Oxford Sustainable Finance Summit 2023: Session IX | Empowering private markets and adaptation

Empowering private markets to drive a just transition in the real economy

Private markets have a key role to play in transitioning the economy to net zero. Much of the focus for sustainable finance so far has been on mobilising investors and companies in listed asset classes, but private debt and equity investors are uniquely placed to drive change at portfolio companies, especially in the SME space. They will also be critical to supporting the retirement of polluting assets and the development of new technologies.

This session will look at how regulation and broader market practice should evolve to encourage investors to support a socially-responsible transition to net zero through their private markets portfolios. It will also explore the trend for large listed companies and investors to sell their most challenging assets into the private markets where environmental scrutiny is lower.

• Chair: Toby Mitchenall, Senior Editor, ESG and Sustainability, PEI - Alternative Insights
Speakers:
• Peter Dunbar, Head of Private Equity, PRI
• Desiree Fixler, Chief Content Officer, Attain
• Dr Ben Meng, Executive Vice President and Chairman of Asia Pacific, Executive Sponsor of Sustainability, Franklin Templeton
• Dr Alex Money, Programme Director, University of Oxford