Two titans of the sustainability world have confirmed their appearances as keynote speakers for this year’s Sustainable Finance Week.
Ben Goldsmith and Dr Gemma Cranston (pictured) will address the conference on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 September respectively.
Ben is the Chief Executive Officer of London-listed investment trust Menhaden Resource Efficiency Plc, which invests in businesses at the forefront of energy and resource efficiency. Previously Ben co-founded WHEB Asset Management, one of Europe’s leading sustainability-focused fund management businesses.
He chairs the UK Conservative Environment Network as well as the Conservation Collective and is also a Trustee of UK climate foundation the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
Ben co-founded the UK Environmental Funders’ Network and was a non-executive director of the U.K. Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2018 to 2022.
Gemma is the Executive Director of Pollination, a specialist climate change investment and advisory firm, accelerating the transition to a net zero, nature positive future.
She has deep experience working on nature with business, government, financiers, and researchers.
She has a strong track record of leading the development and deployment of company engagements to identify strategic and commercially relevant approaches to protect and restore nature.
Gemma is accustomed to working in an international environment and collaborating cross-functionally with key senior stakeholders in a wide-range of business sectors including fashion, food and beverage, retail, and water sectors.
Prior to joining Pollination, Gemma was the Director of Business and Nature at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) where she spearheaded their thought-leadership on what business leadership looks like in the face of the nature crisis.
Guernsey Finance Head of Sustainability Stephanie Glover said: “We are thrilled to have two incredibly well- respected figures as keynote speakers at this year’s event. Gemma and Ben are leaders in their fields, both working to develop climate and nature positive pathways, and will bring fascinating insights to the conference.
“Sustainable Finance Week offers a wonderful opportunity for anyone working in the finance sector to come and meet and learn from international experts in sustainable finance and see first-hand why Guernsey is a global leader in sustainable finance.”
Further information about Sustainable Finance Week can be found here.
