Ryerson CSR Institute Talk: Responsible Investment - Mainstreaming ESG in the Global Financial Sector

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing is a term that is often used synonymously with sustainable investing, socially responsible investing, mission-related investing, or screening.  While the concept of “Responsible Investing” was once the domain of religious communities seeking to align their investments with their values, increasingly ESG investing has moved into the mainstream financial sector, as investors recognize the importance of considering environmental, social and governance factors alongside conventional financial factors to better evaluate the risks and opportunities in their investments. In this session, we will define what is ESG and explore the reasons why ESG Investing is growing now, drawing from MSCI’s experience working with investors in Canada and abroad.  We will also explore questions such as: How are portfolio managers evaluating ESG at a fund level, and how are ESG issues assessed at a company level?

This talk is co-sponsored by the Ryerson Corporate Social Responsibility Student Association, the Ryerson Commerce and Government Association, and the Ryerson Law and Business Student Association, and is supported by the Trade Commissioner Service of Global Affairs Canada.

Jackie Daitchman (Vice President, Research, MSCI) leads the Consumer Sector and Canadian Market ESG Research at MSCI. Prior to joining MSCI, Jackie worked as a Corporate Social Responsibility consultant for Canadian junior mining companies operating in West Africa and conducted due diligence and risk analysis in the financial sector. Jackie started her career with the International Institute for Sustainable Development conducting research on voluntary sustainability initiatives in the agriculture and forestry sectors. Jackie has spent time on-the-ground working with farmer communities in Peru and Côte d'Ivoire and training local research institutions in environmental and social impact assessment. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of South Carolina and Master of Applied Environmental Science and Management degree from Ryerson University.

Max Zehrt (Vice President, ESG Client Coverage, MSCI) joined MSCI in April 2017 and has more than 10 years’ experience in the ESG investment space.  As ESG Consultant for Canada, he is responsible for educating and facilitating ESG integration for existing relationships.  Max served almost 10 years with TD Bank, where he spent the majority of his tenure working at TD Asset Management, including 4 years as their dedicated ESG Analyst.  Max then worked at an Ontario based pension plan where he managed the Responsible Investing Group responsible for ESG integration across asset classes.  Max is based in Toronto and is a CFA Charterholder.