Demystifying COP27 speakers

Helen Avery is a Director of Nature Programmes and GFI Hive within the Green Finance Institute. She leads the Institute’s work on supporting the development of a pipeline of investable nature projects and investor demand.

The Institute also hosts the Secretariat for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures and Helen oversees the convening of the TNFD’s UK National Consultation Group.

Previously, Helen was Global Sustainable Finance Editor and Global Wealth Management Editor with Euromoney Magazine.

Alice Carr is Executive Director for Public Policy at the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), which is working at pace to ensure that the global financial system can deliver on its net zero commitments.  

Alice had a two-decade career in central banking, most recently leading the Bank of England's international strategy and policy division, responsible for the Bank's contribution to the 2021 UK G7 Presidency, G20/FSB engagement, bilateral engagement and advising on market access and trade agreements. Alice supported Mark Carney on his international work during his time as FSB chair. Prior to this, she worked for several years at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on a cross-sectoral resolution framework, and in a consultancy supporting public authorities in emerging markets to strengthen financial stability frameworks as the global financial crisis began.

She started her career at the South Korean Embassy in London. She has a Masters in Economics and Finance from Universidad de Navarra and in History from the University of Cambridge.

David Craig, current TNFD Co-chair, is the former CEO and Founder of Refinitiv, one of the world’s largest providers of data, analytics and technology to financial markets, and Strategic Advisor to London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). He was previously a partner at McKinsey and Group Head of Strategy for Reuters plc.

He has been a leader in developing the data and infrastructure that markets need to mainstream sustainability and has a wealth of experience in forging partnerships between data, insight and technology providers and financial markets. David was also one of the driving forces behind the deal which transformed the LSEG into a leading data provider and orchestrated the buyout of Thomson Reuters with a private equity consortium led by Blackstone to form Refinitiv.

David is on the World Economic Forum (WEF) Banking Governors Board, and the WEF Digital Disruption and Innovation group. He co-chairs the India-UK Financial Services Partnership (IUKFP) between UK and Indian Banks, the UK HMT and the Indian Ministry of Finance.

James Davis is a Partner in Oliver Wyman’s Financial Services practice and co-leads the climate change and sustainable finance group in Europe. He has worked on a wide range of topics in this space, with a focus on Net Zero strategy and implementation, and carbon markets.

He has close to 20 years of experience of strategy consulting in wholesale banking and capital markets and is a regular contributor to published articles and research including “Climate, Crypto and Competing in this cycle” (jointly with Morgan Stanley), “Climate Change: Three Imperatives for Financial Services”, “Now For Nature” (jointly with CDP).

Claire is responsible for leading the portfolio of sustainable finance related projects across London Stock Exchange Group’s Capital Markets business which includes equities, fixed income and ETFs. Claire has played an important role in the development of model ESG disclosure and reporting guidance for London Stock Exchange listed companies and initiatives such as an ESG Disclosure Tool, the publication of a guide to green finance and Green Economy Mark for AIM and Main Market companies.

Claire’s background is in the fund management industry and in equity capital markets, working with private and listed companies. Claire is a member of an industry Taskforce on the Scaling of Voluntary Carbon Markets.

Positioned at the heart of global financial markets, LSEG works across the investment and finance chain from issuers to asset owners, and across the financial, banking, trading and advisory ecosystem. As such LSEG is uniquely positioned to support clients in achieving the transition to a sustainable and net-zero economy and was the first exchange group to commit to net zero emissions.

As Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward leads the City Corporation’s work on policy issues affecting the UK’s financial and related professional services sector as well as the Square Mile’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He strengthens ties with political representatives and business leaders across London, the UK and internationally to ensure the City remains a world leading global financial centre. His role also covers the City Corporation’s responsibilities as a local authority, overseeing the governing body’s open spaces, educational commitments and cultural institutions.

Prior to becoming Policy Chairman, he had a career as managing director of companies in the construction, aviation, infrastructure and global events management sectors. He is now a non-executive director of various companies in the commercial property, public affairs and global infrastructure sectors. He assumes the role after serving almost a decade as an elected Member and was former Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee.

Emma has had an extensive career in financial services at the forefront of the climate change, environmental and sustainable finance agenda. She was Chair of the Environment Agency and an ex-officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2016 to 2022. 

She is currently Chair of the Green Finance Institute and a UN Global Ambassador for Race to Zero and Race to Resilience.

Emma serves on several boards and advisory committees which include:

• Liontrust Asset Management
• The Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (co-Chair)
• The European Climate Foundation
• The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project 
• The Centre for Greening Finance and Investment (Chair of Advisory Council)

Emma was the UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation from 2018 until January 2021.

Nigel Howorth is a partner and head of Clifford Chance's Global Environment Group and Environment & Climatic Trading Group. He is also a member of Clifford Chance’s global Climate Change Risk team and the firms ESG Board. Nigel has extensive experience advising on climate change regulation and risk, renewable energy projects, carbon offset projects and regulated and voluntary emissions trading.

In addition, Nigel is recognised for his work on low carbon and energy efficiency measures for development projects and major infrastructure schemes. He also provides regulatory advice on all environmental and sustainability issues at international, European and national level. Nigel is on the UK VCM Forum steering committee and heads up the Governance Working Group.

Chris is the Head of Carbon Markets Development at Standard Chartered, building the bank's environmental trading and financing business and growing its profile as a global leader in sustainable finance. This involves advising clients, supporting trade bodies, originating carbon related transactions and building the trading infrastructure. He supported SCB's Group CEO, Bill Winters, in his role as Chair of the Taskforce for Scaling the Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM) and is now a board member of the newly formed Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Markets (IC-VCM). He is also a member of the Climate Impact X (CIX) Advisory Forum and serves as a member of the CPLC's Advisory Group.

Chris’ experience in the commodity markets spans over 30 years in origination, sales and trading. At Standard Chartered, he built the Bank’s energy risk management platform, originating deals with state-owned and merchant refiners, oil producers, airlines, utilities and shipping companies. Previously Chris was with Barclays where he was Global Head of Environmental Markets Sales and before that at Merrill Lynch where he tradedpower, gas and set up their carbon emissions trading desk. He was a founder member of the Carbon Markets and Investors Association (CMIA) andwas the Chairman of Power Trading Forum a division of the Futures and Options Association (FOA). He also worked as a base metals trader for a number of years before moving to energy. Chris has a strong understanding of commodity deal structuring, trade finance and managing price risk.

Kate Levick co-leads E3G’s provision, with UK CGFI, of the Secretariat to the UK’s Transition Plan Taskforce. She also leads E3G’s activities on Sustainable Finance, working with a wide range of public and private finance sector stakeholders to support ambitions finance and climate policy outcomes.

Prior to joining E3G Kate spent a decade as Global Director for Policy Engagement at CDP. Before this she worked for the UK government’s Office of Climate Change and spent several years working for BP Plc in a variety of commercial and environmental roles. Kate is a member of the Climate Champions’ Financial Sector Expert Group and chairs the Policy workstream of the UK’s Green Technical Advisory Group.

Nicholas joined Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York in London in 1982 then worked at Salomon Brothers and Lehman Brothers. He specialised in advising banks and insurance companies on mergers and acquisitions and raising capital.

He is currently taking a sabbatical as Chairman of Phoenix Group, the largest player in the UK retirement and long term savings industry. He sits on the boards of Convex Group, a specialty insurance underwriter and Miller Insurance Services, a London market insurance broker. He is a member of the Leadership Council of The CityUK, the Advisory Board of the International Business & Diplomatic Exchange, the Association of British Insurers and the Chartered Insurance Institute. His City career has spanned over 40 years.

Nicholas was elected as Alderman for the Ward of Tower in 2017 and served as Sheriff of the City of London in 2021-22. He sits on the City Corporation’s Education Board and the Epping Forest and Commons Committee and been a previous member of the Planning and Transportation and Finance Committees.

He is a Court Assistant at the Merchant Taylors’ and Baker’s Companies and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Companies of Insurers and Educators.

Jonathan is a partner at Eversheds Sutherland in London, where he leads the UK debt capital markets (DCM) practice. His practice covers a broad range of domestic and international DCM and structured finance transactions, including public and private placements of debt securities (including green and sustainable bonds), liability management exercises, hybrid capital structures, and public and private securitisations. He regularly works on complex cross-border matters and is experienced in advising all participants in such transactions, from issuers (including sovereigns and multilaterals) and originators, investment banks and financial advisory firms, to corporate trustees and investors.

Jonathan’s deal experience spans a wide range of industry sectors but he has a particular interest in the environment and sustainability. As well as advising on DCM transactions such as green bonds, he has actively supported the development of our wider sustainable finance practice and he is a member of both Eversheds Sutherland’s international ESG strategy group and ESG solutions group. Jonathan’s interest in this highly topical area is long-standing, having obtained an undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology from the University of St. Andrews prior to qualifying as a lawyer.

Catherine McGuinness is a Common Councillor at the City of London Corporation and served as Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee 2017-2022, leading on its work with the financial and related professional services sector.  

She represents the City on a number of green finance initiatives, including the Steering Committee of the UK VCM Forum, the Distinguished Advisory Group of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market, and is also a member of the Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services.

Catherine has been closely involved with the City’s cultural offer, having chaired the boards of the Barbican Arts Centre and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and with the City’s relationship with Northern Ireland.

A solicitor by training, she practised in financial services law for several years. Catherine studied PPE at St Anne’s College, Oxford.

Tom's work focusses on market reform and sharing expertise and best practice on sustainable finance through the Aviva Investors ESG Academy.

He supports Aviva Investors work regarding sustainable finance with a particular focus on market and regulatory reform, including contributing to the work of the COP26 High Level Climate Champions, the EU High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, the UK Green Market Taskforce, the UN-convened Net Zero Asset Owners’ Alliance, and the UN Global Investors for Sustainable Development.

Tom has also worked with policymakers on key reforms including the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan, the DWP reform of pension trustees’ fiduciary duty, and the IOSCO Sustainable Finance Network. Prior to joining Aviva Investors, he held positions at Allen & Overy LLP, the Department of the Treasury Solicitor, Beachcroft LLP and the University of Law. 

Tom is a member of the reference group for the UN PRI/UNEP Legal Framework for Impact project. He is a qualified solicitor with an MA (Oxon) in Jurisprudence from the Queen’s College Oxford. 

Jon is PwC’s Global Banking & Capital Markets ESG Leader and also chairs the UK Sustainability & Climate Change practice, with a focus on delivering market-leading strategy, transformation & risk management solutions to financial firms. He has a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, particularly relating to climate change, including Net Zero, climate finance and carbon markets, and natural capital risk management. Jon also leads PwC’s work globally supporting companies to implement the recommendations of the TCFD. His clients include financial institutions in both developed and developing economies, and has also advised companies in the retail, consumer goods, healthcare, energy and mining sectors.

Prior to joining PwC, Jon worked for HSBC for 21 years, with a variety of banking roles in Europe and Asia, most recently as Head of Group Sustainable Development. Jon developed and implemented HSBC’s sustainability risk strategy and their sustainable business strategy, with a focus on lending and investments related to climate change, forestry and microfinance.

Jon is a member of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). He has previously advised the World Economic Forum (WEF) on their Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics and was a member of the City of London Green Finance Initiative Steering Committee, co-chair of the Climate Markets & Investors Association (CMIA) TCFD Working Group, sat on the UK Green Investment Bank Sustainable Finance Group as an adviser and was Project Adviser to the World Economic Forum for the Critical Mass Initiative, the Energy Access Partnership and the Climate Governance Initiative.  Jon has also chaired the Equator Principles, the global benchmark for banks to manage social and environmental issues in project finance and the Climate Principles, a framework for the finance sector to respond to climate change.