The debates around responsible investment and its environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects continue to evolve. Sabina Khan, senior investment director at Rathbones Investment Management, invited participants to consider charity leadership and ESG in terms of bridging the gap between profit and purpose. How do charities maintain mission integrity while engaging with corporations on ESG initiatives, ensuring that both profit and purpose align for sustainable social impact?

Ben Clarkson, chief finance and operating officer at Parkinson’s UK, did a lot of work on mission alignment in his previous role at Asthma + Lung UK (A+LUK). “This is becoming an increasingly important area for health charities. At A+LUK we were publicly campaigning about air pollution. It is hard to take these positions if your own house isn’t in order. If your pension fund, for example, is invested in fossil fuels you are leaving yourself open to challenge. Things are slightly less obvious at Parkinson’s UK as we don’t know what causes it, but we have a general sense that we have a responsibility to behave responsibly. There is an onus on us to engage with the things some charities shy away from.”