Investing in Nature: What’s the value of protecting biodiversity?

Investing in Nature: What’s the value of protecting biodiversity?

2025-02-26T18:30:00+00:00

2025-02-26T22:00:00+00:00

https://alumni.edhec.edu//medias/image/thumbnail_38841393967ad181855485.png

"Make an Impact for Good" Sustainability ProgrammeInvesting in Nature: What's the value of protecting biodiversity?Wednesday 26th February - 6.30pm UK time | Institut Français, London  At the recent UN Biodiversity COP 16 in Colombia, discussions on investing in nature showed some progress but highlighted the continued lack of a clear strategy for resource mobilisation. Without decisive action, achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework's 2030 goals will become increasingly difficult.In light of this, it is now essential that biodiversity investments take priority for governments and businesses that impact or depend on natural resources.EDHEC Alumni UK and France Alumni are delighted to invite you to a thought-provoking discussion that will prove the business case for investing in nature.WHY ATTEND?Gain insights from a diverse group of experts on how to effectively direct capital towards conservation and regeneration projectsBe inspired by real-world case studies of successful biodiversity investmentsConnect with like-minded professionals over a networking cocktailEVENT SCHEDULE6.30pm: Registrations  7pm: Opening remarks 7.10pm:  Panel discussion  8.10pm: Q&A 8.30pm: Networking & Cocktails in the Institut Français Art Deco LibraryOUR EXPERT PANELLISTS Simon ConnellDirector, Baringa PartnersSimon has spent the past two decades supporting financial institutions as they navigate an ever-changing set of sustainability challenges. In his role as Chair of the University of Cambridge Banking Environment Initiative, he helped shape the university’s pioneering work on nature-related financial risk, and remains a nature finance advisor and Senior Associate at the University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Simon advises a range of financial institutions on nature and biodiversity and has led projects spanning ambition and strategy-setting through to risk quantification. He supports the CFA Institute in developing their nature and biodiversity training curriculum, and has been involved in the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures since inception, originally as an IWG member. Simon lives in London with his wife, three children and a small menagerie of animals, and enjoys getting out into nature on his bicycle.Jeremy LeggetCEO, Highlands RewildingJeremy is a social entrepreneur, writer and climate campaigner. Before embarking on the Bunloit project in March 2020, he founded Solarcentury (1998-2020), one of the world’s most respected solar energy companies, winner of a Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation. He also founded SolarAid (2006-2020), an international charity set up with a levy on annual Solarcentury profits, winner of a BITC Unilever Global Development Award. An Entrepreneur of the Year at the New Energy Awards, he was the first Hillary Laureate for International Leadership in Climate Change, has won a Gothenburg Prize, and was the first non-Dutch winner of a Royal Dutch Honorary Sustainability Award. After taking a D.Phil in Earth Science at the University of Oxford, he taught at the Imperial College of Science and Technology (1978-1989). He was scientific director of the climate campaign at Greenpeace (1990-1996), and has been an occasional lecturer on courses in business and environment at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and St Gallen (Switzerland). He has written four books about the climate crisis, as he has experienced it on the front lines for three decades.Xinyu PeiEngager, Federated Hermes Xinyu primarily engages with companies in the Asia and global emerging markets, focusing on mining & materials, oil & gas, industrials, and chemicals sectors. Prior to joining the EOS team at Federated Hermes Limited, Xinyu worked as a climate science analyst at a clean-tech start-up providing Scope 3 data collection from transportation, where she dived into the voluntary carbon offsetting market and greenhouse gas emissions protocol-aligned carbon accounting. Xinyu has a Master’s degree in Economics and Policy of Energy and Environment from University College London and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the Ohio State University. She has research experience in circular economy in the built environment sector.Bethany Ridley Moran Manager, Nature, Lloyds Banking Group Bethany Ridley-Moran’s career in nature finance spans both public and private sectors. Having joined Lloyds Banking Group as Nature Manager in October 2023, Bethany works across the business in assessing and managing nature-related risks and opportunities; builds capability on nature within the organisation; and leads work on agricultural forest risk commodities. This follows five years working as an environmental policy advisor in UK Government. Before joining Lloyds Banking Group, Bethany managed the ‘Private Finance for Nature’ team at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, working across UK Government to embed nature into financial policy and regulation. Bethany was the programme manager for the UK’s support to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), alongside leading international programmes aimed at supporting governments, central banks, businesses and financial institutions to integrate the value of nature into their decision making. James PayneDirector, Purpose of Business, Forum for the FutureJames is a leading regenerative business practitioner, with a particular interest in how business can be a force for both social justice and regeneration. As lead author of ‘A Compass for Just and Regenerative Business' he has been at the forefront of highlighting more effective ways for business leaders to think and act given the ever greater volatility and disruption in their operating contexts. In his current role at sustainability non-profit, Forum for the Future, he leads their work engaging executive teams on the visionary leadership called for from them this decade, at this critical inflection point for our civilization. He has led sustainability strategy development for businesses as diverse as Diageo, Target and Eicher Motors. His career spans over two decades in industry, consultancy and NGO roles. QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT This event will also serve as the official launch of our annual bursary programme, dedicated to supporting EDHEC master’s students from less privileged backgrounds. The scholarship is open to students enrolled in one of the following three programmes focused on sustainability:  ⁠EDHEC MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable FinanceEDHEC MSc in Global & Sustainable Business⁠Sustainable Impact Project (SIP) programme (BBA)Last year, thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised approximately £7,000, which helped support two students in their academic journeys. This year, we’re targeting £10,000, which would enable us to support a third student and expand the reach of the programme.  In 2023, the bursary supported: Thomas Smith - Thomas joined EDHEC in 2021 as a CROUS scholarship recipient and is currently in the final year of his studies. His professional project focuses on social impact, with an interest in community spaces and agroecology. He plans to either create a nourishing community space in London or work with UN Habitat.  Chiadon Grace Seka - Currently in the second year of her Master's, Chiadon is pursuing a dual degree in partnership with Mines ParisTech. She aspires to a career in Investment Banking or Private Equity. In parallel, she is committed to advancing women in finance, serving as secretary for the Women in Finance association.This initiative is led by the EDHEC UK Foundation and forms a key part of the Alumni UK Board's Make an Impact for Good work stream. Because making an impact never stops, we encourage you to connect with our board members to learn more about the scholarship and how you can contribute.MAKE AN IMPACT FOR GOOD Launched by passionate members of the EDHEC Alumni UK Board in 2023, "Make an Impact for Good" is an ambitious programme of three main activities aimed at raising awareness on the sustainability challenges, connecting generations to find solutions and ultimately making an impact for good on society.The three main activities are as follows:A series of expert panel discussions to highlight the challenges of sustainability. A mentoring programme between Alumni in the UK facing a sustainability-related problem and EDHEC students from the MSc in Global & Sustainable Business and MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable FinanceA bursary scheme to support Bachelor or Master students who meet bursary criteria and work on sustainability-focused projects. If you are interested in speaking at one of our events or becoming a mentor, please contact the UK team of "Make an Impact for Good" at: ukboard@alumni.edhec.edu. We would be delighted to collaborate with you!EVENT PARTNERS The team of EDHEC Alumni UK's "Make an Impact for Good" sustainability programme is very proud to have been one of two winners of the 2024 hackathon launched by the French Embassy in the UK, and consequently benefit from their support to extend their series of events to the entire France Alumni network in the UK.The France Alumni network is a network of former students from the French system of higher education. It allows Alumni from a wide range of schools stay in touch with their classmates, France, and gives professional opportunities.KlimateNet is the "LinkedIn" for climate professionals and the "Trustpilot" for nature based climate projects. KlimateNet match make and connect professionals directly with project founders and funders on the KlimateNet App that is available on the Google and Apple stores in 63 countries. KlimateNet Project+ support scheme helps projects save costs and time to scale their positive environmental and social impact. KlimateNet Platform+ subscription services contribute to de-risk the investments and efforts of organisations that invest or work with nature bases solutions projects.To go furtherTo discover all the events related to environmental transition, click here: Impact for the Planet. 

https://alumni.edhec.edu/fr/event/investing-in-nature-what-s-the-value-of-protecting-biodiversity/2025/02/26/21978