Sustainable Intelligence

Joining us today is David Wingate, Manager on Novata’s Advisory team, to explore how ESG due diligence is evolving from a fragmented, qualitative process to a streamlined, data-driven approach that connects sustainability and financial outcomes.

David explains why sustainability data needs to stay consistent from diligence through to exit, how focusing on material, decision-useful metrics unlocks value, and the risks of collecting too much, or the wrong, data. He shares what investors should prioritize over the next three to five years and offers his take on the most overrated ESG metric, the red flag he never ignores, and the one word that sums up the future of ESG due diligence.

In this episode, Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder and Chief Solutionist at Futerra, reflects on how sustainability principles have remained constant over decades, even as language and strategies have evolved. She distinguishes between managerial sustainability (risk and compliance) and entrepreneurial sustainability (innovation and growth), arguing businesses must embrace both to thrive. 

Solitaire emphasizes the opportunity in sustainability as a competitive advantage, not just a compliance burden, citing examples like Chanel and Google. She further critiques generic sustainability strategies and urges companies to tailor their approach, tell better stories, and focus on enabling consumers to live better lives through sustainable choices. 

We've got Waliur Rahman, Metrics and Regulations Associate at Novata, to break down the new Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs, better known as the VSME. Wali explains how this EFRAG-developed standard is designed to make sustainability reporting more accessible, especially for smaller businesses, and why its flexible, modular approach could transform how SMEs engage with sustainability data.

The EU Omnibus Package is shaking up sustainability reporting, bringing changes that could significantly impact companies across Europe. Laura Callaghan, Head of EMEA Advisory at Novata, joins us to break down the key updates, including the potential 80% reduction in CSRD scope, new reporting deferrals, and what these changes mean for businesses navigating the evolving ESG landscape.

She explains why sustainability reporting isn’t just an EU mandate but a growing market expectation, and how companies—whether still in scope or not—should rethink their approach to ESG data, stakeholder engagement, and long-term strategy.

Joining us today is Colin Finn, Director of Customer Engagement at Novata. In this episode Colin shares practical strategies for streamlining sustainability reporting in private markets. As sustainability teams face mounting reporting demands and regulatory changes, Colin breaks down how firms can prioritize data requests, centralize workflows, and leverage technology to make sustainability reporting more efficient and impactful.

We've got Samuel King, co-founder and CTO of AI company Briink, discussing his transition from machine learning and natural language processing to developing AI tools for ESG and sustainability. He explains how companies face overwhelming volumes of unstructured ESG data and regulatory demands, and how Briink’s technology streamlines data extraction and compliance processes. The conversation highlights the shift in sustainability from a voluntary corporate social responsibility effort to a data-driven, regulated market that necessitates innovative AI solutions. Sam also introduces the concept of ESG agents, AI-powered systems designed to revolutionize real-time ESG analysis and reporting at scale.

We've got Jessie Martin, Global Head of Advisory at Novata, joining us today. We explore the growing pushback against ESG reporting, particularly due to regulatory overload and inefficiencies. Jessie highlights how businesses are struggling with excessive ESG data demands, leading to frustration and calls for simplification, especially in Europe with the CSRD and in the US with a shifting regulatory landscape. Despite these challenges, she emphasizes that a sustainability focus should not be abandoned but rather reframed as a tool for managing business risks and opportunities, rather than just a compliance exercise. 

We've got Josh Green, Novata’s COO and Co-Founder joining us today. He shares why considering ESG factors is no longer a “nice to have” but a business imperative driven by regulatory, investor, and consumer pressures. He explores how businesses can navigate political and regulatory crosswinds by embedding sustainability into their core strategies and leveraging technology to streamline compliance and drive meaningful change. Josh introduces the concept of “of course, sustainability” as a pragmatic approach to long-term resilience and success.

We’ve got Sarb Thandi, Novata’s Chief People Officer, joining us. Sarb delves into the strategic alignment of sustainability and people practices, emphasizing how Novata’s core values—integrity, longevity, togetherness, and agility—drive a culture of resilience. Sarb highlights the challenges and successes of creating a lasting sustainability ethos that empowers individuals to drive change both within and beyond the workplace.

We've got Alex Friedman, CEO and Co-Founder of Novata, joining us for an engaging conversation about the evolving world of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and sustainability in private markets. With a career spanning influential roles such as CFO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and CEO of GAM Holdings, Alex shares his insights on driving sustainability and the future of private markets.