Speakers announced for FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Conference

Some of the world’s biggest names in global finance and sustainability have been announced as speakers at the Sustainable Finance Conference, organised by The Financial Times (FT) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), this June.

The conference, now in its seventh year, focuses on the urgent need to tackle global sustainability challenges. It precedes the evening awards ceremony – the shortlist for which will be announced in the coming weeks.

The list of speakers includes clean energy developers and sustainable finance moguls, as well as individuals with experience in energy efficiency, climate change and green investment.

David Harris, a member of the FTSE Group’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) service unit, is one such name. The FTSE Group’s ESG service unit aims to support the necessary shift towards a low-carbon economy, and speaking to Blue & Green Tomorrow about it in 2012, Harris’ colleague Kevin Bourne said, “The transition to the low-carbon economy is a very real and material industrial change.”

Meanwhile, James Cameron, non-executive chairman of Climate Change Capital (CCC) and chairman of the Overseas Development Institute, will also be leading a talk at the conference. Cameron is experienced in sustainability, green investing and clean energy, and spoke at last year’s event.

Harris and Cameron join the likes of IFC chief executive Jin-Yong Cai and former FT journalist John Willman as speakers – the full list of which can be found below.

James Cameron, Non-Executive Chairman, Climate Change CapitalJin-Yong Cai, Executive Vice President and CEO, IFC

Nicko Debenham, Director – Head of Cocoa, Armajaro Trading Ltd

Phillipe Desfossés, CEO, Etablissement de retraite additionnelle de la fonction publique (ERAFP)

Michael Eckhart, Managing Director, Global Head of Environmental Finance, Citigroup,Inc.

Jack Ehnes, Chief Executive Officer, CalSTRS

Catherine Gill, Vice-President, Investor Relations, Root Capital

David Harris, Head, Responsible Investment, FTSE Group

Chris Locke, Managing Director, GSMA Development Fund

Joost Oorthuizen, CEO, IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative

Usha Rao-Monari, Director, Sustainable Business Advisory, IFC

Nick Rouse, Managing Director, Frontier Markets Fund Managers

Alex van der Velden, Partner and CIO, Ownership Capital

John Willman, Editorial Consultant and Former UK Business Editor and Associate Editor, Financial Times

To book your place at the event or to view the full conference agenda, visit the FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Conference & Awards website.

Blue & Green Tomorrow readers get 20% discount on tickets, using the code: FTBGT.

Further reading:

Nominations open for FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards 2013

FTSE’s ESG unit can “shed light” on responsible investment

Shortlist unveiled for prestigious renewables awards

Gaeia celebrates 20 years at the forefront of ethical investment advice

The Guide to Sustainable Investment 2013