The Investment Case for Sustainable Investing: Why you should consider ESG risk factors and sustainable investing trends in your plans

Panelists:

Jeff Vilker, Director, Defined Contribution
IMPAX Asset Management

Leola Ross
Deputy CIO and Head of ESG
Seattle City Employees' Retirement System (SCERS)

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM 

Moss Adams
805 SW Broadway, Suite 1400
Portland, OR 97205 

Presentation Summary

Please join WP&BC Portland Chapter as we host an engaging panel discussion of experts discussing the case for sustainable investing and address the challenges that come from billions of us on the planet and the high-level demands of demand and consumption. We will look at the challenges and opportunities that may present themselves as we transition from an industrial economy that is depletive and generates a lot of waste to a sustainable economy one that is more circular. 

Our panel will present the Investment Case for Sustainable Investing:

• Economic case for clean energy is compelling.
  
• Volatility in global markets may create opportunities for active investors.
  

Attendees will learn: How to invest in the transition to a more sustainable economy:

• As the world transitions from the current economy to the Next Economy, companies will find both opportunities and risks associated with the transition. Those opportunities and risks create critical information for investors.
  
• Recognize that plan sponsor interest is growing as is confusion with terminology and acronyms. Work with an asset manager that is experienced and dedicated to the space.
  
• Start the conversation with your clients to determine what is material to them – and help show them the path forward.
  
• Debunk preconceived views such as high expense ratios & performance concessions and enforcing strong alignment with plan participant values & higher plan participant engagement.
  

Panelists:

Jeff Vilker, Director of Defined Contribution, IMPAX Asset Management

Jeff is responsible for building strategic relationships with key defined contribution (DC) market participants. He focuses on providing both solutions to DC consultants/advisors, platforms, plan sponsors and participants as well as thought leadership on ESG and sustainable investing. 

Before joining Impax in 2022, Jeff served as the Director of Institutional Sales and Head of Retirement for Harris Associates’ Oakmark Funds for more than nine years. Prior to that, he worked in consumer packaging (International Paper), information technology (Cisco Systems) and aerospace (Gulfstream). 

Leola Ross

Deputy CIO and Head of ESG

Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS)

Leola Ross is Deputy CIO and Head of ESG for SCERS. Leola’s responsibilities include managing the public equity asset class and assisting with the private equity and infrastructure asset classes and risk management of the overall portfolio. As well, Leola heads up SCERS’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) program, including the positive action strategy that is currently focused on shareholder advocacy, sustainability investments and integrating climate risk into the investment process.

Prior to joining SCERS, Leola was with Russell Investments for 23 years directing and overseeing quantitative and qualitative research projects across multiple regions, developing their responsible investing program and expanding the knowledge and use of alternative investments. During this time, Leola authored more than 100 research commentaries, reports and notes for internal and external audiences on the topics she researched.  

Before joining Russell Investments, Leola was an assistant professor at Seattle University and East Carolina University, where she taught and performed research in economics. During her academic years, Leola presented at academic conferences and published articles in several academic journals. Leola began her career overseeing operations at a commodities trading company.

In 2007 and 2011, Leola led groups of women to Kenya to support micro-enterprise and education projects in cooperation with Women’s Enterprises International, where she was a Board member from 2008 through 2014. Since 2011, Leola has been a member of the Academic Advisory Board for the Economics Department at Seattle University.