How clients can invest for impact and financial return

The world is facing a rising tide of societal challenges, from the potential chaos associated with the breakdown of our climate, to unsustainable levels of waste and pollution, to vast and growing social inequality. Governments around the world lack the resources needed to deal with these challenges on their own; for example, to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it has been estimated that some US$6 trillion a year will need to be spent, but government alone cannot foot this bill, with an annual funding gap assessed to be in the region of some US$2.5 trillion. Because of this, investment capital is vital, and impact investors are playing an increasingly pivotal role in directing this capital where it is most needed. This session will provide delegates an insight into how investors can allocate capital to make a difference, as well as generate a financial return. Learning objectives • Describe the difference between ESG and Impact Investing • Dispel common myths associated with responsible investing • List the principles of Impact Investing and how they can applied to listed equities • Describe how to construct a diversified, multi-themed impact portfolio Speaker bio Ben Constable Maxwell is leading M&G’s strategy on impact investing as well as covering sustainability issues such as climate change and circular economy. He has been central to the development of ESG integration within M&G’s investment processes and has supported the development of ESG solutions for clients across asset classes. Ben plays an active industry role as a member of various sustainable and impact investment initiatives, interacting with companies, policymakers, NGOs and other investors. He is a Trustee at Firefly International youth organisation, which provides educational and mental health support for young people in conflict-affected areas in the Balkans and Middle East.