Sustainable Bootcamp on the 26th September 2013

The Ethical Investment Association were very prominent in supporting a Sustainability Bootcamp event held at Lincoln Inn, London last week.

The event was hosted by Blue and Green Communications, a publication and communication company promoting the merits of sustainability in the investment world.

The aim of the event was to encourage and educate advisers to actively engage in promoting sustainable, ethical and responsible investment. It proved to be a great success attended by over 80 IFA’s, many of whom were relatively new to this area.

There was plenty of great content during the day including an inspirational speech from Will Day, Sustainability Adviser to Price Waterhouse Cooper and Chairman of the Non-Profit Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP). As well as reinforcing the pressing need for a more responsible and sustainable investment culture, he also made reference to an investor need that was not always being met by the financial services industry. In fact, he recalled a personal anecdote of when he pressed an adviser on how he could invest in a more ethical manner and was encouraged to avoid going down that route.

The need to change this culture was then endorsed strongly by an expert panel of leading IFA’s during an open discussion. The panel comprised of the following, all members of the EIA:

Tanya Pein – In2 Consulting /Co-Chair of EIA

John Ditchfield – Barchester Green/Co-Chair of EIA

Helen Tandy – Gaeia

Julian Parrot – Ethical Futures

Mark Hoskins – Holden and Partners

The point was made very clearly that the merits of SRI investing did not just make ethical sense but were also more likely to lead to greater financial sustainability. Members of the audience were also encouraged to take on a more active role, including joining organisations like the EIA.

In fact, as a footnote, I have already been contacted by potential new members.

Richard Essex, writing in a personal capacity.