Sustainable Finance: A Focus on ESG and Trustees

Stephen Nolan is the Managing Director of the UN-convened Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) global network, hosted by the UNDP. Consisting of 39 members covering Europe, the Gulf, Africa, Asia and the Americas, the networks objective is to exchange experience and take common action on shared priorities to accelerate the rapid global growth of green and sustainable finance across the world’s financial centres, supported by strengthened international connectivity, and a framework for common approaches. FC4S is also the Secretariat to the APEC Sustainable Finance Development Network (SFDN), which aims to advance the sustainable finance agenda across the 21 APEC economies. Stephen is also the Head of Secretariat for the UN-convened Sustainable Insurance Forum (SIF), which is a network of 34 Insurance Supervisors, working together to advance the climate action agenda.

Mustafa Hussain is MD of the Accuro Group office in London and co-chairs the group strategy. He joined Accuro in 2019 from Taylor Wessing LLP, where he was a corporate commercial partner. Mustafa has advised private wealth clients for over 21 years and is particularly known for his insight and specialist knowledge of the Middle East. Mustafa is the project leader for Accuro Group’s B Corp Certification initiative and has been instrumental in strategizing industry thought leadership and policy on purpose-led trustee business. Mustafa is a devoted father as well as a landscape and abstract photographer.

Ravi Francis is an experienced private client lawyer who advises international clients including professional fiduciaries, family offices, wealthy families, entrepreneurs and their advisers. He acts for clients all around the world but has a particular focus on clients with a connection to the Channel Islands. Ravi advises on a broad range of subjects which tend to centre around UK tax law, asset protection and succession planning, and the law governing trusts and other wealth-holding structures.

Elizabeth joined Bedell Cristin in 2020 from Scotland, where she specialised in succession and tax planning for HNWIs and owner managed business owners through the use of trusts and bespoke corporate structuring, including family investment companies. Now in Jersey, Elizabeth's clients include trustees and HNWIs located across the world. Her ability to advise in respect of structures at both trust and underlying corporate level, together with her in-depth knowledge of the complex UK trust taxation regime make her a "go to" advisor for clients, trustees and intermediaries alike. Elizabeth is a member of Jersey #BuildBackBetter, an initiative designed to upskill and inspire the next generation sustainable financial services leaders. She is one of only 30 participants following a selective process from across Jersey's financial services industry.

Matt advises a wide range of UK and international clients, from individuals, families, trustees, beneficiaries and family offices on a wide range of private client issues, including UK tax, estate and succession planning. Matt acts for high-net-worth individuals and families including business owners, professional executives and entrepreneurs. Matt advises on the establishment and use of trusts and other wealth holding structures, and also on the succession of family trusts and businesses and governance issues. He also advises on Wills and wider estate and succession planning issues. Matt is Co-Chair of the firm's Social Mobility Network and responsible for coordinating initiatives to give career opportunities to prospective lawyers from less well represented social and ethnic backgrounds. Matt is a full-time member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Co-Chair of STEP’s Business Families Special Interest Group Steering Committee.

Dr. Christopher Kaminker is Head of Sustainable Investment, Research, Strategy & Stewardship at Lombard Odier. He leads a team of over 20 professionals responsible for cross-asset sustainable investment research, strategy, analysis, data science and product development. He also oversees Lombard Odier’s active ownership and stewardship efforts. An experienced practitioner and author of several dozen peer-reviewed publications on sustainable finance and investment, he has held responsibilities for producing and overseeing cross-asset research and strategy on the topic and advising investors, corporates and sovereigns on investment opportunities and risk management. His experience has also focused on originating and structuring sustainability financing solutions for clients across the capital spectrum. Prior to Lombard Odier, he worked at SEB, a Nordic financial banking group, where he was head of sustainable finance research and a senior advisor in capital markets.

Fiona is an English Solicitor holding an LL.M in Legal Practice and full STEP membership since 2013. She works within the Technical Trust Team within Private Client Fiduciary Services where she holds a key role in the management of fiduciary risk and professional standards within the private client team at RBC Wealth Management. Working for a large fiduciary business within a global park provides Fiona with extensive experience in all aspects of administering complex UHNW structures. Fiona is Chair of STEP Jersey, Chair of the STEP Jersey Technical Sub Committee and sits on the STEP membership panel.

Henry advises professional trustees, intermediaries, family offices and high-net worth families in the Channel Islands and internationally on all aspects of Jersey trusts, foundations and estate planning and related corporate law issues. Prior to joining Ogier in August 2019, Henry worked for over 8 years in the international private client group of another major law firm in Jersey. A graduate from the University of Edinburgh Henry has also worked in a top tier private client team in London.

Harry Briggs is a Director of ESG Reporting at KPMG and has recently completed a secondment with Prince Charles’s Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) organisation to lead their ESG reporting project. Harry’s work deep dived into issues such as governance, materiality, data collection and frameworks in sustainability reporting. Working with A4S’s extensive networks of blue chip CFOs, asset owners and accounting bodies. Harry was the only sustainability focused accountant named in “Accountancy Age’s” top 35 under 35 list in 2021 and is regular podcaster and writer on ESG topics. His client base is focused in the financial services sector and includes several London listed companies.

Sarah has over 30 years' experience in the Jersey finance industry, where she has specialised in retail, private and investment banking; as well as trustee and corporate services for ultra-high net worth clients. She is a recognised professional in the Jersey finance industry through her roles with the Jersey Association of Trust Companies, for which she has served as President since May 2021. She enjoys working closely with her clients and intermediaries as part of their wealth management, whether that is a private trust company, property unit trust, family investment company or a managed trust company. She is in the second term as Chair of the Jersey Charity Tribunal (a role held since February 2018) and in 2019, was voted as one of Citywealth's top 100 international power women. Previously, she was also an active committee member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers Jersey branch.

Suzanne is a private wealth, trust and UK tax lawyer based in Stephenson Harwood’s Singapore office. She has extensive experience in complex cross-jurisdictional trust and estate planning. Suzanne has practiced in Singapore since 2013 working for an international law firm and subsequently, a leading private bank advising both its trust company and wealth planners. She has advised many high-profile families and entrepreneurs throughout Southeast Asia. Suzanne enjoys helping families implement practical and effective succession planning structures harnessing the use of family offices and trust structures. Suzanne is qualified in England & Wales and practiced law in London, training and qualifying at a magic circle law firm before relocating to Singapore.

Tze-wei is an associate in the private wealth department with a focus on philanthropy and ESG considerations, bringing with her near a decade of experience in the NGO sector. She advises clients across the impact spectrum: from charities and philanthropists, to purpose-driven companies and ESG & impact investors. She regularly speaks and writes about ESG and corporate governance developments, working in collaboration with the firm's funds and corporate practice. She has been involved in the setting up of some of Hong Kong’s earliest social finance platforms and vehicles, and is actively involved in B Corp developments in Hong Kong, including helping draft the legal requirement for B Corps in Hong Kong. She was a founding team member of the Sustainable Finance Initiative in Hong Kong.

Sophie joined Rathbone Greenbank in January 2020 as a senior ethical, sustainable and impact researcher. She is responsible for managing engagement activities, assessing the social and environmental performance of companies and conducting ESG and impact reporting for clients. She started her career at Barclays Bank in 2013 and most recently spent three years at KKS Advisors, a strategy consultancy in London where she led a team specialising in sustainable and impact investment. She holds an MSc from Imperial College London in Environmental Technology and a BSc in Geographical Sciences from the University of Bristol.

David is the Chief Executive of Affinity Private Wealth. He blends his extensive knowledge of both investments and structuring to provide experience and oversight to the trust team. He is a Director of Affinity Trust Limited, with specific responsibilities for elements of strategy, distribution and finance. A graduate in Financial Services from Manchester University, David formerly spent 14 years with RBS in London and Jersey specialising in credit, risk management and relationship roles and 12 years at a private bank where he held the role of Head of Private Banking and Business Development. David holds BSc Hons (ACIB) from the Institute of Financial Services, Certificate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and is a Chartered Wealth Planner and Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments.

Dylan Samuel is a Senior Relationship Manager for Lombard Odier in London where he advises a client base of wealthy individuals and families. Most of Dylan’s clients are entrepreneurs or financial executives who require advice highly tailored to their specific circumstances. Dylan joined Lombard Odier in December 2016 as an Executive Vice President. Prior to Lombard Odier, Dylan spent 14 years at JPMorgan Private Bank. Dylan worked in both the Geneva and London offices for JPMorgan and in his last role headed a team of five relationship managers focusing on UK financial professionals and family offices. Dylan holds a Masters in Mechanical Engineering (MEng) from the University of Bath. He also holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC). Dylan is a Chartered Fellow of the Securities and Investment Institute (CISI). Outside the office, Dylan enjoys spending time with his young family and sports.