The Co-operators began its sustainability journey in 2008 and a more recent part of that journey has been the development of its impact investing strategy. Impact investing serves to amplify the values that are upheld through The Co-operators’ sustainability strategy, while it remains as crucial as ever that the comapany delivers competitive financial returns. In the words of President & CEO, Rob Wesseling, impact investments create “free, positive externalities”, that is, they produce the financial returns but also have a measurable environmental or social impact. Today, The Co-operators has invested 13% of its assets (over CAD 1.2 billion) in externally verified impact investments, with much further-reaching goals for the future.
This webinar features Karen Higgins, CFO of The Co-operators, and Roger Beauchemin, President & CEO, Addenda Capital (the institutional asset management arm of The Co-operators Group), who talk about the leadership and governance required for meaningful commitment to impact investing; the value they have created as well as the challenges they have faced; their experiences and recommendations regarding oversight; and the future outlook and aspirations.
Presenters:
- Karen Higgins, Executive Vice-President and CFO, The Co-operators (Canada)
- Roger Beauchemin, President & CEO, Addenda Capital (Canada)
