The Greener Way

In the midst of massive change for the industry, both companies and financiers are grappling with what to do next.

To help practitioners navigate changing tides, the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA) held a conference in Sydney last week, where more than 800 attendees had the opportunity to learn from – and network with – the best and brightest, and several new roadmaps and initiatives were unveiled.

We interrupt our scheduled programming for a bonus episode to debrief on the conference and break down the key takeaways – including fund flows, data, AI, greenwashing, nature, and DEI – for those who weren’t able to make it (or those who want a recap).

To discuss, senior journalist and host Rose Mary Petrass is joined in the studio by FS Sustainability and Money magazine director of media – Michelle Baltazar.

FS Sustainability, the producer of this podcast, was the media partner for the event. 

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This episode of The Greener Way, we hear from Sarah Clawson, Global Head of Investor Relations at New Forests – an international investment manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies.

Join senior journalist and host Rose Mary Petrass and explore forestry investment, as well as best practice approach to generating returns while prioritising ESG principles.

We discuss sustainable landscape management, carbon credits integrity, and First Nations engagement policy and philosophy.

Sarah just completed a trip to New Forest’s newly opened office in Africa; she discusses the firm’s global approach and regional differences across Australia and New Zealand, Asia, the US, and Africa.

When it comes to advancing outcomes for First Nations Peoples, economic empowerment, accessibility, and financial literacy are at the fore.

In this episode of The Greener Way, senior journalist and host Rose Mary Petrass is joined by Phil Usher, a proud Wiradjuri man, born and raised on Gomeroi country. He serves as CEO of Australia’s only national Indigenous financial wellbeing provider, the First Nations Foundation.

Phil is on a mission to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities emerge from the effects of historical exclusion and oppression, empowering Community to deconstruct and unpack their relationship with money.

Cultural competency is vital for finance and business to better engage with First Nations Peoples. The foundation is also equipping professionals with the cultural tools they need to ensure they safeguard respect and effective engagement through this process. 

In this episode of The Greener Way, we welcome to the show Erin Remblance – founder of (re)bBiz and Project Tipping Point.

Erin runs programs teaching professionals how implementing the theories of de-growth and post-growth economics into their business strategies can address the ecological and climate crises.

FS Sustainability senior journalist and host, Rose Mary Petrass, chats with Erin all about regenerative and sustainable systems, the concept of social tipping points, and the importance of partnering with First Nations organisations. 

Today, senior journalist and host Rose Mary Petrass sits down with Sharon Davis, Executive Director of Investments at Future Super, a superfund that invests for a fossil fuel free future with no coal, oil and gas holdings, and an ethos rooted in ethical investment with a focus on clean energy and social impact projects.

The pair chat impact investing, stewardship (proxy voting and engagements), and how to approach divesting from fossil fuels while at the same time ensuring the fiduciary duty of long-term returns for members.

In the wake of the Qantas and ongoing Boeing scandals, investors – and the public – are asking questions on corporate governance, risk management, and ethical conduct.

Today we chat with Megan Motto, CEO of the Governance Institute of Australia - a professional association for company secretaries, governance advisers and risk managers.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is embroiled in a quality control scandal that included doors blowing off mid-flight and allegations of defects at a key supplier; while Qantas deals with the fallout of its CEOs Alan Joyces quitting in September following intense scrutiny from the national consumer watchdog for selling tickets on flights that didn’t exist.

On the show today, Motto discusses how communication, transparency, and accountability, can safeguard trust, confidence, and company success.

In this episode of The Greener Way, host Rose Mary Petrass welcomes sustainability expert John Pabon to discuss the importance of international collaboration in combating greenwashing. They discuss cultural attitudes, consumer awareness, and regulatory frameworks around greenwashing, and dissect Australia's new climate reporting laws and its impact on corporate transparency. John's book The Great Greenwashing: How brands, governments, and influencers are lying to you, has just launched in the UK, North America, and Singapore.

On this episode of the Greener Way, we’re talking sustainability and intersectionality with Kylie Porter, Group Head of Sustainability, SunRice Group.

Kylie has worked across a wide variety of organisations, but always at the intersection of the E the S and the G in sustainability.

Joining us for this conversation on The Greener Way is Brighter Super head of Aussie equities and ESG Fiona Mann to talk about the fund’s approach to ESG and what high performance means in a variety of settings and professions.

On today's episode, we are talking to the multi-hyphenate sustainability and responsible investment leader Fiona Reynolds about the intersection of the E and the S and why it matters for business.