Success at Sustainability Leadership Networking Event

ESG and Sustainability leaders enjoyed an evening of thought-provoking discussions and networking at ‘Sip and Sustain.’

In partnership with Delta Capita and building on the success of the inaugural event in May, it was the second Sustainability Leadership Network event that was created and moderated by Shirley Parsons Senior ESG and Sustainability Search Partner Fraser McLachlan.

This time the discussions focused on – ‘Navigating Transformation: The Future of ESG in Alternative Assets, Private Markets and Banking.’

Panellists for the event included Director and Founder of Danesmead ESG Daniella Woolf, Chief Sustainability Officer at Savills Investment Management Emily Hamilton, and Associate Director of Sustainability at IFM Investors Adelaide Morphett, who shared their expertise on the transformation of ESG within alternative assets, private markets, and banking.

Together, they explored the ongoing transformation within ESG, focusing on how businesses are moving beyond regulatory compliance to pursue measurable, impactful outcomes and, provided unique perspectives on the evolution of ESG strategies, especially as firms integrate sustainability more deeply into their core operations.

The evolving regulatory landscape and opportunities in data reporting.

During the panel discussions, Daniella shared her insights on the evolving regulatory frameworks shaping sustainability in financial services. She highlighted key trends, such as the adoption of frameworks like TCFD and TNFD, and emerging regulations like SFDR and CSRD. She also emphasized that while the focus has historically been on disclosure, the future will see more regulations requiring companies to take actionable steps toward sustainability, beyond simply reporting data.

Adelaide discussed the tension between increased data reporting requirements and the need for innovation, especially in early-stage projects. She noted that while regulatory compliance is essential, it is important for businesses to balance their efforts between meeting data requirements and driving impactful change in sustainability practices.

Moving beyond disclosures.

One of the core themes explored during the event was how businesses can move beyond focusing solely on disclosures and compliance and, instead prioritise achieving meaningful outcomes in their sustainability efforts.

Emily Hamilton from Savills Investment Management shared how her team has responded to growing sustainability demands by improving their impact measurement strategies, especially in areas such as climate resilience and social impact.

It was agreed that the regulatory landscape, although complex, is pushing businesses to think more strategically about sustainability and how businesses should move from reactive compliance measures to proactive, outcome-oriented strategies.

The future of ESG.

As the discussions came to a close, the panel looked ahead to the future of ESG. One key challenge addressed was managing polarised investor expectations. It was agreed that, despite challenges, ESG is here to stay – driven by regulatory pressure and the recognition of its long-term economic impact.

Emily concluded by urging businesses to embed ESG into their long-term strategies, noting:

“ESG is the new normal. It’s an expectation now, not a differentiator. My advice is to bake it into your business strategy for the long term because it’s here to stay.”

Following a great second ‘Sip and Sustain’ event, Fraser said:

“The energy in the room was fantastic, and it was incredible to see so many senior leaders passionately talking about how we can drive sustainability forward. The discussions highlighted how ESG is evolving from compliance to impact, with businesses needing to focus on tangible outcomes.

Thanks again to all who made the evening a success, and I look forward to continuing the conversation with you. Let’s keep pushing boundaries and transforming to a more sustainable world!”