Sustainable Edge

In our new episode, Kiran Aziz, Head of Responsible Investments at KLP, sits down with Joachim Nahem, Executive Chair at Position Green. In this episode Kicking the can down to 2050 is not enough. Listen as Kiran reveals the art of the long game in responsible investment, where long- and short-term sustainability goals are a must in the investment considerations of pensions behemoth KLP. Hear how dynamic engagement with board and management can nurture ESG strategies across more than 7,000 companies. And find out how a good grasp of long-term value drivers can prove invaluable in your corporate ESG journey. About KLP KLP is Norway's largest life insurance company. It manages the pension assets of over 550,000 Norwegians and has over $70 billion of assets under management. KLP has embedded ESG in its investment strategy for more than 20 years and is seen as a leading actor on responsible investments. Kiran is responsible for ownership and responsible investment activities at KLP. She is also a columnist for E24, which is Norway’s largest online newspaper for finance and business, and an Advisory board member for ESG for Boards. Prior to joining KLP, Kiran was a lawyer, lecturer and researcher and she currently sits on the board of the Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the world`s largest humanitarian organisations for displaced people.  

Christina Downend, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability at Dunelm, joins host Joachim Nahem for our latest episode In this episode Christina delves into the give and take at the forefront of supply chain sustainability and whether ESG regulations are a case of the tail wagging the dog. Get unique insights on why delivering sustainability in an affordable way to consumers has become mission-critical for net zero targets. This episode also unpacks the question: Is the inherent ambition of sustainability professionals to not be needed in the future? Listen in to hear how retail giant Dunelm is innovating on the front line of sustainable enterprise. About Dunelm Dunelm is one of the largest UK homeware retail companies. Listed on the FTSE250 index of the London Stock Exchange and with an annual revenue of over £1.64bn, Dunelm is one of the most recognisable British household names, with hundreds of superstores across the country. Christina has been responsible for co-creating Dunelm's first credible environmental sustainability strategy and has led the submission of their net zero and 2030 carbon reduction targets which have been validated by the SBTi. In her previous role, Christina headed the project that in 2017 saw Tesco become the first British company to set an SBTi-approved carbon reduction target aligned to the 1.5-degree limit.  

In this episode Alexandra shares her insights on the ESG cultural (re)evolution for fund managers and whether sustainability actually means anything for the bottom line of companies. This episode gives you further answers to: Where has the finance industry come up short in ESG integration? Is engaging rather than excluding companies the key to creating actual impact from an investor perspective? Get fresh takes on why ESG training is crucial for portfolio managers and how Alexandra has spearheaded an industry initiative to increase female leadership within finance.   About SKAGEN Funds SKAGEN Funds is a Norwegian fund management company and global investor with a long and successful history of managing equity and fixed income funds. They currently have around EUR 6.6 billion under management and have incorporated ESG into their investment process since 2002. SKAGEN’s objective is to provide the best possible risk-adjusted returns, communication and service. Alexandra Morris is Investment Director at SKAGEN and has overall responsibility for the portfolio team and the investments in SKAGEN’s funds. She is responsible for ensuring that SKAGEN’s value-based investment philosophy is adhered to. Alexandra actively promotes the finance industry as an attractive career for women through multiple channels as Leader of KIFF Women in Front-end Finance, speaking engagements and op-eds.  

In this episode, your host Joachim Nahem sits down with Hugo Munthe-Kaas, Head of Compliance at DLA Piper Norway. With a spotlight on the tsunami of new ESG regulations in the EU and beyond, Joachim and Hugo discuss the challenge of compliance across multiple jurisdictions for global companies, the growing focus on supply chain due diligence, and the EU’s role in setting a global standard. Do we need single jurisdiction laws in Europe given the potential for overarching global standards? And is ESG reporting at risk of becoming a box-ticking exercise with no real-world impact? Get unique insights into the path ahead for sustainable business. About DLA Piper DLA Piper is a global law firm that assists with corporate law legal services for national and international companies, organisations and public administration. They are committed to taking action on climate change and managing the firm’s sustainability with a strong focus on energy, carbon emissions, waste and procurement. Hugo Munthe-Kaas heads DLA Piper Norway’s compliance and risk management group. He advises both Norwegian and multinational companies on issues related to international trade, economic sanctions, ESG, anti-corruption, AML, FDI and export control. Hugo is also ranked as one of Norway's leading lawyers within compliance with both Chambers & Partners and Finansavisen’s Lawyer Survey. DLP Piper was a co-organiser of the 2023 ESG100 analysis and launch event.

In this inaugural episode of Sustainable Edge, your host Joachim Nahem is joined by Hege Marie Norheim, Executive VP at FREYR Battery. Delving into the heart of the green transition, they explore how FREYR aims to provide industrial scale clean battery solutions to reduce global emissions. Hege Marie shares the company's journey from conception to listing on the New York Stock Exchange, their commitment to a sustainable value chain, and why having a green product is not enough to make the future green. Listen in as they tackle topics ranging from ESG materiality, human rights in supply chains, and global regulations to the Inflation Reduction Act and the rise of green energy infrastructure.