
ESG Integration Forum – Europe
Clifford Chance offices, London

About the event

WHEN

WHERE
Clifford Chance offices, London
HOW ESG PRIORITIES ARE CHANGING
As the momentum behind ESG continued to grow, so too did the challenge of keeping up to date with growing regulatory and market demands.
This year, in the context of global market volatility and continued supply chain disruption, companies in Europe needed to respond to these demands in a way that also met the short and medium term financial needs of their business.
The ESG Integration Forum – Europe 2024 was designed to provide you with the tools and knowledge to ensure you were ready to meet investors’ expectations and make ESG central to your business strategy.
Speakers: 2024
Insights from experts across the ESG ecosystem
Agenda: 2024
Timings on the agenda are shown in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
08:00am
Registration, breakfast and morning networking
08:50am
Welcome to the ESG Integration Forum – Europe
Steven Wade, head of content, IR Magazine & Corporate Secretary Jeroen Ouwehand, partner, Clifford Chance
09:00am
How to implement CSRD
The deadline for implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive is approaching, and preparing for implementation is a top priority for companies. Achieve compliance, increase investor confidence, attract investment and manage risks more effectively by learning how to successfully implement CSRD. This session will teach you about the new reporting requirements and provide examples of how early adopters have approached implementation.
- Explore what more is required in the areas of human rights, climate change mitigation, and natural capital ⢠Learn how to align CSRD with existing reporting frameworks and reduce fragmentation and data duplication
- Understand how to ensure your data is accurate and ready for independent assurance
- Hear guidance from early adopters on effective steps to implement CSRD reporting
Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Magazine and Governance Intelligence
09:45am
The future of ESG ratings: What it means for you
The European Union, the UK government, the International Organization of Securities Commissions and the International Capital Markets Association are pushing for enhanced oversight of ESG ratings agencies via voluntary codes of conduct and regulation. ESG ratings agencies are relied upon as a valuable source of information to inform investment and ownership activities. In this discussion you will hear how this will impact investment decision-making and learn about how to adapt your approach to engaging and disclosing sustainability information.
- Learn about the risks and opportunities resulting from ESG rating agency regulation
- Understand how the legislation will impact the dissemination and quality of ESG information
- Hear how these structural changes will impact the way you engage with ESG ratings agencies and their users Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Magazine and Governance Intelligence
10:30am
Networking break and morning refreshments
11:00am
Sustainability in a changing system – how to implement change in your company
As regulation, consumer behaviour, investor needs, new technologies and the macro-economic environment impact attitudes and expectations of companies and their ESG efforts, it is essential to orientate your business plan to set yourself up for the future. This session explores How to create, then embed your ESG strategy in a new era of ESG â particularly looking at going beyond compliance to implement change that benefits shareholders and stakeholders in the long-term.
- Strategic input: Learn how to structure meaningful and efficient approaches to sustainability
- Understand how to use sustainability reporting to identify opportunities for long-term growth
- Learn how to collaborate with employees across the business to achieve your business and sustainability goals
Moderator: Laurie Havelock, editor-at-large, IR Magazine and Governance Intelligence Martha McPherson, sustainability director, Ever Sustainable
11:45am
Roundtables: Exchange ideas with your peers
How the roundtables work:
- Join a table and write your biggest challenge, or a question you have about ESG on the paper in front of you
- Discuss your question or challenge with others on your table and get advice on how to address your challenges
- Share experiences, concerns and other learnings from your peersâ questions
12:30pm
Lunch
13:30pm
AI & Automation in ESG – beyond reporting fatigue
GenAI and automation will transform all aspects of business through its ability to save time in data collection & analysis, information processing, templating documents and idea generation. Although not without its risks, you need to understand how to harness these rapidly evolving technologies to enhance your sustainability efforts. This session will share real life case studies featuring companies that are currently using technology to reduce reporting fatigue and add value in other areas of ESG.
- Understand how companies are using AI and automation to reduce reporting and survey fatigue
- Learn about the immediately available tools companies are using in their ESG activities and hear about future developments allowing you to create a multi-year plan to integrate AI into your sustainability practices
- Hear how to use AI to enhance your materiality analysis and identify unseen risks and opportunities
Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Magazine and Governance Intelligence
14:15pm
Afternoon networking break
14:45pm
Developments in ESG activism and preparedness
Activist shareholders are increasingly focusing on ESG issues, however the topic divides opinion. The majority of activists demanding more ambitious climate targets, progress on DE&I and action on human rights. On the other hand, an increasing minority of while some investors perceive a focus on ESG to be a distraction, or even destructive to value.
In the face of changing tactics and attitudes around ESG activism, this session will provide insight into the future trends for ESG activism and how you need to adapt to ensure you can deter activists and successfully navigate a campaign should it arise
- Debate the impact of âAnti-Wokeâ activism ⢠Discover how to identify potential activist shareholders in your register and strengthen your position
- Learn how ESG activism has changed in recent years
- Hear how to adapt your action plan to better defend your position against activists
Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Magazine and Governance Intelligence Roger Leese, partner, Clifford Chance
15:30pm
Know your investors: How to target ESG funds & respond to shareholder expectations
Learn how investors analyze your performance against ESG factors. In our final session, we explore ways to understand the ESG issues that are a top priority for your shareholders and how to use ESG to target investors. You will learn which metrics impact investor decision making, how to inform them about your ESG story, and how to increase your chances of being included in sustainability indexes.
- Explore how to use shareholder ID and analysis to further your understanding of your shareholdersâ ESG priorities
- Learn about the metrics and disclosures are most helpful to active long-term investors ⢠Hear top tips on how to increase your chances of index inclusion
- Take it to the next level: Discover how to run a successful ESG roadshow
Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Magazine and Governance Intelligence
16:15pm
Conference summary
Steve Wade, head of content, IR Magazine and Governance Intelligence
16:30pm
Networking drinks reception
Who attends our events
Our attendees are leading governance, IR and sustainability practitioners with an established track record and strategic governance or IR role within their company.
Below is a sample of some of our past attendees:
JOB TITLE | COMPANY |
---|---|
Assistant general counsel | Mercer |
Associate general counsel | AvePoint |
CEO, founder | Competent Boards |
CFO | Enteq Technologies |
Chief ESG officer | Non-Standard Finance |
Climate change specialist | Robeco |
Company secretarial assistant | Henry Boot |
Corporate analyst | Kooth |
Director business compliance | Serco Group |
Director, IR | Babcock International |
ESG engagement manager | Kingfisher |
ESG governance | HSBC Holdings |
Group head, sustainability | Entain |
Group M&A legal counsel | ArcelorMittal |
Head of capital markets | AEDAS Homes |
JOB TITLE | COMPANY |
---|---|
Head of ESG transformation | Upfield |
Head of IR | Barry Callebaut |
Head of IR | Plus500 |
Head of IR | Rubis |
Head of legal, company secretary | Ten Lifestyle Group |
IR | Seplat energy |
IR manager | Atenor |
IR, ESG manager | Rolls-Royce |
Managing director, legal group | Accenture |
NED, company secretary | Sirius Petroleum |
Senior IR, ESG manager | BAT |
Stakeholder dialogue specialist | CEZ Group |
Sustainability finance manager | Burberry |
Sustainability officer | Arion Bank |
VP, general counsel EU and Asia | ICL Group |
Thinking of becoming an event partner?
Our events provide a unique opportunity to get in front of some of the most influential people in the IR community. As a partner, you will gain an extensive amount of exposure through a wide range of print and digital marketing materials, both pre and post event, as well as on the day itself. Additionally, you can use the event to align yourself with IR excellence and network with key decision makers from across the region – the ones pushing the profession forward through innovation.

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Clifford Chance is one of the world’s pre-eminent law firms with significant depth and range of resources across five continents. We provide our clients with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise. We advise clients the world over on sustainable business transition and transformation, offering global…
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