sustainable world – what this means in practice

  This session considers how to address the key ESG issues that matter to you and your beneficiaries and importantly, how to reflect these practically in an investment portfolio. We will aim to provide a framework for consideration when adopting ESG criteria within your investments:

  • ESG investments can have an impact without there being a wildly different risk/ return experience to mainstream investments 
  • How to assess that your investments are truly tackling the issues that matter to you
  • Ensuring your manager evolves with the times 
  • Listening to your beneficiaries to understand what is truly important to them

  Caroline Ramscar, Head of Sustainability Solutions, Legal & General Investment Management

• 11.55AM - 12.45PM
  Panel: Beyond COP26 - creating sustainable organisations that are fit for the future
  If we are to win the race against catastrophic climate change, we are in dire need of rapid collective action. But when the reality is that many charities are operating under immense pressure and on limited resources, what practical steps can they take to help tackle climate change? What does a meaningful sustainability strategy look like, and how can organisations commit to net-zero carbon targets that are realistic and achievable?

   

  Chair – Maisie Hulbert, policy officer, Acevo

  Panellists -  Paul Anderson, chief executive, Vogaye Youth, Janet Thorne, chief executive, Reach Volunteering and Patrick Begg, director of outdoors and natural resources, National Trust, Anna Frizzell, sustainability manager, RNLI

• 12.45PM - 1.45PM
  Lunch, networking and time to visit exhibition
• 1.45PM - 2.25PM
  3A. What is a charity’s responsibility to be responsible?

  In addressing this question, Neville will consider both the regulatory landscape and requirements expected of charities, but also how the adoption of a holistic approach can ensure a charity’s aims are being fulfilled, not only through grants and projects, but directly through a well-aligned investment portfolio.  

  Neville White, head of responsible investment policy and research, EdenTree Investment Management

• 1.45PM - 2.25PM
  3B. Environmental change is one of the great issues of our time, but how will it affect the investment world?

  This presentation explores how climate change is helping to fundamentally reshape global political economy, as well as highlighting some of the challenges and opportunities investors face in the coming decades.

  Ajay Johal, investment manager, Ruffer

• 2.30PM - 3.10PM
  Panel: How to create an inclusive workplace culture and why it matters
  Panellists include - Nathan Nalla, director, Be the Riot and Gamiel Yafai, managing director, Diversity Marketplace
• 3.10PM - 3.30PM
  Afternoon coffee and networking
• 3.30PM - 4.20PM
  Panel: Turning the lens inwards - how to lead by example and why now is the time

  The Charity Governance Code outlines guiding principles for boards and leaders to follow to ensure organisations are acting with integrity and upholding its values. But is it enough? The world is changing and the climate crisis is escalating, with the result that organisations are being held to increasingly high ethical standards. What does this mean for charity leadership in practice, and how can the sector begin to strengthen its voice and standing in order to champion and demand positive change?

  Chair -  Louise Thomson, head of policy (NFP), Chartered Governance Institute 
  Panellists - Daniel Chan, chair, ICAEW Charity Committee, Nathan Nalla, director, Be the Riot, Chris Sherwood, chief executive, RSPCA, Shivaji Shiva, partner, VWV, and Sue Tibballs, chief executive, Sheila McKechnie Foundation

• 4.20PM - 4.25PM
  Chair's closing remarks
  Tristan Blythe, editor, Charity Finance 
• 4.25PM - 5.30PM
  Networking drinks reception

Great ways to save!

1. Be an early bird!
   Book your place now to save up to £150 off the ticket price.
2. Attend with your team!
   Ensure your whole team benefits from a great day's learning. With the Charity Team Ticket you can send up to four people  

For sponsorship and exhibition queries contact Matthew Nolan

For speaker queries contact our events team

For registration queries contact Carys Pugh

For media partnerships and marketing queries contact Kirsty Brown 

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