DEVELOPING OUR ESG APPROACH
We believe embedding ESG considerations and processes can be beneficial in many ways: enhancing the risk-adjusted returns for Qualitas’ shareholders and investors in our funds, promoting a workplace that is inclusive and values diversity, contributing to positive change for the environment and above all, endeavoring to deliver on the broad expectations from all stakeholder groups that ESG can be addressed long term.
ESG Advisory Group
Ian Woods
Independent Member
Sydney | ESG Advisory Group
Dr Woods has over 20 years’ experience in responsible investing industry. This includes 19 years leading AMP Capital’s ESG Research team, managing some of Australia’s largest ethical and responsible funds and engaging with companies on ESG issues. Ian currently provides Responsible Investment consulting advice to a range of organisation from the PRI, IIGCC, IGCC to a range of equity and infrastructure managers.
Ian was co-founder and Deputy Chair of the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) in 2006 and continues to be a major contributor to Policy and Sub-committee. Ian was on the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI) Coordinating Working Group and is currently on the ASFI Taxonomy Technical Advisory Group. Ian was also instrumental in the development of the original Responsible Investment Association Australasia’s (RIAA) product certification scheme.
Prior joining the finance sector, Dr Woods was an environmental consultant in Australia and the Europe for 11 years. Ian has a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering, a Masters in Environmental Law and Executive MBA from the AGSM. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Fiona Reynolds
Chair
Sydney | ESG Advisory Group
Fiona has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services, pension/superannuation, and sustainability sector, where she was most recently the CEO of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) for over nine years. Fiona joined the PRI from the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), where she spent seven years as CEO.
She was named one of the 20 most influential people in sustainability globally by Barron’s magazine 2019 and has twice been named one of Australia’s one hundred women of influence by the Australian Financial Review 2012 and 2018.
Fiona is focused on how to advance sustainability issues across the private sector in both business and investment, with a passion for working with Australian companies trying to innovate and create solutions.
She currently serves as the Chair of the UN Global Compact (Australia) and is on the boards of Frontier Advisors and the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute. Fiona is also on the Advisory Boards of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, Affirmative Investment Management and ROC Partners, the NSW Commissioner Advisory Board on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking and the Australian Human Rights Institute, and the ESG advisory board of BASF.
The Qualitas ESG Advisory Group has been established to help shape ESG best practice within the firm, identify and report progress against objectives and advise how Qualitas can leverage its strengths to influence positive ESG outcomes with borrowers and partners. View the ESG Advisory Group Charter.
The ESG Advisory Group attendees from QAL include:
- Andrew Schwartz, Group Managing Director and Co-Founder
- Mark Fischer, Global Head of Real Estate and Co-Founder
- Kathleen Yeung, Global Head of Corporate Development
- Terrie Morgan, Company Secretary
ACCESS OUR ESG POLICIES AND INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENTS
OUR ESG BELIEFS AND PRIORITIES
Qualitas is focused on moving to the next phase in our ESG journey through identifying our real impact from our initiatives. Notwithstanding our developing status, we are moving forward in a measured way, with active participation from Qualitas staff.
We are focused on ESG priorities that we consider important in laying the foundation for increasing our ESG initiatives in the future. As a signatory to the United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), Qualitas is committed to implementing its six principles.
Qualitas has defined its own priority areas, specifically:
Long-Term Temperature Goal
Qualitas strongly endorses strengthening the global response to climate change and is committed to reducing emissions as a business to align with these goals.
Adaptation
Qualitas acknowledges the importance of adaptation to a low-carbon future. We will seek to increase the level of impact-style investments in both our traditional and ESG‑linked funds.
Diversity and inclusion
Qualitas is better equipped to face complex business challenges by harnessing a diverse team’s unique talents and experiences.
Governance
Qualitas believes that strong governance translates into long-term investor value and is of the view that good governance will tend to be rewarded.
Climate change is a material risk that needs to be mitigated
To deliver desired investment outcomes, and to protect the value of the real assets that are invested in or lent to, efforts to mitigate and prevent climate change are needed.
PLATFORM OF GROWTH UNDERPINNED BY SUSTAINABILITY
RECONCILIATION AT QUALITAS
We are proud to launch our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our Reflect RAP marks the beginning of our journey to create meaningful change, advance reconciliation and drive towards a better Australia that is inclusive of all Australians.
RELATED NEWS AND INSIGHTS
Note: 1. Fund has been renamed to QLCDF.