Events

The first meeting of 2024 of the ACWG included a review and discussion of the groups Terms of Reference including the structure of the working group. The working groups Co-Chair Rachel Tinkler was appointed during this meeting. Please see the Post-meeting papers below for further details.

Join the Responsible Investment Association Australasia for a free webinar as we unpack the findings of Australia's most comprehensive survey of consumer attitudes towards responsible investment.

Let’s start the year by taking a deep dive into understanding more about biodiversity credit markets. Hear from David Van Der Zouwe, Director Partnerships and Investment at the Department of Conservation in New Zealand and Cat Rowe, Sustainability Manager at Silver Fern Farms. Together we will explore the work in Aotearoa New Zealand in relation to the development of the biodiversity credit markets, the role of government and the consultation process currently being undertaken. This will then take us into a discussion on the business case for investing in nature including what is driving interest as well as rate of returns. Importantly, when considering this, it is also an opportunity to understand what data and metrics can be used in this process, partnerships and how this can inform indicators demonstrating outcomes. This special presentation will be followed by our Nature Working Group meeting, which will include the latest industry updates from Australia and New Zealand as well as a discussion of the Nature Working Group plan for 2024.

Building on the last working group meeting of 2023, working group members had the opportunity to hear from speakers to understand more about regulatory changes in relation to labour rights and the workplace. In December 2022, a new positive duty to eradicate instances of sex discrimination and harassment within the workplace was introduced through the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 (Cth) (the Act), an amendment to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984. What steps can investors take to respond to these changes? The group was lucky enough to hear from the Australian Human Rights Commission, Samantha Ramsay (Senior Lawyer, Positive Duty, Compliance & Enforcement Team) and Dr Meredith Nash (Director – Sexual Harassment & Gendered Violence and is KPMG’s national lead for Respect@Work) about these changes. Please note this session was not recorded as mentioned in pre-event communications.

Following the official Australasian launch of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) recommendations, First Nations Peoples’ Rights Working Group will take a deep dive into the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities component of TNFD. Join us for a special presentation and discussion with the Stan Lui (Owner/Director of Five Cubed Environmental Indigenous Consultants) and Stefani Eagle (Consulting Director of ERM) to explore more about connecting to nature followed by our working group meeting.

The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) invites members to join our annual ESG Trends to Watch webinar.

Business of the meeting: To accept the minutes of the 2022 AGM; To receive, consider and adopt the financial report of the Association to the year ending 30 June 2023;

The Responsible Investment Super Study series is the most comprehensive research conducted on the responsible investment and ESG practices of Australia’s superannuation sector. Published every two years, the study aims to:

Brendan Sydes, National Biodiversity Policy Advisor at the Australian Conservation Foundation will present on the EPBC reforms and Michael Cornish, Policy Lead at the Australian Land Conservation Alliance will be providing an update on the Nature Repair Market and other environmental issues.