Sustainable Intelligence

We've got Si Mathavan and Darren Mascarenhas from Johnston Carmichael joining us to discuss the crucial role of assurance in ESG reporting. They break down the importance of assurance for building trust, ensuring compliance, and meeting stakeholder expectations in the evolving ESG landscape.

We’ve got Allison Green, ESG Research Associate at Novata, joining us to explore the topic of biodiversity and its importance for businesses. An expert on biodiversity, ocean impact, waste management and more, Allison dives into the goals and outcomes of the recent COP16 biodiversity summit. She highlights the importance of biodiversity, recent successes and challenges with biodiversity preservation, the critical role Indigenous communities play in driving progress, and how companies can contribute to conserving the planet’s biodiversity.  

We’ve got Lorraine Spradley-Wilson, Novata’s Senior Advisor, joining us to talk about creating a world-class sustainability report. Lorraine highlights the importance of strategic stakeholder engagement and conducting a thorough ESG materiality assessment to ensure relevant themes are prioritized. She also emphasizes avoiding common pitfalls, such as overloading reports with irrelevant metrics or creating an overly positive image that lacks substance. Listen now to find out more.

We've got Kieron Maddison, Senior Product Manager at Novata, joining us to share insights on integrating the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) into broader ESG strategies. Key topics include the shift from ESG compliance to value creation, the role of data and automation in streamlining CSRD reporting, and the need for companies to conduct gap analyses to meet the new regulatory standards. Kieran stresses the importance of piloting data collection early to ensure data reliability and suggests aligning ESG efforts with financial reporting for greater stakeholder engagement and ROI.

We've got Charlie Mahoney, Head of US Sales at Novata,joining us todive into the evolving role of ESG in U.S. private markets. Charlie shares insights on how general partners (GPs) are navigating ESG—from early compliance to genuine integration. We discuss whether ESG is becoming standard practice or simply a box-ticking exercise, the regulatory pressures reshaping the landscape, and the importance of choosing the right partners in building a solid ESG strategy. Tune in to learn how ESG is evolving from a “do good” initiative to a critical component of risk management in private markets. 

Gence Emek, Head of EMEA Sales at Novata, joins this episode of Sustainable Intelligence to dive into practical sustainability and making effective ESG decisions. Gence identifies key challenges ESG practitioners face and their impact on decision-making. He further emphasizes the importance of mindset over strategy, advocating for clear communication of simple, actionable ideas to stakeholders for driving sustainable change.

We've got Emily Sennett, Head of Customer Success at Novata, joining us today. Emily leads a global team working with more than 160 investor clients and over 7,000 portfolio companies on ESG data reporting. Emily shares her insights on ESG reporting cycles, including the best times to start, strategies for effective data collection, and how to add value to portfolio companies throughout the year. Tune in to learn how to master ESG reporting and set your organization up for long-term success.

We've got Teresa Yu, ESG Metrics & Regulations Lead at Novata joining us for this episode. The episode focuses on California's new climate regulations and their implications for businesses. Teresa emphasizes the importance of starting preparations immediately to meet the upcoming regulatory deadlines and leverage potential business opportunities.

We've got Caitlin Pentifallo, Head of Metrics and Regulations at Novata, joining us to discuss the intricacies of social impact and its connection to impact investing. Caitlin shares her journey from studying the social impacts of the Olympic Games to leading Novata's extensive Metric Library, which now includes over 2,400 metrics. She delves into various methodologies and tools for measuring social impact, including theory of change, logic models, cost-benefit analysis, and social return on investment. 

Caitlin also highlights the challenges of impact investing, emphasizing the importance of selecting context-specific metrics to ensure meaningful and accurate evaluations. The conversation underscores the value of user-centric approaches in ESG data collection and the critical role of metrics in driving informed decision-making for sustainable impact.

We've got Laura Callaghan, Head of EMEA Services at Novata, joining us for this episode. We explore the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), a critical framework introduced by the European Commission in 2021. Laura connects SFDR to broader EU initiatives like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and EU taxonomy, emphasizing its role in driving greener investments. Plus, we discuss practical tips for firms new to SFDR, highlighting essential disclosures and methodologies to meet regulatory requirements.